This ceremonial workshop is designed to support teams committed to transitioning out of conflict and back into performance and trust.

Introduction

If you’ve ever worked with another human to achieve a goal, you’ve probably experienced conflict. I’ll be vulnerable and share that many conflicts in my life have been managed poorly by myself and those around me. We seem to lack fluidity and wholeness that today’s conflict complexity demands. Those who do possess the skills, mediators or facilitators with an awareness of conflict management can be limited. And more limited are those who route their process work in humanity-centric work. Despite a lack of immediate access, many wonderful ecology psychologists and process workers exist and are supporting the evolution of conflict management by connecting process work to our traditions. I’ve experienced ceremony designs similar to the one I have worked out below that have inspired me. The Pearson Seminar on Youth Leadership held at Pearson United World College is where I experienced my first rite of passage ceremony. Although rites of passage my conflate with a large life transition, I believe a ceremony can support any transition. And with that, the ceremony I’ve designed below is based on a rite of passage ceremony and is intended for use through any team dynamic shift in today’s world.

Ceremony Outline

To make the most of your time, ask participants to prepare ahead of time for this workshop. Members should understand the purpose of the ceremony and be willing participants of it in order to create a safe space.

Pre-work instructions:
- Individually bring forward a set of personal and group wins and successes.
- Reflect on “What do we dream? Ourselves, team, in relation to the outcome of the project.”

~Ceremony Entry~:
Group circle:
- Facilitator introduction: safe space creation, welcome
- 1 by 1: Share successes and wins
- 1 by 1: Share speeches about the intentions we have for the future. What do we dream? (Supported by pre-work.)

~Transition~ move space, a metaphor for transition and journey

Individual, own space, comfortable, silent capture (10–15mins):
- What are you letting go of? Blockers? Anchors? What is causing friction to the dreams of the future you have?

~Ritual~
Group (suggested time 5–15mins): 1 by 1 place “in earn”- just a box that goes bye-bye.

Facilitator eulogy: These elements you may be placing have served you well in ways. This can be an honouring session for the good and the bad, and accessing new commitments and ways of being.

When placing, let us create space for last words, 1 word, silence, all is good. Use the space for what you need as you journey and place pieces in.

~Transition to full group circle~
Group circle (suggested no limit): Gratitude, go around the circle. Could be something recognized in the ceremony, or any other gratitude reflection

~Exit/Transition~
Individual, when ready, begin the transition out of the space:
- Ceremony facilitator recognizes something for each of us to carry forward on exiting.

~Recovery~

Everyone has a rest period. The time needed is impossible to prescribe as many factors will influence the available time for this.

~Reunite~

Do something fun!!! The goal is to remember the relationships we have that allow us to do this work and to fall into a healthy relationship with them again.

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I hope you and your teams can get through conflict, and get to a place where you transition into a healthier way of being by letting go and accepting as a group. In solidarity!

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