So often, when I volunteer to lead a ceremony or a class, I haven’t a clue of what the group activity should actually be. In the time leading up to it, inspiration seems to come in little puffs.

I really like creative activity in any group setting. Recently, I had a puff of inspiration in preparation for a women’s ritual I conducted in New York City this summer. It worked well, but had a couple of hitches.

I made some changes and tried it again with a tarot group in Tampa, and it worked even better.

Now, I am ready to share it with you.

This exercise/ritual/activity will work well in a small group of six-twenty people.  It’s pretty short (though powerful), so you can do this as part of a ceremony, class or gathering.

Provide for your group uniform pieces of paper. You could use 3x5 index cards, lovely patterned origami paper, small pieces of parchment or shaped or colored paper from a small novelty notepad.

Instruct each person to take a piece of paper and write on it one thing in their lives for which they are extremely and completely grateful. In doing this, instruct them to be as general as possible. For example, don’t give the name of your lover, simply write “love”. Don’t give the name of your place of employment, simply say “a great job” or “career”.

Instruct your group to hold the energy of gratitude as they think about what they are going to write, and as they write it. Have them each place their finished paper face down on the altar or table, with gratitude.

Now ask the group to breathe together, and cultivate and luxuriate in the energy of gratitude.

Then, have them open themselves to a message from the Universe.

When each person is ready, let them take a paper from the altar (not the one they placed there).

Whatever is on the paper will be either something that is already in their lives that they need to hold in appreciation, or a blessing they will soon be manifesting, or that will soon become a focus for them.

Ask each person what they received, and what it means to them. Encourage them to connect with the person whose paper they received. Let the group discuss what each person received, and contemplate its possible meaning.

This exercise allows your group to create an instant and temporary oracle. It fosters interaction and introspection within the group.

For people unfamiliar with divination, or afraid of tarot, this exercise gives a glimpse of the power of random token divination.

In a tarot group, you can continue the exercise by deciding which tarot card might represent which gratitude statement.

This exercise ties the energy of gratitude with the energy of manifestation. So often when we work with manifestation, we do it from an energy of need or greed, versus gratitude. That this exercise is done in a group fosters a sense of support and community.

Try this at your next circle, party or study group!

-Christiana