Circles that re-connect
ONLINE HUMANKIND CIRCLES FOR HOLDING OUR GRATITUDE AND GRIEF
Why now?
Grief is what we feel when we lose what we have loved. We might hide it from others, or fearing it could overwhelm us, even hide it from ourselves. But withdrawal consigns us to a hard and lonely journey. Yet we are not alone in planet-grief: in fact it invites us to make a healing journey in company with the millions who, even though they may not yet be fully aware of it, are travelling this road right now, and the millions who will take this path after us.
We hope you will join us for an hour or so of sharing our concerns for life on Earth, and our gratitude for the life-world and all that sustains the web. (exact timing will depend on numbers in the circle)
Only ever online?
We aim to promote a worldwide outbreak of HumanKind Grief & Gratitude circles! Meanwhile, we will meet virtually to build momentum and solidarity, to speak of hopes and concerns, and celebrate our gratitude for the awesome forces that create and sustain all life.
The future is in our hands. together we must re-enchant the world. Email us for for the next Humankind Zoom event date and registration link below
We will also be holding workshops for people who want to be HumanKind circle holders.
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GUIDANCE FOR CIRCLES
The originating impulse of all spiritual traditions is gratitude for the gift of life.
Circles begin with the guide’s warm welcoming: offering thanks and naming an intention for the circle. This might for example be what brought us here. We use the 4 guidelines for sharing in the big circle as well as in breakout circles:
In the check in each person might be asked to share something they are grateful for. Speaking of our thankfulness and love for life on Earth will relax and revive us. Naming what we cherish helps us feel our pain for the world, and sense that the precious life-world is endangered.
In comments and instructions, we take care not to tell people what to feel, nor to over-think gratitude, but always to allow spontaneous feelings to arise and be named.
1. Speak from the heart When it's your turn, speak in the moment from your heart, and speak with simplicity and honesty. Tell your own story as honestly as you can.
2. Listen with your heart Listen without judgment, listen with an open mind, even if you disagree with what the person is saying. Try not to comment in your head on what they're saying or think about a response.
3. Speak spontaneously Resist the temptation to prepare what you're going to say while they're talking. If you're thinking about what you're going to say, then you're not listening completely to the person who's speaking. If you don’t pre-plan, you'll surprise yourself with what comes out when it's your turn.
4. Be lean with words Keep in mind that there are others who'd like a chance to speak, and that there is limited time. This stops us from rambling!
Clear times boundaries and clear intentions make the circle process creative and safe
Take a moment to settle into your body before beginning.
Imagining you’re listening with your heart will aid full compassionate attention
Whoever holds the talking stick does the talking, everyone else’s job is to listen
Use unfinishedsentences gently to help the flow as needed
Focus on what a speaker is saying in words and with their body
Notice your own inner response, especially in your body and breathing
Refrain from judging or rehearsing comments in your head
Timing is especially important in a Zoom circle. We offer you these (rather tight!) times as a structure for 90 minute-2 hour circles
Welcome and intros take about 15-20 minutes to complete in the big circle
It's helpful to set the sacred space
eg give the circle a centre and mark it (flowers, candle, 4 elements, what you like etc)
eg call the directions and invite their help (very simple or could be more fancy)
Declare the intention of the circle; a poem or scripture helps
State and agree the ground rules (confidentiality, non-violent communication) sets the boundary
Silence, or guided settling down. Breath, feet, heart
Check in for a minute, passing round a talking stick or stone
Group introductions are a good place to bring in gratitude. Perhaps invite people to briefly share the following,
their name and where they are from
one thing they want us to know about them
one thing they love about being alive in Earth. (Of the many things they love, choose just one).
Breakout into small groups of 3 or 4. Groups of 3-4 will need 12-15 minutes per round.
Brief silence (together (1 minute)
Bell Round one: Talking stick. Listening rules as above.
Each person has 3 minutes, completing the sentence
”Something that has concerned or disturbed me in the last 2 weeks is…”
And can be prompted by one of their group who encourages their flow with these words.
If person doesn’t need all of the time then we sit and wait for the bell
Bell Brief silence (1 minute)
Bell Round two
Each person has 3 minutes. Talking stick. Listening rules as above. ‘”Something that has moved or inspired me in the last 2 weeks is…” And can be prompted by one of their group who encourages their flow with these words.
If person doesn’t need all of the time then we sit and wait for the bell
Bell Brief silence (1 minute)
Bell Round three: Each person has 1 minute. “ Things I am grateful for are….
Open conversation still in small groups about what's been said and heard, but still with talking stick and active listening rules (10 minutes)
Bell Brief silence (1 minute)
Big circle Open plenary but still with talking stick and active listening (15 minutes)
Closing invocation (and a song?) Thank you’s. (5-10 minutes)
Farewells