Polarization. Identity. Connection.
First step into a co-creative endeavor
All of us connecting from different corners of the world, for some, it is a summer morning, for others, winter evening, spread over Europe, Asia, and Australia, 15 people staring at their screens, opening a virtual space, real not real, who knows … our first ‘Worldwork Journalism’ session, the idea to combine a facilitated dialogue (group process) and individual writing to co-create something ‘sharable’ (we have no idea what it will become), a kind of artifact that can travel and unfold further. This very day, we chose to work on the topic of Polarization in our Societies.
Artificial Intelligence says: In today's world, polarization between people is becoming an increasingly pressing issue. It can be hard to find common ground, as everyone seems to have their own opinion on any given topic. The extent of the divide is evident.
As deep democracy facilitators, we consider polarization as an essential phase in working with conflict. We are curious to find poles that create the tension and then try to deepen the sides. This ideally helps to create mutual understanding and to switch sides, so that awareness increases and transformation can happen. Apparently, many of today’s dialogues get stuck in the polarization phase. So who is creating the ‘walls’ and why?
Sister Bobby Joe, 13th of July 2023, first WWJ session
As ‘wall builders’ different voices occurred in the group process:
A person that is just RIGHT (about being right)
A social activist that fights for a cause (e.g human or nature rights)
A self-protector who holds the space for their own identity
Deepening the third role, an understanding came up about how the wall / not connecting, can be good or even necessary, to protect what is precious, protecting the own identity.
On the other side of this polarity appeared someone who wanted to connect and asked how they could do this … this led to a tender melting point for the person that built a wall to protect herself. Here we ended the group process and gave some prompting questions:
What was your personal experience with this process?
Is there a role you would like to deepen/ explore more?
Was there a role that disturbed you that you would like to deepen?
Many of us felt drawn to express more of the ‘wall builder that is just right’, an aggressive, bully force. A ‘ghost role’ - a voice that is present in the field/collective/world, but the mainstream has difficulties expressing it. Here are some of the voices that were openly shared:
Invade. The word rang out like gunshot. A thick silence settled over us. A tightening in the chest. A knot in the throat.
That word holds us hostage - countries, histories, bodies - all frozen or fighting or crumpled in grief. The marching forward of armies, the rolling in of tanks, the trampling of cities, houses, people. These people, who once were children, who cry and dream and bleed when cut - following the orders of other people, who smile at puppies and feed their wives chocolates in bed. Where do all those parts of them - of us - go when their boots hit the ground, when the gunshots ring out?
Laura
Some of us are close to or in the middle of a war experience, while others have the privilege to look at it from afar geographically, emotionally and/or time-wise. All of us might have encountered one ‘who is right’ within us or around us. How can we better understand and maybe relate more to them?
I want to keep exploring the 'wall-builders' role. There is a wall I build inside myself when I'm up against someone/ or a belief I strongly disagree with. It has a lot of power. My ordinary identity doesn't like to identify with this aspect of myself / my behaviour. When I amplify it I can feel how it serves to disconnect me from my humanity (even just a bit). This allows me to be righteous in my use of power. I don't even have to justify myself. I want to obliterate everything in my path that doesn't fit with my view of reality.
When the other side reaches out to me, asking me what it is I care about, my wall cracks. I could keep blocking you out but there is so much power in your question. I am mesmerized by your power. I thought I was the all-powerful one, but yet you still ask me what I care about, this shakes me. It forces me to acknowledge your humanity and connects me with my own. It is hard to stay polarised when we are both just humans trying to negotiate our shared existence ....
Penny
yes, I also know this wall-builder, in some moments, I disconnect, standing and being with my truth. As a quite sensitive child, I was not always able to make a difference in what of my feeling/sensing was mine and what others were. ‘Emotional invasion’ happened. It was crucially important for me to learn to build walls and to own my truth.
One year ago in a conflict, a friend of mine said, you don’t think you are empathic, do you? That was a shock, she was right I was not in this moment, and wow, yeah, I am not only/always an empath anymore, and you know what … I like it (as long as I am aware of it).
Stephanie
Who decides what is right and wrong?
Based on who´s moral?
What are the things we can agree on?
Please tell me you believe in human rights (even the tiniest part in your heart)
Please tell me you believe in nature’s rights (do you hear your heart whispering?)
If all of that is gone, what is it we have left?
If all of that is gone, what is it worth being “right”?
Iina
What would it be like to feel right all the time by being identified by something, to wanting to connect through walls and wars, and no longer having an identity ... yet being open and strongly identified with an experience?
Shirlz
About 🌏 Worldwork
Worldwork also known as Processwork, is a psychological and conflict-resolution approach developed by Arnold Mindell in the 1970s. It's based on the principles of Jungian psychology, Taoism, and systems theory, and it is used in various settings, including therapy, organisational development, community building, and conflict resolution. At its core, Worldwork aims to explore and understand both individual and collective processes in order to address conflicts, promote personal growth, and create more harmonious relationships within groups and communities. It focuses on bringing awareness to marginalised or ignored perspectives, as well as the deeper layers of consciousness within individuals and groups.
The initiators of this space
Penny Watson (MACF) works as a coach, group facilitator and community development worker. She loves working with people in nature using process-orientated earth-based practices. She lives in Mparntwe, Alice Springs, and is deeply inspired by the people and lands of the Central Australian Desert.
Stephanie Bachmair (B.ONFIRE) is a communication passionate, facilitator, leadership coach, and process work diplomat. She supports individuals, teams, and organizations to explore and craft their stories, tell them with charisma, relate to their audience, and increase their transformative power through dialogue.
If you want more
In case you are interested to join the next group of Worldwork Journalists group (1 session monthly from Nov 2023 - Jan 2024), please write to info@b-onfire.com
If you are interested to know more & experience process work, there is a Deep Democracy training coming up soon: Birthing Our Future - 7-Day Deep Democracy Intensive in Nairobi, Kenya + worldwide online. From the 9th to the 15th of October. Register & find more info here.
More Writing/Reading/Podcast … B.Onfire Insights&Conversations is a separate publication here on Substack
For professional updates on leadership, communication, and facilitation check our website www.b-onfire.com and other social media channels: https://linktr.ee/b_onfire
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The inspiration for this came from the hot spot that arose in the group process when someone mentioned the word ‘invade.’ We didn’t unfold it in the group, so I would unfold it a little here instead…
Invade. The word rang out like gunshot. A thick silence settled over us. A tightening in the chest. A knot in the throat.
That word holds us hostage - countries, histories, bodies - all frozen or fighting or crumpled in grief. The marching forward of armies, the rolling in of tanks, the trampling of cities, houses, people. These people, who once were children, who cry and dream and bleed when cut - following the orders of other people, who smile at puppies and feed their wives chocolates in bed. Where do all those parts of them - of us - go when their boots hit the ground, when the gunshots ring out?
I want to keep exploring the 'wall-builders' role. There is a wall I build inside myself when I'm up against someone/ or a belief I strongly disagree with. It has a lot of power. My ordinary identity doesn't like to identify with this aspect of myself / my behaviour. When I amplify it I can feel how it serves to disconnect me from my humanity (even just a bit). This allows me to be righteous in my use of power. I don't even have to justify myself. I want to obliterate everything in my path that doesn't fit with my view of reality.
When the other side reaches out to me, asking me what it is I care about, my wall cracks. I could keep blocking you out but there is so much power in your question. I am mesmerised by your power. I thought I was the all powerful one, but yet you still ask me what I care about, this shakes me. It forces me to acknowledge your humanity, and connects me with my own. It is hard to stay polarised when we are both just humans trying to negotiate our shared existence....