Wednesday, December 18, 2019

CONTEXT = a London Hostel:: TIME 10pm:: PRESENT:: Teenagers.




I started by giving each member of the group a little Christmas tree the size of a thumbnail.
Then I asked what feelings they had 
- seeing - feeling this little Christmas trinket.
 
As usual, many have difficulty to contact how they feel. 
THEN::
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 
'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 as you read)

Their names/descriptions went into a hat, 
Jesus too. 
Each drew one and I went around the group 
asking how they thought their one character 'felt' - feelings question.

Here are some stand-out feelings;

Mary - stressed
Joseph - scared/worried
Innkeeper - guilty
King - good-to-give
Shepherd - in awe
Angel - 'yes'! - sorted!

Three of the above were noted as having negative feelings and 
they were the main focus of the whole affair as 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?

• am on a journey to cultivate in myself, and others, an increasing ability to be able to get into contact my/their own feelings.
• Looking at others and empathising is a learning process into sensitivity.
• Articulating those feelings is a process of 'owning' such powerful things as feelings.
• A human identification with a powerful historical spiritual human story. 
Reality at Christmas - to escape the tinsel for some small moments ........ and it was stinking good ………

Why not try it on humans around you?
Transpose into your own context - of course.
You never know, they may be pleased to talk 'real' midst the rest of the Christmas slippery slope.

I am 'being' with humans who are;
Visibly self harming
Severely depressed
Lost and uncertain
Lonely and afraid
No place like home to go at Christmas
Refugee
ALONE at Christmas
Deep feelings and disturbed




(the last one is me and I want to be disturbed!)


BHP