Voices From The Circle

A Wisdom Circles Quarterly Newsletter
Voices Archives

~ Voices from the Circle ~

Greetings! A bit of personal news before we hear from other voices in the circle. My work with wisdom circles has taken me into the activist world for the past several years. I worked with Roberto Vargas and Joseph Tieger, taking wisdom circles into racial diversity trainings. Then I moved into environmental activism and became very involved in Earth Day 2000, where I introduced the circle process as well. I’m now “hooked” on taking part in the activist world of the environment and social justice issues. This is where I want to apply my understandings of this wonderful process of collaboration known as circles or councils. As you may know, the tenth constant of the Wisdom Circles format encourages us to take what we’ve learned in the circles into our daily lives, and by extension, into other aspects of our work as well. I encourage all of you, especially those who have been in personal growth circles for years, to consider how you might spread this healing and visionary process. Bring not a set of rules or format, but a way of being with other people, into other arenas of your life. Remember that a circle is a dojo, a place of practice, where we get to deepen the values of authenticity, caring, trust and openness to change.

In circle, Cindy Spring, Director

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Here are some other folks we’ve heard from recently:

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Taiwan -- I am an American who has been living in Taiwan for 7 years. About 1 1/2 years ago I started a group here which practiced a format similar to your own. We have tweaked and developed our meetings to include several other aspects besides the Wisdom Circle format, but because what you do is closer to what we do than any other format, we decided to call ourselves a wisdom circle. Since then I have been helping a large number of Wisdom Circles get started in Taiwan.

My group members have done amazing things with their newfound enthusiasm and insights from our meetings. One member walked around Taiwan on foot to raise approximately US$150,000.00 for purchasing motivational and educational materials for orphanage libraries here. Another member, in memory of a friend who committed suicide, has planned a large multi-class reunion for his classmates in Britain in order to facilitate healing and community building. Another member professionally produced her own tape of spiritual insights that she has shared with people in all different states of suffering both emotional and physical. The list of real life results from participating in Wisdom Circles goes on and on. Dexter

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Hawaii -- Several years ago some women friends of mine started a "women’s circle". At the time, we really went on instinct and the bits and pieces that women who have circled shared, but there was really no formalness to it. We have developed our own rituals of saging [burning sage], songs, opening to the directions, passing the feather to share thoughts, and then closing with more songs or whatever felt appropriate. Though we have our core group of founders, it always seems that there are several new women at every gathering who are totally new to the experience and who are really blown away by the beauty of it, the openness, the loving atmosphere, and the non denominational
spirituality.

Though we have consistently maintained our commitment to the women's circle, the community circle vision has waned. I am thrilled to have discovered your book to help guide the way, pick the ball back up and have some guidance and inspiration. I now have greater understanding of wanting to collectively create our own community rituals that have meaning for all of us. The book "Wisdom Circles" validates the vision. It has given me so much to think about, share, and guide with. A million mahalos. Kim

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Cape Cod, Massachusetts -- Our Town of Wellfleet is populated by about 3,000 persons in the Winter and 20,000 in the summer!! Quite a booming tourist haven come the warmer months. For about the past three years I have welcomed four other women into my home (begun really as a support for myself going through tough transition from marriage to being a single mom after almost 20 years).

The format for our sometimes weekly, or other-weekly, meetings was to light a candle, join together in silence for a few moments to center ourselves in the room, and then we would take turns saying what we wanted to bring to the group -- most times about what is going on in our lives that we feel the need to share. This is not about giving advice. Just being a witness for the other and being available for support. Our time together is private and confidential. Safety is a #1 consideration and has been honored by all of us.

I am considering opening our weekly circle to a few more people and perhaps revitalizing with a new focus, now that some of us have moved through our particularly critical times of need. I would really like to make my home be a place of comfort for those in transition and for members of my community who are searching to connect with others in a deeper, more soulful way. Thank you. Love, Anne