We start the day softly, in a light, cocooning drizzle.
After a wonderful lunch on the porch we move slowly to the small dojo. Antje, Melanie and Tanja join us from Germany, via The Lodge in Colares, and Praia Grande and its mandatory feet dipped in ocean water.
We circle up and I introduce the practice of 4D mapping which we will use today. A blind version in which only the case giver knows the actual roles in play, and witnesses and actors are freed from the burden of an established narrative.
We take a few minutes to sit in silence before listening to Paul, the case giver, describing the current reality of the Quinta Ten Chi project. After some clarifying questions I start calling numbers.
The players enter the circle, one by one, find a position and say a sentence. Once everybody is in place, after a brief “ma” (pause in Japanese) Sculpture 1 start to move toward Sculpture 2, when they will stop and say another sentence. Here are images from both S1 (top) and S2 (bottom):
First of all we can notice that elements in S1 are all spread out in space separately, while in S2 they are all connected in a single wavy line.
The roles that were chosen, in this 4D mapping to represent the system where:
Manifesto: intention behind Quinta Ten Chi.
Ten Chi: the actual land.
Marginalized: all the people that don’t access Ten Chi yet, in particular the Portuguese neighbours.
Events: what is already happening and planned in Ten Chi.
Community: the group that is forming around the project.
New Land: the nearby land for sale for co-housing and accommodation.
Funding: the funds for upgrades, land purchase and new buildings.
Following are the phrases each role spoke in S1 and S2 (remember the players only have a number and don’t know anything about their roles):
| ROLES | S1 | S2 |
| MANIFESTO | Howls to the moon | In this place my kindness and loyalty creates something I value |
| TEN CHI | What a beautiful sight! | I feel energy moving… |
| MARGINALIZED | I am little bit afraid.. | I love to be the connection |
| EVENTS | I don’t know where I belong… | I feel safe, connected and happy |
| COMMUNITY | I am very happy | I now longer have to carry everything on my own |
| NEW LAND | Where is everybody looking? | I feel part of… |
| FUNDING | It’s somewhere around here…. | I feel grounded and connected |
Well we were all quite touched by how the sentences fitted the hidden roles very tightly, and also gathered the following insights, following the movement from S1 to S2, around potential in the system:
- things are working organically and fluidly – trust it!
- community and events support each others, continue to strengthen the connection between this elements.
- marginalised and funding are connected, involve the local community in our events and look for funding in the social sphere.
- the new land and manifesto are connected and support each other, time to move on in this part of the project!
- Ten Chi is happy that we are here!
Still digesting all that emerged, feeling blessed to have the opportunity to hold the container and witness this process and the growth of this powerful social field, filled with wisdom, trust and love!