Way of Council
What is Way of Council about ?
The Way of Council is an ancient and modern practice, a structure for holding conversations, where each participant truly listens and truly shares. From waysofcouncil.net : “Council offers a way of communicating that encourages attentive listening, as well as honest and compassionate expression. It makes room for new insights and understandings, wisdom in decision making, and healing. As a personal practice, a group process and a life-pathway, council is an intrinsic ingredient of our education at any age and especially important for families, guides, teachers, therapists, caregivers or anyone whose work involves groups.”
Way of Council can be used to foster community & connection, for wisdom sharing, for groups decision making, storytelling, and conflict resolution
Audience
Is participant experience relevant for Way of Council ?
Audience description for Way of Council
Adults, children, disempowered people, organisations, groups, communities, schools, prisons, couples, families, and more.
Requirements
a space where everyone can sit in a circle and won’t be interrupted by sound or weather
Run Through
Arrange the room so that the entire group can sit in a circle (on chairs or cushions) without a table or any furniture in the centre. Everyone should be able to see everyone else without straining.
If possible, it is ideal for everyone to be seated on the floor on cushions with back support for whoever wants it.
It can be really nice to put something beautiful at the centre of the circle: flowers, fabrics, candles, and objects that are relevant to the topic of the gathering.
It is also good to have a talking piece: an object that can be passed around and held by the speaker. Something that is related to the theme of the conversation, something light enough to be passed around but heavy enough to feel substantial is ideal.
Introduction
Begin by acknowledging the place where you are gathered. Place exerts influence on what is shared and how it is shared, so it is important to name that at the beginning. You can honor the place by describing how its history might relate to the present moment.
Welcome the participants. It is important for people to feel comfortable, safe, and welcome so that they can open up enough to share.Light the candle & begin
Once it feels like everyone has arrived energetically, light the candle and share the intentions for council:
Talking piece - Only the person holding the talking piece is empowered to speak
Exceptions: expressing that you can not hear the speaker or saying “ho” or “ah-ho” to express support or agreement
The simplest form is to pass the talking piece clockwise around the circle. Each person pauses in silence when the piece comes to them and feels into what may or may not be arising that wants to be shared.
THE FOUR INTENTIONS OF COUNCIL
Speaking from the heart - Visualise your words coming out of your mid-chest rather than your mouth. This can help to access deeper meanings of what you’re wanting to share.
Listening from the heart - Visualise the speaker’s words flowing into your (the listener’s) chest. This is especially helpful when you’re feeling bored, irritated, tired, or just not resonating with what the speaker is saying. This visualisation can help you to hear the meaning underneath the speaker’s words.
Being of “Lean Expression” - Be brief with your words. When you’re really practising the first two intentions, this one comes naturally.
Spontaneity - As the talking piece moves around the circle, a lot of different emotions, memories, and ideas may arise in you. Practice putting all your attention on listening while someone else is speaking. Do not practice, rehearse, or imagine what you will say when the talking piece comes to you. Instead, do your best to be fully present to each speaker. When the piece comes to you, take a moment in silence to go inward. Sense what is arising in your heart right NOW. If nothing is arising, silence can be a beautiful offering to the circle. You can also pass. If something is arising, you can trust that is the thing that needs to be shared.
Confidentiality -- You may want to make an agreement at the beginning that what is shared in the circle will not be discussed with anyone who is not present afterward.Pose a question, present the theme, or come up with one together
Once everyone understands how the Way of Council works, present the topic of discussion. Then either pass the talking piece around the circle clockwise OR place the talking piece at the centre for anyone to take.Closing
Online
Way of Council works very well online! An adaptation can be that the host of the council names who the talking piece goes to next. Or the speaker can choose who is next until all have spoken.
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