I believe in the ripple.

I believe that our words and our work have impact. That they must.

I believe that to be truly alive is to be awake to the world around us and conscious of our role in it;
to know that we don't create or critique in isolation.

I believe that, just like ignorance, inspiration has a powerful echo.

I believe that our circles sustain us. That our mentors, friends, family, and community are essential to our thriving — and vice versa.

I believe that the leap is worth the risk.

I believe in the ripple.

At this point in our Holding Space course, we’ve explored the core why of our gatherings and how to infuse that into the entire experience we’re facilitating. We’ve talked about foundational space setting with collective agreements + intentions. We’ve looked at a program structure framework that provides a scaffolding to support our unique offerings — and uplifts freedom and flow. And so much more…

This week, we’ll be talking about the fundamental facilitation tools of Self-Awareness + Other-Awareness (i.e “it’s all about you and it’s not at all about you”) and how utilizing a justice lens in our work helps expand and hone this awareness and move it into action.

While this video is packed full, it is also just an initial taste of some really big topics. This work is a perpetual practice, not a destination. As always, I welcome your wisdom into the mix.

This week’s video includes:

1. Strategies for facilitating from center not as center

2. Tangible practices for Self Awareness + Other Awareness

3. Tools to explore a Justice Lens in our space holding work

Completing your Identity Intersections and Identity Exploration Questions from the Workbook will be helpful before you watch this week’s video. There are also several pages in the Workbook designed to be used as a guide while you move through the recorded teaching, as well as a page of additional resources to support a Justice Lens.

▷ Click the arrow below to watch.

Holding Space for Ourselves

Let it go.

The unworthiness, the shame, the doubt. You don't have to carry that shit around anymore.

Seriously. Allow it to release from your heart, fall down your cheeks, sweat out of your pores. Let it be reabsorbed into the earth, transformed.

You're creating a new paradigm. A new story. A new way.

In all your imperfections, all your complexities — you are whole.

“Where you ache to be recognized, allow yourself to be seen.”
—Toko-Pa Turner

What stories are you holding on to that no longer serve you? Stories about your worth, your readiness, your capacity, your value?

Carve out some intentional time this week to write down these old stories with a pen on paper. Let yourself expel them onto the page.

When you’re done, rip up this page into tiny pieces and feel the energetic release of these stories. If you’d like, compost the pieces — planting them in soil and letting them decompose and become something new. Or maybe you want to burn them? Or use them as the base of a collage where you can create anew on top of them? Create your own ritual to support you as you shed and shift these old narratives that no longer serve you.

And now, what stories are you cultivating in their stead?

What truth about yourself and your work are you ready to claim? Can you invite in some of the parts of yourself that you haven’t brought into your space holding because you think they will be too much, too big, too unique?

>>>Write this new narrative (or illustrate it) in your Workbook this week. If you’d like, snap a picture and share it with our group.

“Things you can do at the same time:
Honor yourself exactly as you are. Honor the person you are becoming.”
—Lisa Olivera

Your Audio Love Note this week is from Rebekka Goldsmith — an experiential facilitator and vocal coach. She’s accompanied by Eitan Kantor on violin!!

Rebekka’s voice is like balm to my soul, and I’m so delighted to share her songs and sounds with you. I love music — and it’s such a powerful tool to use in groups. However, I’m kind of a shy singer myself, so I get creative with how to bring music into my facilitated spaces. Rebekka has been one of my teachers in how to make vocalizing less scary and more playful.

Let yourself be serenaded, and feel free to sing along if you’re inspired!

((Rebekka is sharing The River by Coco Love Alcorn, Put your Roots Down — learned from the Thrive Choir, Truth by Velma Frye, and Wild Geese by Mary Oliver))

Making Learning Come Alive

The Reflection into Action prompt this week is to reach out to someone — in our Holding Space community, or a colleague, a friend, a loved one — and talk through some of what is percolating for you as you consider all of the big themes we’re exploring.

Allow someone to hold space for you as you share any questions, ahas, challenges, or curiosities.

>>> Have questions or aha's you’d like to share with our group? Head over to our Community Platform and let us know what is on your mind and heart this week.

“I cannot be a teacher without exposing who I am.” —Paulo Freire

Expanding Our Learning Community

Meet Caprice, Ilsa, Robin, and Andrea! Notice where you see yourself and your practices (desired or existing) in these interviews — What resonates? What surprises you? What are you already doing? What might you want to try?

“To acknowledge privilege is the first step in making it available for wider use. Each of us is blessed in some particular way, whether we recognize our blessings or not. And each one of us, somewhere in our lives, must clear a space within that blessing where she can call upon whatever resources are available to her in the name of something that must be done.”

— Audre Lorde