How to keep facilitating without burning out
Maintaining a practice of Grounding is how I continue to:
Show up as me, authentically
Honor my capacity & maintain healthy boundaries
Ensure the facilitation process is regenerative, rather than draining
Grounding is part of my Phases of Ritual framework which incorporates my training in yoga, witchcraft, transformational coaching, & oddly enough, permaculture.
For this phase I've crafted a line that reminds us of the action related to Grounding:
As we move into ritual, we ground into the present moment.
The phase of Grounding is a threshold moment, a signal to our body/brain that something different is about to happen.
What once was, is no longer. What will be, is yet unknown.
Noticing the threshold moment is a practice in noticing the subtle.
Once we notice that we are in a sacred threshold, we lean in & ground so we can BE in the present moment.
As Starhawk writes in The Earth Path:
“Grounding means being relaxed but alert, energetically connected to the earth but able to move – present and aware – in a state in which we can take in information and make conscious choices about what to do.”
When we are energetically connected to the earth, we are also reminded of the support that is all around us:
“Grounding before every magical working or psychic exercise prevents us from becoming depleted. Instead of draining our own vitality, we tap directly into the unlimited sources of elemental energy in the earth. Power flows through us, not out of us.”
– Starhawk, The Spiral Dance
We can also play around with the analogy of the 3-prong vs the 2-prong plug-in.
The 2-prong plug works, is functional – there’s nothing “wrong” with it.
But the 3-prong has a ground wire (sometimes called earth wire!) that essentially prevents a shock to the electrical system so the outlet doesn't fry.
When we incorporate Grounding into our facilitation practice, we are connecting with the earth so we don’t shock our system!
Grounding Practices
Before I facilitate, I engage with my altar grounding practice.
My altar is a sacred space that helps me to settle my nervous system & activate my senses – both my 5 main senses & my clair senses.
When I begin my facilitation (whether 1:1 or in groups), I invite everyone to share their breath with me.
Breathing together is a simple, yet powerful, way to ground as a group.
I like to lead a few sloppy breaths &/or some box breathing.
The Effects of Grounding
When I am grounded (connected to my senses, nature, & the present moment), I am more able to:
Adjust to the group wisdom while also maintaining my center
Keep facilitating without burning out
Draw upon the energy of Nature & remember that I'm not doing all of this on my own
Grounding is a vital part of my facilitation process (& let's be real, it's a vital part of my entire life. lol).
When I enter into an experience grounded, I’m more able to be present to the subtle energy of the circle.
Helpful, especially when things go “not as planned” (cough cough – when I release the perceived grasp of control).
Grounding is my way of staying connected to my inner wisdom & the present moment, so I can serve the experience without frying out.
What about you?
What helps you stay grounded so you don’t burn out as a facilitator?
Join our next Facilitator Circle & let's talk more about it!
Deep bow to my teachers who have informed my Phases of Ritual: Grounding
Kelly Sunrose for teaching me how to notice the subtle, including the breath.
Toby Hemenway for teaching me pattern literacy.
Jan Engels-Smith for first teaching me all those years ago how to connect with earth energy.
