This practice invites participants to reflect on the different layers of our being.

Supplies:

Cut up several small pieces of tracing paper (could be 3x3 squares or 3 x 5 size. Doesn’t’ really matter as long as there is some space to write and draw).

Practice:

Invite students to settle. Take some deep breaths. Spend a minute or two for students for whom reflection is new; longer if students are accustomed to it.

Then invite a reflection on the following:

1. What is the quality of your thoughts at this moment? Speed? Nature of them? Try to describe their overall quality, not so much the content of the thought. (I start here because this layer tends to be easily accessed by many people. They are more familiar with noticing them.

2. How about your physical state? What do you notice about your overall physical state? If part of you calls out for attention (maybe it aches or is tired). Send that part some breath and some compassion. Notice also if there are parts of your physical being you aren’t aware of (maybe you don’t notice anything below your hips, for instance). For now, let that be Ok.

3. How’s your emotional state? What emotions are prominent in this moment? How do you know that is what you are feeling?

4. What is your energetic state like? Can you give it a color or a texture? If you notice it’s sluggish or energized, how do you know that?

5. How about your spiritual state? Is there a faith or a larger commitment you practice? If so, how does that support you in that moment? If you don’t practice any particular larger commitment, how is your overall spirit doing?

Invite them to practice compassion and acceptance for whatever they are experiencing. We are here to deepen reflection, not to judge. Practice curiosity.

Now invite them to take a piece of tracing paper and represent, somehow, what they noticed. Use a different piece of tracing paper for each layer of being. They can draw or color or write words or rip up the pieces….whatever feels like it represents what they noticed about each layer of being.

an open journal with a sharpened pencil placed on top of the page.

Alternatively, you can pause during the reflections and have them represent each layer with tracing paper before moving on to the next layer. This approach can be affective if you find participants have a hard time staying with longer reflections. Just make sure the tracing paper exercise is a part of the reflection and doesn’t jar them out of the inner reflection.

After representing each layer, invite them to zoom out and take in their whole being. We experience all these layers at once. What is their overall state?

You might invite them to put the layers in relationship with one another. Which aspect of their experience was harder to notice? Which was driving or overruling the rest? Are they all working in deep partnership?

If they layer them, with the hardest to discern at the bottom and the “loudest” on the top (or vice versa), now look at the whole. Since it’s tracing paper, they may be able to see the other layers throughout, so what are the echoes and vestiges? The gaps?

Maybe pair this last part with some passages from essays or poetry, to help find meaning in the resonances.

Or maybe they put the layers in relationship differently. Maybe they crumple up some of the paper, or tear it and sprinkle it over. Let them listen to their instincts about how they put the layers in relationship with opne another. Then help them explore meaning in their choices.

This activity can be used as a general check-in. Or it can be paired with privilege or internalized oppression. (If the latter, be particularly careful to engage a trauma-informed and/or healing-centered approach). For privilege, you might invite students to reflect on a moment when they committed a microaggression/cumulative aggression and someone called them out/in. Invite them to remember the moment in some detail, then do this reflection. It can help them tease out where they might be defensive or in a shame spiral, but it could also help them connect to how they care about the person or what their deeper values are, underneath the immediate defensiveness.