The act of group remembering, looking back over a just-completed workshop or project, can be a bonding way of synthesizing an experience, particularly one that is complicated.
After a program, course, or project, the organizing team can use this method to reflect on each person’s role and effectiveness. A powerful tool for internal use amongst a team that has worked closely and trusts each other.
When people set intentions at the beginning of a session, day, workshop, or project, powerful potential is unleashed. Participants simply identify what their aim is and the facilitator reminds them periodically to return to their intention.
Tonglen is a powerful meditation practice central to Tibetan Buddhism. In this practice, one visualizes taking into oneself the suffering of others on the in-breath, and on the out-breath sending happiness and wellness to all sentient beings.
At the first meal that the group is together, each person says something about themselves (usually name, place of origin, their role in the project, how they heard about it or why they came to the program) and one additional question that the most recent arrival comes up with.
Each participant tells their life story to the rest of the group in 15 minutes or less.
In groups of three, participants draw each other’s eyes without looking at the paper.
Participants share specific appreciations and gratitude for other participants in the group. This practice can seriously transform the energy of a group. It is an excellent closing ceremony or to celebrate a person, program, project, or milestone.