In this conversation, Tessa and Julia talked about what open and closed circles are, what the benefits are and what you might consider when setting them up. Enjoy!
In this interview with Ariel Kahn and Julia Davis, they discussed:
Building relationships through a shared passion for literature
The importance of creating spaces where everyone feels comfortable
Changing the location of your circle
The use of food and drink to build community
How creative writing can be used as a bridge between communities
The power of curiosity
Literature as an olive branch for constructive conversations around difference
The use of literature as a tool for crossing cultural boundaries
Using circle in an education setting and the use of educational tools
Enabling listening amongst cultural conflicts: modelling disagreement
Circle as...
In this episode, Tessa and Julia shared their highlights of the past 14 episodes including:
- the power of circles with children and young people (Roy Leighton, Sophie King-Hill and Nellie Harden)
- the importance of embodiment in talking circles for the participants and as a circle facilitator (Henika Patel and Marta Fabregat)
- the spectrum of circles from in your living room to an international, decades-old organisation (Nicky Yazbeck and Mike Irwin)
- the gift of being authentic as a group facilitator rather than being 100% perfect or professional!
In this episode, Tessa and Nellie talk about:
• Circles show up in all sorts of places like music groups and choirs
• Growth happens in relationship, not isolation, which makes circles perfect for change
• Modern life with devices and social media makes it hard for families to do active listening with each other
• Get clarity about your child’s learning language so your message gets through e.g. pictures, words, movement
• Playing loud music really helped to prepare the 12-18 year olds for listening later – think of your attendees’ needs
• A clarity board enables you to...
In this episode, Julia and Tessa covered:
- The benefits of both online and in person circles
- The challenges of online and additional guidelines you might put into place
- The additional work that an in person circle might involve in setting up the physical space
- Examples of how both online and in person circles have worked with different demographics.
In this episode, Julia and Henika talked about:
- How she transformed from a lawyer into a facilitator of sensual arts after reasling she was disconnected from her body
- Circle time was a catalyst for the journey: it created a space to talk about taboo topics without shame
- Her ‘Shakti Circle’ focuses on the cultivation of power in the body (any body)
- Safety in a circle is objective and subjective so it’s important to clearly specify who the circle is for (including in the marketing) and she spends an hour of a 2-hour circle on practices for...
In this episode, Julia Davis spoke to Dr Sophie King-Hill [(https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-centre/staff/profile.aspx?ReferenceId=170453)](https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/social-policy/departments/health-services-management-centre/staff/profile.aspx?ReferenceId=170453) talked about:
- Beliefs around sexuality and youth lead to discrimination against teenage parents
- Young people are guarded because of the stigma around teenage pregnancy
- Work to set expectations (guidelines is too formal) to create a safe space where young people can ask questions without feeling stupid or having the fear of ridicule
- She meets parents ahead of group meetings to know their history and potentially upsetting issues
- Key is thinking that you're equal to them, that all voices are valid, and facilitator is here...
In this episode, Tessa and Roy talked about:
*His involvement in Peace Circles being rooted in his childhood with Adverse Childhood Events
* How circles can increase inclusion and belonging in schools – in 7 years only 7 days of exclusion across the whole school
* Using the framework of the ‘Four Rooms’ – intellectual, emotional, practical and spiritual in every circle – to deal with conflict quickly through structure of ‘When you…’, ‘I feel….’, ‘because….’, ‘what can we do about it?’
* Different levels of circle from senior management – with mixed staff (dinner ladies, ground staff) and mixed...
In this episode, Tessa and Julia discussed the technique of Yoga Nidra relaxations within circle time:
- Useful settling technique in circle
- Can be used for all different audiences (e.g. pregnancy, kids, perimenopause, fatigue
- The participants can lie down or sit for this technique and should be as comfortable as possible
- The facilitator stays sitting and alert to deliver the nidra - for the training you do not need to be a yoga teacher
- There are different components in a nidra including body mapping, opposite qualities, setting an intention and themes can run throughout, including visualisations....
In this episode, Tessa and Jenny Burrell (https://www.burrelleducation.com/) covered:
- Learning the value of silence
- How online circles can be just as powerful as in person ones but guidelines may need to be slightly different
- You might think group coaching is about really cool questions but it's mostly about listening
- The difference between feedback and reflection in circle
- As group facilitators or circle holders we can be human rather than perfect and this makes us into more compassionate leaders
and much more!
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