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Chapter VII Holding Space and Time

From the moment the village marketplace opens, the facilitator takes on a new role. No longer responsible for creating space and time, the facilitator now holds space and time in trust for the group as they journey down the particular road they have chosen. The job of holding space and time does not fit neatly within a precise job description or linear specification of tasks. It is an opportunistic role, depending upon a close reading of the meeting environment, a clear sense of self and purpose, and a capacity for sensitive and innovative response. Done well, the role manifests what I see as the essential qualities of a good facilitator: total presence and absolute invisibility. Some examples follow. ...

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