id: council-practice
title: Council Practice
description: >-
  A circle-based dialogue practice with four intentions — speak from the
  heart, listen from the heart, be spontaneous, and be lean. Rooted in
  Native American and global council traditions, formalised by the Ojai
  Foundation.
source: The Ojai Foundation / Jack Zimmerman
source_url: https://www.ojaifoundation.org/council
tags: [council, indigenous, listening, dialogue]
forked_from: null
image: null
steps:
  - headline: Open council
    description: >-
      A facilitator opens with a dedication and reads the four intentions:
      speak from the heart, listen from the heart, be spontaneous, be lean.
  - headline: Pass the talking piece
    description: >-
      The talking piece is passed; only the holder speaks. Each person shares
      what is alive for them, spontaneously, without rehearsal.
  - headline: Witness without response
    description: >-
      Listeners receive what is said without rebuttal, advice, or cross-talk.
      The piece moves on when the speaker is complete.
  - headline: Close council
    description: >-
      The facilitator closes with a dedication or silence, marking the end of
      the held space.
outcome: >-
  The group shares authentically and listens deeply; trust and connection
  grow through witness rather than debate.
practice: >-
  "Be lean" means say what is true and stop — don't pad. "Be spontaneous"
  means don't rehearse while others speak. Both are hard.