This is a safe and confidential space. Focused on presence.
As a participant, you are part of creating and maintaining a safe, open space for honest sharing. To do this - we first need to agree that this is a space of confidentiality. What happens in the circle, stays in the circle. This space acts as a shared pool of meaning, a collective mind where understanding emerges. This emphasizes the principle of the 'empty space', where the room is left for unexpected insights and understandings. We don't know where this will lead, or how it will end - it is up to the group.
We don’t judge during the dialogue, and we don’t speak in terms of the other.
This agreement is all about putting your immediate reactions, judgments and assumptions on pause. It does not mean you should not experience them fully, or that you should not act or speak. You may still have internal reactions, which are yours and real. We simply ask you to suspend them for the dialogue to take place, so as to have an atmosphere free from judgment or condemnation, a space where all opinions and assumptions are valued. We aim to create an open, non-judgmental space where everyone's voices can be heard and felt.
We listen deeply to our OWN emotions and feelings, to others, and to the silence in between.
Deep listening is not just about hearing the words. It is about absorbing emotions, body language, silences, unspoken undercurrents, and the actions of participants who are not speaking. It is about being fully present, without a constant search for the response. Respect everyone, and acknowledge their equal value.
We express ourselves fully. When we are moved to speak, we speak.
As a participant, you are encouraged to express yourself spontaneously and openly. You don't need to plan your responses, speak when you are moved to speak. We do use the 'Talking Stick', so wait for it to become available. Speak from the heart, and share your unique perspectives and experiences.
The group is looking for a shared understanding.
Imagine if the group as a whole was an individual. Then we would want to get to know him or her, their purpose and desire. Therefore, in this circle, dialogue isn't about persuasion, debate, or gaining individual advantage. It's about shared understanding and open exploration of ideas. As a participant, you are encouraged to contribute to a free flow of meaning, allowing new insights to emerge. We are looking to see where the collective intelligence will take us.
If there is any intent at all, it is the intent of the action. Actions have to be the result of these meetings.