Talking Circle with Stones



Objective(s) & Context

  1. Get to know the participants better and get to know each other.

  2. Help us get in touch with three aspects of life that contribute to our overall health and well-being.

 

Duration

Depends on the number of participants; allow for about 3 minutes for each participant

 

Group Size

10–20

For larger groups, another activity would be more appropriate

 

Age Group

15 +

 

Skills

Sharing, listening

 

Format(s) and Technique(s)

Large group, guided discussion, brainstorming

 

Materials

A basket

Large colourful stones (one per participant) - these can be purchased at the dollar store or gathered from a nearby beach

Flip chart

Markers

 

Facilitation Tips

  • The activity is best when participants already know each other, so it is best to do this kind of activity in a program that has been running for at least 2 days.

  • If participants are just getting to know each other, it would be better to implement this activity at a later stage in the program.

  • With a group that is already engaged, it is a great opportunity to deepen the way the group is relating to each other and to build stronger group dynamics.

 

Popular Education Prompts

  • Having the chance to share important details about ourselves is a great way to build relationships for working together more in the future.

  • Trust activities increase positive group dynamics.

 

Leading the Activity: Steps to Take

 

  1. Begin this activity by leading three brief brainstorms (5 minutes each) with the participants about what contributes to:

    1. a nourishing relationship with ourselves

    2. a nourishing relationship with all other living beings

    3. a nourishing relationship with the earth

  2. Invite participants to form a circle where they are close enough to one another to hand off and receive stones easily.

  3. Pass around the basket of stones. Ask each participant to select one.

  4. Explain to participants that they are sitting in a Talking Circle with Stones. Tell them that the idea of a Talking Circle is to provide a safe space for them to share their stories about nourishing and positive experiences or about moments with themselves or in relationships with others.

  5. Once the first person finishes speaking, they pass the stone to the person on their left. This is the process followed after every sharing. By the time the exercise is finished, the original stone participants chose will have come full circle back to them and will have been touched by everyone in the group.

  6. Ask a participant to volunteer to begin the sharing circle. Once a volunteer is selected, explain the following instructions to the participants.

  7. To ensure that participants have a clear understanding, provide one or two examples of what to share for each category. Demonstrate the process for participants and make sure everyone understands.

  8. A volunteer begins by sharing information about themselves; including their full name and whether it has a meaning, family and/ethnic origin and significance that they are aware of.

    1. Other suggested information they can choose to share:

      • What signifies a nourishing relationship with ourselves?

      • Birth place and date

      • An aspiration (for example, to impact positive social change)

      • A great joy in life (for example, snowboarding!)

    2. What signifies a nourishing relationship with others?

      • A special pet or favourite animal (for example, playing with their first pet)

      • Special relationships in our lives (for example, mother, special friend…)

    3. What signifies a healthy relationship with the earth?

      • A special place of beauty, comfort, good memories, inspiration, relaxation

      • Contributing to helping the environment (for example, recycling, etc.)

  9. Once all of the participants have shared in the circle, debrief the session with them by asking how this experience makes them feel. (5–10 minutes, depending on how many people are participating).

  10. Then, let the group know the stone is theirs to keep for the rest of their lives – or to give back to the universe at some point. Participants might want to keep it in their pocket, purse or backpack, on their desk or on a shelf. It is meant to serve as a reminder of each person who shared and with whom they shared and connected with during the exercise. It can serve as a reminder of this workshop and of all the things that they have learned from it. It can also be a “touch-stone” to rub when they are feeling stressed or down.

 

Debrief

  • How does this experience make you feel?

 

Success Indicators

Participants are:

  • Communicating well together

  • Sharing more about themselves with the group

 

Source: Bev Walker, The Stone Sharing Exercise, adapted from Stone Sharing:

http://socialwork.wikia.com/wiki/Stone_Sharing