Welcome Circles
Share explorations and curiosity inspired by the Compass Conversation Podcast
The next Circle happens on:
December 29th at 11am PST.
Continue the Conversation among friends and peers in the same open-hearted space that you experience in the podcast episodes.
Your participation helps shape and expand a global community of like-hearted people who are exploring life as perpetual learners.
Our priority is to generate a coherent space where people share and listen from the heart, where self-awareness and honesty are celebrated, and together we receive each other in the absence of judgment.
Scroll down to read more.
Welcome Circles
Our next Circle is scheduled for December 29th at 11am PST. Use the button above to RSVP!
Each Welcome Circle offers a brief space of silence to open the event, followed by a short passage and seed question read by one of our facilitators.
Each member of the circle will be welcome to share their reflection - some will be prompted by the seed question, others will share from their heart in a different way. Some participants may choose to pass and not speak at all. The value of these circles is presence, listening, hearing and learning, side-by-side.
RSVP with the provided form.
Without listeners there is no podcast. In the spirit of collaboration, we are so happy to introduce the new “Welcome Circles”.
Each Welcome Circle offers a brief space of silence to open the event. A volunteer will read a short passage and offer seed questions. Each member of the circle will be welcome to share their reflection — some will be prompted by the seed question, others will share from their heart in a different way. Some participants may choose to pass and not speak at all. The value of these circles is presence, listening, hearing and learning side by side.
December 2024 Circle of Sharing Passage and Seed Questions
Nature is such a glorious example of how to be. Nature just Is.
In a bee’s life cycle, they play different roles. As they grow, they change their jobs. First, they clean, then they’re nurse bees. As they near the end of their lives, they go out and forage. They return to the hive and dance to communicate with other bees how to find the food sources.
Poplar trees are a huge source of pollen for the bees. Trees actually call the bees through chemical queues, and perhaps in ways we don’t yet understand. Bees understand though, and they find these trees. They recognize each other as an expression of their presence, their authentic way of being. All of our human relationships crave for presence, being seen and being heard as effortlessly as bees connect with the nature of trees.
Nature has a perspective. Connection opens a new space. Horses and redwood trees and air cultivate connection through the heart by just being right there, as who they are. As we listen, humanity and nature can merge into one. No boundaries. Only connections. We help ourselves and everyone that crosses our paths when we breathe and take time to listen and respond. They are available to recognize presence. They invite us to feel the oneness of life with humanity. Nature gives us honesty and that presence. There are no judgments from nature. Only acceptance. We too can explore being the first one to be honest.
Flow is the feeling of what life is all about. Flow is the activity of bees. It’s such a beautiful place to be. We're designed to be able to recognize and become that space without leaving our humanness behind. What a wonderful gift you have to offer through your genuine self.
Seed questions:
1. Share an occurrence where you judged yourself? What practices help you to decrease self-judgements?
2. Nature plays an important role in healing - what role has nature played in your life? Where and when have you felt the wilderness of nature?
3. What non-human has helped you to BE?
ILF offers these gently facilitated circles in the spirit of community connection from an open heart. We value an approach to conversation described by appreciative inquiry - we look to amplify what we like and perpetuate what is working. The result tends to be a mutually created space of listening without judgment where all participants can feel safe to share a reflection. If you have more questions about how these Circles are conducted, please write to us.