sheet. Gently push the two triangles in the opposite direction and fold them so the triangles appear on the inside of the folded rectangle. This will construct a pop-out mouth within the inner sheet of the card.
10. Glue outside sheet and inside sheet together. Do not place any glue underneath the pop-out mouth.
11. Decorate as desired.
Observations
A number of the participants made cards for their children, most with “Say No to Drugs” and a few with “I Love You” as the message. This was done in a group of thirty-two over a holiday weekend, and almost all expressed gratitude for having the opportunity to relax and enjoy the activity. The only difficult step is the reverse triangle fold, which several of the participants were able to do without difficulty and teach to others.
Inspired by: An activity done in an elementary school class.
Power Animals
Location: Indoors or Outdoors
Time: 45 minutes
Materials: Animal pictures from magazines, a sets of stickers or clip art
Construction paper
Glue
Colored markers
Optional: Activity can be completed without pictures or art supplies, using verbal skills and imagination.
Objectives
• To cultivate inner power.
• To identify personal features that represent strength and positive attributes. To explore the diversity of individual spirit.
Directions
1. Introduce the concept that each person holds within resources and connections with other people and other animals. Some cultures recognize a special connection between animal and human, and in some settings that relationship is considered to be lifelong. You may wish to discuss traditional Native American beliefs about animal totems as a creative starting point. Emphasize that this activity offers an opportunity to reach beyond a pleasant memory or favorite pet into deeper held perspectives on what represents strength.
2. Display the animal images and art supplies. Invite participants to select from the photographs available, or to describe their animals. The animal can be real or imaginary, one that the participants have had contact with or only dreamed about. Emphasize there are no correct answers, and no animal is more positive than another.
3. Direct participants to add words around their selected animal image that describe how the animal represents strength.
4. Encourage participation in a discussion about the participants’ animals and their rationale behind the selections.
Observations
A group of twelve women selected from photographs from magazines. Two of the women selected dogs, animals that had been significant in their childhood, one of whom wrote a three-page, heartfelt narrative telling of the bond she shared with her dog. One woman chose a scorpion and justified it with appropriate observations and insight regarding the strengths of this creature. All participants readily shared their selections and spoke with reverence while describing the felt connection. Others in the group identified a horse, a giraffe, a lion, an arctic tern, and a hummingbird. Each description showed contemplative resourcefulness and was received with respect by other group members. In the professional group where one author was first introduced to this activity, one man selected the cockroach as his power animal and explained in a convincing way that the insects had inhabited the earth longer than any other species and had shown unparalleled resiliency in survival. Unusual individual connections, such as the cockroach or the scorpion, must be received with as much respect as the obvious or more appealing symbols.
Inspired by: Larry Dossey, MD, discussed this at a professional meeting decades ago; we subsequently encountered variations in a number of settings and created our own adaptation.
The leopard is seen as brave, strong, fearless, independent, and willing to fight for his life.
Sensory Exercise
Location: Indoors (a space where participants can sit in circle)
Time: 30 minutes
Materials: Sensory Exercise Handout (for facilitator)
Objectives
• To facilitate one’s agility in accessing sights, sounds, images, pictures, and associations with internal feelings of peace and beauty.
• To strengthen the sensory register, which serves as a bridge from short-term to long-term memory.
Directions
1. Describe the purpose of the activity and the way it will proceed.
2. Encourage participants to use their senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing to access mental images. The images can be from the present, remembered from the past, or live in the imagination.
3. As each participant describes the imagery, instruct others in the group to use their imagination to experience those images in their own mind.
4. Select two volunteers for a short demonstration to the group.
• Facilitator: In the first round, we will use our sense of sight to notice things in the surroundings that are red, or things that you remember seeing that are red.
• Volunteer #1: I see a red shirt.
• Volunteer #2: I remember red hot candy.
• Facilitator: That’s good; now use the sense of smell and the color orange.
• Volunteer #1: I remember the smell of orange blossoms.
• Volunteer #2: I can remember the smell of a tangerine that has just been peeled.
5. Chooses a sensory channel and a color for each round.
6. Go around the circle, not moving too quickly, but encouraging participants to take the time to savor the images. The slower, more deliberate, and more expressive the participants are willing to be, the more that will be gained through the activity.
7. Have participants share at least ten expressions of one sensory
