Circle Holding

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 subjec...

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 discri...

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 quic...

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...

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 faci...

In this episode with Mike Irwin, he and Julia discussed: • It’s okay as a facilitator to be learning and not be perfect! People are looking for authenticity and not superconfident • Your nervousness can be a gift to the nervous attendees • The first part of starting the circle is to get present yourself as a facilitator • You can start with a centring question e.g. ‘What’s preventing me from feeli...

In this episode you will learn how Julia set up her local women's circle. She talks about the people she thought would come and who actually came. You will hear how she adapted the circle to suit the needs of various diverse groups. Tessa and Julia compare what it is like to set up a new circle as apposed to monthly gatherings of a well established community.

In this episode with Nicky Yazbeck (https://nickyyyoga.com/) and Julia, they covered: • How Nicky holds a women’s circle for those who’ve experienced plant medicine • Ayhuasca is a serious plant medicine and need to prepare through clean diet and other preparations • A circle is important for creating a container for the experience • There is a WhatsApp group important for the integration of what...

For the video interview and transcript, go to In this interview with Marta Fabregat (https://martafabregat.com/), we covered - How the practice of Focusing works - Focusing is listening from the body, but can’t separate the experience from the environment - Focusing is about the art of living rather than a method or technique - Marta and Tessa both share a short focusing practice - Focusing create...

A common question is trainings is how to balance the role of facilitator and the role of being an expert within a workshop context, in which a talking circle will be one activity. For example, if you run a menopause workshop and teach the first part, how will you shift to a sharing circle where everyone doesn't just turn to you for answers? How do you create an atmosphere where people feel empower...

In this episode with Mike Irwin ([https://mankindprojectuki.org/circles](https://mankindprojectuki.org/circles)), he and Julia discussed: - the evolution of men's groups and GBTQ+ groups - how to introduce ice breakers and discussion starters - circle as a conduit for emotional breakthrough - the breadth of development opportunities through circle in the corporate world - how men's circles have ch...

In this episode, Julia and Tessa talk about creating a circle to look back over the last year and forward to the year to come. This could be with a group of friends in your home or in a special class or workshop.

In this final episode of Series 1 of the Circle Holding Podcast, Julia and Tessa reflect on what they learnt from the diverse circle facilitators who were interviewed. They also look back on their own experiences of being in circle and holding space, remembering magical moments and some challenging ones!

In this episode, Julia and Andy covered: • Participatory democracy is about a deeper level of democracy e.g. Citizen’s assembly to listen to diverse voices and find common solutions • Danger of spiritual bypassing when engaged in spiritual practices at the expense of everyday relationships in society • ‘Deep democracy’ tries to draw inner voices into democratic process as microcosm of outer world...

In this episode with Liz of Becoming Mums, we covered: • The importance of having co-facilitators to support with the skills to read the room and create a permissive atmosphere • How being clear about what your demographic needs is more important than what you want to do (and will help you get funding) • Talking to existing organisations or projects that work with your demographic to see how they...

In this episode, we covered: Talking circles are called by different names, including conversation circles, listening circles, sharing circles and groups (women's groups, men's groups, girl's groups) Circle time can be very straight forward or contain lots of ceremony - it depends on the purpose and the demographic Ceremony can be missing in many people's lives and be enriching Having familiar wor...

In this episode, Julia and Lee covered: • How men are often attracted to circle when they’re at crisis point • The application process for the closed group after being part of an open one • The structure of the meeting allows deep sharings to happen: ‘freedom within form’ • How he provides several opportunities to talk, with longer each time for more depth • Silence can be part of a person’s allot...

In this episode, Julia and Tessa covered: The hidden costs and time spent in running a talking circle Avoiding facilitator burnout by being compensated for your time Different models for running a listening circle Getting funding to make the circle free for participants to attend Experiences of trying to run a circle by donation

In this episode with Jane Bennett, we covered: • How a circle format can work well for sensitive topics in general and to differentiate it from puberty lessons in school in particular • We talked about how having a conversation before the circle can help manage expectations of what will happen • How circle time can lessen feelings of shame or embarrassment and increase positivity around taboo subj...

In this episode about listening with Julia and Tessa, we covered: The importance of the listener being attuned and not having an agenda How wonderful when listening is reciprocal and the listener isn’t trying to fix anything The signs of someone not listening to you How to do a Listening Partnership The joy of a longer term listening partnership That self-worth can grow as someone feels their voic...

In this episode, Julia and Ben covered: • How breathwork can be transformation and does involve deep feelings and going to somone’s edge • Breathwork is not regulated but you can check whether facilitators are signed up to the voluntary organisation Global Professional Breathwork Alliance (GPBA) • There are two main aspects in facilitation: framing (doing, the structure, organisation) and the felt...

In this episode, we look at the common fear of new circle facilitators around managing big, raw feelings and diverse personalities. We discuss the balance between all feelings being welcome and allowing time for everyone to speak, between people being they're authentic self whether they tend to talk (a lot) or be very quiet and encouraging all to speak.

In this episode we talked about: • How co-facilitation can flow • How preparation is key in forming the container to hold space and arrive empty to attune to what happens in the gathering • How holding space is a creative process that also creates a new you • A held space is a safe one, but also an emergent space for something new to happen • That inner work is an essential part of being a facilit...

In this episode we will be talking about the role of the circle facilitator. When we talk to people about our book we are often asked the question:  What is circle holding or holding space? When we dreamed up the title we knew exactly of the book we wanted a step-by-step approach as you can see from the subtitle: "A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles" clarified our intention. Included...

In this episode, Julia talks to Lee Keylock of Narrative 4 and they covered: * Storytelling around controversial topics build community through revealing nuance * How exactly Narrative 4’s Story Exchange works through experiencing radical empathy in circle * That empathy starts with the courage and generosity to try to listen * Hearing your story told by someone else lets you see it in a new light...