I was wholly seeped into this structure in our Studio and walked out with a vivid story that had elements from different dreams embedded in it. Dreams I hadn’t dared to face as things I yearned for.

In practice

I'm curious to try journaling with Lynda Barry's invitation that inspired this structure, using the video she’s published for it to be a self-serve activity.

The application in my professional context is harder to imagine. Narrative reauthoring would be a beautiful experience to host at a retreat but that kind of gathering is maybe one out of ten workshops that I run.

But the concept is so seductive. I could see it being developed into an incredibly powerful pattern — something to think about after a few more experiences!

Facilitation notes

A note to my future self that may facilitate this -

Having your story read out loud by someone is a touching experience. After being in a meditative state with the facilitator's tone as the sole aural signal, you hear a new voice read the words that you just pulled together from your imagination. Words that have never been spoken before.

My partner did that, unexpectedly, and I'm grateful for it. I did the same, and found that forming her text in my mouth and listening to the sounds myself brought a different appreciation than I might have if I had just read them on the screen.

I would make this part of the instructions.

See instructions

This entry is part of an ongoing series of Field notes from my Liberating Structures practice.

LS under development
- Aug 16, 2020 Tiny monsters
- Aug 13, 2020 Narrative reauthoring
- Aug 12, 2020 Spiral journal
- Aug 9, 2020 Mad Tea Party
Microstructures
- Feb 24, 2021 Helping Heuristics
- Oct 4, 2020 Nine Whys
- Oct 4, 2020 Appreciative interviews
- Sep 24, 2020 Ecocycle planning
- Sep 20, 2020 Celebrity interview
- Aug 22, 2020 25/10 Crowdsourcing
- Aug 22, 2020 Open space technology
- Aug 22, 2020 Wise crowds
- Aug 14, 2020 Wicked questions
- Aug 13, 2020 Heard, seen, respected
- Aug 13, 2020 15% Solution
- Aug 13, 2020 Triz
- Aug 13, 2020 Min specs
- Aug 12, 2020 User experience fishbowl
- Aug 11, 2020 Conversation cafe
- Aug 11, 2020 Troika Consulting
- Aug 11, 2020 Impromptu networking
- Aug 10, 2020 1-2-4-All