Group Sandtray

These are the steps we use in doing a group sandtray. The group sand tray is a learning experience on multiple levels. One of the implicit learnings is the recognition of the power of listening to connect a group into a coherent community. The group sand tray process can also be thought of as a two-and-a-half-hour ritual. Often the word ritual is frightening to health professionals and so it is not mentioned at the beginning of the exercise, rather we offer a direct experience of the exercise and afterwards interpret it and its theory for the group. Most groups will spontaneously realize that they have participated in a ritual and as a result of the experience, have a far deeper respect for the power of these sorts of interactions.

1. SIT ON THE FLOOR IN A CIRCLE FOR A BRIEF DISCUSSION.
   In a brief discussion prior to the tray, we tell people the following:
   
   Sandtray is a discovery process. It is among other things, an exercise in listening as a community and being listened to by a community. It is also a contemplative experience done in community and witnessed by community. The exercise is done in total silence, except for that period of time a participant is describing the objects they have chosen. Participants speak about every object they have put in the sand in their part of the tray. If they do not know what an object means or why they have selected it, they simply say that. We tell people that there is no need to stand to see anyone's tray...that we do a closing which will allow each person to see clearly. We discuss the unconscious mind and tell people to follow their intuition. That meaning often lies in the unconscious...the world of symbols and dreams. We describe the sandtray room briefly, a room filled with objects representing the contents of the inner and the outer world. We tell people that the whole group will be in there together and encourage people to take what they are attracted to EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY NOT KNOW WHY THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO IT. That those things which resonate with the unconscious will appear SHINY or will attract a person's attention more than other things. We tell them not to worry that another participant will take the object they want or need...that the unconscious mind is resourceful and will find another object to express the same thing through.
   
   
2. WE THEN ASK FOR QUESTIONS.
   
   
3. THEN WE SHARE VERBALLY THE STEPS 5 THROUGH 15 WHICH FOLLOW TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT LIES AHEAD.
   We tell them they will not need to remember this as we will lead them through the process......we are telling them about it so they won't be distracted by having to wonder what is next.
   
   
4. AFTER SHARING THE STEPS WE ASK FOR QUESTIONS AGAIN.
   THEN WE BEGIN BY TELLING THE GROUP THE FOCUS QUESTION OR TOPIC FOR THE TRAY.
   Such questions as "What is important now?" or a topic such as "Healing" may be chosen according to the purposes of the group. The group is then told that they do not have to remember the question. The unconscious mind has heard it and "has it" and will draw their attention to objects that are relevant to their experience of this question or topic. THE QUESTION IS THE LAST THING THAT IS DISCUSSED PRIOR TO ACTUALLY BEGINNING THE TRAY WITH SILENCE.

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5. WE SIT IN SILENCE FOR 3-4 MINUTES.
   
   
6. THE LEADER THEN GETS UP AND WALKS SLOWLY TO THE SANDTRAY ROOM, FOLLOWED SINGLE FILE BY THE GROUP.
   
   
7. AT DOOR OF THE SANDTRAY ROOM, THE LEADER TURNS AND GIVES EACH PERSON A BASKET TO GATHER UP THEIR ITEMS.
   
   
8. THE LEADER TURNS ON THE SOFT MUSIC IN THE SANDTRAY ROOM, STEPS JUST OUTSIDE OF THE SANDTRAY ROOM AND WAITS.
   
   
9. PEOPLE SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS THEY NEED GATHERING ITEMS. THEY CAN TAKE AS MANY OR AS FEW AS THEY ARE ATTRACTED TO.
   
   
10. WHEN EACH PERSON IS FINISHED, THEY COME TO THE DOOR OF THE SANDTRAY ROOM WITH THEIR BASKET AND CARRY IT UPSTAIRS TO THE GROUP SANDTRAY TABLE.......A ROUND TABLE FILLED WITH SAND AND DIVIDED INTO SECTIONS. EACH SECTION HAS A CHAIR IN FRONT OF IT.
    
    
11. THEY SIT IN FRONT OF THE SECTION OF THEIR CHOICE, PUT THEIR BASKET OF ITEMS ON THE FLOOR BEHIND THEM AND WAIT UNTIL ALL HAVE COME TO THE TABLE.
    
    
12. THE LEADER WILL THEN DO A BRIEF OPENING EXERCISE (SEE BELOW) AND THEN GIVE EVERYONE BACK THEIR BASKET OF ITEMS.
    
    
13. PEOPLE WILL PLACE THEIR ITEMS IN THEIR PART OF THE TRAY IN ANY WAY THAT APPEALS TO THEM. EVERYONE IN THE GROUP WILL BE DOING THIS AT THE SAME TIME.
    
    
14. ONE AT A TIME, IN ANY ORDER THAT PEOPLE CHOOSE TO TALK, EACH PERSON WILL TALK ABOUT EVERY OBJECT IN THEIR PART OF THE TRAY.
    
    
15. WHEN EVERYONE HAS FINISHED TALKING....THE LEADER WILL DO A BRIEF CLOSING CEREMONY.
    
    

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16. BRIEF BREAK
    
    
17. GROUP DISCUSSES THE EXPERIENCE.
    THE LEADER MAY WISH TO SEED THE DISCUSSION WITH SUCH QUESTIONS AS:
    • WHAT SURPRISED YOU ABOUT THIS?
      
    • WHAT WAS THE MOST "juicy" ITEM IN YOUR TRAY, THE ITEM THAT HELD THE MOST ENERGY FOR YOU? IF APPROPRIATE HAVE PEOPLE REFLECT ON HOW THEY MIGHT HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THIS IN THEIR LIVES TOMORROW. KEEP THE NEW STEPS SMALL AND DO-ABLE.

OPENING AND CLOSING EXERCISES

OPENING

• CONNECT TO YOURSELF (HANDS OVER HEART)
  
• CONNECT TO SPIRIT (HANDS STRAIGHT UP ABOVE HEAD)
  
• CONNECT TO THE EARTH ( HANDS IN THE SAND)
  
• CONNECT TO EACH OTHER (HANDS UP AND OVER AND AROUND EACH OTHER'S SHOULDERS)

CLOSING

THE ROLE OF THE SPACE HOLDERS

Overview | How to Build a Group Sandtray | Basic Group Sandtray Process
Interview with Marion Weber | Sandtray Resources