This is one of series of blogs that are a retrospective reflection on Integral City Community of Practice’s experience in taking the In This Together (ITT) course on basic facilitation skills taught by Diane Musho Hamilton and Ten Directions.

Our first instruction of the course was how to give attention to our intention as we are facilitating. In fact, we were asked to form an intention for taking this course. After teaching and small group discussions we received homework.

Pay Attention with Intention

Pay Attention with Intention

Here is the ITT homework we were given.

  1. Be present to all reality (AQAL) as it happens.
  2. Spend time noticing what IS happening. Don’t do anything just stay put and notice.
  3. As you catch yourself in communication on a daily basis, remember your intention that you formed for this course.

One week after the module we explored these questions.

1. What did we experience in accomplishing the homework?

Integral City Community of Practise (COP) noticed that intention showed up as energy in the body. By stating intention for facilitating, it intensifies our capacities for listening. We presence ourselves and the context we are in on a deeper basis.

When we just notice intention, it is non-mental but at the same time very spiritual and full of conscious awareness.

We shared that we noticed attention regarding US election campaign and Canadian political broken promises (related to First Nations). Being aware of our attention, helped us notice deep emotions (like anger) and our willingness and readiness to share with others.

Paying attention with intention even helped us to be good friends. “It’s so nice to have a friend who can be honest.”

2.So What does the topic/homework have to do with Integral City practice or training?

When we shifted our exploration to what the practice of giving attention to our intention in the context of our Integral City work, one key observation was that it took us beyond the superficial level of engaging with issues or people. In fact, when we notice as deeply and as widely as possible, we actually cultivate the Human Hive Mind. This can happen on a 1-to-1 basis or when facilitating with many.

3.Now What will we do as a result, of our homework experience and sharing?

We remarked that Diane Hamilton’s experience as a mediator helped us to see how important that paying attention to our intention and the intention of others can contribute to improving the value of any communication or teaching. This certainly applies to situations which are conflicted (as Marilyn shared she was experiencing on a NFP Society Board she was serving) but also even thinking about designing teaching courses.

We would apply the principles of paying attention and identifying intention to Integral City training. This would help us to anchor our courses as teachers and also assist our students to anchor their learning intentions.

We realized that in our city cultures, just noticing is vital. Finally, we agreed that this “simple” practice of noticing attention and intention was basic to the development of Human Hive Mind.