Letter from Gaia

A “going forth” exercise for the very end of a workshop. Source: rainforestinfo.org.au/deep-eco/letter from gaia.htm.

This is a great “going forth” exercise for the very end of the workshop.

Ask participants to get their journal, or a pen and paper, and give the following instructions:

Begin by writing “Dear [your name]” at the top of the page. Wait until everyone has done so before continuing.

Now write: “This is a letter from your Mother Gaia.” (Or “Father Gaia,” if preferred.) Wait until everyone has done so before continuing.

Now, for the next five minutes, write whatever comes to mind. Just let it flow — a stream of consciousness. This is a letter to you from your Mother Gaia. If you run out of things to say, simply repeat the last word you’ve written, over and over, until something new emerges. Don’t stop writing.

Let people know when to stop. No one will need to share what they’ve written with anybody else.

Letter from Flame

If the group has already done the Cosmic Walk that day, write “Letter from Flame” instead of “Letter from Mother Gaia.” Ask participants to bring to mind the flame that emerged 13.7 billion years ago and has been transforming from one form to another ever since — coming to life on Earth 4.5 billion years ago, evolving through countless forms, and now illuminating your life.

Then proceed exactly as above.