The Alchemy Method
Thump, thump, thump. Deep, rich and reverberating, the feeling can’t be pinpointed within the body. Thump, thump, thump. It resonates straight to the soul, calling upon something within — a visceral response. Thump, thump, thump. It draws each individual into the collective group as Kwame Scruggs, Ph.D. drums. Some close their eyes while others sway their bodies to his rhythm.
New research published in American Psychologist on June 10, 2021 provides an explanation for the comfort and social connection The Alchemy Method stirs when Kwame plays his drum during each coaching session. Jean Decety, the Irving B. Harris Distinguished Service Professor in Psychology and Psychiatry, and director of Child Neurosuite at the University of Chicago, says, “Music is a fundamental part of our evolution, allowing for unique expressions of social ties. It can strengthen cohesion and mutual trust between people by signaling shared values.”1 A group coaching style that forms a safe and supportive environment with mutual respect and trust between coach and clients, the Alchemy Method taps into an ancient knowing.
As the rhythm continues, the voice of my co-coach, Kwame, emerges with a myth, evoking the collective imagination. A parallel path into our humanity, myth nurtures our need for connection to others who share our experience of life. A Joesph Campbell quote comes to mind as the process unfolds: “Myths are the world’s dreams. They are archetypal dreams and deal with great human problems. Myths and dreams come from the same place. They come from realizations of some kind that then have to find expression in symbolic form.” The symbolism in myth bypasses individual self-defenses, an indicator that coaching remains on the intellectual level, so that clients may dive into their own subconscious Shadow Stories.
Kwame uses myth to draw his audience into the skin of the character, feeling the emotions and engaging in the struggle. It matters not the gender or the color. The felt experience is real. This is the power of myth to protect the coaching space. Myths transcend cultural limitations and bias when the story taps into archetypal energy.
From the perspective of the story, clients identify factors influencing their thinking and behavior without feeling judged. Interestingly, they shift their point of view in the story and whose skin they are in to explore life’s big questions. Unpacking myth with a sequence of questions encourage clients to share more about their experiences in the moment and evaluate their way of thinking, values, needs, wants and beliefs without provoking their resistance to change.
As Kwame masterfully navigates the group dynamics, the myriad of responses unveils the capacity for individuals to enter into myth where they are gleaning what they need. Carl Jung observed that in the chaos of life, myth provides the necessary order that the human psyche seeks.2 The allure of mythical tales exposes clients’ themes and patterns inviting a client-driven process to evaluate what is influencing their current thinking and behavior.
The unique ability of the Alchemy Method to hold the group coaching space inspires clients to listen to each other. The strands of drumming, myth, sequenced coaching questions and active listening evokes a sense of safety and freedom for clients to explore their experience freely and experiment with new ideas and outcomes through the characters and the context of the story. In the process, they challenge their own thinking. Dr. Scruggs uses an example from his award winning adolescent program. “We ask our youth to write down what they would do and perhaps, more importantly, why. We then go around the circle with everyone providing their rationale. This is when someone might change their response which shows the ability to listen and let go of one’s ego. The willingness to be transformed by another person’s deep thinking has a profound affect on others.”
This dynamic is just as compelling with adults. Mythologist and storyteller Michael Meade provides support with his statement, “The importance of being genuinely seen and heard can’t be overestimated. One of the ways that the soul grows is by being seen and recognized. If [someone] has never been recognized at the soul level, [they] won’t know who [they are] in times of crisis and will feel inauthentic more often than not. If [someone] has never been heard, [they] will have great difficulty listening to others.” Observing the group respond to the rhythm of the drums and the cadence of the storytelling, a new patience to listen to each other surfaces. Genuine compassion and empathy for each other gives the space for individuals to fully explore their thoughts and feelings and support their self-expression.
Thump, thump, thump. The rhythm pulses within the circle, pulling the individual into the collective. The myth invites the individual deeper into an ancient connection. The sequence of questions turns towards integrating new awareness and insight into their worldview and committing to action steps. The expression of growth and forward progress clients experience makes it easy to celebrate their success.
The Alchemy Method is taught exclusively through Mentor Agility by Dr. Kwame Scruggs and Dr. Julie Elledge, PCC, NBC-HWC, BCC.
1 https://neurosciencenews.com/music-collaberation-brain-18607/?fbclid=IwAR1W4upf4Y74rHMe0-m- a8h19oZHIhBjxc2CBvwiomTcExyyMNSXWYuX_Fw
2 Mark, Joshua, J. World History Encyclopedia, 31 October, 2018
© Mentor Agility 2021
Julie Elledge, MCC, PhD (USA)
Julie Elledge, MCC, PhD, is the founder of Mentor Agility and Raconteur Coaching. Because of her passion for using storytelling in transformative coaching, Mentor Agility has brought together an impressive roster of recognized and award-winning master storytellers to enrich the profession of coaching. She is also a licensed family therapist, an educator with her PhD in education, an author, and a recognized expert in creativity and organizational dynamics. She has coached in multiple disciplines for more than 25 years and worked on education initiatives with Apple Education, 20th Century Fox, NOAA, BP, and INEEL.
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Having been in an Alchemy Method training with Kwame and Julie, I can confirm that drumming is so powerful a tool that I will always use it with my groups. But if I hadn’t done the training, I would have NEVER considered drumming. I hope more and more people will realize how drumming can help groups and clients reach new vistas. Thanks, Julie!