Small Gatherings – Instructions

Welcome to the small gatherings instructions! Thank you for your interest in participating. The intent of these gatherings is to enjoy connecting, getting to know each other better, and explore more deeply how we are doing with the state of the world. Additionally, we wish to identify what would support us in finding our inner resources and taking meaningful, manageable action. The goal of the questions (below) is to connect us in our hearts, ours, and each other’s. Creating groups that care about each other as well as the issues that matter to us will help us build a community based in kindness, foster a foundation of strong bonds, and help keep us inspired and motivated within the movement.

Gatherings happen ideally with some food or drink, with a meal or appetizers. Sharing food together is an ancient and beautiful way to connect in the heart. You can organize a potluck and meet in an apartment, meet at a table in one of the more quiet dining rooms, or gather around comfortable chairs in a lounge. Whatever is manageable, please don’t let the food or location be an obstacle to meeting.

Please plan to meet four times, as fast as you like, but preferably not more than a week between meetings.

Five or six people is an ideal group size, but as few as three or as many as eight can work if the group of eight is willing to take more time.

Agenda

Spend up to an hour for the first part of the gathering, sharing food and socializing. The second hour will consist of a structured conversation focused on a few questions for participants to share. The group can take more time if everyone agrees, as long as there is an awareness that we don’t want people feeling drained.

Each person will take turns answering the questions, within the time allocated. This is meant to give everyone equal air time, and allow for each question to be addressed in the available time. Where mentioned in the instructions below, the group will take time to reflect what they heard and appreciated about what was just shared. This feedback strengthens people’s experience of clarification, being heard and valued.

Please email Stephen (stephen@thepowerofus.co) if you have any questions or suggestions to improve this experience.

Agreements

2. Please avoid cross-talk, that is, sharing opinions, positions, criticism, or evaluations of other people’s shares. But you are free to share in the positive what you appreciate about what someone said, how it touched or moved you.

3. If strong feelings come up, for yourself or others, please just allow them to be there and be present. Let them move. Tapping our emotions is a good thing, it means we are accessing our hearts, our vulnerability.

4. Please ask if you’d like to offer or receive touch, and if anyone prefers not to be touched, please say so.

5. Please confirm that everyone in the group agrees with these guidelines.

6. You will need a timekeeper who can set an alarm for time intervals for each question, and group members need to be mindful of wrapping up their thoughts after the bell.

Gatherings Questions

MEETING 1: WHERE IS OUR FOCUS

1. Some things you love about being alive on Earth are… (2 minutes each, with 1 additional minute reflections from the group)
2. How are you doing mentally and emotionally with what’s happening in the world? What are your deep concerns? (2 minutes each, with 1 additional minute reflections from the group)
3. What support do you need right now? (1 minutes each) See the video and page on practices?

MEETING 2: MEANING – WHAT IS YOUR WHY?

1. What is a movie or a novel that deeply moved you, that was speaking “your story”? (2 minutes each, with 1 additional minute reflection from the group)
2. What is a story (or up to 3) from your life that moved you deeply, that broke your heart about an injustice or a tragedy in the world which 1) revealed to you how much you care, and 2) changed your understanding of yourself, others, and the world? (3 minutes each, with 1 additional minute reflection from the group)

Take a few minutes to write down how this memory connects you to what you matters to you in the world that you want to help change or protect. It should be an image or a memory that connects you to your heart, your compassion and care that will fuel whatever action you take with meaning and feeling.

MEETING 3: MEANING – RESOURCES AND SELF TALK

1. Every moment can be thought of as a vote for the future. What is the future you have been voting for? And what’s the future you want to vote for? (2 minutes  each, with 1 additional minute reflection from the group)
2. What is a challenge you faced in your life that evoked your inner resources and resourcefulness from which you drew important lessons? What did you learn about yourself or life? (3 minutes each, with 1 additional minute reflection from the group)

MEETING 4: ACTION

1. What might nature or your future descendants be asking of you at this time? What actions call to you, or would involve your gifts and talents? (1 minutes each)
2. Is there a time in your life you were part of a team working on a goal or vision that was a positive experience? What did you learn and what would you like to replicate in this group? (2 minutes each, with 1 additional minute reflection from the group)
3. Take the rest of the time and discuss how you would like to go forward as a group. Decide:
   1. How often you would like to meet
   2. What actions do you want to take?
   3. Do you want to work on one action together, or separate actions as a group, or take action individually and meet regularly to keep each other motivated and inspired?