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Background:
Simon John and Jane visited stone circles (Avebury, Bardsea) together over course of the year for inspiration.
We also collected stones from North Kent beaches so that we could bring our own stone circle to the group.
Each participant took a small stone to keep for the week and placed it in the large circle at the start of each session.
Structure and Intention:
During the 6 (two-hour) sessions we intended to offer participants a space to consider and explore their own cycle of the year.
The cycle of the year can serve as a personal "mythic framework" for people who have an eclectic worldview.
It can also be useful as a "meta-narrative" for a group such as Unitarians who have varied personal mythologies.
On the first day, we began to consider the yearly cycle, and on the second day we looked at healing and wholeness.
On subsequent days we introduced possible vehicles for exploring the yearly cycle: nature, creativity, archetypes, and ceremony.
The group was facilitated (approximately) in the style of an engagement group.
Our group covenants are included at the end of this document – they're quite general – so maybe others will find them useful.
Day 1: Circles and Cycles
The quarter-days of the year (and their related Christian and Pagan festivals and traditions) were introduced.
Participants were asked to consider which of the quarter-days they felt drawn to (either positively or negatively).
Participants got into groups of three according to the season they had chosen and shared their responses to that quarter-day.
Each participant was given an A3 sheet containing a blank "wheel of the year" which they would work on through the week.
In an ideal world we would have provided a much larger wheel to give people more space to work on and add to it over time.
A downloadable copy of the "wheel of the year" image has been provided for inclusion on the website.
During the first session, participants worked on the main body of the wheel, starting with the quarter-day they'd chosen.
Any associations with the various seasons and directions of the wheel were noted down in the appropriate segments.
To get people started the following topics were suggested:
festivals, celebrations, nature/gardens, signs/symbols, personal themes and memories.
Day 2: Healing and Wholeness
Participants got into groups of three to talk about their understanding of the words "healing" and "health".
Participants went on to share their own personal experiences of healing.
The connection of the word "healing" to "wholeness" was introduced to the group.
Everybody had been asked to bring along a photograph or object that they associated with a summer memory.
Participants returned to their small groups and told the story of their object in relation to "the wholeness of their lives".
Participants were then invited to select an image (from a selection of landscapes) to represent "you healed/being whole".
Returning to the large circle, each person was given a stack of 12 small pieces of card, in a variety of different colours.
They were asked to glue their chosen image to one of the cards and then place it at the bottom of their pile.
We repeatedly asked the question "Who are you?" (every 30 seconds) and participants responded directly onto the cards.
The image became the twelfth and final response to the question.
Participants were encouraged to distill their responses into the circle at the centre of the "wheel of the year" handout.
Finally, participants were invited to consider these questions, and put their responses around the outside of their wheel:
"Who is God?" "What is God?" "When is God?" "Where is God?" "Why is God?" "How is God?"
Day 3: Nature
This session began with a time for meditation out in nature.
Participants went out to find "a summer place" and "soak up summer-ness" (even though it was a chilly day!).
On their return, everybody was invited to make a collage, in response to their feelings about summer.
Participants were then invited to go out on a "spirit walk" starting from the summer place where they had gone to meditate.
Whilst walking, if any issue came up (to do with healing/wholeness/holeyness or whatever arose), the person was to stand still.
Wherever they were, they were to consider what they could see around them, and assume it contained an important message.
Another way of saying this was to ask "Why has God done this for me?" and reflect on what the scene was saying to you.
After the walk, participants returned to the chapel, and sat in silence to record their experience.
Day 4: Creativity
This session began with a discussion of how creativity (particularly visual art) is a means of accessing things beyond words.
Participants were invited to make wall-hangings in response to the season.
Materials and instruction were provided so that people could make sheets of decorative silk paper by laying down silk fibres.
This technique was chosen as it would be new to most participants so there would be less worry about technical proficiency!
People chose to work in one of two rooms depending on whether they wanted to work in silence or to talk as they worked.
At the end of the session we made one communal piece of silk paper to which everybody was invited to contribute.
Day 5: Archetypes and Stories
This session began with the introduction of archetypes and stories as a reminder of the wide range of sources:
e.g. religious stories/myths, family/clan/community stories, astrology, literature/film/TV etc…
Participants got into groups of three to share favourite stories from childhood.
They went on to talk about other archetypes and stories which have meaning in their lives.
Participants then moved into the chapel for the next section (on "stories that we tell ourselves").
They were asked to repeatedly ask themselves the question "What do I want?" and answer it again and again without censoring.
Participants then chose one of their "wants" to focus on, visualised "how it would be" in detail, and noted their response.
They were then asked to consider what might be behind that "wanting" and what their deeper need might be.
Participants were asked if there was any story that connects with the situation they'd been thinking about.
Finally, they were given time to ponder what they could do with what had come up, and if it gave them pointers for "real life".
Day 6: Ritual and Ceremony
Participants returned to their quarter-day groups for the first part of this session.
Each group of three was invited to come up with a ritual/ceremony for their quarter-day.
These rituals will be copied and sent out to all group members at the appropriate time of the year.
The final activity was a "Summer Ceremony" compiled from readings, prayers, songs and rituals the participants had offered.
Group Covenants:
We have adopted some covenants for the workshop from those used in "best practice" small groups and religious education sessions. In your own congregation, if a group were running over a longer period, we suggest that you take time to negotiate a collective agreement about group covenants.
Notes: Participants were given a notebook in which to jot down anything that came up during the workshop.
In each session there was also an introductory meditation (and opportunity for journaling) relating to the season.
From Mon to Thurs there was overnight "homework": participants wrote a letter to themselves relating to the theme.
…these letters will be sent out to participants at appropriate times over the course of the next year.