For thirty years, Toke Moeller has been hosting conversations that matter in a world of complexity, conflict, crisis, and division. These are the conversations that feel so necessary and yet so often are avoided.Inspired to bring people together to respond to the many conflicts that divide us, Toke trusted the human capacity for curiosity and care. With his partners, he developed The Art of Hosting, an approach to these conversations that comes from generosity--the generosity of holding a space as a host. The Art of Hosting opens up a both individual and participatory, communal form of leadership. Moeller has be part of initiating this practice into 32 countries and many different contexts across the Planet.
And there was something else that opened up in this practice. They called it "The Magic in the Middle.“ What is this magic? A magic opening to a shared perception that happens when the participants let go of their assumptions, superficial opinions and agendas and listen. Toke has reverence for this magic, feeling that it is inappropriate to try to pin it down. In a recent issue of evolve Magazin, we invited Toke to explore this magic, seeing it as a new potential for human relatedness. Leaning into this magic reveals a co-intelligence that emerges from the principles of Life itself. As he said in an interview with Elizabeth Debold,
"…real learning is the exploration of life itself, and how life can be lived in the rhythm of the harmonies of life and the structures that the universe has evolved over millions of years. We can consciously lean into it with an open heart and not wanting to misuse it or exploit it but benefit from it.
When you come to that kind of gentle, conscious space, it's like the magic of life unfolding, not the magic that you want to cook up as mysterious. When we feel that goodness, that well-being, that wish to support each other and respect each other's lives becomes more important than being right."
You are invited to join Toke Moeller and Elizabeth Debold in an inquiry into the Magic in theMiddle and the importance of hosting the conditions to create the future. How does hosting create a space for Life to unfold? What can we learn from the space between us about the future that wants to emerge? Together, we will explore questions like these. evolve Live events are a co-creation—you are part of the process through your listening, responses and questions. They are not podcasts or “talking heads.” You are invited into meaningful dialogue both with Vanessa Andreotti and with each other in small groups.
