Discussion
This is an excerpt from notes on our Circle's discussion of a particularly wonderful ritual (our private rite from Samhain 1998), a not-quite-as-wonderful ritual (a large group ritual at an event we hosted the same weekend), and our needs from a ritual we were about to plan (my own houseblessing in November 1998). I'm not even putting initials here, just the comments, but those comments are grouped together by who made them during the discussion, because that's how I took the notes! *wink*
I'm including these because I think that this process of planning, creating, acting, and then reviewing has helped us to create stronger rituals and a stronger Circle. The first Circle I worked with didn't use such a process, and other groups I'm familiar with often don't set aside time specifically for discussion and review of past rituals. Having experienced it regularly, though, I'm convinced it's *very* useful--so I'm including an example of such a conversation here, to illustrate what I mean when I suggest trying such review.
I will note, though, that I selected this discussion only because I had already typed up my notes on it, making it readily available for posting; I'm not saying this is the best discussion, the worst, or unique in any other way besides being well-documented! :)
1: trust, powerful, wonderful, bonding, awesome, eye-opening, connection, needed more grounding.
2: continued at home, powerful, wonderful
3: incredible, bonding. More like that!
4: touched on emotions we usually don't. There for each other no matter what. Let's do more emotions!
5: I underestimated the effect it would have on me. Increased value. We take each other for granted. It was difficult.
6: The move indoors was good. We were more grounded, more contained. Question: connection to Watson?
7: want a stronger connection to the group.
8: suggestion for individual time for each group member, focus briefly on each person's need, one at a time.
9: Yes-and telephone! Stay in touch!
10: You all care this much, through my blocks? Wow!
** Discussion of how to connect better with ---. --- expressed a similar need for stronger bonds, and is working for more individual time with each of us to strengthen her connection.
Here also are some comments from the same meeting, of how we might have improved the not-quite-perfect large group ritual that took place the same evening at a weekend event our Circle hosted:
II. Main ritual at Spiritfest-discussion of how to improve:
(Paraphrase of ritual, including strengths and weaknesses)
Suggestions:
Little rituals leading up to main one, with smaller groups
Meal blessings-idea from (someone at the event who'd corresponded via e-mail): circle of hands, cook give menu, tone "Yum!"
Energy-raising workshop
Plan the framework at home, and anchor it in competent people we know (most likely among our
circle), then ask others to fill in smaller positions?
And, finally, here is a bit of the discussion that led up to planning our actual next ritual, a blessing of my family's new apartment. Again, in the discussion I've wiped out names altogether. Some of the numbers were thoughts voiced by the same person; I just went through and changed the names to numbers, in order, other than leaving in my own where I've already given it away anyway.
III. What do we want out of this ritual?
1: cold, Thanksgiving, silence, darkness, solitude
2: Might that be better for the sauna/sweat lodge?
3: Leave the past in the past, and welcome and bless the new.
White candles.
4: hands raised slowly together, inward, in a circle; raise energy, turn out, lower and spread arms
5: purified, centered, grounded in self
6: time of the young active crone. Praise Weavre's accomplishments of last year? Nesting, padding the nest.
7: transition into hibernation
8: needs a nest. "up in the air." Transition time.
9: how about self-nesting? (12: yes)
10: needs continued support to (--- accomplish a very important personal goal, specifics omitted here)
11: build actual nests in the library?
OK, enough glimpses into our little discussions! I hope I've given a couple brief examples from this meeting of what we try to do in our planning sessions--now, if you like, click here and take a look at the house blessing ritual we wrote at that meeting!