Spiral Journey 2021-22 – Facilitator Development Program

The Spiral Journey Facilitator Development Program is designed to meet the needs of people who aspire to facilitate the Work That Reconnects. This program supports emerging and experienced facilitators in deepening their theoretical understanding of the Work and developing their skills in facilitation so they feel confident in bringing the Work to their communities. The program gives special attention to social justice issues and reframing the Work That Reconnects so it can serve to dismantle oppression and foster liberation for all. 

Molly Young Brown, Mutima Imani, and Constance Washburn are the core team of program facilitators/directors. Occasional guest teachers, possibly including Joanna Macy, will grace us with their wisdom as well. (Click on name for profile)

Context and Content:

In this moment in history, people are waking up to the realization that our society is not sustainable. Violence in its many manifestations is causing pain and suffering. Climate disruption, systemic racism and oppression, endless war, species extinction, and our political reality foment fear and despair. Many people are looking for ways to share their pain for the world in a supportive community. They also want to offer their particular gifts to contribute to a Great Turning to a life-sustaining and just society. This program will give facilitators the support needed to make this transformational journey themselves and to assist others on the path to coming back to life. 

One’s ability to guide others through the Work That Reconnects is enhanced by one’s own personal work, knowledge of and engagement in social and ecological challenges, developing one’s skills as a facilitator, and working to dismantle the social systems and conditioning that induce oppressive and compliant behavior (often unconsciously).  This course will weave all these dimensions together.

The Work That Reconnects root teacher Joanna Macy on Spiral Journey programs:

As I look back over my life, I see the joy I’ve had in facilitating the Work That Reconnects. The sense of solidarity with the people who work with me is beyond description. So I am excited about the many trainings  and support groups being offered for facilitating the Work That Reconnects.  Many of these, in different forms and locations around the world, are featured in my book, A Wild Love for the World (2020).

I want to call attention to one program that is especially thorough and foundational, called Spiral Journey. It’s a six month online program that is guided by a veteran team of Molly Brown, who wrote Coming Back to Life The Updated Guide to the Work That Reconnects with me, and Constance Washburn and Mutima Imani.  I’m enthusiastic about the amplitude of it: it includes an in-depth understanding of the sweep and dynamics of the Work, and an overall sense of the competencies that you want to develop and look for in yourself. It goes right into the social, political, and ecological issues so critical at this now-or-never time for life on Earth–and that includes the work around race, gender, and social justice. 

Whenever I visit one of the Spiral Journey sessions, I love experiencing how lively and international the participants are. People from different countries, backgrounds, and ethnicities are discovering their power and dignity and creativity as they engage in the Work That Reconnects.

Foundations of Facilitation in the Work That Reconnects

September 11, 2021 through March 12, 2022

A 6 month online course and learning community with regularly scheduled webinars, online learning platform, study circles, homework, and optional “cafes.”  Webinars will be held on the 2nd Saturday of the month at two different times (10 am and 4 pm, Pacific – UTC-7) to accommodate multiple time zones. 

The course curriculum addresses four major “threads”: 

• The Work That Reconnects concepts and practices
  We will review and expand on the core texts and deepen our understanding of the underlying concepts, theories, and practices of the Work That Reconnects. 

• Facilitation skills
  This thread will explore group facilitation techniques as they relate to the Work That Reconnects with particular focus on creating a strong and safe container for working with strong emotions and diverse populations.

• Decolonizing Our Minds and Building Inclusion
  The evolutionary edge of the Work That Reconnects at this time is understanding the intersectionality of social injustice, racism, and environmental crises. In order to live in peace with the planet, we must learn to live in peace with our human siblings. 

• Living the Great Turning
  This thread offers suggestions for deepening our mindfulness and spiritual practices, our nature connection and human connections as well as expanding our activism and joy.

The 2021-2022 Foundations Program will begin with opening webinars on September 11, 2021.  The next five webinars, homework, and study circles will follow the Spiral of the Work, moving through Gratitude, Honoring our Pain for the World, Seeing with New/Ancient Eyes and Deep Time, and Going Forth. The closing webinars will be on March 12. Our textbooks include Coming Back to Life, Facilitating Group Learning, My Grandmother’s Hands, and Sacred Instructions along with other materials on environmental and political challenges, anti-oppression, social justice issues, facilitation skills, working with trauma, and living the Great Turning with support from mindfulness, nature connection, diversity, and joy.

Click here to express your interest.
Application process opens April 1, 2021.  Click here to apply.

Program topics include; WTR theory; systems thinking, deep time, the spiral, deep ecology, the Great Turning, confronting and exploring together current social, environmental, political, economic, and spiritual crises as well as facilitating WTR practices; workshop design; principles of inclusive, respectful facilitation; group process; awareness of power, privilege, and systemic white domination and racism, as well as “best practices” for counteracting that social conditioning. We will also explore what it means to be living the Great Turning: exploration of how each of us makes the Great Turning real in our personal, spiritual, and community lives.

Structure:

Monthly 2 hour 45 minute interactive webinars on Zoom include experiential practices of the Work as well as presentations and small group discussions. There will be at least 8 hours of homework per month, meetings between webinars with a study circle and with an ally in the Work, online discussions to participate in, and recommended individual practices. Participants will also plan and present a Work That Reconnects workshop, either in partnership with other participants or solo depending on location and resources.

Prerequisites:

The Foundations course is open to beginning facilitators in the Work That Reconnects. Prerequisites include 1) participation in at least 3 days of experiential practice in the Work That Reconnects (retreats, workshops, ongoing study groups, online workshops); 2) read books: Coming Back to Life and Active Hope;  3) diversity/anti-oppression study or training.

Application Process:

Applications are accepted on a first come, first serve basis, April 1 through August 15.  The application process includes an online or phone interview to mutually assess whether the course is a good “fit” for your learning goals and life situation.

Tuition:

The cost of the 6 month program is on a sliding scale between $1,200 and $2,000. The more people who participate at the higher level, the more scholarships we’ll be able to give. Once accepted into the program, a 50% deposit is required to hold your place.

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Practicum and Support for Facilitators of the Work That Reconnects

I.  Support/Supervision Groups  – with Molly Brown

• Agenda for each session created from topics proposed by participants in advance of each meeting, including: plans for workshops, reports after workshops, questions and challenges of facilitating the Work That Reconnects (i.e. diversity and inclusion, designing and publicity), and other challenges of living in the Great Unraveling and acting for the Great Turning. 

• Min/max enrollment per group: 6 – 12. 
• Open to participants in previous Spiral Journey programs.  
• Interested?  Send in Support Group Interest Form 

For more information, click here.  

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Please join the Work That Reconnects Network as a friend or facilitator member:
     ~ learn about webinars, cafe conversations, and WTR events worldwide,
     ~ participate in Community Forums,
     ~ read Deep Times journal,
     ~ find regional hubs.