Workshop 7: Council Among the Trees, Part 2

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

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: Council Among the Trees, Part 2
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.

Download all of Circle of Trees (Word) (PDF) to edit or print.

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Workshop 7: Council Among the Trees, Part 2

Tapestry is Sunsetting

Shop Books & Gifts

Rooted Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit

Get Inspired for Worship

Blessed, Just by Being

Find Faith Development Tools

Penguins Power