Tips and Techniques for Effective Zoom Events

 

 

 

COVID-19 and new protocols for safety has resulted in canceled festivals, rituals and workshops leaving many within our community feeling isolated and yearning for interactions with others. Fortunately, we live in a technologically booming age and since creativity is a staple of pagans, these two together can form a winning partnership…..

 

Specific Events: Virtual Ritual

Part One

This month we’ll explore some of the considerations when planning for a virtual ritual. As we know, the virtual experience provides a level of barrier to being in the presence of others, sensing the energy up close and being able to coordinate the timing and flow of the ritual. The more you prepare ahead and have everything in place, the better the experience will be for everyone. Let’s take a look at what goes into the planning and presentation of a Ritual…

 

THE RITUAL:

Planning and Preparation:

Have a final, annotated copy of the ritual available for everyone who is involved and has a role;

In your planning sessions, troubleshoot for:

Back-ups in the event someone with a role is unable to attend, or has tech issues on their end;

Maintaining the energetic flow;

Determining those who will be helping to uphold the energetic space remotely;

Determining how to reach out to your participants if you are unable to log-in or run the event because of technical issues.

 

Often there will be a few individuals who reach out asking for the ZOOM invite same day as the event. It helps for the Host to have copied and pasted onto a sticky-note-word doc, etc…. the ZOOM Invite info ready to send to avoid having to look through emails. There is also a function within the ZOOM window that brings up the invite information if that is easier to access:

 

 

 

Ready for your close-up? Cameras

There are many ways to set up your device/camera to make the event more effective. Generally, two options provide the best set-up for most event. Some questions to consider may be:

What is the purpose of the event?

Who will be participating?

How long will this event last?

Answers to these questions will help in the planning of how you can best enhance what your participants will see. If it is a ritual, the central altar should be the main focus of sight since it is the most important and primary stimulus for engagement and energetic connection.

Another option is to move the camera further back to take in a more panoramic view. This could include a lovely back-drop (outdoors, large temple room space, etc.), other people in the ritual space, a central altar, another point of main focus. This is helpful if there are a lot of actions involving the central space that are key components to the efficacy of the ritual.

 

Roles:

In addition to roles assigned within the ritual, you should also have these two tasks assigned.

 

Tech Coordinator:

Designate someone to be the Tech Person. If the individual is not the designated host, you can assign them as co-host so that they have access to all of the tech permissions that the host does. They will be responsible for the functions of:

Muting/unmuting participants at designated time;

Managing the need to have participants “stop video” if the feed is problematic. This will often help with bandwidth needs and ensure that the program continues without distraction;

Managing any sharing of screens for visual effect within the ritual.

 

Greeter:

Select someone who presents a very warm demeanor. The virtual experience can be very sterile in its feel normally, so you want your guests to “feel” welcomed and appreciated for taking their time to participate.

 

Herald/Narrator:

This should not be an individual having a main role in the ritual. This role is much like that of the herald in any ritual. Because the ZOOM experience lacks the in-person ability for visual cues and directions, having very clear and direct communication and instruction for the participants on the other end is paramount.

 

Next Month

Specific Events: Virtual Ritual

Part Two

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About the Author:

Robin Fennelly is an Elder within The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition and serves as High Priestess of Coven of the Mystic Path, the 12th Coven within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition. She teaches and facilitates classes for the Pagan Experience Study Group that serves as foundation for membership within Coven of the Mystic Path.  

Her spiritual journey is strongly rooted in both Eastern philosophy and the Western Magickal systems from which she has formed a core foundation that is diverse in knowledge and rich in spiritual practice.  A life-long learner, her practice has evolved from the classical and philosophical teachings of books, practical experience and enrichment of this knowledge base by attending workshops of various spiritual traditions presented by master teachers.

Robin formally came to the Wiccan path in 1994. Following a practice as a solitary for 2 years, she dedicated to Oak and Willow Coven of The Assembly of the Sacred Wheel Tradition in November of 1996. She received her 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th (Elder) degrees within the Assembly Tradition and has served as High Priestess of two ASW covens since Samhain of 2001 and the Winter Solstice of 2015.

As a teacher of esoteric and magickal studies she uses Energetic Anatomy, Tarot, Astrology, Hermetic Qabala, Eastern Philosophy, and Numerology as the foundations of her diverse selection of workshops and writings for more than 25 years. Exploration of varied energetic protocol has been the focus of her work for some time now and the information gained through direct experience informs all of her magickal and spiritual work.

Robin’s writings have been featured online, and in print Internationally.  She has authored several books incorporating her unique style of writing making use of poetry, prose and pathworking to enhance the concepts presented.  She has taught extensively throughout the Pagan community, including Sacred Space Conference, Spring Magick, Between the Worlds Interfaith Conference and Free Spirit Gathering Festival. Her most recent projects include a channel on youtube: A Journey to the Inner Chamber. She also shares audio pathworkings and ritual on her bandcamp site: Teachings on the Path with Robin.

Robin is the owner of Holistic Embrace providing services for mind, body and spirit such as Tarot readings, Astrology reports, Spiritual Guidance and other related offerings.  She lives in Eastern Pennsylvania and her life is blessed by a 40+- year marriage, five children and the opportunity to work in the field of public education.

Robin’s Website: www.robinfennelly.com

Coven of the Mystic Path, ASW: www.covenofthemysticpath.org

Her books can be found on Amazon or purchased directly through her website:

For more info: http://www.robinfennelly.com/books.html

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 1 It’s Written in the Stars-Astrology

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 2 Poetry of the Spheres-Qabalah

The Inner Chamber, Vol. 3 Awakening the Paths-Qabalah

The Light of SELF: Consciousness, Spiritual Practice and Learning to Breathe

Magickal Verse: A Collection of Poetry and Prose

A Year of Gaia: The Eternal Cord

The Elemental Year: Aligning the Elements of SELF

Temple of the Sun and Moon: Luminous Devotions

Sleeping with the Goddess: Nights of Devotion

A Weekly Reflection: Musings for the Year

The Magickal Pen: A Collection of Esoteric Writings

The Enchanted Gate: Musings on the Magick of the Natural World

The Temple of the Sun: An Astrological Solar Year

Writings in the Shadow: An Exploration of the Shadow Nature