From our Village Toolkit: Our 5 Pillars
The 5 Practices that bring the Village Vibes
Let’s face it: making real connections can be tough. Sure, you’ve got group chats and socials, but when was the last time you had a conversation that actually mattered?
Enter VillageCo. It’s not about old-school villages; it’s about creating a squad—a crew—where everyone feels they belong. At the heart of Village gatherings are five practices that keep things real and encourage connections to grow. Let’s talk about how you can use these practices to create a vibe that’s all about real connections. Let’s break it down.
We Gather Regularly: Show Up, Hang Out, Dive In, Repeat
First up: the gathering. This is where it all starts. Picture this: 1-2 hours of chill time with your people, but with a twist. You’re not just catching up; you’re diving into meaningful stuff—ideas, stories, and ways to make a difference. These meetups happen regularly, so it’s like having a standing date with open-minded people who love connecting. Oh, and it’s not just one person running it all; everyone gets a turn to lead. It’s casual, but it’s also deep—and totally worth showing up for. The most important part is that it is regular—each Village can choose their own gathering frequency as long as it’s consistent and constant!
We Ground: Take a Breath, Reset Together
Ever feel like you’re running on empty? Or, that social anxieties get in the way of real connection? That’s where grounding comes in. A Village gathering kicks off with a few minutes to just… pause. Maybe it’s a guided breathwork session, a quick visualization, or even a moment of silence. This practice helps you shake off the stress of the day and show up fully. When everyone takes a collective breath, it’s like hitting the reset button for the whole group. You’ll be amazed at how much easier it is to connect when you’re actually present. Trust us: a little zen goes a long way.
We Acknowledge: Speak Up, Listen In
Here’s the thing: real communities talk about real stuff. Every gathering includes an acknowledgment—a quick presentation by someone in the group about an issue that matters. Maybe it’s about privilege or an injustice that hits close to home. It’s not about calling people out; it’s about calling everyone in. These moments of learning and reflection make the group stronger and more understanding. They’re eye-opening, heart-opening, and always worth listening to.
We Connect: One-on-Ones That Actually Matter
Alright, here’s where the magic happens: one-on-one connections. During the gathering, you’ll pair up with someone (randomly, because why not?) and chat based on a fun or thought-provoking prompt. It’s like those late-night convos where you lose track of time, but in bite-sized chunks. Whether you’re talking to someone new or an old friend, these mini-conversations are where bonds start—or go next level.
We Open Space: Make It Your Own
Got something you’re passionate about? This is your moment. Villages open up space for members to bring their own ideas, topics, or activities to the table. After brainstorming, you break into small groups to dive into whatever sparks your interest - you choose the topic that you want to explore with others. Then everyone comes back together to share the highlights. It’s creative, it’s collaborative, and it’s all about letting the group’s energy lead the way. You’ll leave feeling inspired—and probably with a few new ideas of your own.
So there you have it: five simple practices that can take your connections from meh to meaningful. VillageCo isn’t about reinventing the wheel; it’s about giving you the tools to build a community that’s real, supportive, and straight-up awesome.
These practices definitely show up in other communities - they come from a deeper need we all have for connection. No doubt these practices can be challenging, which is why we don't see them in every community space, and why we call them practices. Ready to get started? Your Village is waiting.
Food for Thought:
What practices help you “ground”, center yourself & be more present?
If you have experienced a Village gathering, what was your favorite practice?
What ideas or topics would you raise for a small group to talk about?
I think what's helped me ground is just silence and breathing. It definitely helps to just take a moment to pause or slow down my mind before interacting with others. When I do it when those same people, it kind of aligns you spiritually in a way from the get go and it makes it more comfortable when you go into the community connections.
My favourite practice is the open space! Love the spontaneity of the topic/question gathering. You never know what will come up! My next topic would be "What's your intention for the first 10 days of the new year?" [come to spirit camp to share it with a group of awesome people!]
I experienced my first grounding at Village. Since then I've brought that practice into my day to day life - just taking a few deep breaths - it makes SUCH a difference!
My favorite part of Village gatherings is the group photo!! Haha I love getting folks to smile for our groupies.. But I love all the parts of the gathering, each help me connect with others in different ways and at different depths.
And the most impactful open space topic I experienced was at Village Seattle in late 2020 - the topic of "what is spirituality?" - oh wow, it cracked me open - it was an idea that was in the back of my head for years, and when someone else raised the questions, I was immediately drawn in. And WOW, I learned so much from everyone who joined that conversation -deeply grateful for those beautiful humans.