5 things we often forget as Facilitators

To be and become a social arts facilitator has been, one of the most thrilling life choices, I ever made. It allows me to connect a commitment to self-growth, community building and the service of life. After almost a decade of practice, I wish to share some blind-spots and "common traps", I have found (and fell into on numerous occasions...).

POWER

To be a social arts facilitator is to evoke the power of the arts, imagination, in the benefit of personal and social transformation. It is calling upon the archetype of the magician, the one which walks on the edge of worlds, a space of immense power and responsibility. In a conversation with a colleague, she shared a powerful insight. No matter how powerful the people we work with are "outside", as facilitators, we become the most powerful people in the room. I believe that the more we become aware of this power and privilege, the better we could become in handling it, Eco-logically.

SECRET

What would be of a magician who reveals all his/her tricks? How can magic happen without mystery? What is the use of telling the truth if we can not keep a secret? As I grow in my practice I see the value of not revealing "too much". It is an act of kindness to others, who are not always ready to receive, and an act of kindness to self, who is not always ready to give. Or in the words of the song: "To Everything (Turn, turn, turn), there is a season (Turn, turn, turn)..."

TIME

The question of timekeeping is delicate, and while experiencing time flowing "differently" is an integral part of personal and social transformation, I have grown to value proper timekeeping. And as I find Chronos "linear time" and taking breaks challenging, my strategy has been to ask for the group's support in this. The "losing track" of time Is for me a result of getting energized by the process, and missing the benefit of physical rest and integrating of experience, which breaks and good timekeeping provide.

FRAME

I have learnt, that the framing of activity is as important as the activity itself (if not more so). It is in the framing we can present the premise of the work and that is instrumental in creating safety, and a supportive environment for the people and the process. Framing, in holding space for personal and social transformation, is a core activity. It allows for the beauty, truth and intelligence present in any situation to emerge and be seen collectively.

SELF

When we enter any space, we always bring with us at least one person, our selves. And as this "self" is made up of numerous experiences, and many attributes and possibilities, it is already a whole eco-system for us to handle. And while there is a tendency to see the facilitator role as neutral, It is important to recognize it is never fully possible. For me, facilitation is the art of being transparent while bringing consciously, the most authentic expression of self. It is to facilitate, to model, and to aspire to, wholeness. Allowing us to collectively be present and sensing "what is, what was and what could be".