In my previous article in this series, I encouraged you to let your mind run free as you brainstormed all of the possible elements and activities you could bring into your circle. I hope you enjoyed stoking your creativity and uncovering some unexpected ideas!
Now is the time to narrow in on the specific elements you want to incorporate in your first circle. While you can include some different elements in different circles, it is good to have some consistency from meeting to meeting to create a sense of continuity and ritual.
After your brainstorming, you may already have a clear sense of the most important elements to you ~ perhaps one or two really light you up when you imagine sharing them with your ideal participants. Maybe one element has emerged as a defining theme for your circle. If not, sit in quiet and open to the goddess’s wisdom and see which 2 or 3 elements rise to the top.
As you start to define your outline, remember the importance of creating emotional safety for your participants. In order for women to tap into their hearts and share deeply, they have to feel in their bones that this is a safe place to bring their true selves.
Some elements that create safety include personal introductions, giving a sense of what will occur, explaining logistics (location of bathrooms, ending time, etc.), permission to opt-out of any activities, and confidentiality. Consider what your women will need in order to feel your circle is a safe place for exploration.
Here are the elements that I include in every circle, along with a general sense of timing for each (this is based on a 2-hour circle ~ yours may be different):
1. Opening (15-25 minutes)
Cast the circle: Establishing a ritual opening can be a meaningful way to create sacred space. This can be simply lighting a candle or something more elaborate. You may include guided meditation, sound, a poem, Tibetan bells, safety guidelines (especially during the first circle, or when there are new women present), introductions/name greeting, check-ins from each woman, and naming the month’s theme.
2. Movement (40 minutes – 1 hour)
Engage with body and heart: You might incorporate free movement, shake your bones, sacred circle dance, spiral dance, yoga poses, partner poses, restorative poses, circle poses, or movement meditation. In my circles, this is usually the longest part.
3. Guided Meditation & Journaling (10-15 minutes)
Open and shift the mind: While movement loosens our bodies, guided meditation may loosen old patterns of thinking and allow new insights. Journaling gives a voice to new awarenesses that may arise. I like to give a focus for the guided meditation, which then leads directly into a journaling prompt.
4. Sharing (20-30 minutes)
Reflect and integrate: Sharing what they have received in the guided meditation and journaling (or any other circle activity) helps participants mine the depths of their experience and solidify what they will take away. Sharing also creates more intimate connections and forms deeper community. If the group is larger than ten, I may break them into partners or small groups for sharing; otherwise I tend to keep us in one group and either go around the circle to share or invite people to speak when so moved, “popcorn style.”
5. Ending (5-10 minutes)
Close the circle: You might close with a song, poem, theme words to consider in the month ahead, or a short ritual. Ritualized elements can be very comforting and create a sense of a shared bond.
As you identify the key signature components you want to include in your circle, remember that you don’t actually need a lot of elements ~ simple is often better and gives more time for people to deepen into their experience.
I usually prepare several extra activities knowing that I will not get to them all. As the circle unfolds, I keep an eye on the clock and let go of the activities that don’t fit ~ I can always use them in a future circle. Leading a circle is the perfect opportunity to invite in divine guidance and be ready to adjust accordingly.
After you have firmed up your first circle outline, you are ready to invite in your ideal participants! Stay tuned….
Tips from Inside the Circle: One Client’s Experience
“I decided to use Indian goddesses as a focal point for each circle. I asked the Goddess to help me prepare. I visualized each circle full of interesting women who were able to connect with others through their stories. The most special circle I did was about Durga. We told stories about times in our lives when we had to be fierce. For Saraswati, we did a blessing of the books. We shared what we liked about the special book we brought with us. For the Lakshmi circle we did a rose petal blessing. At the spring circle, we each brought a little plant or flower to trade. In each circle, we also did some dancing to music, some group yoga poses and a meditation. (We had some good snacks, too!)
I did feel nervous with the first circle but then I got more accustomed and less apprehensive. Once I was running out of time to fit everything in that I had planned, and the circle got too hurried. I forgot to leave part of my plan out in order to accomplish the timeliness of the event. I learned how important it is to give enough time to really enjoy each activity ~ let it flow!”
~ Katie Campione, RN, RYT, Fort White, Florida