A Co•Creative Path

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Circles of Wisdom

The Wisdom of the Circle

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The Circle has been the essential structure of most indigenous cultures. The circle council has been the structure for a governance that listens to the collective voice, and is foundational for personal growth and community building. They are where the rubber meets the road, providing a mirror and sounding board as we share our journey. Circles provide the container for A CoCreative Path to support ongoing transformation in authenticity, connection, purpose, and co-creation.

There are many structures for Circles, with specific focus designed to support the being, learning, and doing of our lives, focused to meet the needs and interests of participants.

  • Spirituality and personal growth
  • Healing lifes hurts
  • Deconstructing of cultural conditioning
  • Vision or Mastermind for supporting life direction
  • Next chapter in life’s transitions
  • Connection practice for communication skills
  • Grieving loss
  • Organizing for social change
  • Mutual Aid
  • Collaborative governance
  • Support for women, men, and couples

I like the Heart Circle described in Waking Up by Tej Steiner as a primary structure for any focus of Circle Work. Additional resources for circle structure and agreement are The Circle Way by Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea, A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer, Wisdom Circles by Charles Garfield and Cindy Spring, and The CoCreators Handbook by Carolyn Anderson and Katharine Roske

Heart Circles

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The Heart Circle provides a foundation for nurturing a heart culture through small groups gathered for mutual support for awakening and empowerment, embracing the values of Authenticity, Purpose, Connection, and CoCreation.

The “Heart Circle”, as described by Tej Steiners in his book Waking Up with everyone around us., resinates with my experience with circles over the past 35 years . The circle provides the environment for mutual support as we explore a deeper connection with ourselves and others through the five Ways of Being Tej articulates.

The Five Ways of Being provide a framework and agreements to explore the values and reflections of A CoCreative Path.

  1. Being Clear
  2. Being Present
  3. Being Real
  4. Being Connected
  5. Being Heart Directed

The Heart Circle encourages and supports personal Inquiry around the following questions: 

  • Am I clear about my purpose, passion, gifts, values, intention…? Am I increasing in awareness about the filters, limiting beliefs, emotional blocks, etc. that hold me back?
  • Am I increasing in alignment with my heart, my feelings of peace, appreciation, compassion…? Is my connection to my self empowering me to be present in the Now?
  • Am I real with myself and others? Am I able to express my true feelings and needs?
  • Am I able to authentically connect with others beyond the filters of my evaluation and judgment? Do I listen deeply and with empathy?
  • Is my life direction in alignment with the best expression of my true self and my evolving sense of purpose? Are my strengths and gifts engaged? Am I heart directed?

The structure of a Heart Circle is flexible, and includes the following elements:

  • Clear purpose and agreements for the circle
  • A centering process to bring heart connection and presence in the circle
  • Authentic sharing of what is alive, your joy and your pain
  • Deep listening and empathy for others in the circle
  • Individual attention to support the Journey of the Heart

For a bit more of an intro to Heart Circles, check out this excerpt from Tej’s book Waking Up. Contact me if you are interested in joining, or would like support in forming, a virtual or in-person Heart Circle

Circle Agreements

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Starting with the purpose and mission of the circle, alignment of values and expectations are crucial for trust and intimacy. Clear agreements that everyone can affirm are vital to the success of the circle..

As a foundation to conscious agreements, I think The Four Agreements described by don Miguel Ruiz provide a great place to build from. From my perspective, The Four Agreements should be a requirement for Life 101 and certainly a prerequisite for any collective endeavor. The Four Agreements provide the foundation to challenge the agreements of our social conditioning, and to establish new agreements for more conscious and connected relationships.

The Four Agreements

  1. Be impeccable with your word
  2. Don’t take anything personally 
  3. Don’t make assumptions
  4. Always do your best

Built on The Four Agreements, additional agreements can be developed specific to the intention and needs of the circle. Basic foundational agreements include respect and honor, honest and compassionate communication, non-judgment and confidentiality. Some examples are as follows.

Heart Circles

Heart Circles are built on agreements related to Tej Steiners “Five Ways of Being” in his book Waking UP with everyone around us. The agreements are based on the themes of:

  • Being clear together
  • Being present together
  • Being real together
  • Being connected together
  • Being heart-directed together

Additionally, with with the purpose to provide a safe place for sharing and support for each other’s life journey in healing, Healing Circles Global starts with these agreements:

  • We treat each other with kindness and respect 
  • We listen with compassion and curiosity. 
  • We honor each other’s unique ways to healing and don’t presume to advise or fix or try to save each other. 
  • We hold all stories shared in the circle confidential. 
  • We trust each of us has guidance we need within us and we rely on the power of silence to access it.

Also see the Wisdom Circle Constants and CoCreators Agreements