The facilitator then invites participants to come to the center of the circle to announce what they would like to discuss and work on regarding this theme. Whatever they want to talk about - whatever has heart and meaning for them around this theme - and for which they are willing to convene a 75-minute discussion group.

At first, everyone looks at the facilitator, who is now sitting down silently in the circle. They look at the center of the circle, at the markers and paper there. They look back at the facilitator. They look at each other.

Then after a long moment someone walks into the center, writes down their topic, announces it to the group and posts it on a long empty wall. Then two more people. Then six. Then the center of the circle is full of people scribbling and holding up their topics and announcing them and posting them and the agenda wall fills up with 60, 80, 100 topics.

And so the day unfolds, as people pull their chairs together into groups of 2 or 20 and begin to talk and get more animated and trade ideas and learn from one another. Then it's time for them to move on to their next group, and their next group, and so on - to whatever topic inspires them.

Who facilitates the groups? The individuals in that group. What if someone is talking too much? Well you can be sure that anyone bothered by that will not choose to be around that person for their next discussion. They can always leave the group to go where they'll feel they can contribute. Notes are taken in each discussion -- what if you don't like the way someone took notes? Then you'll probably choose to be the note-taker in your next group. Each group consists of individuals with the capacity to self-organize. And so the groups self-regulate throughout the day, each individual meeting his or her own needs.