A Council For Times of Change

Fall is a time of transition. As the leaves are changing at our doorsteps, many of us also find ourselves in a moment of liminality; housing, relationships, career, existential. Change can be intimidating and at times lonely, yet these times also provide opportunity for transformation when watered with care and support, a bud before a blossom. Come together in community to share, be witnessed, and hear from others going through the waves of transition this human experience has to offer. We will meet in the framework Council Circle, which will be taught during the workshop.

What is Council?

The Center for Council says: Council is an age-old practice that involves bringing people together in a circle to bear witness and share authentically. Participants agree to speak one-at-a-time, sharing their personal stories and experiences, rather than opinions, and listening non-judgmentally while others do the same. Sharing and listening to universal stories about love, loss, fear, triumph, challenge, hope and other experiences enables participants to recognize that, despite our many differences, we have much in common.

​By fostering attentive listening and authentic expression, council builds positive relationships between participants and neutralizes hierarchical dynamics formed by the inequality of status, race, or other social factors. It supports a deep sense of community and fosters recognition of a shared humanity and interconnectedness. It enables individuals to give voice to their stories, develop mutual respect, cultivate a compassionate response to anger, defensiveness, and violence, as well as strengthen emotional health and resilience.

// EVENT DETAILS

Sunday November 17th, 10:30am-1:00pm

Soft Medicine Sanctuary, 186 N Main St, Sebastopol, CA

Tickets: This is a donation-based event to support North Carolina storm relief efforts. Whatever amount you are able to donate will secure you a ticket and all proceeds will go to the two following efforts:

Earthhaven, an ecovillage community in North Carolina

BeLoved Asheville, providing critical needs like food, water, and healthcare

// FACILTATORS

Hunter Franks (he/him) is a father, artist, facilitator, and builder based in the Bay Area. He is passionate about creating communal spaces for feeling, for belonging, and for falling apart. His practice encompasses community-based public art, rituals, visual work, writing, nature quests, and installation. He is a trained facilitator in the Ways of Council and in the Work That Reconnects and recently completed a Grief Tending Mentorship program through Sacred Groves in the Pacific Northwest.

Lindsay Gordon is Head of Global Campaigns of Parley for the Oceans – a global network where creators, thinkers and leaders raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of our oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction.

Host or Publisher Hunter Franks and Lindsay Gordon