The Deep Democracy of Open Forums: Practical Steps to Conflict Prevention and Resolution for the Family, Workplace, and World

by Arnold Mindell

Most of us are terrified of conflict, says Arnold Mindell, PhD, author of fifteen books and internationally recognized for his innovative synthesis of Jungian therapy, dreams, and bodywork. But we needn't be. His burning passion is to create groups and organizations where everyone looks forward to group processes instead of fearing them. He calls this the deep democracy of open forums, where all voices, thoughts, and feelings are aired freely, especially the ones nobody wants to hear. Since 1992, one of Mindell's prime interests has been the bringing of deeper awareness to group conflicts. Conflict work without reference to altered states of consciousness is like a flu shot for someone in a manic or depressed state of consciousness. Most group and social problems cannot be well facilitated or resolved without access to the dreamlike and mystical atmosphere in the background. The key is becoming aware of it. Mindell introduces a new paradigm for working in groups, from 3 to 3,000, based on awareness of the flow of signals and events. You can take the subtlest of signals indicating the onset of emotions such as fear, anger, hopelessness, and other altered states, and use them to transform seemingly impossible problems into uplifting community experiences. As Mindell explains, "I share how everyone--people in schools and organizations, communities and governments--can use inner experiences, dreaming, and mysticism, in conjunction with real methods of conflict management, to produce lively, more sustainable, conscious communities."

Genres: Leadership

216 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

Reviews

[Taka · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good how-to for open forums--

This is a good manual (and reminders) for hosting open forums—which may come in handy when I do host them, but since for now I don't plan on doing it in the immediate future, the book was a little too procedural and dry (hence the two stars). Some good tips toward the end on how we all think the way the media does—that is, dualistically—and on eldership, such as the following:

For the elder, switching roles is not a technique to be learned, but an ability that arises within her in response to the moment and for the benefit of all. Through she suffers the problems of the day with everyone else, you have the feeling that, in some uncanny way, whether the day is good or not is not her single goal. Selflessness is part of her teaching. She may have a very strong mind of her own and, at the same time, may act as if she has no self at all; rather, she is a channel through which nature speaks. She is active but, in a way, does nothing. I remember the words of the mystic Anasuya Devi from India, who said that no one can do anything, you can’t help others. nature does it all. Fill the role given to you. (167)

One profound takeaway from this book is the difference between power and awareness. Like in Zen and Taoism, we should stop trying and let wu wei have its way. Power is about the ego, whereas awareness isn't. As Mindell puts it, "it may be helpful to remember that if you want to do too much, you will have to depend on using your own power, and that dependence will exhaust you and make you uncertain. We do not need leaders who can change the world because of their personal power, because change is inherent in people and nature ... Our world needs our awareness of the roles, themes, and feelings we experience. Insecurity occurs if we push to succeed. Let nature help with the work" (15).

And one more: how innerwork is political and is essentially outerwork, and vice versa. I can't stress how mind-blowingly profound this insight is. I am the world. The world is me. The problems I have are mirrored in the problems the world is having. Or put in reverse, there is no global problems that are not local at the same time. Everything is connected. And so everything is needed. As Mindell says, "The philosophy of deep democracy claims that all people, parts, and feelings are needed." (13) And having done a lot of innerwork myself through meditation, I can vouch that self-acceptance and peace comes from accepting all of my myriad selves (though I'm still far from it). All are needed, and it's the same with the world.

Definitely made me more interested in open forums as a conflict-resolution tool and in worldwork or conflict resolution in general as a way to work on myself (and vice versa).

[Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good if you're going to actually hold a Process Work Open Forum....i wanted to use some of the principles but not necessarily prescribe to the T of their method. Sitting in the Fire is was a better book to use for what I wanted to do.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

I have gained a deeper appreciation for all perspectives, on everything really, but I guess, to narrow it down, it might be helpful if I say "all perspectives into conflicts", even though, truly, my appreciation goes beyond "simply conflict".

Have read another Mindell-book before, that didn't hit home at all in the same way, so will check out others of his, to see if I can find more like this one. And, I am determined to follow the suggestion of Mr D who gave me the book, to find and participate in worldwork somewhere. Yup. It will be so!