The simple practice of sitting in circle, speaking and listening from the heart, goes back to the campfires our ancestors sat around for safety and community. This practice has been developed and elaborated in communities of spiritual practice, education, restorative justice and more. Variably called Wisdom Circles, Healing Circles, The Way of Council, the practice formats are similar.
Since pandemic isolation, many of us still spend too much time on-screen instead of in embodied presence with each other. We’d like to invite you to the first of what we hope will be a monthly practice of sitting in circle with each other, sharing what is present in our hearts, within a structure of safety and support. As model we will use the Healing Circles Global, which MRZC’s guiding teachers learned to facilitate for Branching Streams conferences.
The Engaged Buddhist Practice Group will host and facilitate these circles. The format is simple:
Welcome—guidelines, a poem or short reading, moment of silence
Sharing circle— each person speaks what is present in their heart/mind, timed with bell.
“Harvesting”—a second round, where each person has a chance to add a further reflection. This is not a discussion, but often people are moved to go deeper, having listened to each other.
Closing—moment of silence, closing words.
Everyone is welcome! No registration or fee. Zoom participants are also welcome. Link will be the same as for Sunday morning practice.
