General feedback:
- Did the workshop cover the topics you expected? 7 yes; 2 no.
- Did the workshop stick to the subject? 9 yes; 0 no.
- Was the workshop a safe place for you to share? 9 yes; 0 no.
- Was the workshop spiritually nurturing? 9 yes; 0 no.
- Was the workshop fun and/or interesting? 9 yes; 0 no.
- Was the Advance Program description accurate? 6 yes; 2 no.
- Did you use the information posted on the website in making a workshop selection? 7 yes; 2 no.
- If you used the website, was the information helpful? 7 yes; 2 n/a.
- Was the quality of worship within the workshop appropriate? 9 always; 0 sometimes; 0 not at all.
- Was the leader prepared and knowledgeable? 9 always; 0 sometimes; 0 not at all.
- Was the leader appropriately flexible? 8 always; 1 sometimes; 0 not at all.
- Did the leader interact appropriately with the group? 9 always; 0 sometimes; 0 not at all.
- Did the material presented speak to your condition? 8 always; 1 sometimes; 0 not at all.
- To what extent was the amount of worship and/or worship-sharing in the workshop appropriate for you? 0 not enough; 8 about right; 1 too much.
- How much daily worship and/or worship-sharing do you expect in a workshop? 1, less than 20 minutes; 7, 20-40 minutes; 1, more than 40 minutes.
- Would you recommend this workshop to a Friend if it was offered at a future Gathering? 9 yes; 0 no.
- Is this leader skilled enough so that would take another workshop offered by him/her, if the topic were of interest? 9 yes; 0 no.
19. Comments on
the workshop leader:
- Stasa was a well-versed leader with a lot of knowledge in the subject area. She was flexible, encouraged participation, and adjusted plans based on interest.
- Great caring, understanding.
- This dear Friend I miss from my meeting, so one of the reasons I took this workshop was to spend time with her.
- I appreciate her capacity for discernment, her wide, deep experience, her honesty.
- Stasa was well prepared and capable, worship felt safe. Very capable and trustworthy.
- Stasa was very loving and nurturing, fun, light hearted, thoughtful, and a great leader. She was very kind and motherly to me which was exactly what I needed, being the youngest, sickest (germ wise) participant.
- Well informed and ready to go as the group led her.
20. Best things that happened during the workshop:
- Connections and exploring how Quakers can function with ritual.
- Conversation and growing closer to people in the workshop worship sharing was meaningful and powerful.
- Lots of good singing.
- Ritual, ceremony.
- Gathering of Friends. Getting to know the other people and having shared experiences and being safe.
- The closing ritual was wonderful. Sharing.
- Our final worship-ritual on healing.
- Community, education.
- Cleansing ritual was not only beneficial for the experience of being in a circle of other Pagans, but for emotional healing as well. I felt renewed, refreshed and loved. It was wonderful.
21. Troubling things about the workshop:
- I was nervous about the age difference between me and the other members, but that cleared up quickly.
22. Ways that the workshop
did not meet expectations:
- I had hoped for more discussion. We did this on Wednesday. I would have liked every day.
- I thought we would be outside more. Wanted to be involved in nature more.
- Wednesday was a long discussion about common elements of religions that did not feel like it fit the rest of the workshop. Discussion felt dry, not experiential, then again I was very sleepy.
- I was not used to being in a Pagan group but after the first hour was glad they were there. As an academic, I am curious about history and the connection to ancient spiritual practice. More of this would enhance the program.
23. Comments on
guest speaker, field trip, video, or other "special event":
- Ritual is a special event, wonderful.
- Both of our rituals were extraordinary, though the first was more powerful for me.
24. New skills, knowledge, or understanding taken from the workshop:
- I feel more balanced and solid in my own leadings. Leading ceremony.
- I will take the experience of being in a circle with other more knowledgeable Pagans and seeing how and why they do things.
- Acceptance of support of Pagan Friends.
- Diversity in spirituality.
- Some new songs and connections with like minded Friends.
- Circle casting, chants and other music.
25. How the workshop
affected participants as a Friend:
- Deepened my practice. I value procedures more, understand clearness committees better.
- Deep worship, healing, validation of my spirituality.
- I feel more convicted in my beliefs as a Pagan Quaker. The community gave me strength and courage.
- Deepened my spiritual experience. Further broadened my spiritual basis.
26. Other comments
for the workshop leader:
- Just what I wanted was different. I felt the workshop did go in the direction the group wanted. I held aside my direction other than small notices that would have been heard if that was what others wanted.
- Definitely do it again. This was amazing.
- Thank you.
- Thanks for your courage.
- Do some stuff outside. Very important to be in nature.
- I hope she receives the appreciation that she is worthy of.
- Hugs and blessings.
- Some history, druidry, celtic philosophy, perhaps to give context to temporal worship.
27. Other comments
for the Workshops Committee:
- I don't think the Gathering mission statement correctly reflects the gathering mission. It should include the explorative edge processing nature of the workshops. This is a think/feeling tank for Quakerism. Not only inward growth but outward growth.
- I appreciate space at Gathering for Quaker Pagans to get together.
- I wonder if a workshop could be developed to form a Pagan-Quaker section for Junior Gathering.
That's wonderful — it sounds like you really succeeded in creating the kind of space you wanted to. I'm reminded how much I miss doing magic with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these. I must confess - I don't remember which comments were mine!
ReplyDeleteBen -- I very much miss doing magic with you as well.
ReplyDeleteLaura -- Good! :)