TALKING STICK

Stephan Beyer (2016). Talking Stick: 

                                    Peacemaking as a Spiritual Path

Beyer holds a PhD and JD...he weaves indigenous, academic, nonviolence, and wisdom of St. Francis into council circle peacemaking.

Instructions to experiment with in using the talking stick in the context of council circle:

create a sacred space where all (as few as 2 people, no upper limit--i would say, no more than 12) can sit in circle and see each other--the circle means all are equal (no hierarchy)

have a center piece for the circle that represents the group or group's intent (each person can contribute an item, or one item can be chose, e.g., a candle)

use ceremony (simple and short--e.g, choose a weather word to describe how you're feeling) to begin and end the circle time 

pass around a talking stick (any symbolic object will do--a feather, stone, key...)--the person holding the talking stick speaks while others listen)

speak spontaneously (fresh, in the moment), use lean expression, take personal responsibility by speaking about what you know from experience 

listen from the heart with complete attention--no interruption/comments/questions...allow for ample silence, when the speaker is ready to pass the talking stick to the next person, it's permissible to express an affirmation of the speaker by saying "ah-hoe"

variations: healing circle, drum circle

practice: invite someone to sit in circle with you (choose a mutually agreed upon topic)

    come, sit in circle with me, let us talk in this sacred space...at this sacred time