I Dream Of A World
This practice fits with Seeing With New/Ancient Eyes; Deep Time; also preparation for Going Forth
Materials:
Large black or white piece of fabric (5’ x 5’)
Colored paper cut outs of different species (100 pieces) (I found mine at a craft store)
Drum or chime
This Deep Time practice engages our imagination and our deepest desires to create a just, regenerative, sustainable diverse world for all beings. It enables us to inhabit this world for a time.
Instructions:
People sit in a circle. The piece of fabric is positioned in the center of the circle. Place the color cut outs in piles on the floor around the fabric, or in any manner that allows for easy access. The facilitator begins the process. Pick up one cut out and place it on the fabric. Speak out loud “I dream of a world where….” State one thing you wish your world to contain. i.e. “I dream of a world where all peoples live in peace.” “I dream of a world where biodiversity thrives.”
Then the next person stands up, picks a cutout, places it on the fabric and shares one thing for the dream. Move around the circle as many times as necessary for all of the cutouts to be placed on the fabric. Participation is voluntary; people can pass at any time.
After all the sharing is complete and all the cutouts are on the fabric, invite participants to take in this world they have created.
I like to read this poem.
Another World is Possible
by Rose Flint
We can dream it in, with our eyes
Open to this Beauty, to all
That Earth gives each of us, each day
Those miracles of dark and light--
Rainlight, dawn, sun moon, snow, storm grey
And the wide fields of night always
Somewhere opening their flower
stars—this, this!
Another world is possible.
With river and bird
Sweet and free without fear, without
minds blind to harmony, to how
We can hold. We have been too long
Spoiled greedy children of Earth, life of rocks and creatures
Slipping out of our careless hands.
We must stand now and learn to love
As a Mother loves her child, each
cell of her, each grain of her, each
precious heartbeat of her that is
Ourselves, our path and our journey
Into our dream of future, where
another world is possible
cradling this one in its arms.
After sharing the poem, I use an adaptation of a Deep Time practice from Rob Hopkins that appears in his book From Is to What If.
Invite people to stand and close their eyes or soften their gaze. I ask them to imagine that we are able to step into this world we have created and inhabit it for a time. By dreaming this world into being, we have made it so. By some miracle, we can experience this world with all of our senses. Together, we will take one step forward into this world. On the count of three…one, two, three. Step into this world. You can also ring a chime or beat a drum as they step forward.
Everyone takes a step forward into the world. Welcome to our world! Let people stand in silence for a time, taking in the world. Then ask people what are you seeing, what are you feeling, what is this world like? People can then speak out loud. After a time, let people know it’s time now to come back into our world. Remind them that they are taking their knowing of this world with them. When you are ready, take one step back into our world. Again, you can ring a chime or beat a drum as they step back.
Invite people to share in the large group. Take a photograph of the world so you can send it to participants.