[Oe List ...] Report on Carol Fleischman --Cycles of Life legacy Retreat

[James Wiegel]

Sounds wonderful George!!  For those who want more than a day, just do the 4 hours and fool around . . . ;)

Jim Wiegel



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ToP  Facilitation Methods,      Sept 11-12, 2012

ToP Strategic Planning,    Oct 9-10, 2012

The AZ Community of Practice meets the 1st Friday- Sept 7, 2012

Facilitation Mastery : Our Mastering the Technology of Participation program is available in Phoenix in 2012-3.  Program begins on Nov 14-16, 2012 

See short video http://partnersinparticipation.com/?page_id=55 and website for further details.

--- On Fri, 6/29/12, George Packard <george.packard1 at rcn.com> wrote:

From: George Packard <george.packard1 at rcn.com>
Subject: [Oe List ...] Report on Carol Fleischman --Cycles of Life legacy Retreat
To: marilyncrocker at juno.com, dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net, "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Date: Friday, June 29, 2012, 1:38 PM

Dear Marilyn and Joe,It is almost three weeks now since Carol Fleischman delivered “Cycles of Life Legacy Retreat” here in Santa Fe. We are sorry that you could not come as you had hoped, but here is a brief report. I am sending this to you on dialogue believing others Who know Carol may also be interested.  We had a very engaging retreat that provided a formal setting for Carol to beta test the construct which  she has done as living room gatherings or for church groups before. Carol was pleased with the results. Elise and I were very excited for ourselves for the opportunity to take stock and reassess our lives. We were even more excited for the other participants (22 friends and colleagues with whom we have worked). The 4-hour process-driven format was done in one day, 9:30Am – 4:00 PM with lunch. It enabled each of us to find and give voice to a deeper and alternative perspective of our lives looking through the 7 year cycles rather than the
 usual decades or open timeline of broader phases we have lived.   The format was crisp and tightly timed. Carol has produced a small participant journal booklet with a beautiful artistic and contemplative picture -- moon over reflecting water on the cover and in half tone on the inner pages. There is one page for each 7 year cycle (0-7-14-21-28-35-42-49-56-63-70-77-84-98 ---). The structure is to pass 4 times through the 7 year cycles, personalized ahead of time with each of our specific dates in the  booklet, 1) for memories, 2) for doing and being experiences, 3 ) for a summary narrative (with a partner), and 4) for a declaration of effects and influences on the world (with same partner).  The fifth brief exercise is to intuitively declare the incompletes to date and the intents for the future. Some did next steps, some did affirmations. Some did their “being plan” (vs an “action plan”).  WOW!!! --- All in 4 + hours. I would say “wow”
 was the response of all or most the group – an amazement and appreciation for a process and direction which would allow going beyond the usual paradigm of youth and education, work and career, and ultimately retirement.   Three things became very apparent. First, the governing of time and the focus on the cycles as the point of reference allowed us to cover our whole life rather than just the parts to which we tend to go (successes or crisis). Second, The work with the partner is essential to get beyond our subjective prejudice (prejudice?, subjective?, who me?) It was unbelievable how much I had or was ready to dismiss and edit out as transitory that my partner responded to with  amazement as we crafted our declarations. Third, while we all would have loved a two or three day retreat, the one day and the 4 + hours made it possible for many to participate who wouldn’t have been able to invest a longer time. If we would have done two days, my guess
 is we would have had 6-7 of the 22 and maybe none.   Though many expressed the desire to go back and spend more time on particular cycles and tease out additional themes it was clear that desire was a good basis for a new decision to invest solitary time or to meet with another member to engage in further work.   So, we are now planning some cluster follow-up with these participants and probably a second staging  of the retreat itself for a date yet to be confirmed. So let me know if you are still interested and I will send the flyer as soon as we have it. We will have accommodations for 5-6 in colleague housing and also access to the cheap hotels. We will be using the recommendations of the first participants to follow up for the next retreat. We strongly sense that it still needs to be one day, but with another 45 minutes to occasion more reflection. Carol is even designing a little reflection booklet for in between each exercise.  You may have
 already heard directly from Carol, but I have to say it was an experience of great value for Elise and I and for all our participants.  Sincerely, George and K. Elise PackardBridging Futures LLC, Santa Fe505-660-7070    
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