Chalice Circle Topic for January-- Waking Up in the New Year: Reflections on Transitions

By Crystal Neva, Adapted from, Jeff Packer’s sermon of the same name, shared at the Bellingham Unitarian Fellowship in December 2014

Note: See the Chalice Circle Session Sequence for process guidelines (following this outline).

Gathering, Welcoming (2 minutes)

Business
As needed—checking in about who is coming, where you are meeting, service projects, updating your group covenant….

Chalice Lighting and Reading (2-3 minutes)

Rumi:  The Dream that Must be Interpreted:

Humankind is being led along an evolving course,

Through this migration of intelligences,

And though we seem to be sleeping,

There is an inner wakefulness

That directs the dream,

And that will eventually startle us back

To the truth of who we are.

May this spark, which kindles our chalice

provide the light for awakening

in this time we share together

Check-in/Sharing (3-4 minutes@ - 30-40 minutes)

This is an opportunity to share recent events and/or current feelings that may (or may not) need to be set aside in order to be most present for the session.

Transition Meditation (optional, depending on the norms of the group)

Help the group move from check-in preliminaries to silence with directed deep breathing, soft words, music, or other meditative techniques.

Topic—Reflections on Transitions

Certain times of year seem to lend themselves to a discussion about transitions. Changing seasons, a New Year… probably, the topic is relevant at all times because life is actually always a series of transitions. On December 28^th, Jeff Packer gave the sermon, at BU, on this topic and brought up many things that are worthy of our careful consideration.

He reminded us about the constant flow of transitions—from the everyday transitions of getting out of bed in the morning (or in our out of the tub when we were children), the transitions we face based on our stage of life or development—the differences between the generations, based on different social circumstances and reactions to the previous generation, transitions involving illness and loss, and of course, the biggest transition—the one between life and death.

Jeff noted the following quote and then went on: “Life is an interesting mix between hanging on and letting go.”  The question then becomes: “What is worth hanging on to, and what do I need to let go of?”  I don’t think anyone can answer these for us, but they are worthy of deeper reflection.  Are we hanging on to things out of a sense fear, insecurity or lack?  Or out of deep commitment, compassion and love?  Letting go can also be extremely difficult.  Sometimes we are just not ready – and in some situations may never be ready!  And that’s OK.  But I have noticed a relationship between a refusal to let go when it’s needed, and the level of suffering one experiences.  Letting go is associated with a certain acceptance of situations beyond our control.  Some do find this through faith – a way of placing the situation in trust of Life itself or the will of God.  Similarly, some find it through spiritual surrender, which comes through a deep allowing of the present moment, and a willingness to embrace the mystery of life or the unknown. 

Deep Sharing/Deep Listening (60 minutes)

As we begin Deep Sharing and Deep Listening, I invite you to reflect on and share the transitions you are currently facing in your life and consider focusing your sharing on any or all of the following questions:

What are you holding on to?
What do you need to let go of?
What helps you let go—does it involve surrendering? To whom or what do you surrender?
If you are holding on to things that you really should let go of, why are you doing that?
How can you tell if you need to let go of something—is suffering our guide?
Which is harder for you—holding on or letting go, why?
What are your hopes regarding successful transitions for the New Year?

Open Discussion (as time permits—this is the cross talk portion)
This is the opportunity to ask questions, and continue to engage the topic….

Check-out/Feedback  (10 minutes)

Thank the group.   Ask what they liked in this session and what changes they would hope for.

Closing Reading/Extinguishing the Chalice

In the Garden, by Karen Miller

“Then I saw a garden.  I saw a multitude of iridescent greens.  The glint of sun-bleached stones.  Red bark and burnished branches.  The sheen on still water.  Light on a hill.  A foreground, a background: the seamless whole in three dimensions.  Colors with no names because I wasn’t naming them.  Beauty beyond measure because I wasn’t measuring it.  A view unspoiled because I wasn’t judging it.  The shine of the sky making everything vivid, even the shadows, with the radiance of being alive… When you see, really see, you just love.  When you love, really love, you just see.  You see things as they are, not as you expect… and in that wide-open space is love.  This is the kind of love that everyone wants, the kind that everyone needs… Unconditioned by definitions or demands… judgment or hesitation… You are in the Garden.”