TALKING CIRCLES

Native people regard the circle as the principal symbol for understanding life's mysteries, for they observed that it was impressed everywhere in nature. People looked out on the physical world through the eye, which is circular. The earth was round, so were the sun, moon and planets. The rising and setting of the sun followed a circular motion. The seasons formed a circle. Birds build their nests in circles. Animals marked their territories in circles. In the old days, houses or shelters were built in circles, like the teepee. To Native people, the whole of life seemed to operate in circular patterns.

SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR TALKING CIRCLES

Welcome everyone and ask them all to sit in the circle.

- Sit in the circle.
- Leader will talk on guidelines and will smudge the circle and the area.
- Leader shares first - using the sacred element he/she desires.
- Sharing goes clockwise, giving each person an opportunity to share from the heart.
- When someone is sharing, no one is to interrupt. The leader is the only one who can.
- If a female is on her moon cycle, she can ask the person next to her to hold the sacred
element and continue to share.
- If someone does not wish to share, he/she can pass.
- The Talking Circle has no time limit. Sharing continues until everyone in the circle has an opportunity to speak. There are exceptions to that in we can set a limit but with the understanding that it might go over the time limit.

SAFETY FOR GROUP MEMBERS

Sometimes in the safety of circle, people will find themselves bringing up sensitive issues, and for that reason, it is important that they can let the subject matter drop when they are done talking.
During the break (if you have one) or after the circle, one should not go up to another person and start discussing about what that person said in their talk without asking their permission to do so. Nothing can make person distrust or close up than having to answer for something they said during the circle. Nor should anyone talk about anything personal that others have brought up in the circle.
Remember that the circle is a place of safety and a tool to help people to speak about what they are feeling and thinking. It is not a place where we are trying to solve someone's problems.

EAGLE FEATHER.

1. Holding the eagle feather in a talking circle indicates a hunger and thirst to be truthful and alive - together in spirit with all our relations.
2. The eagle feather connects strength, wisdom, grace and truth throughout the
   circle.
3. The eagle feather carries our exact words and thoughts to the Creator
4. The eagle feather grieves when given a message of foul language to carry.
5. The eagle feather connects to our ancestors and they join us in the circle.
6. The eagle feather, when passed around the circle, conveys positive or negative
   energy to the Caretaker of the feather.
7. The eagle feather carries on the Native way of life for present and future generations.
8. A woman should not touch the eagle feather during her moon cycle.
9. The eagle feather is to be respected and handled with reverence and gently like a new born baby.

THE TALKING STICK

The talking stick has been used for centuries by many Native peoples as a means of a just and impartial hearing. The talking stick was commonly used in council circles to designate who had the right to speak. When matters of great concern came before the council, the leading elder would hold the talking stick and begin the discussion. When he finished what he had to say, he would hold on to the stick and whoever wished to speak after him would take it. In this manner the stick was passed from one individual to another until all who wished to speak had done so. The stick was then passed on to the elder for safekeeping.
Some tribes used a talking feather instead of a talking stick. Other tribes might have a peace pipe, a wampum belt, a sacred shell, or some other object by which they designate the right to speak. Whatever the object, it carries respect for free speech and assures the speaker he has the freedom and power to say what is in his heart without fear of reprisal or humiliation.

SMUDGING

The burning of sage, sweet grass, fungus is called smudging. It is traditionally used to prepare and purify a person, place or thing for a time of openness and truth in the presence of the Creator. Prior to a room being smudged, the eagle feather is smudged. Then you can go around and smudge everyone. If people do not want to partake, they can pass. Sage and matches can be made available for people who are late.

When we smudge. we do it for these reasons:

Mouth - so that anything we say will be positive and helpful to others who hear us.

Ears - that what we hear and listen to will be positive and help us to learn.

Eyes - that what we see is positive and we can see that in others, not to look at the outside.

Mind - that what we think or how we react will be positive, with only the well being of others in mind. Not to be clouded by anger, lust, greed, etc.

Heart - that our hearts will feel our pain and joy, to be able to heal and use that to help others.

Body - that we will use our bodies in positive ways and take care of our physical