Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Opening Ritual

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Thursday, February 6, 2003, at 11:31  PM, Meryl Birn wrote:
> At a recent meeting, we discussed a desire to have some kind of ritual 
> at
> the start of the meeting, to help us to create a sense of community, 
> and
> help remind us of what we are building.

The best opening ritual in my experience is an "opening round", a 
moment for each person to say whatever they would like about who they 
are today, what their life is like, what is concerning them at the  
moment, how they are feeling -- anything that connects them to others 
in the room and allows others to connect to them.

The opening round connects people and creates a group. Once you use it 
regularly you will find that without it, the meeting doesn't go as 
well. Not everyone is "connected". You will feel that you don't know 
where people are coming from -- people change and it is important to 
know "where they are" today.

This round creates equal space for everyone in the room. It gives 
everyone a voice. In Sociocracy, rounds are used instead of queues so 
everyone has an equal place in the discussion without having to "fight" 
for it or assert their right to speak. The round emphasizes the group 
wants to hear from everyone. People can pass, and often do, but their 
equality (or equivalence) has been established by giving them their 
space to speak.

(Sorry, I haven't responded to other messages but a fall in the shower 
has left me with broken ribs and typing causes muscle spasms.)

Sharon
-----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org

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