It's hot and the sun is shining. After two weeks of anxiously checking the weather forecast every day, we're now glad of the wind, even if it does blow pinboards and our listening stations into disarray. After no oe-tag in 2021, we are particularly looking forward to this 15th oe-tag; to lively dialogue in our community, to new inspiring content and to seeing one friend or work colleague or another again - after what has sometimes been quite a long time. 

„Creative destruction and renewal“ was the title of this oe-day - it was coined long before the war in Ukraine and has unexpectedly taken on a very special relevance. Irrespective of this, supra-regional and local crises are becoming increasingly concentrated; and organisational development has so far only spread few tools for action. The ecocycle, which looks at divergent decay and emergence, was one way of approaching this recurring cycle and working on it in relation to social systems. Here, we particularly want to shed light on the often underexposed part of decay and „creative destruction“ and give it more space than usual.

The workshop programme illuminated this aspect from very different perspectives. In addition to the shaping of the end and the subsequent tidying up, the creative new beginning and the mourning work associated with a conclusion, the processing of conflicts, the use of animals as archetypal resources in constellation work or comprehensive experiences in presencing theatre or Kali yoga were possible and offered space and opportunities for learning and exchange.

And although the day demonstrates the incredible diversity of possible approaches to the transition from the end to the beginning, it is clear that this is and must be a total work of art. It is almost imperative to connect with the questions of the day holistically: with body, mind and spirit, as an individual as well as part of organisations and society as a whole.

The day ended with a ritual. Instead of turning „essences“ or „important realisations“ once again as usual, we sent an impulse into the world - shortly before the summer solstice - with our wishes that were so tangible during this day: for connection and togetherness; for a creative shaping of the end in a human and environmentally friendly sense, for creativity and attentiveness. So that something new can emerge after the end. 

Head, heart and hand - it was a satisfying and rewarding day for all dimensions of being human.

What remains of the oe-tag 2022

•         The truly inspiring location of the floating university, in its other life the rainwater retention basin of Tempelhof Airport, which with its system of footbridges forms an inspiring area in the centre of Berlin.
•         The instructions for meditating through the Ecocycle yourself afterwards with questions and soundbites at www.oe-tag.de/geniessen.
•         A great deal of respect to all the speakers and participants who took on and organised this day so responsibly.
•         A certain pride in understanding the oe-day more and more as a shared and common responsibility with each passing year and thus also keeping the preparation in manageable pieces - even if it is still considerable.
•         A big thank you to all those who help build this joint “sandcastle of organisational development“ every year or just once.