Workshop 7: Council Among the Trees, Part 2 Part of Circle of Trees In This Section Introduction From Circle of Trees Come back with me into a story we all share, a story whose rhythm beats in us still. The story belongs to each of us and to all of us, like the beat of [a] drum, like the heartbeat of our living universe. — Joanna Macy, in Thinking Like a Mountain This workshop completes the ritual begun in... Workshop-at-a-Glance From Circle of Trees Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering Opening 5 Activity 1: Reconnecting 5 Activity 2: Creating the Gateway 5 Activity 3: Council Among the Trees 30 Activity 4: Grounding 10 Faith in Action: Engaging in the Project Closing 5... Spiritual Preparation From Circle of Trees Find a place where you can be quiet with your thoughts. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for several minutes, perhaps repeating a word or phrase to separate yourself from the activities of the day. When you feel settled and relaxed, imagine and reconnect with your spirit of the being or part of... Welcoming and Entering From Circle of Trees Materials for Activity Cloth for altar or centering table Leaf name tags from the previous workshop, plus a few blank extras, and markers Basket for name tags Preparation for Activity Place the cloth and chalice on the altar or centering table. Set the name tags in the basket with a marker nearby. Opening From Circle of Trees Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice, candle, and lighter or LED/battery-operated candle Newsprint, markers, and tape Chalice lighting words and "Our Covenant" from the previous workshops Preparation for Activity Select an area where the group can comfortably sit in a circle.... Activity 1: Reconnecting From Circle of Trees Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Container of masks from Workshop 6 Preparation for Activity Read all the activities in the ritual so you will be comfortable leading it. Description of Activity Invite everyone to get their masks from the container they placed them in at the end of... Activity 2: Creating the Gateway From Circle of Trees Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Drums or rattles Preparation for Activity Select an area, preferably outdoors, for the Council to take place, and designate an entry or "gateway" to the Council circle. Be sure that your chosen area is accessible to people of all ages and ability... Activity 3: Council Among the Trees From Circle of Trees Activity time: 30 minutes Preparation for Activity Read the ritual so you will be comfortable leading it. Description of Activity As participants are gathered in the circle, remind them that each being or nature spirit will introduce themselves to the Council Among the Trees-saying who they are,... Activity 4: Grounding From Circle of Trees Activity time: 10 minutes Description of Activity Invite all of the beings and nature spirits to walk back through the gateway, put on their "human masks" (by taking off their spirit masks), and return to the circle holding their spirit masks.... Closing From Circle of Trees Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Newsprint, markers, and tape Taking It Home Basket for name tags Preparation for Activity Download the Taking It Home section of this workshop to reflect the activities this group has done. Copy it as a handout for all participants. (You may wish to... Leader Reflection and Planning From Circle of Trees Meet with your co-leader after the workshop to reflect on the following: How was the mix of discussion and action? In the midst of the busy-ness, did you successfully include spiritual elements? How well did the activities include everyone? Were the activities appropriate for the ages of your... Faith In Action: Engaging in the Project From Circle of Trees Materials for Activity Project plan developed in the previous workshop Preparation for Activity Make preparations as detailed in the project plan. Description of Activity By this workshop, the group will have identified a project and planned the elements needed to complete the project. In this... Taking It Home From Circle of Trees Come back with me into a story we all share, a story whose rhythm beats in us still. The story belongs to each of us and to all of us, like the beat of [a] drum, like the heartbeat of our living universe. — Joanna Macy, in Thinking Like a Mountain IN TODAY'S WORKSHOP... we completed the Council... Find Out More From Circle of Trees A comprehensive manual to help you facilitate a weekend-length Council of All Beings without previous experience can be found on the Rainforest Info website. Two good UU environmental resources are the UU Ministry for Earth and the UUA Green Sanctuary Program. PREVIOUS: Find Out More About Workshop 6: Council Among The Trees, Part 1 UP: Circle of Trees NEXT: Introduction Download all of Circle of Trees (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.