In the Council Circle we engage in the conversational practice of sitting in an on-line circle, listening to each other with respect, and speaking our own truth into the center. We take turns holding an imaginary talking stick, and each person speaks only once during each weekly round.
There are four concurrent Council Circles of no more than sixteen people each so that everyone can be fully heard. You may read and respond only within your own Council Circle. (As facilitators, Peter and Trudy Johnson-Lenz are observers in all the Circle groups).
The Council Circle activity in the CIP includes four weekly rounds and lasts one month.
Please practice following these simple guidelines. Notice how they change our on-line conversational experience.
Read the Council Circle Instructions to learn more about how to participate in the Council Circle.
When you sit around the rim of the circle, remember the whole and remember the center. In each moment, what is your relationship to yourself, this circle of people, and the spirit at the center?
Each week read the current round. Feel free to check early in the week to see what the question or topic is so you can live with it for a day or two before responding.
Read through any new responses to the current round. Listen with full attention, from the heart. Receive and hold the gift of each response as you would want your own received and held by others.
Reflect on what is true for you and then speak honestly, from the heart.
Speak into the center of the circle, to the whole, rather than in response to any individual.
If you prefer not to respond to a round, please indicate your presence in the circle by saying something like "I sit in silence with you for this round," or "I pass today," or "I'm listening," or simply "Ho!"
Complete each week's round within the seven day period shown when you enter the Council Circle. If you miss a week's round because of travel, illness, or some other circumstance, you can still read previous responses and respond yourself, but the focus of the circle's attention will be on the new, current round.
After each round is complete, you may want to add to the Council Circle Harvest by summarizing what you have reaped from your listening and reflections. You can create a harvest item at any time. Whatever you add to the Harvest can be read by everyone, not just your circle group. If you want to quote someone else's words or say something that might reveal his identity or be private or confidential, please get explicit permission first. Use your own good judgment.
Please remember that all responses in the circle are confidential. You may show the question or topic to others outside the CIP, and you may share your own response, but you may not share others' responses outside your circle group without explicit permission from the author.