What Are Listening Circles?

Circling is a novel practice that combines the insights from psychology, philosophy and ancient wisdom. Read the following description to learn more about Listening Circles.

Circling is a relational technology. It helps you find your truth, explain it effectively, stay open to others, and develop a deep sense of personal and collective trust. It focuses on the fundamental ground of what it means to be human: open connection and communication.

Unlike other practices such as coaching or therapy, Listening Circles are focused on what is happening right now. The goal is to open us up to what is present in the moment— both within us and between us.

Each session contains unique opportunities to tap into the mystery at the heart of the human experience; revealing new ways of connecting with ourselves, with each other, and with a greater good.

You are a free being. We assume you are capable of honest self-reflection and responsible action. This is an invitation to take responsibility for:

Listening Circles may lead to transformational growth. This is achieved through communication, reflection and surrender— rather than aiming for healing outcomes directly.

While honoring a wide variety of different schools of thought, there is no standard therapeutic model of diagnosis or treatment. The emphasis is on authentic human connection.

Each of us are co-creators of the circle, and we are on the same journey of presence and aliveness. We do not prescribe choices or actions. We are not psychotherapists. We work in the present moment, assuming that wholeness can induce greater wholeness.

We aim to understand how changing our narrative about what is happening can change our reality structure. We try to expose reality structures that can easily lead to anxiety, confusion or self-deception.

There are several incorrect expectations about what facilitators should do during Listening Circles. Some examples:

Instead of these, you are invited to “lead” yourself in any way you feel is right —taking a break whenever you need, for example. We trust that others are practicing the same sort of self-leadership.

Circling sessions can be intense. We may encounter emotions, beliefs or sensations in ourselves and others that are unfamiliar.

We explore the unknown, the volatile, the ambiguous, and we investigate emotions many see as “negative” or “inappropriate” such as feelings of inadequacy, anger, sexuality, or doubt. The willingness to feel difficult and uncomfortable things is a commitment we make. All participants are asked to communicate their boundaries clearly.

Listening Circles can be paradoxical. We often examine multiple sides of seeming opposites at once, such as independence and interdependence, chaos and order, agreement and disagreement. This might seem confusing at first, but we believe it reveals the underlying unity of the present moment we all experience.

If the above description sounds potentially overwhelming or destabilizing, or if you are unsure that you can be self-directed in taking care of your needs during the circle, we advise you not to take part.

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