The Moral Imagination - Wed 18 Feb

Last night we were joined in the Tent by Michael Jacobs, of Hereford Mediation, in a lively and informative event about Jean Paul Lederach's four conditions of peace. We explored the four conditions in depth (maintaining the relational web; paradoxical curiosity; space for a creative act; and willingness to risk) and discussed how they applied to particular situations (from family mediation to the Middle East).

We then engaged in an imaginative exericse to go deeper into these qualities. In groups of four, each assigned one of the four conditions, we created an imaginary spectrum with the particular quality or condition in question at one end of the space, and its opposite at the other. Then we explored what it felt like in the body to occupy those two positions and endeavoured as a group to embody the condition in a gesture or tableau. We then looked at the change needed within to move from the opposite quality to the mid-point on the spectrum, and from the mid-point to embodying the quality. This was an interesting process that yielded some direct bodily experience of the quality, and some insights into what it takes to move into the space where peace is possible. For example, the group exploring the quality of 'willingness to risk' experienced that to move from the refusal to risk, to the mid-point of risk being possible, an incentive was needed. The incentive might come from self-interest (for example the exhaustion of being stuck in an entrenched conflict) but a carrot/stick dynamic played a part for this group in moving into a space where risk was possible. The group exploring the condition 'space for a creative act' got a direct experience of the qualities of listening, waiting and keeping a mutual space empty for something new to emerge. In exploring movement along the spectrum, we saw how each individual taking responsibility for contributing engendered a shift, as did a quality of self-awareness.

Personally, i found the evening very engaging. Like others in the tent that night, it was a lively alternative to reading Lederach's books (we re-named the event 'Lederach for Dummies'. What particularly stayed in my mind was the experience of holding space between my fellow group members and waiting and listening. This was a direct learning that I'm sure i can apply to conflict situtations in the future.

So thank you to Michael and all the others present. If anyone has suggestions for a follow-up or would like to join the discussion please do.

Justine Huxley
18.2.09