Note: the spiritist teacher must bring enough cutleries (forks, knives and spoons), so the youth can choose one each. During the group dynamics, soft music can played in order to make it easier for the youth group to concentrate.
1 – Place drawings of a fork, a knife and a spoon in a sheet of paper or craft, leaving it in a visible place (stuck on the blackboard or wall, for example).
2 – Get a box of cutlery (forks, knives and spoons) and ask each one of them to choose one of their choices.
3 - Distribute blank sheets of paper and ask them to write why they chose that fork.
4 - Show with engravings what symbolizes each cutlery, as explained below:
Fork: PIERCE, PRICK, FASTEN
Knife: HURT, SEPARATES, CUT, STRIKE
Spoon: WELCOME, UNITE, AGREGATES, HELP.
Click here to see drawing suggestions.
5 - Ask questions related to the theme under development, such as:
What kind of attitudes we usually have in our daily lives? Which cutlery do we act alike?
How do we act in relation to:
- Our Father;
- Our Mother;
- Our Brothers;
- People who work in our house;
- Our Pets;
- Nature;
- Our Work;
- Our School;
- Our Friends.
It’s important to inquire item by item so the youth group can reflect on themselves mentally. This should lead them to further reflect on their attitudes toward the questions asked.
6 - Ask them to explain why they chose such utensil. The spiritist teacher must be careful at this time, when discussing the comments made.
Examples
- I took the knife because I can defend myself with it! Question: you want to defend yourself from what?
- I took the first utensil I saw! I grabbed what was closest to me! Question: Aren’t we making quick decisions, without thinking about it? Or maybe we are accepting anything under the influence of other people?
7 - Remember that if anyone deals with us like a knife or a fork, it doesn’t mean we have to react in the same way. Jesus taught us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
Suggested group dynamic received from Angela - Spiritist Group “Seara do Mestre”.
Translation: Carolina von Scharten, London, linked to BUSS - The British Union of Spiritist Societies.
