Group ceremony vs. solo: what the experience of others in the room actually does
234 replies · Experiences
I've had sessions both ways — alone at home, and in group ceremonies of varying sizes. The difference is much larger than I expected before I tried both. Not just in comfort level but in the actual content and quality of the experience.
Group ceremonies provide something solo experiences can't: the experience of shared vulnerability. Being with others who are also open, also experiencing — it creates a container that is qualitatively different from being alone.
What groups can't provide that solo can: the permission to go completely inward. Even with eyes closed in a ceremony, some part of me is tracking the room, monitoring how I'm appearing. For deep inner work, being genuinely alone removes a cognitive load that turns out to be significant.
The middle option: two or three people with a common purpose and a shared guide. Big enough to create a collective container. Small enough to allow genuine interiority.
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