Our Circle Theory
When we talk about circles, we mean that a group is seated in a circle focusing on a topic that is held (either literally or figuratively) in the center of the circle. One or two trained facilitators are leading the circle. The topic is often represented by a poem, music, artwork or a story. Everything that happens in the process of a circle is voluntary. For those times you are invited to sit in one of our circles, this is what you can expect:
In a reflective circle space,
we learn to quiet the noise around
us in order to hear the wisdom of our inner voice.
We honor that each of us has our own inner teacher whose
guidance is closer to truth than anything we can find outside of us.
We gather in community to practice deep compassionate listening & the
art of supportive responses. Understanding even our own inner dynamics
can be difficult. Venturing alone, we may find that the clues we get are often
subtle and confusing. Through honest open dialogue and relationship that
develops in our circles, we can help each other hear their own voice of truth.
To do this, we intentionally create a quiet, focused and disciplined space for our
process. Our practices will include silence and solitude as well as journaling, art
activities, body movement, nature walks and communal reflection. Spaces that
invite our whole self – mind, body & spirit are beautiful in the same sense as
sacred places in nature and we will work close to such spaces when we can.
As we reconnect with our inner voice, we will effectively bring more soul/spirit
to our various roles in this world. If we could spread this reconnection like a
virus, we would find ourselves in a new world model of health & wellness.
As we learn to act in ways that honor the soul/spirit, we become
more aware that there is no difference between our inner
and outer lives. It is all one space and together,
we are constantly co-creating the
world we live in.
A circle can be as small as two people
Circle Agreements act as a reminder that we are here to practice a deeper level of relational skills with ourselves and with each other. Typically, we would use the following agreements. Depending on the group purpose, we may add deep confidentiality, that is we ask that everything said in the circle stays there, nothing is to be repeated outside of our gathering.
- Be 100% present in the moment. Bring all of yourself to this gathering, not just the “shiny parts”.
- Presume welcome and extend welcome. We all learn most effectively in spaces that welcome us.
- Attend to your own inner teacher. Pay close attention to your own reactions and responses.
- No fixing, no saving, no advising, no setting each other straight!
- Speak your truth.
- Listen deeply without judgment. By creating a space between judgments and reactions we can listen to others and ourselves more fully.
- Respect silence. After someone has spoken, take time to reflect and honor the words that were shared. This concept applies to the speaker as well – be comfortable leaving your words to resound in silence, without refining or elaborating them.