Appendices

Checklists and Materials

Tier 3 Safety Checklist (Advanced Work)

Use this checklist before engaging in advanced Shadow work, the Void Meditation chapter, or other high-intensity practices.

Readiness · Pacing · Aftercare

• Readiness: Emergency contacts notified; co-regulation partner reachable; grounding kit ready (water, blanket, journal); adequate sleep/food; professional, trauma-informed support lined up if trauma history is acute.
• Capacity: You can re-ground to baseline in 2–5 min; window of tolerance known; clear boundary between internal processing and external behavior; consent/ethics/law are non-negotiable.
• Plan: Session goal modest; aftercare scheduled (5–15 min); co-regulation available; hydration & nourishment prepped.
• Container: Space private, devices silenced, time protected; begin/end with breath/orienting and a journal note.
• Pacing: Favor titration/pendulation over catharsis; work in small, digestible doses; stop at first signs of overwhelm.
• Monitor for activation: Panic, numbness, dissociation, compulsive urgency, flashback-like confusion—pause, orient through breath/senses, return only when resourced.
• Special care: With sexual trauma, treat ongoing trauma-informed guidance as baseline; avoid self-led deep dives.
• Basics: Keep the line bright between insight and action; route any urge toward outer behavior to separate ethical review.

If you cannot re-ground in 2–5 minutes, stop and seek support.

3F Self-Presence Check (Focus, Flow, Feeling)

Use this quick scan before, during, and after practices to sense your capacity on the Spectrum of Self-Presence and decide whether to stay, slow, or step down a tier.

• Focus — Narrow → Broad: FROM tunnel vision locked on threat, story, or task; TO flexible attention that can include breath, body, room, and relationships.
• Flow — Rigid → Fluid: FROM stuck, all-or-nothing reactions (compulsion, shutdown, override); TO the ability to pause, adjust pace, and choose between options.
• Feeling — Contracted → Open: FROM clenched, armored, numb, or flooded; TO soft, breathable contact with emotion and the ability to say “yes”, “no”, or “not now”.

If any of the three Fs remains in survival mode (narrow, rigid, contracted), treat that as a cue to titrate intensity, pendulate back to resources, or return to Tier 1 work. This check sits alongside the Serene Center agreements and the Three-Tier Readiness Net as a simple, moment-to-moment self-audit of capacity.

Practical Checklist for Neuro-Affirming Facilitation

Core Principle: Neurodiversity is a natural human variation. Affirming spaces adapt to meet diverse neurological needs, fostering safety, inclusion, and authentic participation for all on the Path of the Dragon.

This checklist operationalizes Part V’s “Tapestry of Diverse Minds” commitments so facilitators translate its design theory into measurable actions. Carry forward the Preface promise of “Your Journey, Your Pace” by offering every cue as an invitation rather than an obligation.

I. Preparation & Pre-Event Communication

• Ask About Needs: Offer a confidential, optional channel for participants to share access needs pre-event, inviting open-ended reflections such as “What would support your full participation?” instead of asking for diagnoses.
• Provide Information in Advance: Share schedules, topics, and location details—including sensory notes on lighting or sound—so participants can reduce anxiety, regulate ahead of time, and mentally prepare.
• Offer Multiple Formats: Present key information—like schedules and core concepts—across written, visual, and audio mediums to honor different processing preferences.
• State Flexibility Upfront: Announce that the schedule is flexible and that participants may adapt their engagement (take breaks, modify participation, or opt out of exercises) at any time.

II. Physical Environment & Sensory Considerations

• Offer Lighting Options: Provide adjustable lighting (dimmers, lamps) and explicitly welcome sunglasses or similar adjustments.
• Manage Sound: Limit background noise. Warn before loud sounds. Designate a quiet refuge, and invite the use of noise-canceling headphones or earplugs.
• Create a Low-Scent Space: Request a low- or scent-free environment and inform participants of this policy in advance so they can plan appropriately.
• Provide Flexible Seating: Offer varied seating such as chairs, cushions, or floor space and allow people to stand or move quietly without penalty. Avoid forcing a single configuration.
• Normalize Movement & Fidgets: Explicitly permit quiet self-regulating motions and fidget tools (e.g., rocking, stretching) that are not disruptive, making regulation visible and valid.
• Ensure Clear Pathways: Keep walkways uncluttered, intuitive, and easy to navigate to reduce overwhelm and support mobility aids.

III. Instruction & Content Delivery

• Give Clear Instructions: Speak directly, unpack jargon, and keep expectations explicit rather than implied. Be concise and unambiguous; avoid relying on implication.
• Use Multi-Modal Delivery: Combine verbal guidance with written or visual cues (such as slides or a whiteboard), and repeat or break complex steps into digestible segments.
• Check for Understanding: Pause after instructions, explicitly invite clarifying questions, and normalize asking for repetition or clarification.
• Allow Processing Time: Be mindful of varied processing speeds; build in breathing space after emotionally charged or complex content, and avoid rushing transitions.
• Use Visuals & Structure: Share simple diagrams, slides, or outlines that map the session flow, clarify abstract concepts, and provide a clear structure.

IV. Interaction & Group Dynamics

• Set Clear Communication Norms: State or co-create guidelines such as using “I” statements and no interruptions, and validate diverse styles like directness and reflective processing pauses.
• Don’t Force Eye Contact: Explicitly state that eye contact is not required to show respect or engagement and that alternate attentional cues are welcome.
• Require Consent for Touch: Make every instance of physical contact optional, based on explicit, enthusiastic, and ongoing consent. Never assume touch is welcome.
• Vary Interaction Formats: Use a mix of formats—whole-group, small-group, pairs, and solo reflection—to suit different social capacities, and provide clear instructions for breakouts.
• Guide Turn-Taking: Gently facilitate balanced dialogue, create space for quieter voices, and normalize passing on a turn.
• Validate All Experiences: Explicitly state that there is no “right” way to experience a practice and that every response is valid, acknowledging that responses will vary according to neurology, history, and current capacity.

V. Flexibility, Choice & Agency

• Provide & Encourage Breaks: Schedule regular pauses and explicitly empower participants to step out as needed without needing permission or explanation.
• Offer Clear Opt-Outs: Keep every exercise optional, especially high-intensity ones, and provide dignified alternatives like journaling or quiet observation.
• Maintain an Adaptable Schedule: Build buffer time so the agenda can flex in response to the group’s energy, regulation needs, and emergent insights.
• Empower Self-Advocacy: Foster a space where participants feel safe to state their needs and boundaries; model respectful responses and follow through on accommodations whenever possible.

VI. Integration & Follow-Up

• Provide Varied Integration Tools: Offer choices such as journaling, drawing, movement, or quiet processing to support different integration and processing styles.
• Acknowledge Diverse Timelines: Remind participants that integration is a personal process that unfolds at individual rhythms, and pair this with resources for continued support.
• Ensure Accessible Follow-Up: Share materials in multiple accessible formats and confirm that participants can retrieve them later.

VII. Facilitator Awareness & Ongoing Learning

• Examine Personal Biases: Regularly reflect on assumptions about neurotypical behavior and communication, how they affect your facilitation, and adjust accordingly.
• Actively Seek Feedback: Invite specific, anonymous feedback about accessibility and inclusion, and act on what you learn.
• Commit to Ongoing Learning: Engage with neurodivergent-led teachings, continuously learn from neurodivergent creators and sources, and stay humble as language and best practices evolve.
• Prioritize Self-Regulation: Maintain your own regulated state to hold space effectively, respond calmly to emergent needs, and avoid amplifying stress in the room.