Welcome To The Youth Council
In our classes we use “Council” to speak and listen to each other. We pass around an object we call a “talking piece”, which could be anything–a rock, a feather, or a bell. In council, everybody agrees to listen to the person who is holding the talking piece. We ask the person talking to speak “from the heart”, that is, from a place that is real for them–no B.S.–while the rest of us listen deeply to the words that are spoken. We’ve found that it is the presence we bring to Council, whether speaking or listening, that changes it into a “sacred space”–a safe place to be yourself.
Many of the writings you see here are from youth who have participated in our classes, including speaking in the Council. Some of them have also chosen to write about their experiences with us, and/or about their lives, which we’re always interested in hearing about.
We’d love to hear from you too, so write us and let us know what it’s like being you. Drop us your rhymes, poetry, or, if you’ve tried yoga or meditation, or have participated in a Council before, tell us about your experience. (Please include your name, first name only is O.K., age, and where you are from.)
