“By gathering in circle, we honour the ancient tradition of coming together to share knowledge, solve problems, and celebrate life.”
Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea
For millennia, people have lived in close-knit communities, initially in caves and then in communal shelters. People were sleeping together, cooking together, washing their clothes together, bathing together, working together, hunting together. There was a lot of togetherness – for the benefit of everyone.
But move forward to the present day and in some cultures, particularly the west, we have lost that togetherness. It’s been a gradual evolution of our culture in the name of civilisation. People now live in individual houses, often alone or in small nuclear families. We cook alone, we have washing machines, we bathe alone, we have competitive individualistic workplaces. There’s a lot of aloneness and as a result we have lost the community of the togetherness we had before.
We have become disconnected from ourselves, others and the world we live in.
Without even knowing it, our ancestors were holding circles every day, even many times each day. In their togetherness, they were holding space for each other, they were listening deeply to each other, they were connecting, they were supporting each other, they were telling stories, they were resolving conflict, they were making decisions. It was the natural thing to do.
People have been sitting in circles forever.
People need people. They need to feel nurtured and held. They need to feel heard. They need circles.
Circles are magic.
So, what is a circle?
A circle is simply a group of people gathered with a mutual intention to share, listen deeply and connect.
The circle symbolises equality and unity, and when sitting in a circle people face one another, making it easier to engage in open, honest and heartfelt communication with no hierarchical distinction between one another. There are no triangles involved, no power, no top down leadership.
And it’s a simple as that.
But never underestimate the power of circles – to connect, heal and create communities that reach far beyond the spaces we sit in.
Circles come in a myriad of different guises, from women’s circles to discussion groups, to education-based groups to knit and natter sessions. From creative circles, such as Maternal Journal, where people create, reflect and share using artistic expression and creativity to spiritual circles for people to connect with their inner selves and the divine. From healing circles that support people dealing with trauma, loss or significant life changes and mother circles providing support for mothers of all ages to business circles aimed at the self-employed and enabling them to have the water cooler conversations of their employed peers and community circles focusing on social change, bringing together people wanting to make a difference in their communities.
There are some examples of the circles created by the Creating Circles Collective here.
Why should I sit in a circle?
“A circle of women may just be the most powerful force known to humanity. If you have one, embrace it. If you need one, seek it. If you find one, for the love of all that is good and holy, dive in. Hold on. Love it up. Get naked. Let them see you. Let them hold you. Let your reluctant tears fall. Let yourself rise fierce and love gentle. You will be changed. The very fabric of your being will be altered by this, if you allow it. Please, please allow it.”
Jeanette LeBlanc
Circles eliminate hierarchical structures, creating a space where everyone has an equal opportunity to speak, and be heard, without judgement or interruption.
Circles provide a space for deep listening to understand, connect and find commonality and belonging. They are safer spaces for authentic, honest, vulnerable communication.
But not only does sitting in circle help those who attend, it also ripples out to those they love, support and work alongside.
“When we gather in circle, we tap into the collective intelligence and creativity of the group, enabling us to achieve outcomes that are greater than the sum of our individual efforts.”
Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea
The circle process is as relevant now as it has ever been:
- Circles can provide a safe space for addressing and resolving conflicts through honest dialogue and mutual understanding.
- Circles can strengthen community bonds, creating a sense of belonging and collective identity.
- Circles can be a space for self-reflection, processing and personal development.
- In the workplace, circles can improve communication, build team cohesion and enable effective collaborative decision making.
“The circle process can transform conflict into an opportunity for growth by creating a safe space for open dialogue and mutual understanding.”
Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea
The benefits and challenges of circles
As with anything, there are both benefits and challenges to managing groups using the circle process.
The benefits include:
- By promoting active listening and equal participation, circles can improve the quality of communication.
- Sharing personal stories and listening to others can be therapeutic, supporting emotional processing and resilience.
- The non-hierarchical nature of circles helps build trust among participants, creating a safe space for honest dialogue and building commonality.
- Circles tap into the collective wisdom of the group, often leading to more holistic and inclusive solutions.
“Circle is a process that helps people gather in a way that supports dialogue, discussion, and decision making. It creates a space in which each voice is heard and where collective wisdom can emerge.”
Christina Balwin and Ann Linnea
But circle work also comes with its challenges:
- It is important to acknowledge and respect the indigenous origins of circle practices, avoiding cultural appropriation.
- Effective circle practice requires skilled facilitation to ensure that the principles of equality, deep listening and authentic communication are upheld.
- It can be difficult to sustain the circle process over time – keeping the group engaged and the process effective requires ongoing effort, time and attention.
“Circles can be vulnerable to power dynamics and dominant personalities, which can undermine the principles of equality and shared leadership.”
Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea
Do you feel a pull towards circle work?
Do you have an idea to start a circle but are apprehensive about taking that first step?
Do you want to hold space but worry about silences in groups or knowing what to say next?
Have you been holding space for years but would like to delve deeper into your practice?
Are you feeling the pull towards something new?
Would you like to pull together the themes from your existing work and passions?
Then the Creating Circles course may be for you.
I’d love to hear from you
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about Creating Circles, I’d love to hear from you.
You can email me at mail@sallygolightly.co.uk