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Suggestions for Activities with The Earth Deck
The following suggestions
for activities with The Earth
Deck are flexible and open
to the imaginations of the
participants.
General guidelines for
using The Earth Deck
Purchase The
Earth Deck
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Card a week meditation
Suggestion: The Earth Deck has 52
cards-- one for each week of the year (four per month based
on the lunar calendar). Create a special spot for quiet contemplation.
Gaze softly for 10-20 minutes at one card every day for a
week. Pick a day of the week to change your card and repeat
the process. Be creative with your approach and notice what
comes up for you.
Individual therapy sessions
Suggestion: Generally, the therapist’s job
is to help people discover more about themselves, change patterns
that no longer serve, and weather difficult times. The
Earth Deck can facilitate this process. One way The
Earth Deck can be used goes something like this.
First, the professional helps the client clarify a situation
or challenge. Then, s/he instructs the client to meditate
on the challenge while holding The Earth Deck
face down (or spreading them out on a table or floor). When
ready, the client selects the card or cards that feel right.
Ask the client to describe their impressions of the card(s).
Then apply the knowledge gained from the cards to finding
solutions and strategies for solving the problem at hand.
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Inspired dance/movement
Suggestion: Each person in a group selects a card from
The Earth Deck. They do not reveal it to the others.
Begin with soft drumming or soothing music, and provide time for
meditation on the images. Then have each person, in turn, create
a non-verbal expression of the feelings evoked by the image. After
a few minutes, the observers express the feelings evoked by the
dance or movement. Depending on the nature of the group, this activity
can be presented as a warm-up activity or used as a more profound
exercise in kinesthetic self-expression.
Relaxation
Suggestion: To relieve stress, select an image that feels
soothing to you in color, shape, energy, etc. Set it up in front
of you and settle into a comfortable position. Focus on the breath.
With the in-breath, take in the soothing qualities of the image.
With the out-breath, say the word "one" (out loud or to
yourself) as a reminder of your oneness with the world of nature.
Creative writing exercises/inspiration
Suggestion: This can be done as a group activity or alone.
Select a card at random and write down the first word that pops
into your mind. Replace the card in the deck. Continue this process
with 10 or 15 more cards, making a list of words. When you are done,
write a creative piece using all of the words. There are many variations
of this activity.
The possibilities are endless. Gaiamore is currently developing
a guidebook of suggestions for working with the deck. The following
categories will be covered in the upcoming publication:
- Parlor Games
- Group process
- Earth-based spiritual practices, rituals, ceremonies
- Individual or group trance journeys
- Self-knowledge, journaling
- Dream work
Gaiamore is also available
for consultation by phone to assist you in tailoring activities
to your special needs.
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