Flow of Day 3

  • Welcome and framing
  • Morning meta harvest
  • Check in: Circle Way
  • Open Space Technology
  • Lunch
  • Rope Game
  • Collective Story Harvest
  • Check out
  • Villages News
  • Prep time/coaching
  • Gala Dinner & Celebration

Gallery

Story of Day 3
by Una Sprenger

Exploring Embodiment and the Groan Zone

​On Day 3 of the Art of Hosting training, we were deep in the emergent phase of the process—the raw, often uncomfortable space between beginning (breathing in) and closure (breathing out). This is known as the Groan Zone—the shared vulnerability fosters a potential transformation.

And I wondered how I can step out of my comfort zone. Hosting dialogue and creating participatory spaces is familiar to me. Though, only a few embodied practices are part of my facilitation toolbox. Integrating the body into the learning journey allows to feel into physical processes and creates alignment for deeper change. Maybe that is something I could play with?    
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The central question guiding our Art of Hosting training was: “How may we—as humans—weave meaningful connections to move beyond conflict?”. By Day 3, we had already explored some ideas on conflict resolution, and trust had been built in the group. One story came to mind: a peacebuilder from Northern Ireland once told me that participants from both conflict parties were giving foot massages to each other. With the symbolic message: To solve conflicts, you need to step out of your comfort zone. And if you do that, you will receive pleasant experiences in return. It’s a way of physically reinforcing that opening up will be followed by care, trust, and pleasure.    
I shared this story with another person. We were both inspired and decided to co-host foot massages at the end of Day 3, offering an embodied way to reflect and learn. Before the session, we introduced the idea and the message behind, while emphasizing consensus, boundaries, and the right to say No. The result? Many participants loved it—it brought relaxation, warmth, and connection. Some, however, felt discomfort. That mix of reactions triggered me to reflect and learn.
I asked myself:
-               Was this method appropriate for an Art of Hosting setting?
-               How do we stretch boundaries while holding the group in safety?
-               Can embodied practices like this be part of the hosting repertoire—as they are not replicable in every setting?

​What supported me most in finding my answers was the open reflection with experienced practitioners. I felt very safe in showing my vulnerability, held by the collective wisdom in the room. Now, I understand even better in what way embodied exercises can be introduced to be part of good hosting practice.

I’m grateful for the playground that Art of Hosting offered—where I could experiment and adapt my way of hosting with methods of embodiment. After the emergence, we were now ready for closure on Day 4, transferring back to deepening our practice in the outside world.

The Circle Way

Read more about the process and practice in p.10, p.12 & p.29 of your Practice Guide
Reference for host: The Circle Way basic guidelines
3 practices of The Circle Way
Question for the circle check-in

Open Space Technology

Read more in p.36 of your Practice Guide
Picture
Calling question, principles & roles
Picture
The law of mobility in OST
Open Space Marketplace
Harvest from the sessions

Collective Story Harvest

Read more about the methodology in p.45 of your Practice Guide
The listening lenses:
  • Participatory methods: Which methods did the storytellers choose? What worked well and what didn't?
  • Self-hosting: How did the storyteller host themselves, if at all? What practices did they have?
  • Limiting beliefs: What beliefs or assumptions held the storyteller (or the process itself) back?
  • Challenges: What type of challenges did the storytellers encounter and how did they cope with them?
  • Witness: Listening to the storyteller, what did you notice about their nonverbal communication, tone of voice, connection with the audience?

Collective harvest from each listening lens, the story hosts and storytellers

Bonus: Emmy's musical meta harvest to start the day & Qin's music performance to wrap up the celebration night