What is Covenantia? Journey 2

Part of Deeper Joy

By Ember Oak Kelley

Prior to the Journey

Inspiration for Making Your Own Clay Map

Modification Notes for Lorekeeper

Check In

(Suggested time: 5-7 minutes) 

A brief time for Joys and Concerns or any other regular practices of your community for sharing from the participants about their lives. Make sure to remind the participants about the X-Card.

Remember that check in can be flexible. Check-ins are important for grounding, but they don’t need to be rigid. If someone overshares or shares for too long, gently redirect. If the group’s energy is low, shorten check in. The goal is connection and community, not completion of a script. There is a list of example check in questions in the Facilitators Guide. Remember that sometimes check in may need to run longer, for instance if a participant is facing particular challenges at the moment or if there has been a challenging event locally or on a wider scale. Use your discretion, and do what your group needs.

Chalice Lighting

We set out not knowing what journeys may come,
With dice in hand and wonder near.
We craft our way ourselves and explore who we are.

We name our promises and choose how to return.
We share ourselves, offering and receiving vulnerability.
We may drift when purpose fades,
but we grow through the journeys we face.

We are witnessed with gratitude,
and we widen our circle with care.
We practice loving ourselves whole,
as our truths are revealed.

Welcome, journeyers,
to the Beloved Community we’re building,
room for laughter, change, and connection.
Whatever you carry, bring it here.
Whatever you fear, name it here.
We go forward,
toward the deeper joy we create together.

(For a shorter chalice lighting, you can start at “Welcome journeyers.”)

Introducing the Deeper Joy Map

(Suggested time: 5 minutes) 

  • Share: Deeper Joy map (digital, printed, or poster)
  • Ask: What do you notice about this map?
  • Share: Our journeys will take place in this land. To become better acquainted with it, today we are creating a three dimensional version of the map using crafting supplies. As we build the map together, I will share about each of the areas we will be exploring.

Map Creation Activity

(Suggested time: 30 minutes) 

  • Prepare chosen crafting supplies.
  • Share: Today we get to build Covenantia together, not just in our imaginations, but with our hands! Each mountain, river, and location you create will help bring Covenantia to life. Think of this map like a living game board for our journeys.
  • Lay out a cardboard sheet, foam board, or poster board as the “land” of Covenantia.
  • Share: This is our world’s canvas. By the end, it will be filled with the places we will explore together.
  • Offer Supplies: These might include air dry clay, Play-Doh, Lego bricks, Wikki Stix, pipe cleaners, paper scraps or other crafting materials. Encourage creativity. Things do not have to be made from the same material.
  • Create: Start with building the core features of the map then moving into the locations.
  • Read through the following text while the participants create the map, pointing out locations on the map.

This is the Map to Community Building. The land is green and brown, and the ocean runs along the bottom. Along the ocean waterfront is Opening Up Beach with some unlabeled islands off shore. Opening Up Beach is where we start to share stuff about ourselves and our lives. When we feel like what we share is received, considered and valued, our sense of trust in the group increases.

Located on a point up from Opening Up Beach is the Covenant Lighthouse. Like the red and white striped beacon in uncertain or rough waters, covenants are the agreements we make with one another to guide our way. Covenants are the UU theology of messing up and repair. They are what we can refer back to when we get lost. Like a lighthouse, our covenants create the conditions for being together without crashing on the rocks.

In the lower left corner where a river flows into the sea is Bonding Harbor. The first step in building community is to identify some cohesiveness and a sense of contributing to the collective. This is where you might ask yourself, “Is it safe to let down my guard a little?”

The river that feeds the Bonding Harbor is labeled Stretching River. This is where we get out of our comfort zone and into a growth zone. Trials, problem-solving, and challenges can all bring us closer to each other. We’re creating experiences that make our group stronger by doing together what we can’t do alone.

On the other side of the river is a bunch of trees labeled Forest of Affirmation. When we value each other’s experiences, witness each other’s growth, and support each other in our tender moments, we show compassion and our bonds and trust grow. These are the times we offer gratitude for each other and to the group and celebrate our differences and our gifts.

To the left of the river is a small body of water labeled Healing Springs. 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. This is where we bolster our immunity and resilience to the challenges of the world with preventative measures. This is the space to love all of ourselves. There is rest and time for integrating lessons here in the healing springs.

At the very left in the middle is a green bay labeled “Tepid Bay.” Many groups find themselves stuck and swirling in these lukewarm waters. Perhaps folks don’t feel like they matter to the group. Maybe a sense of safety has been broken or was never there to begin with, or there isn’t a sense of purpose or direction in the group.

In the upper right corner of the map is a jagged edge labeled Cliffs of Exclusivity. This is where things can get real. Now, there are two sides to exclusivity. On the one hand we want to watch out for the jagged borders that either actively or inadvertently keep others out instead of drawing them in and making our circle wider. We must pay close attention to inclusion and accessibility. On the other hand, some aspects of exclusivity define our collective identity and collective values. We must have what Priya Parker calls “generous exclusion,” where belonging is exclusive and based on the purpose, principles or values of the gathering or community. This is a positive side of exclusivity because it gives us a space with others who share our values and commitments.

In the middle of the top of the map are some canyons that the Stretching River cuts through. They are labeled Canyons of Deeper Sharing. With the right conditions and preparation, we can support each other in the depths and heights of vulnerability and “growth opportunities” in ways that we cannot do on our own. When we say sharing, we may mean sharing stories about ourselves or sharing about our feelings and situations. It can also mean sharing experiences together, making shared memories, and sharing moments of wonder and awe. Respect and practicing continuous, active consent is at the heart of this kind of sharing and vulnerability.

  • During the map creation, explain: For any blind or low-vision participants or for folks who are especially kinesthetic or touch oriented, it is helpful that we make features tactile. This map is also helping us with accessibility.
  • During the creation, ask: What communities are important in your life?

Discussion on Participant Preferences for Gameplay

Now that we’ve created our characters and explored our campaign map together, let’s take a few moments to talk about how we can make this game as welcoming and comfortable for everyone as possible. We’ll go over some important questions about everyone’s preferences. This helps us build a supportive group and make sure our adventure is fun for all.

Absent Character Preferences: “Let’s talk about what you’d like to happen with your character if you miss a session. Would you prefer your character rests on the Airship, or should I (or a friend) play your character for the session? Are there any limits, like actions you wouldn’t want taken or decisions you’d prefer saved for your return?”

Character Relationships: “Do you have any preferences about your character’s relationships in the group. Would you enjoy exploring friendships, rivalries, or other ties? Please say what you feel comfortable with, and remember, participation in relationships and storylines is always by consent.”

Inter-Character Conflict & Pranks: “Let’s check in about pranks, teasing, or any dramatic in-character conflict. How much of this feels fun for you? Is there anything off-limits or styles you want us to avoid? It’s important that everyone feels comfortable and knows their boundaries are respected.”

Topics to Avoid: “Are there any topics, creatures, storylines, or situations you’d prefer we leave out of the game for your comfort? Just let me know. These requests will always be honored, no explanations needed.”

Out of Character Talk Preferences: “How much chatting and joking outside the story feels right for you during play? Would you like to keep most conversations in-character, or is side talk part of the fun? Let’s find a balance that works for everyone.”

Roleplay Immersion Preferences: “How immersive do you want our sessions to feel. Should we go deep into roleplaying and atmosphere, or keep things lighter and more casual? This helps set the mood so everyone feels included.”

Reflection Time

(Use the remaining time.)

  • Ask: What does it mean to “build community”? What are some ways that you’ve built community with others in the past, here or someplace else?

Debrief

  • Explain: At the end of each session, there will be an opportunity for discussion of any particular issues or moments in the session that anyone needs some time and space to process. Also, whenever we can, Lorekeepers will be available after the session if anyone needs to talk further.
  • Ask: Does anyone need to debrief anything in particular that happened in today’s session?
  • If you’re available, tell participants that you will be around afterwards if anyone needs to talk further about anything from the session.

Chalice Extinguishing

We played. We pondered.
We noticed. We named.
Stories spun,
We held a sacred, shifting space,
not perfect, but real.
Now we depart, no longer the same as when we arrived.
We carry stories and names, hopes and dreams.

Theirs. Ours. Yours.
A tale to relay
that joy is deeper
When we create it together.

(For a shorter chalice extinguishing, begin at “Theirs. Ours. Yours.”)

Lorekeeper Journal

Use your Lorekeeper Journal to note important happenings and reflections from today’s journey for reference later and so other Lorekeepers can be informed of key storytelling points.