Facilitation

Concepts developed by Dr. Arnold Mindell and colleagues


Deep Democracy
The principle of Deep Democracy is that we all are needed to reflect the process of Democracy. To develop our individual and collective awareness as communities, we need all our feelings, our highest ideals and the lows where we fall when those ideals don't come to pass, our reactions and our diversity of perception. All dimensions of our experience are needed - the content of issues, our emotions and conflicts, as well as our underlying shared humanity.



Process:
Processes are fluid. States are the impression that processes are ‘static’ and lasting. We tend to act as if the processes we’re in are states we cannot alter or influence; we resign ourselves to enduring them. We use the word 'processing' to mean using skills and tools to bring awareness that the inherent polarities are inside us and between us, and to discover the underlying community that could emerge.

Dimensions:
We cannot solve our worst problems by applying the same ideas that created them. An intractable conflict or polarization can seldom be solved through furthering the polarization, or fighting for more power or only to correct a power imbalance. In forum facilitation, we consider different dimensions.

One dimension is the content, themes, issues, and real problems that need to be discussed and solved. A second dimension involves observing the influence of history, injustice, trauma and all emotions involved in the momentary communication and in the perpetuation of conflict. This dimension also includes looking at the polarized roles within conflict, as well as the polarized positions. For example, the oppressor and the oppressed; the leader and the follower; the one creating terror and the one terrorized. This is a dreaming or mythic dimension underlying conflict and its transformation.

A third dimension underlies the emotions and roles driving conflict. Some experience this dimension as a sense of unity that underlies the polarizations of conflict. Contact with this dimension gives people wisdom and a sense of possibility, despite the hardships.

Style:
Some are privileged to feel at home in many styles of communication. Some have a need for a rational style, while others prefer a more emotional style, and many feel tongue-tied or in awe. Still others believe in a 'free for all'. Styles are of course also cultural. The style is determined by the forum participants; as well as the level of rationality and emotionality that is right for them to deepen their communication.