The backward stair
Send an escalation down one step at a time until it returns to ordinary scale.
What you’ll need
- Seven paper cards
- A pencil
- A flat surface
The ritual
- Number the cards from one to seven and arrange them upward like steps.
- Write the escalation on card seven and the calmest possible outcome on card one.
- Move card seven down one position at a time, naming what would reduce the conflict at each step.
- Stack the cards with one on top and carry out the first de-escalating action.