With Dr. Gina Mafi and Dave Pendle, 18 Dec 2025
Summary
This session explored the ancient craft of physical weaving as a mirror for the contemporary practice of “network weaving.” By engaging in a hands-on cordage exercise, participants explored the relationship between the material, the maker, and the emergent form, finding parallels in how we build human connections and systemic change.
Key Learnings
- Thinking with the Hands: When the technical process of weaving moves into the “hands,” the “head” becomes free. This shift allows for deeper reflection and more authentic conversation to emerge within a group.
- The Nature of Chaos Weaving: Unlike traditional, highly structured weaving, “chaos weaving” (or bird/random weaving) starts with a simple foundation (three interlocking circles) but allows the final form to be a discussion between the weaver and the material.
- Tension as Strength: Just as physical cordage relies on the tension of two strands twisting together to create strength, human relationships require a healthy balance of tension and patience to become resilient.
- Material as the Authority: In weaving (and networking), the “material” has its own limits and nature. Forcing a specific idea onto the material leads to kinks and breaks; successful weaving requires listening and responding to what is actually present.
- The “Third Object” in Community: Engaging in a shared physical activity (the “third thing”) acts as a catalyst for communication. People often share more deeply when their primary focus is on a shared craft rather than direct therapeutic or strategic questioning.
Key Actions
- Practice “Connecting Before Content”: Use simple, tactile exercises like making cordage to ground a group and build “relationality” before tackling complex strategic tasks.
- Embrace “Scaling Deep”: Focus on the quality and strength of relationships (the “braiding”) rather than just accumulating a high volume of thin, extractive connections.
- Value Silence in Weaving: Recognize that much of the work of building a network happens in the “silence between words”—the quiet, steady work of being present with others.
- Work with “What Is”: Practice humility by acknowledging the reality of the present moment. Instead of imposing an abstract plan, ask “What does the material (the current situation) want to do?”
- Integrate “Words and Weaves”: Combine physical craft or embodied practices with writing or dialogue to create a “container of perception” that can be felt, carried, and used.
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References & Tools
Speakers:
Dr. Gina Mafi: Researcher and basket-weaving apprentice; author of reflections on “autoethnographic weaving.”
Dave Pendle: Serial weaver and founder of Phenomenal Conversations.
Donald & Mari Winnicott: the concept of the “third object” in relationship building.
Tim Ingold: Anthropologist on the “process” vs. the “product” of a basket.
Methodologies & Concepts:
Chaos Weaving (Bird/Random Weave): A technique starting from three circles that allows for emergent forms.
Cordage Making: The fundamental skill of twisting fibers into a strong, unified strand.
OD for Life (Organizational Development for Life): The network where the presenters met.
Literary References:
The Journey: An opening poem
Co-sensed with Radical Tenderness: A poem/concept from the *Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures* collective.
Knowledge Bank Categories: 1) Inner Work 2) Weaving Methods
