Our story

As of 2019, Orion Grid is taking shape and expanding rapidly both organisationally and in terms of the development of methods and techniques, despite scarce funding so far. The organisation primarily follows the trends in its field of work - the psychological, social, cultural and political dynamics as well as those of its users, partners and opponents.

At different stages, nearly 20 professionals and activists have contributed to its development , who are also important actors in the democratic field in the country. A key contribution was made by the first Board of Directors, composed of Milena Stateva, Rafael Chichek and Elena Bozhinova, who shaped the ethos of the organisation as being psychoanalytically informed.

The powerful unfolding and organisational development in recent years has been driven by Stanislav Dodov and with the contributions of Lora Belcheva-Boteva, and more recently and especially actively by Elitsa Kapusheva. The current team represents the most consolidated impetus for the full functioning of the Grid with the stable and persistent support of both Ioanna Mincheva and Veselin Alexiev. Mentors of the organisation are Zdravka Sirakova, who guides the Grid as a non-profit entity and Dr. Svetlozar Vassilev, who supports us in his role as one of the leading psychoanalysts in Bulgaria. Thus, in addition to being psychoanalytically informed, the culture is being located at the field of critical theory and praxis as well.

Orion Grid was conceived and piloted as a concept by Dr. Milena Stateva at the Tavistock Institute for Human Relations during her work there as a senior researcher and organisational consultant. The theoretical framework and methodology were initially explored and tested with a wide range of international practitioners, leading to the conception of the Tavistock Action Learning Space.

It draws on the approach of group relations as a sociodynamic current related to object relations theory,especially the work of British psychoanalyst Wilfred Bion and subsequent methodological developments at the Tavistock Institute. This approach is intertwined with Milena's learning and experience in the field of countering violence through the processing of trauma by individuals and organisations. Emphasis is on blending with critical theory and with social and political thought, as well as a focus on democratizing and making accessible individual and group spaces for reflection. 

After several years of informal development, Orion Grid was established in 2019 as an organisation based in Bulgaria with mandate worldwide.  The founding members are collaborators and supporters of the idea and approach, the core of which took up the activity initially within a reflective group to counter far-right trends in Bulgaria. In addition to reflecting on psycho-social and socio-political processes, the group engaged in public protest notes - reactions to events, discourses and rhetorics. 

Other activists, professionals and artists from Orion Grid's informal period joined the founding, bringing different characteristics from the unfolding activity and concern for mental health, thinking, agency and resilience as carriers of the democratic impulse, including even the idea of working with specially trained support dogs for people in distress. Co-founder Bewar Mossa, a refugee in Bulgaria at the time, created the organisation's logo.

In addition to the Tavistock Institute, Orion Grid's concept was influenced by Animus Association and the Bulgarian Centre for Human Relations. However, the concept in its mature form is closest to the anti-authoritarian movements post the 2008 crisis. The intellectual overlap between the idea of Orion Grid and the activities of anti-authoritarian groups, collectives and movements in the country and elsewhere are the best evidence of the potential of the concept to intervene in favour of a progressive democratic society.