A bit of group work at Christmas ......I started by giving each member of the group a little Christmas tree, the size if a 5 pence coin.
Then I asked what feelings they had when - seeing - feeling this little symbol of Christmas.
(I am in a hostel which accomodates young humans
who have no other place to live.
They are on the bottom rung of the housing ladder.
At the bottom end of another ladder called 'society'.
They are in the foundations - below ground - no ladder visible.
Picking up the crumbs.
Their housing need is the easier one to meet.
Toothache of the soul ........... is the big one ........... )
As usual, many have difficulty in getting into contact with how they feel.
Out-slipped words like
'I hate Christmas',
'I don't like Christmas',
'I have no money to buy, - not even, one present'.
I then moved to asking them about who the main human characters were in the Christmas story.
The first word uttered was ::
'Santa'.
Soon after there was a list of eight mentioned - come on - you can do this too!
The names/descriptions of the characters went into a hat, Jesus too.
Each drew one and I went around the circle asking how they thought that one 'felt' during the Christmas story
- a feelings question.
Here are some stand out feelings which came out from the group members::
Mary - stressed
Joseph - scared/worried
Innkeeper - guilty
King - good-to-give
Shepherd - in awe
Angel - 'yes'! - sorted!
Three of the characters were named by the group as having negative feelings. They were the main focus of the whole story because they were responsible adults.
The rich - feeling good to give not receiving.
The tough rough/simple life style shepherd - awe - overwhelmed.
The last one was a dead pleased Angel who really knew that this was pretty good news ........... "YESSSSSSS"
Why do this with a group?
1 I am on a journey to cultivate in myself, and others, with an increasing ability to be able to get into contact my/their own feelings.
2 As we looked at each other and listened, empathising, we learn from each other. A learning process into awareness andsensitivity.
3 Articulating those feelings is then a process of 'owning' such powerful things as feelings.
4 A human identification with a powerful historical, spiritual and human story is a good place to start. Reality at Christmas - to escape the tinsel for some small moments ........ and it was stinking good .........
Why not try it on humans around you?
Adapt - of course.
You never know, they may be pleased to talk 'real' as we slide down the Christmas slippery slope.
During the past few weeks I have had my 'being' with humans ::
Visibly self harming
Severe depression
Lost and uncertain
Lonely and afraid
No place like home to go at Christmas
Refugee
Deep feelings and disturbed
(the last one is me and I want to be disturbed!)
Thanx for clicking this way.
I will tell you straight - I take value from you doing this.
You are beautiful .........
and
I
want
to
comfort
the
disturbed
and
disturb
the
comfortable
.
