1. welcome to slow-paced-deep-connection-group
   1. share event
   2. open event at X time
   3. 1 rule
   4. VOTE 5 min before listening
   5. start PUNCTUALLY listening to chapter
   6. 10 min individual reflection
   7. intros
   8. conversational structure
   9. demonstrate / practice — 10 minutes max
   10. 2 questions — 5 minutes each
   11. open discussion container
   12. close discussion container
   13. ( brief individual takeaways )
2. suggested books

welcome to slow-paced-deep-connection-group

if the boundaries of this container cannot be honored well ( e.g. too many people for good spirits to be maintained; online spaces disfunctional; etc ) then that version of the event needs to evolve to respect this container

highly encouraged to facilitate as a big-tent-event or zoom-party in which many people all join to listen together then break into smaller groups

container-facilitator ideally commit to attempting to listen to the entire book as long as it takes

regular events encouraged on a predictable timeframe

share event

• welcome time at X; start listening PROMPTLY to the chapter at Y
  • 2 hours minimum
• no rush, no late, no time too small
• we live in a fast-paced world where the loudest person gets what they want and those with more power make our lives more difficult. learn to navigate these waters with more fun, grace, and compassion while safely making deep connections with friends new and old
• this style of discussion group may feel uncomfortable at first but is guaranteed to provide you with new skills and knowledge
• this is a listening / discussion group centered on the book ______ by _____
• come prepared with what you need to be self-sufficient while doing more listening than talking
• here is a link to the complete description of the event so you know what to expect

open event at X time

• encouraged half hour before listening-start to help usher folks in and provide ease for those who did not understand the very particular timing organization. and also sort out technical difficulties ;)

1 rule

• no word-text-symbol-writing whatsoever (drawing, doodling, pictographs, art, dance, stimming, etc permitted and/or encouraged)

VOTE 5 min before listening

• everyone close their eyes
• raise 1 hand for same chapter as last time
• raise 2 hands to proceed to next chapter
• everyone open eyes at same time
• simple majority

start PUNCTUALLY listening to chapter

10 min individual reflection

• observe / respect / enforce sacred self-space as each needs

conversational structure

currently referred to as the “listening-stick”

1. human with listening-stick opens with their body-name
2. human with listening-stick echoes / reflects / holds space for what they heard
3. human with listening-stick closes with their body-name
4. human with listening-stick asks previous human if they have been correctly understood and gives listening-stick back
5. human with listening-stick says yes or no
   • if no
     • human with listening-stick clarifies
     • human with listening-stick hands listening-stick to human who would like to help them feel understood
   • if yes
     • human with listening-stick hands listening-stick to human who would like to share next
6. repeat

demonstrate / practice — 10 minutes max

2 questions — 5 minutes each

• how will we lovingly correct breaches to the boundaries of this container?
• what concerns are there and how do we address them?

open discussion container

close discussion container

• squishily at pre-designated time

( brief individual takeaways )

• when each individual leaves