Deeper Joy: Games, Songs, Activities and Practices for Community-Builders!

By Jennica Davis

The Community Building Map to Deeper Joy is an evolving compilation of games, songs, activities and practices designed for community builders, activists, educators, and anyone interested in fostering inclusive, multigenerational communities centered in Love. Most of these games and activities are from the “folksphere,” who knows when or by whom they were invented, but they’ve been passed down by oral tradition in performance and movement circles for generations. If you find a game that looks strikingly like something you created and you’d like credit please reach out to youth@uua.org!

A graphic showing the front and back of a game card, with a colorful illustration of the Deeper Joy's landscape feature on one side and instructions for an activity on the other side.

Deeper Joy Card Deck

Spark connection and deepen bonds in your community with the Deeper Joy Deck. The Deeper Joy Deck is a playful, practical, choose-your-own-adventure tool for facilitators, educators, and organizers to spark connection and practice shared values.

Buy the Card Deck

Four Deeper Joy images in a tiled formation: the cards, the RPG, the JUUst Breathe podcast, a YouTube video thumbnail — Explore More Joy!

More Deeper Joy Resources

Cue up the playlist, play the RPG, listen to the podcast, order merch, explore leader resources, or submit a favorite game.

Bonding Harbor
From Deeper Joy

The first step in building community is to identify some cohesiveness and a very low stakes sense of contributing to the collective.
Opening Up Beach
From Deeper Joy

When we share low risk or non threatening stuff about ourselves and our lives and feel like we are received, considered and valued our sense of safety increases.
Forest of Affirmation
From Deeper Joy

When we value other’s experiences, witness their growth and support them in their tender moments our trustworthiness increases. These are the times we offer gratitude for each other and the group and celebrate our differences and our gifts.
Cliffs of Exclusivity
From Deeper Joy

Watch out for the jagged borders that actively or inadvertently keep others out instead of drawing the circle wider.
Covenant Lighthouse
From Deeper Joy

Like a red and white striped beacon in rough waters, the agreements we make with one another guide our way. Covenants are our UU theology of messing up & repair. They are what we can refer back to when we get lost. Like a lighthouse, our covenants create the conditions for safety.
Healing Springs
From Deeper Joy

When there is hurt or harm, the way we show up for each other matters. Repair, amends and recovery are vital on the journey to deeper joy.
Stretching River
From Deeper Joy

Trials, problem-solving opportunities and challenges can all bring a group closer to each other.
Canyons of Deeper Sharing
From Deeper Joy

With the right conditions and preparation, groups can support each other in the depths and heights of their spiritual growth. Sharing can mean stories about ourselves, sharing about our feelings and situations, or sharing experiences together, making shared memories, and sharing moments of awe.
Tepid Bay
From Deeper Joy

It might be tempting to endlessly paddle around in the Tepid Bay, the waters are calm and you’re a safe distance away from everything. But the waters are also shallow. And after the sun sets, it’s kind of lonely out there.
Deeper Joy Philosophy and Principles
From Deeper Joy

Deeper Joy is a Map of Community Building activities that help groups of any age and ability mingle, bond, stretch, heal and repair. These are games with purpose. These are spirit lessons.
Journeys of Deeper Joy

Ember Oak Kelley

From Deeper Joy

Engage your UU community with an RPG that blends imaginative roleplaying with reflection and community-building for all ages. Embark on journeys in the world of Covenantia, and explore what it means to live out our UU values.