You Are Here
Activity 1: Story - The Four Creations, Part One and Honoring Earth Power
Activity time: 10 minutes
Materials for Activity
- Story, "The Four Creations"
- An item to serve as a "talking stick"
Preparation for Activity
- Read the story and prepare to share it with the group.
- Prepare to be the first to share an "I am from... ." statement.
- Obtain an item to use as a "talking stick," an indicator that the person holding it (and only that person) has the right to speak.
Description of Activity
Tell the group you will tell them a five-part story, stopping after each part for a ritual activity. Say that after you share each part of the story, you will invite the group to be silent for a moment and then you will explain the ritual.
Read or tell part one of the story to the group. Invite a moment of silence.
Then say something like:
In this Hopi story of creation, the first people are made from different colors of earth mixed with the saliva of Spider Woman. The people are told that it is their job to respect and live in harmony with their Creator. The story implies that who we are is deeply connected to the earth and to earth power, the power of grounded-ness and connection to place, the power of knowing who we are and where we come from.
As leader, complete the phrase: "I am from... ." You might include where you live, where you were born, names of ancestors, important aspects of your community, or any other pieces of your heritage and identity that you feel are important. Then, hand the "talking stick" to another member of the group and invite them to share where they are from in the same way. Instruct each person, once they are done, to hand the "talking stick" to another member of the group.
Including All Participants
For each activity, encourage full participation, but remind participants that they do have permission to pass.