Reflection: How do I get oriented in a new space?

When the notion of "orientation" came up during the meeting, I felt it may be a good next step in the unfolding wholeness of our "tea house": converting an irregular flow of individuals strangers into a regular flow of cohesive groups.

Then, in considering the idea of always increasing wholeness, never incurring "technical debt", I came to question that notion. If "Orientation" is just a first step, then without the next steps, the wholeness is broken. This made me question if this was a good unfolding.

That question, in turn, caused, in my mind, an expansion of the notion of "orientation". What if orientation is not merely looking around the space in order to figure out where I am. What if instead, orientation was the act of moving in the space in order to get a sense of what this place is. Joining the space alters the space, perception of the space alter the space ... perception is action. What if Orientation IS what happens in the space?

That then, for me, transforms the question to: what gets oriented?

• What qualities am I seeking/evoking that give me a sense of orientation?

• What does this look like in a remove online environment?

This how I tend to enter a space:

1. Being an unknown: I start by hanging around quietly ... I wait until I have a sense of how things work: what parts of the space are alive, what parts are dormant? Who are the active players in the room? Does anyone shimmer for me? This is a phase of waiting and listening. This may be what @Toni Blanco called lurking. I am looking for something (ideas, people, resonance ...) that catches my attention and draws me in.

2. Making myself known: I look for opportunities to participate in threads/conversations. I will avoid "large crowds" ... I prefer a small-to-medium sized group up tp ~20 people. I prefer a group that is not yet established ... I don't want to feel like an outlier. By participating in a group I make my presence in the space known and signal interest to participate. I tend to be silent at first. I feel tentative about participating but will participate if the dynamic calls for it (such as a check-in round).

3. Seeking Ground: I try to sense of there is potential for grounding in the space. Grounding represents, for me, a sense that talk can be converted to action ... that, with correct effort, a new pattern may somehow take root in the world. I tend to avoid spaces where "great ideas" are tossed around ... and where that in itself seems to satisfy the crowd!

4. Seeking Resonance: I check with myself (my heart, my body, my breath ...) if there are people, conversations, ideas, experiences which make me feel vital, moved, and interested. I want to feel drawn in.

5. Seeking Continuity: I look to see if the feelings I am experiencing (grounding, resonance) are fleeting or if there is a continuous vibe. This requires some time ... I am looking to see if there is potential for deeper engagement that goes beyond social flirtation.

6. Participating: If I feel the space has ground, resonance and continuity I make it a priority to seek opportunities to be authentically present and participate in the space.

As this continues:

• I get to know people in the space.

• People get to know me.

• I get to see myself through other people's eyes.

Much of this is feels like randomness, change ... wondering through an unknown space ... an experience that can feel divergent (going nowhere). I treat this an investment ... in the hope that it can lead to an unpredictable convergent experience (such as this crew).

My impression (informed by my limited experiences) is that this dynamic is fragile. That the odds of divergent becoming convergent are low ... and I wonder: what can be done to give such spaces more resilience and to increase the odds of divergent investments bearing convergent fruits?

Oops links are broken :-(

OK with the "orientation happens in the space", but then, what happens that orients you (or not)?

What orients you is observation of what others are doing there, and how they do it. And what Latour would call actants (any person or object) that invite you to do things. Tomorrow I will be more specific by taking your other post on how you tend enter a space.