To see these offerings in a printable format, click here.
Please familiarize yourself with the intention of the group in the classroom on sarahpeyton.com or here.
Session 1: Exploring Chapter 12, Reclaiming the SEXUALITY Circuit and the Self
Focus: Exploring the root of addiction
Option for group resonance and discussion, created and offered by Jaya Manske
As always, you can also look at the alternative formats at the bottom of the document, or create your own format.
SUGGESTED FORMAT
1. Take a moment to settle in and say hello (Timing: 1-2 minutes)
2. Choose someone to lead this session. We recommend a different person volunteer to lead each time. This person will track time and read aloud the instructions that follow (you may also pick 2 people, one to track time and another to read instructions). (Timing: 1 minute)
3. Check-in. Please go around the circle, giving each person an opportunity to share:
– One feeling and/or body sensation you’re experiencing
– (optional) one metaphor guess for yourself about your internal experience right now (“your name, is it like…”)
(Timing: 1-2 minute each, total 3-10 minutes)
4. Discussion (round 1)
There are 3 discussion questions today. Please divide up the time as appropriate based on the size of your group. (approximately 45-50 minutes total for all 3 questions. If you have 5 people and are staying in a large group, this will allow about 3.5 minutes per person per question)
*If you would like more time for discussion/practice and the following exploration, these questions can be discussed and explored in small breakout groups instead
We ask you to try to make sure that everyone’s voice is heard; one way to do this is to make sure that no one speaks a second time before everyone has spoken or said that they are passing. If someone passes, check in with them after everyone else has shared to see if they would like to share before moving on.
For ideas about creating a group that is safe to explore this material, please remind yourself of these guidelines.
*If you would like more time for discussion/practice and the following exploration, these questions can be discussed and explored in small breakout groups instead
Please share.
You may recall in class, that Sarah spoke about the window of welcome: how much capacity we or someone else has to hold a particular emotion, or circuit expression with warmth and understanding, and is easily reflected and resonated with (either for ourselves or in relationship).
- What circuits were celebrated, welcomed, or easily reflected in your home growing up?
- SEEKING, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF, FEAR, RAGE, PLAY, SEXUALITY, DISGUST
After you share, you may:
- Request a resonant guess (metaphor: “is it like…”, impossible needs guess: “would you love it if…”, feelings and needs guess, acknowledgment, a reflected body sensation “when you shared, I noticed/felt [body sensation]”). You may request a specific type of guess if you’d like.
- Or, ask your group/partner to share a need met and gift received from your sharing.
- Or, simply pass to the next person
(Timing: approx. 3.5 minutes each if a large group, 8.5 minutes each if in dyads)
5. Discussion (round 2)
Please share.
- What was the window of welcome for your emergence and sexuality in your family [parent(s), sibling(s), grandparent(s)]?
After you share, you may:
- Request a resonant guess (metaphor: “is it like…”, impossible needs guess: “would you love it if…”, feelings and needs guess, acknowledgment, a reflected body sensation “when you shared, I noticed/felt [body sensation]”). You may request a specific type of guess if you’d like.
- Or, ask your group/partner to share a need met and gift received from your sharing.
- Or, simply pass to the next person
(Timing: approx. 3.5 minutes each if a large group, 8.5 minutes each if in dyads)
6. Discussion (round 3)
Please share.
- What is your window of welcome for your own emergence and sexuality?
After you share, you may:
- Request a resonant guess (metaphor: “is it like…”, impossible needs guess: “would you love it if…”, feelings and needs guess, acknowledgment, a reflected body sensation “when you shared, I noticed/felt [body sensation]”). You may request a specific type of guess if you’d like.
- Or, ask your group/partner to share a need met and gift received from your sharing.
- Or, simply pass to the next person
(Timing: approx. 3.5 minutes each if a large group, 8.5 minutes each if in dyads)
7. Closure: please close by having each person name a need met or a gift received after this discussion. You can read more about this practice here.
(Timing: 5 minutes)
OTHER FORMATS FOR YOU TO CHOOSE FROM:
The suggested format above is meant to create ease, however, your group might instead choose to structure your time around any of these activities or create your own:
1. Offer resonant empathy to each other, either in the whole group or in smaller sub-groups (you can use this resonant empathy circle format if you’d like)
2. Listen to the meditation from chapter 11 together and talk about what comes up for you – Warm Connection with the SEXUALITY Circuit, the Circuit of Emergence of the Self
3. Practice time travel resonance with one another
4. Release unconscious contracts connected with the SEXUALITY circuit (handout here)
5. Do one of the homework exercises suggested and discuss [session 1 suggestions][session 2 suggestions]
