1.
Balanced Ecosystem:-
Discussion: A
balanced system is one in which each part plays a role by contributing and
taking something so the system can sustain itself. The same is true
within one person, within a family, or within a society.
Activity: Draw an
ecosystem that is familiar to you, such as a beach, forest, ocean, or
jungle. Depict parts of the ecosystem that give and take from each other,
such as the water that nourishes animals, and replenishes itself with the
rain. Animals eat plants and also fertilize soil. Soil receives
nutrients from fallen leaves and generates new plant growth. How does it
feel when a system is in balance? How can other systems keep their
balance?
2.
I Will Survive!:-
Discussion: Read the
lyrics to the song, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor. What is
a part of your life that you would like to say good-bye to? In what way
are you a Survivor?
Activity: Play the song while participants
stand in a circle. Sing the song aloud together, adding gestures and
movements to send those negative aspects of your life "out the door!"
3. Call Waiting :-
(adapted from theatre game we played at the West Virginia University Theatre Department)
(adapted from theatre game we played at the West Virginia University Theatre Department)
Pick three
contrasting people in your lives that bring out different sides of your
personality, such as a romantic interest, a parent, a best friend, a sibling, a
teacher or supervisor, or an ex-partner. Pretend you get a phone call
from the first person on your list and begin talking with them about imaginary
or real subject matter. Imagine that you get a phone call from the second
person on your list that "beeps in" while you are talking, and you
place the first person on hold while you answer the second person's call.
Talk with the second person briefly, then end the conversation and return to
the call with the first person. Then imagine the third person "beeps
in" and you again talk to them briefly before ending that conversation and
returning to the first person. End the call with the first person and
hang up. Discuss how the person's body language, voice, attitude, and
demeanor changed as they spoke with the different people in their lives.
4.
Group Journey:-
Facilitator plays
relaxing music, such as Native American flute or harp music. Participants
sit comfortably in their chairs with their eyes closed or gazing downward at
the floor. Participants are encouraged to imagine a scene that is relaxing,
safe, comforting, and beautiful. After several minutes, one at a time,
each person invites the group to their scene by describing it in second person;
for example, "You are lying on soft sand under a warm sun with the sound
of waves in the background. A group of dolphins swim by and you can hear
sea gulls passing overhead." When the first person is finished
sharing their scene in as much detail as possible, the next person shares their
scene; for example, "You are climbing up a mountain at night under the
moon. The sound of leaves crunches under your feet. Your heart
beats with the feeling of excitement and beauty. A wolf passes by and
looks you in the eye before continuing walking across your path."
When everyone has shared, the facilitator invites anyone to share any feelings
that have come up before closing the meditation. The facilitator
encourages everyone to slowly come "back into the room," wiggle
fingers and toes, and slowly open their eyes. Discuss favorite images or
scenes that peers described in the group.
5.
Mirroring Sequence:-
Sitting in a circle,
the group will mirror the exact movements of each person in the group for 60
seconds. When it is someone's turn, that person can lead various
movements, such as facial expressions, clapping, or standing up, or they can
simply sit normally, but the group will attempt to mimic exactly the way the
person is sitting or moving, including small movements of feet, fingers, or
facial expressions. When everyone has had a turn to lead, the group
divides into pairs sitting facing each other, selecting Partner A and Partner
B. Partner A will lead slow movements with the hands and Partner B will
mirror the movements as closely as possible. Next, Partner B will lead
and Partner A will follow. Notice that the leader has to move slowly so
that their partner will be able to follow closely. If there is time,
members can try also limit movements to the legs and feet or to the face.
(Mimicking funny faces in slow motion is truly hysterical.) Each person
can also rate their partner as a leader and as a follower on a score of one to
ten. Finally, each partnership will perform for the group without telling
the group who is leading or following, and the group will try to guess who was
leading or following. Discussion: Is it easier for you to lead or
follow? Why?
6.
Protect Your Treasures:-
On a blank piece of
paper, draw a treasure box that is filled with aspects of your being that are
precious, including your Love, your Beauty, your Beliefs, your Dignity or
Pride, and your Sexuality. Draw a boundary around your treasures with
various characters outside the boundary who can determine who is trustworthy
for you to share your treasures with. Pick protective characters who are
strong, wise, and discerning to help ward off anyone who may try to steal your
treasures.
7. The Red Shoes:-
(from the book, Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes)
(from the book, Women Who Run With The Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes)
Copy and read
together with the group the story of "The Red Shoes." (A copy
can be found on Dr.
Catherine Shafer's blog on Child Development.) Why did the girl become so
obsessed with the red shoes? What was she really longing for? What
could she have done differently at any point in the story to avoid the tragedy
at the end? For example, could she have told the old woman at the start
of the story, "Thanks but no thanks, I'm fine on my own!"? Or
could she have made another pair of red shoes for herself that brought you the
same joy as the ones she lost in the beginning of the story? Or could she
have run away from the old woman and gone back to the forest? Depict how
you would have avoided the bad ending of the story through artwork and share
with the group.
8.
Labyrinth Meditation:-
Print different
labyrinth designs for each person in the group (A google image search will have
hundreds of them.) Each person gets one of the sheets to trace with their
finger or the back of a pen or pencil. Participants are encouraged go as
slowly as possible, to sit erect in their chairs, and to breathe deeply in and
out, since the labyrinth is a way to practice staying calm and focused through
the twists and turns that life brings. When you reach the center of the
labyrinth, trace your path back to the entrance of the labyrinth and repeat
until the time is up. The facilitator can allow five minutes for each
labyrinth. After five minutes, group members can write on a separate
piece of paper any thoughts or feelings that came up with that design,
including feelings of impatience or relaxation. Participants pass their
papers to the right and repeat the same process with the next design for five
minutes, again recording thoughts and feelings between each one. Finish
and discuss. What was challenging about this activity? What was
enjoyable about it? Did you prefer the more complex or simple
designs?
9.
Stars in the Night:-
Discuss quote by
Stephenie Meyer, "Without the dark, we'd never see the stars."
What are some of the gifts of the dark times in your life? Paint, color,
or draw a night scene with brilliant stars and use words and images in the picture
to represent what gifts you have found in the darkness.
10.
Covered and Uncovered:-
Using large pieces
of cloth or extra clothing, such as a sweater or jacket, participants are
invited to cover parts of their body in a way that increases a feeling of
safety, protection, or containment, such as wrapping it around their shoulders,
around their waist or hips, or over their heads or face. Notice how it
feels to be hidden or covered from others. Without bumping into anyone,
try walking around the room with your covering, while experimenting with
covering different parts of your body. What felt the most comfortable to
you? What did it feel like? Next, try uncovering yourself with the
cloth in your own timing, such as "flashing" little glimpses of the
hidden parts, opening and closing the fabric like wings, or completely
discarding the cloth and walking around the room without the covering.
What did it feel like to reveal yourself? When do you feel safe to reveal
yourself to others? What is the hardest thing for you to reveal to others?
