Circling (Transformational Self-Development) [Intermediate-Level]

** CIRCLING IS A VERY RICH AUTHENTIC RELATING PRACTICE THAT ASISTS US - THROUGH REFLECTIONAL CONVERSATION - TO CONNECT WITH & INTEGRATE BURIED AREAS OF SELF.

IT IS NON-PRESSURED & WELCOMING, YET MAY GO DEEP QUITE QUICKLY. THEREFORE PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS INFO *ONE TIME* - BEFORE BOOKING/ATTENDING THE FIRST TIME **

If you have attended Circling with us before, you obviously don't need to read this again, and can simply book in. Bear in mind that this event has a usual max of 6 (occasionally 7) and often sells out. So if keen to attend, book sooner rather than later.

CONTENTS

• Circling in a Nutshell
• An Environment to Learn Authentic Relating
• Circling/AR is not the same as Radical Honesty
• New Attendees Section
• No Change Modality suits everyone
• What these Circles look like in practice

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CIRCLING IN A NUTSHELL:

Circling began in the US in the early 1990s. A synthesis of Humanistic Psychotherapy, Authentic Relating (AR), and Gestalt Therapy principles. It is now a respected discipline that is the focus of many AR Groups across the world. It is structurally simple to participate in (though multi-faceted 'under the hood').

It offers:

• Training in practical AR skills and in general relating fluency
• Self-development/self-discovery
• Opportunities to release/integrate some of the negative patterns of developmental trauma
• A practice environment to increase presence, intuition and empathy

Although most people other than some trauma-therapists and deep psychologists aren't consciously aware of the fill effects of this, we all carry significant developmental trauma, negative social-conditioning, and buried shame, guilt and fear about expressing ourselves fully, and of engaging with others doing the same.

We learn this from our parents, society and role-models - a continuing multi-generational pattern of crushing our individuality and uniqueness. Circling helps gently chip away at these 'defenses', these created masks of self, learned restrictions, and the conditioned patterns that limit our abilities to really accept and express ourselves. (Which is all the basic requirement of deeper and more fulfilling relating with others.)

[I originally learned about Circling online, then trained as a facilitator in Australia with a certified trainer who studied with the Integral Center and the Authentic Man Program in the USA.]

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CIRCLING / AR IS NOT THE SAME AS 'RADICAL HONESTY':

Circles are always a learning environment. Coaching and guidance will sometimes be gently offered to illustrate the most effective ways to Circle. So while this is not a beginner's class, that's 'Circling Beginners'. If your prior experience in self-discovery is not specifically Circling that's not necessarily a barrier to joining. (Just drop us a line for a quick chat first: authenticevents@gmx.com )

Authentic Relating in Circling is NOT the same as Radical Honesty. While transparency is encouraged, nobody is ever required to speak about, or answer questions on, anything they don't feel OK to. We hold a trauma-aware belief that deep change needs its own pace. This is a supportive and non-pressured environment, which in our opinion is crucial to its effectiveness.

As with all AR, facilitators here are not 'finished' or 'polished' perfect relators, but human beings like the rest of us. We have our own challenges, edges and blind-spots that still benefit from attention, and our own backgrounds in trauma and constructed personal defenses that we are still working through. Please leave all 'pedestals' and 'projections of perfection' at the door! :)

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NEW ATTENDEES SECTION:

This event is primarily held for regulars. However, we are open to new people who are:

• Looking for a Circle to drop into semi-regularly (not just once)
• Experienced in Circling elsewhere
• Experienced in AR elsewhere (even if not Circling)
• Have done a significant amount of rich self-discovery work in some other environment

Circles can be extremely effective transformational environments. This statement is not cliché or hype. Consequently we do not run 'Beginners Circles' online (although others do, and we aren't saying that's not OK. We just choose not to.)

Because of the highly effective nature of Circling in dropping people deep into the truth of who they are (even though the Circles are a supportive and non-pressured environment), we have chosen to always have a chat with a new person *before* they book in, even if someone is an experienced Circler somewhere else.

This is as a professional duty-of-care, NOT any kind of 'evaluation'. To be very clear, we are happy to open these Circles to new people -though we hold a space for regulars and semi-regulars, not so much for one-off visitors. So another good reason to have a Zoom chat first is to see if you like our style. (Drop us a line: authenticevents@gmx.com)

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(NO CHANGE MODALITY SUITS EVERYONE)

Many people (consciously or unconsciously) do not want to risk being exposed (no matter how gently) to the deep truth of their patterns, masks, habits, blind-spots & inauthenticities. We respect that. Our 'constructed defenses' - that we begin to build during early childhood - are the very things that prevent us from feeling the raw emotions of our early traumas and pain. Most people would prefer to leave such things unstirred, and we totally honor that. We NEVER try to convince anyone that Circling must be for them; it's not for everyone.

Circles are also not suitable as a first step in healing for people with major unresolved and untreated trauma; although they can absolutely be a powerful and valuable tool of ongoing healing and self-acceptance - once you are on your way with an appropriate psychological therapy or trauma-healing modality.

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WHAT THESE CIRCLES LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE

These are 'focused circles' (sometimes called 'Birthday Circles'). One person is the center of attention for 30mins or so. They chat about whatever they feel to: tough stuff, old stuff, current challenges, anything they instinctively choose to express as part of self-expression in the dynamic of a conscious group...

The roles of the other participants are simply to hold space, offer their empathy and non-judgment, and be present and curious. Plus to perhaps occasionally ask questions to gain more information, share verbally how something impacted them, and now and then maybe offer an intuitive perception (though also as an inquiry - never with the sense that the intuition must be accurate!).

Two things we do NOT do are 'offer direct advice', or 'engage in therapy'. These approaches activate different parts of the neurology, and undermine the organic healing nature of simply interacting empathically and respectfully and authentically.

This facilitation lineage is mainly via a British Circling facilitator who qualified as a trainer with the Integral Center and the Authentic Man Program in the USA. And who ran an accredited Circling Facilitation training in Melbourne, Australia more than a decade ago.