Exploration Garden: New Rules to Foster a More Focused Exploration Environment
Hello everyone,
Exploration Garden (EG) group chat was introduced in July 2023 as an extended version of the Sharing Circle. Since then, EG has undergone multiple iterations and changes to improve it for everyone
This post will share the next changes and updates regarding the Exploration Garden group chat.
We want to emphasize the key distinction between the Sharing Circle and Exploration Garden:
Sharing Circle is a space to share with others primarily, here you can vent, get validation, and express your thoughts/feelings/experiences to share those with others. The exploration garden by contrast is not so much a place to share, but rather a place to gain assistance in exploring our thoughts/feelings/experiences, here we are trying to learn and explore, seeking new perspectives, new understandings, and deeper meanings.
Based on the feedback received from the community and observations of trends within the group chat, we are rolling out the following changes to promote and foster an exploration environment in the EG.
1. EG will only be open when a facilitator is present. Without facilitation, the sessions tend to get off track, and unable to keep up with the guidelines for running an effective exploration session. Here is the updated schedule of the Exploration Garden session:
- Host-L stands for assigned listener host
- Host-M stands for covered by community mod
- Red rows represent no coverage at the moment, so no session will take place during these hours until we onboard new hosts to lead those hours.
2. Releasing an exploration guide for participants to understand how effective exploration works, the DOs and DONTs, Tips to get the most out of the session, and how to offer support to the sharers. Click here to access a copy of the exploration guide.
3. If you want to join the Exploration Garden Hosting Team, you can now express your interest by filling out a short form here!
The new changes will be implemented w.e.f Sept 20, 2024.
If you have any questions, please feel free to share with us below in the thread or reach out to @Heather225 or me aka @ASilentObserver
@ASilentObserver Hello! Honestly, I don't understand how closing EG is deemed a solution to run an "effective" exploration session.
Yesterday, I went to EG at 10 AM EST as usual like my routine. I went out and was surprised that EG was closed at 11 AM. Now I knew because a mod gave me this link, but oh well.
So yeah, I was disappointed that the changes were not communicated in the said group (EG). We don't get prior notice of the changes. But oh well, it happened. 7 Cups do have a habit of doing things without notice, it's fine, I guess, but I do hope it can be changed.
Now, here are my thoughts a bit about the changes. 7 Cups tend to see the world as black and white, good or bad. From these changes, I think you just see that the "lighthearted convo" in EG is bad and needs to be fixed immediately, hence closing EG when there's no facilitator is a solution. But no, a lighthearted convo when there's no share or no facilitator is not entirely bad. Like all humans, we too need a break from all the deep stuff and this lighthearted convo helps that, like asking each other how we are doing or things that you call "superficial".
There will be no deep exploration without a lighthearted convo (just like how there's no light without darkness). Lighthearted convos help the sharer to be more at ease and comfortable in sharing deep stuff. Not all of us like to share deep stuff when we don't know how the other person will react. So this lighthearted talk helps to understand and ease the sharer that EG is a safe space for deep exploration (at least, that's actually my first impression of EG and why I kept going back at it, but these changes just robbed that experience entirely, lol).
Now here is the feedback after the changes have been implemented. After the changes, the other groups are getting a bit more chaotic and disorganized. Well, it's predictable, of course, the groups are getting lesser. But here is the hard truth on why the changes might not be working: you guys don't have the human resources to maintain all of these. Hosts and mods are getting less and more inactive. Even there are times when people are not acting according to the guidelines and making people uncomfortable when hosts and mods are there. But yeah, the hosts and mods are not fast enough to tackle them. I don't blame them though, it's a human thing and everyone is just voluntary here.
With the hard truth that groups don't have the human resources to maintain everything, there can be 2 solutions, either let EG be maintained by the people there without a facilitator, or close it when there's no facilitator. Honestly, closing it means that you don't need help from the people in EG to help maintain it. So, I strongly hope that the facilitator will be prepared for the consequences.
All those aside, I would like to know why closing EG is a solution here. Honestly, I'm just Asian so the scheduled timezone is not working for me, lol. So, I'm okay if what I can get from EG can sometimes be just a lighthearted convo between members. Sadly, the other groups are too chaotic and disorganized for my taste.
@kindEyes9789
well said , eyes. 💜💐
@kindEyes9789 Thank you for sharing detailed feedback, Eyes. I appreciate you. I hear how you value the lighthearted conversations within EG as a way to build comfort and create a safe space for deeper explorations. And, the changes have impacted your experience, causing you to feel disappointed and frustrated. But please also know that these changes are based on the feedback shared by you all. I get your feedback and will work with the team.
@ASilentObserver I know to close a support room here, is not an easy choice. But sometimes hard choices have to be made for the good of all. I support you 1,000% on this.
@ASilentObserver
Thanks for the update Obs.
Hopefully we can get some more volunteers to help run the sessions.
Sharing Circle will always be open and everyone is welcome to join when EG isn't open 💙💙
@Lou73
its not the same. I’m sure we appreciate the invite though, thank you.
being confined to only scripted ( insincere, generic) supportive words are not what the EG was about.
Difficult to lose the ability as seeing people as a whole and supporting as required.
@LabeledBPD
I appreciate that there is a script for the guidelines and intro, the same as the EG, but none of the responses or support are ever scripted. No matter the room, the support and care comes from those in it and I know myself and many other hosts, listeners and members show a great deal of care and get to know regular participants.
I understand that the changes to EG are difficult, I just wanted to welcome anyone that felt like they had been left without a safe space to be. 💜
@Lou73
thing is Lou people were able to ask questions with the intention that it helps further insight. All with the only reason of exploring where we don’t automatically/naturally venture.
sharing circles, yes are very much needed but for members and hosts alike you are bound to supportive words only if the person sharing even allows that.
eg , was different, we don’t go there to just vent or be heard it’s about learning through others thought provoking questions or words or perspectives.
Only supportive words, it’s as much scripted as the introductions. There’s only so much vocabulary.
I thank and appreciate all that people do to run this place. Please don’t get me wrong.
@LabeledBPD
I would like to say just a few things. In Exploration Garden, questions are allowed, but people can choose whether or not to answer them.
In Sharing Circle support is there both during a share and afterwards, as well as in Exploration Garden. And the help that is given in Sharing Circle is very good. Also, since Exploration Garden is not always open, going to Sharing Circle to share and get support and encouragement seems like a very good idea to me. I appreciate Lou's words. And I like Lou's sessions and many who help out there.
I understand that you liked the way Exploration Garden was, and I hope it comes back to being open more like it used to be, but for that I think you need to talk to Obs.
And people can also learn in Sharing Circle. Through the others' experiences, for example, words or perspectives. There are not only supportive words. Both rooms are useful.
Thank you very much, @Lou73. And Sharing Circle has always helped me a lot.
