Circle Holding

Written by: Julia Davis and Tessa Venuti Sanderson
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  • Summary

  • Do you run a group or a circle? Join us for insights into circle facilitation. We speak to people who have created spaces where people can speak without interruption and listen without judgement. You will learn from people who have successfully facilitated groups in schools, universities, local communities, within government and in corporate environments. You will discover how these circles were created, funded and learn how you can create and build your own communities and circles. Listen to shorter episodes with Julia and Tessa for explorations into concepts about circle holding and practical tips: * What is a talking circle? * What is circle holding as a role? * How do you manage big personalities and big feelings ? * How do you support deep listening? * Should it be free, by donation or a charge? * Are talking circles just a bit woo woo? * And favourite memories and challenging moments in circle time Listen to longer interviews with diverse circle holders for fantastic insights into holding space: Series 1 * Imposter syndrome and group dynamics with Kate Codrington * Radical empathy with Narrative 4’s Lee Keylock * Co-facilitation with Red School's Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlizter * Circle as a container for breathwork with Benedict Beaumont * Working with children and talking about sensitive topics with Jane Bennett * Creating space for health masculinity with Lee Stegels * Funding what your community needs with Becoming Mum’s Liz Allum * Including diverse voices through Participatory Democracy with Andy Pierce Series 2 * Diversity and Inclusion in Circle with Mike Irwin of Mankind Project (part 1) * Embodied Listening: Focusing as a Technique in Circle with Marta Fabregat * Running A Circle at Home (and Plant Medicine) with Nicky Yazbeck * The Nuts and Bolts of Circle Facilitation with Mike Irwin (part 2) * Listening as Compassionate Leadership with Jenny Burrell * Peace Circles in Schools with Roy Leighton * Sex Education with Dr Sophie King Hill * Sensual Circles with Henika Patel You can help this podcast continue to broadcast by donating: https://www.gofundme.com/f/spread-stories-of-communities-building-circles-of-hope/
    Circle Holding
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Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • Working with Families: Meeting Children's Needs So They Can Thrive with Nellie Harden

    Working with Families: Meeting Children's Needs So They Can Thrive with Nellie Harden
    Mar 7 2025
    In this episode, Tessa and Nellie talk about: • Circles show up in all sorts of places like music groups and choirs • Growth happens in relationship, not isolation, which makes circles perfect for change • Modern life with devices and social media makes it hard for families to do active listening with each other • Get clarity about your child’s learning language so your message gets through e.g. pictures, words, movement • Playing loud music really helped to prepare the 12-18 year olds for listening later – think of your attendees’ needs • A clarity board enables you to write or draw what you hear the other person is saying and check you’ve got it right (up to 5 things you hear) • A facilitator can provide third-party validation where a change in relationship / communication is the goal • Aim is to create a space to develop truth and trust with the circle so that the amygdala doesn’t shut down processing too much flight and fight • Rules for Nellie’s session is ROCKS: Respect, Obedience, Compassion, Kindness, Self-discipline • Can take a break if things get heated to re-establish calm or use ‘square breathing’ (also known as even breathing) with tracing the square on the leg • Make the participants aware of defence mechanisms such as sarcasm, mocking, dismissing, interrupting, ignoring and distraction – these are destructive forms of communication and you need to take a break if it happens • In terms of time keeping, you can put a leeway / buffer for latecomers but also at the end in case you are in something deep and don’t want to interrupt the process • A firm boundary is having phones away • Acknowledging the role of hormones in relationships is important in this age group.
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    44 mins
  • Online vs In Person Circle: Which One Do I Choose?

    Online vs In Person Circle: Which One Do I Choose?
    Mar 5 2025
    In this episode, Julia and Tessa covered: - The benefits of both online and in person circles - The challenges of online and additional guidelines you might put into place - The additional work that an in person circle might involve in setting up the physical space - Examples of how both online and in person circles have worked with different demographics.
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    24 mins
  • Sharing Sensuality in Circle with Henika Patel

    Sharing Sensuality in Circle with Henika Patel
    Feb 28 2025
    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 subjective so it’s important to clearly specify who the circle is for (including in the marketing) and she spends an hour of a 2-hour circle on practices for the self before moving into sharing ie “I” to “we” - One practice she shares is Yang and Yin vision: Yang vision is how you see someone passing by (the colour of their clothes or hair) and Yin vision is looking to connect beyond the surface level - She will talk for 5/6 minutes about the container of the circle, including about any gender being welcome, looking beyond the surface level etc - Circle is a template for the rest of the world and your life: taking time to cultivate listening skills, how to express yourself in a way that feels safe in your body, develop empathy will ripple out into the rest of your day - Circle is an opportunity to educate on these skills - Social media can be a lonely experience – just you and a phone – where you can be left with shame from the gap between reality and expectations, but circle enables those experiences to be shared - Shakti circles address unrealistic expectations from porn that’s not covered by sex ed - Generally we are not taught what ‘No’ feels like in your body to then be able to communicate your ‘No’ - She is a first generation Indian woman who grew up with rituals at home - The association of tantra with sex is a neo-tantra ie a new form, traditionally it is about a whole range of practices focusing on goddesses as a reaction to Hinduism where focus was on men practising and particular castes. Tantra is not a religion, but a counter culture. - A practice she likes to include in circle is a simplified version of Nyasa - infusion divinity into the body by repeating a phrase such as “This is the beautiful hair of Julia” as you touch the hair, working around the body, with permission not to touch or giving other options - It is important when sharing a practice to name the tradition or teacher to honour the teaching and steer towards cultural appreciation rather than cultural appropriation
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    41 mins

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