The Council of All Beings - An Activity for All Ages
Whether you’re a teacher or a parent instilling the importance of animal welfare in the minds of your children, the "Council of All Beings" is an enriching activity that invites participants to step into the consciousness of non-human entities, such as animals, plants, or natural elements, to express their perspectives and concerns about the world. This practice, which intertwines environmental awareness with reflection, was first introduced by Rabbi David Seidenberg at the Teva Education Seminar in 2010. Rooted in the deep ecological movement, the Council of All Beings encourages participants to deepen their connection with the Earth by giving voice to the voiceless, fostering a profound sense of empathy and responsibility toward the environment. At its core, the Council of All Beings is an exercise in imagination and empathy.
Participants choose a being—a creature, plant, or element—and embody its perspective, speaking on behalf of that entity during a council gathering. This process is creative and deeply meditative, as it requires participants to consider the needs, challenges, and wisdom of beings often overlooked by human society. By doing so, individuals are encouraged to reflect on the impact of human actions on the natural world and to explore ways in which they can live more harmoniously with the planet's diverse life forms. The Council of All Beings aligns teachings on stewardship of the Earth and offers a powerful tool for fostering environmental consciousness. As participants engage in this activity, they not only explore the interconnectedness of all life but also renew their commitment to caring for the planet, inspired by the wisdom and needs of the beings they represent.
For Ages 10 and up.
Time: 1-2 hours
Setting: Choose a peaceful spot outdoors or in an undisturbed room for the activity.
Art supplies: Construction paper, paints, crayons, or any other art supplies to create masks.
“Explain the entire Council before beginning (finding a being to be an ally, making a mask, speaking as your ally and listening to every other ally, bringing what you learn back to your human life), so that participants know what is going to happen. [Some students may feel uncomfortable to speak at the Council without having their thoughts and ideas prepared, so pass out a document they may write on beforehand informing them of the questions they’ll be asked so that they may prepare notes for themselves. See the bottom of the article for a list of questions.]
Invite students to go out into nature, to the trees, grasses, rocks, or to find a spot in the space that participants are in, and to sit so that they are comfortable. Instruct them to close their eyes, in whatever spot they have found, and let the image of an animal (human or nonhuman), or part of nature or landscape, come to them in their imaginations. Remind them not to force themselves to think about a certain animal or part of nature, but rather to let the being visit them in their thoughts.
Ask the participants to “become” the being that has visited them in their imaginations. Encourage them feel themselves turning into this animal or part of nature (such as a cloud, a mountain, a tree, a wolf, or a spider). Let them ask: “What is happening to me as this being? How do I feel? What is my life like? My days? My nights? My interactions with other beings? With my environment? What do I want? What do I have to say? What would I like to tell people? What wisdom do I have as this being?” Remind them to listen inside for the answers.
After giving participants some time to “become” their being, bring the art supplies into the center of the circle and invite students to open their eyes and silently to make a mask to represent themselves as this being. The mask does not have to look like the being, as long as it is evocative for the wearer. Some participants will be tempted to spend a long time on their mask. Remind them that the mask is only a representation, and give a five-minute and one-minute warning for finishing the mask.
When everyone has finished making their persona, form the Council.
One by one, each being should introduce him-, her-, or itself and say what their life is like, who they are, and how they spend their time. After each being speaks, if you wish, the Council can respond by saying, “We hear you ____ (name of being).”
Ask the beings to each speak again, this time telling the Council what is happening to them, including what humans have done to them and what they would like to say to humans. Once again, the rest of the group can respond by saying “We hear you ____ (name of being).”
After each being has spoken again, ask them to talk once more, sharing whatever wisdom, knowledge, or gifts they have to offer and what they might teach people who are willing to listen. The group can respond by saying “We thank you ____ (name of being).”
Finally, after each being has spoken for the last time, ask participants to remove their masks one by one. As each of them takes off the mask, you can invite them to turn their masks toward themselves and make a small promise to their being.
To end the Council, you can say something like, “May these promises be sacred to us. Many thanks to the beings who have come together today to share their feelings, dreams, hopes, and wisdom.”” (Seidenberg, 2006 & Varady, 2024)
Questions to Prepare for the Council Meeting:
Think about:
What is happening to me as this being?
How do I feel?
What is my life like? My days? My nights?
My interactions with other beings? With my environment?
What do I want?
What do I have to say? What would I like to tell people?
What wisdom do I have as this being?
During the council meeting:
Introduce him-, her-, or itself. Say who they are.
What their life is like.
How they spend their time.
Tell the Council what is happening to them, including what humans have done to them and what they would like to say to humans.
Share whatever wisdom, knowledge, or gifts they have to offer and what they might teach people who are willing to listen.
Sources:
Seidenberg, D., & Seed, J. (n.d.). NeoHasid.org | Council of all Beings. http://www.neohasid.org/stoptheflood/council/
Varady, A. N. (2024, June 1). The Council of All Beings, an activity for all ages on the Jewish New Year’s Day for Animals, Rosh h . . . The Open Siddur Project, https://opensiddur.org/?p=7428