FACILITATOR TIPS

Don't worry. It doesn't matter how nervous you are, the workshop will be a powerful and healing experience simply because people have gathered together with the intention of healing the Earth and healing their relationship with the Earth. You do not have to be an experienced facilitator to do this work, but make sure you have the support of some friends around you to co-facilitate and help out if you've forgotten anything in your instructions, etc. It is okay to use notes.

All you need to know is that the experienced separation between people and the Earth is illusory. It also is important to feel comfortable with people expressing strong emotions - to know that nothing bad will happen to people if they feel anger or grief and share it with the other participants.

Trust in the process and the power of the circle. In general, if the explanation is clear before each process, the group as a whole will help itself keep 'on track'. As much as possible, try to allow the group their autonomy. It is far more empowering for the participants themselves to intervene and manage a process, than for the authority of the facilitator to be imposed.

Tune in to the energy of the group. Be at the ready with small processes which can help refocus the energy of the circle, bring some physical energy in, etc. Songs and chants are great for this. Make your own list of processes you know, with anything from smudging, to breathing exercises, yoga, humming and sounding, passing a squeeze of hands around a circle, to songs and chants. Brainstorm this list with your co-facilitators ... and add to it after every workshop you do. As a facilitator, you might notice that some kind of closing or ritual conclusion is needed at the end of a process, but can't think of an appropriate song. You might simply say to the circle "Does anyone have a song they'd like to share?". This is empowering for the participants, adds to your repertoire of songs, and ensures that the group process continues smoothly. (You might do this whether or not you can remember a song!)

This energetic role of the facilitator requires a kind of split -attention. Particularly if you are the primary facilitator for a process, be aware that you may not be able to 'fall' so deeply into the process as if you were a full participant. Some of your attention needs to be available for determining whether the group needs to be kept 'on track' a little by some comment or guidance from the facilitator; or how the timing is going and whether it is time to have a break and end a process etc. On the other hand, the more fully you can participate, the better in terms of your own experience and healing, and also because you become one of the participants and not an 'authority figure' as facilitator.

CO-FACILITATION

Advantages of co-facilitation. Facilitating the workshop with other people has a number of advantages. Firstly, as mentioned in the previous section, it provides support for the inexperienced facilitator. By making an agreement to support each other, and to come in with any forgotten pieces in the introductions, etc, anxiety can be greatly reduced. Second, and related to this, is that co-facilitation can provide a good opportunity for training. Facilitators already experienced in group-process, in leading workshops, or in the Council of All Beings itself, can pass on some of their skills to the less experienced. Thirdly, the type of co-operation required to co-facilitate provides an excellent model for the types of relationships with people which we need to help heal our collective relationship with the Earth. Synergy! Each facilitator brings with them their own special being, talents and modes of expression which interact to form more than their sum. Fourthly, co-facilitation also reduces the possible projection that 'the facilitator' has all the answers and is making the experience happen. When participants see a variety of people, with different styles and levels of experience facilitating, it is empowering and opens the possibility that they too could facilitate this work.

Communication and cooperation. Good co-facilitation is more than simply splitting up the preparatory tasks and workshop processes and then each doing our own part. It requires ongoing communication, 'tuning in' and adjustments throughout the whole workshop. In this way, the facilitators more effectively 'hold the energy' of the group and the workshop as a whole. It also becomes a more rewarding experience for the facilitators as we are able to give each other feedback and mutual support on an emotional level.

Before the workshop, you and your cofacilitatiors might want to ask yourselves these questions and share your answers.
1. What do you want to have happen for the participants?
2. What can you do to facilitate that?
3. What do you want to have happen for yourself as facilitator?
4. What can you do to facilitate that?
5. What do you want for yourself as a paerson?
6. What can you do to facilitate that?

Plan who is to take primary responsibility for each process. Have this written down (preferably with a copy for each facilitator). Have a small ritual circle of the facilitators immediately prior to the workshop, each sharing how we are feeling and our intention for the workshop, and maybe ask each other if there is anything which we need. During the workshop, have regular check-ins between processes. Again, small sacred circles are appropriate . If other things need to be done (e.g., phone calls, organising other events), they should be done at the beginning of workshop breaks rather than the end. Arrange a time to meet with the other facilitators before the next workshop session starts. Do not skip the check-ins because you are in a hurry!

During another facilitator's introduction to a process, pay full attention. (i.e., don't start reading your notes, thinking of something else, looking away, etc). Your attention helps hold the group energy together (you are modelling what the participants need to do), and gives energetic and moral support to your fellow facilitator.

Empowerment of new facilitators. Remember, the empowerment of new facilitators is as important a goal of the workshop as providing the 'best 'experience for the workshop participants. A more experienced facilitator might need to 'stand back' a little, in different ways (e.g., not always taking responsibility for gathering the group; sharing the introductions, even though he or she may be the 'best' at doing them). It is important to remember that it is the sincerity of the facilitators and the strength of the intention of the participants which 'makes' the workshop work. (If something is omitted from an introduction it can always be added by another co-facilitator. If a group of co-facilitators work together regularly, try to swap each of the introductions around, so that each person gets experience at facilitating each process. The general introduction to the workshop can be split up so that it is shared equally by the co-facilitators, which signals their roles at the very beginning.)

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