Revised Poetry Retreat

I realized that the first method of the poetry authenicity retreat did not have enough contemplative reflection. 

For now; The new order will go like this: Each Round will be 45 minutes or less depending on how things fall naturally. 

Description: 

"Every person has a sacred authentic core within them; wether you call it a soul, spirit, or simply just higher consciousness it connects us to something greater than our physical selves. Through the use of poetry, we will gather and immserse ourselves into sacred space. This is a time to truly listen to our authentic core, allow others to witness us, and learn to witness others without judgment or fear."

***Spiritual direction is a method used to notice the divine in our everyday lives, a time to reflect on how we connect with the divine - wether a sense of higher power is recognized or not. What makes humans "spiritual" is our ability to form relationships; this could be to a sense of deity, universe, life, nature, or even just to the sacredness of self. Drawing on the relationship with our divine center, learning to witness and see that divinity in others, allows us to enter into a contemplative awareness in our every day lives. Spiritual direction is a container for this practice; this spiritual group spiritual direction session is open to all people regardless of race, sexuality, spiritual path or religion (or the lack of). Come as you are, come with love, and a willingness to be open. Welcome! 

The Format:

Step 1. The Offering — “Why I brought this.”

The sharer introduces their poem and briefly explains why they chose it - did they choose it this morning on a whim or is there a connection there? They don't need to give a dissertation, just enough context for the circle to understand what drew them to this particular offering.

Step 2: Reading 1 - Sharer reads the poem aloud.

Step 3. Silence - Everyone sits with the offering for a minute in contemplative silence. 

Step 4 - Reflective Prompt for Lectio Divina 

"I'm going to invite you to read your poem again. This time, allow yourself to release the reasons you originally chose it. Listen to it from where you are right now, in this moment. Notice what catches your attention now. It may be the same thing that originally called to you or it may be something entirely different. Notice a word, an image, a feeling, a memory, resistance, a sensation in your body—whatever arises. The poem spoke to you before, what is it saying now?

Step 5: Reading 2 - Sharer reads the poem out loud again. This time, trying to listen to it as if it was being offered to them. 

Step 6: Silence - sitting in contemplative silence with the second offering. 

Step 7: Reflection - What is the sacred saying now?

Sharer, when ready, shares what is coming up for them. This is where Spirit/The Sacred/God/etc is speaking to them. 

Step 8 Silence - letting the group absorb whats been heard. 

Step 9: Round Robin

This is where everyone will provide one or two words that they heard in their sacred listening of the sharer's reflection/message. Did they hear something in the introduction, but now hear something new? 

Examples:

• “Before, I heard belonging. This time I heard freedom.”
• “I heard grief before, and I still hear grief, but now I also hear acceptance.”
• “I heard uncertainty both times.”

This goes around the circle until it comes to the SD - then the SD will summarize the echos and add their own. 

Step 10: Spiritual Direction Begins

"How do these words feel reflected back to you? What are you noticing as you let others witness you?"

Stepp 11: Sharer responds. 

If there is time --- allow for contemplative questions to arise from the group. Only 1 or 2. Allowing for discussion with the Sharer. Lettign silence fall and reflection to go on as needed. 

Step 12: 15 minute break, ending this container and allowing for refreshment. (Every 2 sharers) 

The Schedule for the day:

• 10:00–10:20 Welcome & Settle
• Everyone is invited to get a cup of coffee, water, tea, etc. Grab a journal if they did not bring one. Grab a poetry book if they did not bring something with them and are welcome to look through them. This is a time to introduce ourselves unofficially, catch up with anyone we know, or just sit in silence. Take this time to settle into your body, settle into the space, and just pause. (This also gives some wiggle room for those who struggle with time)
• 10:20–11:05 Opening Sacred Space  
• (10 minute?) The name game (shake out bodies, help break any nervous tension, etc) 
• (10 minute) Drumming Meditation:  Drumming and guidance through a light body exercise to help ground everyone and  set the stage for contemplative awareness. Drum and ask reflective questions to get our minds open:
• What are we inviting into this moment?
• What within you is asking to be heard today?
• Is there something you are being invited to change or explore?
• Remind them that they are in sacred space - meaning they are safe to let down any masks and expectations. They can express themselves freely. This is a space of loving support and everyone is welcome to exist exactly how they wish to be. It is sacred because it is special, it is special because we have decided to carve out a time and place together. This is co-creation. 
• As the drumming ends, SD invites everyone to place an item on the altar in the middle of the room - anything they feel represents them in who they are; saying their name as they do so. 
• (20 minutes) Calling in the intention for the day: SD Leads and then opens the floor - anyone who wants to share what came up for them in the meditation can do so. If no one wants to share or if only a few people do, then ask how everyone is feeling. is anyone nervous? Feeling resistant? Hopeful?
  
• 11:05-11:20 Process Introduction
• Explaining the process of lectio Divina, what contemplative questions are, and letting them ask questions if there is any confusion
• Introduce the practice of Lectio Divina and explain that we are going to use poetry as our primary medium for the day. Typically done to connect with The Divine - we are seeking to connect to the divine within us - our authentic core.  We do this by being open and honest with ourselves, what particular word or phrase comes up for us, does it touch anything in our actual lives, what emotions or sensations do we feel in our body, what images arise from it? Write it down and do not worry about making it seem cohesive. This could be bullet points, it could be stream of consciousness,  etc. Just write what comes up for you. Explain the 1-2 word echo's from each person's share. 
• 11:20 - 11:55 - First Round 
• Follow the Format Listed Above
• 11:55 - 12:50 Lunch Break
• 12:50 - 1:00 - Settling back 
• bathroom, tea, settling back into the space. SD Drumming to call all back to centered attention. 
  
• 1:00–1:35 Round 2
• Follow the Format Listed Above
• 1:35–2:10 Direction Round 3
• Follow the Format Listed Above
• 2:10–2:25  Break — 15 min
• Tea / Stretch / Bathroom
• 2:25–3:00 Poetry Direction Round 4
• Follow the Format Listed Above
• 3:00–3:35 Poetry Direction Round 5
• Follow the Format Listed Above
• 3:35–4:10 Poetry Direction Round 6
• Follow the Format Listed Above
• 4:10–4:45 Individual Integration — 35 min
• Journaling, reflecting on the xperience, being out in nature, meditation, divination time, etc. 
• 4:45–5:00 Regrounding & Re-entry — 15 min
• Allow everyone to come back in, final bathroom break, more tea, etc. 
• SD drums to help everyone center back 
• 5:00–5:45 Closing Harvest Discussion — 45 min (15 min each)
• Round 1: The Vulnerability of Being Witnessed
• The Prompt: "How did it feel to be the person at the center, to share your raw inner reflections out loud, and then hear the group throw back a word or two? What did you notice in yourself as you allowed others to witness you without trying to fix, advise, or interpret your experience?”
• What this illuminates: This invites participants to reflect on their experience of vulnerability and being seen. It helps them notice what happened internally when others witnessed their authentic expression: whether they felt exposed, affirmed, resistant, surprised, relieved, understood, or something else entirely. It also gives them an opportunity to consider whether the words reflected back revealed something they had not recognized in themselves.
• Round 2: The Practice of Witnessing
• Prompt: “For most of today, you were not the person sharing—you were the witness. What was it like to listen to someone else's experience without needing to fix it, advise them, relate it back to yourself, or find an answer? Did you notice anything change in the way you listened as the day went on?”
• Illumination: This shifts attention from being seen to learning how to see another person. It invites participants to notice their own listening habits and the difference between listening to understand, listening to respond, and contemplative listening. It also highlights how making room for another person's authentic experience requires allowing their experience to remain their own.
• Round 3: Sacred Authenticity 
• Prompt: “Think back to the person who arrived here this morning and the poem you originally brought with you. After everything you offered, heard, witnessed, and experienced today, what are you noticing now? Has anything shifted, deepened, been affirmed, or perhaps become more complicated in how you understand yourself or what it means for you to live authentically?”
• Illumination: Returns attention back to the central theme - the sacred authentic voice within. Lets them reflect on the internal movement that the Divine has sparked in the interactions of the day. 
• 5:45–6:00 Final Closing
• “One final time around the circle: what is one word, phrase, image, or intention you want to carry with you when you leave this space?”
• SD drums to thank everyone and signify the space closing; 
• thanking everyone for their vulnerability 
• express gratitude for the sacred movement - wether you call it God, Universe, Spirit, Love, or Conscousness. 
• Gratitue for the Authentic self, the core of who we are, and allowing it to speak to us today. Allowing us to hear it and allowing others to witness us in this. 
• Offer a  Blessing that all may go in love, peace, and carry with them the messages that arose today.
• Fin.