Spiritual/Shamanic Sharing Circles

A circle forms a living field of energy, shaped by the intentions, presence, and sincerity of those who step into it. When we sit in a circle, we engage in an ancient practice - one that predates written language, one that has guided communities, decision-making, and deep healing across cultures and time.

These formats serve as vessels designed to hold truth, wisdom, and transformation. Each circle carries a unique purpose - some for healing, some for guidance, and others for decision-making in alignment with spirit. The integrity of the process depends not on rigid rules but on the willingness of each participant to trust the space, honor silence, and listen with the fullness of their being.

In these circles, we do not debate, perform, or persuade. We speak from the heart, we listen with reverence, and we hold the space with presence. Silence is as powerful as speech, and consensus is not forced but revealed through collective attunement. To sit in a circle is to recognize that no single voice holds the whole truth - yet together, we can touch something greater than ourselves.

There is no facilitator here and no central authority guiding the process. The circle itself holds the structure, ensuring that power remains distributed and wisdom emerges organically. In this way, hierarchy dissolves, and each voice is valued as part of the whole.

This document serves as a guide, but the real learning happens in practice. Step in with openness. Honor the process. And let the wisdom of the circle unfold.

The Heart Sharing Circle serves as a healing container for processing interpersonal dynamics, building trust, and addressing unintentional hurts that occur during regular interactions in the week. This circle forms the foundation for all other circle work, as it establishes the emotional safety necessary for deeper collaboration.

Setup: Arrange participants in a visible circle (in-person or online)

Opening (3-5 minutes):

• Begin with 1-2 minutes of shared silence

• Optional invocation and invitation to sacred energies and ancestors

• Present the talking object (stick, feather, stone, etc.)

Core Sharing:

• The talking object moves Earthwise (counter-clockwise) around the circle

• Each person speaks from their heart without time pressure (though 3-5 minutes is recommended)

• Speak only when holding the talking object

• Others listen completely, offering their full attention

• Anyone may pass the talking object without speaking

Silent Reflection: Participants can hold the talking object to invite silence (encouraged).

Additional Rounds: Continue passing the talking object for as many rounds as needed.

Duration: Usually 1.5 to 2 hours, though it may extend as the circle only ends with consensus.

Closing: All circles close only by the call for consensus to close the circle. Consensus is determined by the silent passage of the talking object around the entire circle. Any individual may leave at any time, but the group remains until consensus for closure is reached.

The Spiritual Consensus Circle opens a co-intelligence space and facilitates group decision-making through a process that honors both individual wisdom and collective intelligence. This format is used when significant decisions must be made and requires prior participation in Heart Sharing Circles to function effectively.

Setup: Only those who regularly participate in Heart Sharing Circles may join

Opening (3-5 minutes):

• Begin with extended silence (1-2 minutes)

• Optional invocation to invite wisdom sources and connecting with mother earth

• The talking object moves Sunwise (clockwise) around the circle

First Round: Each person briefly shares "what is alive" for them while holding the talking object

Proposal Presentation:

• The first rounds will typically involve thought-sharing, syncing, exploring, and primarily sensemaking.

• When ready for a proposal, the speaker communicates it by raising the talking object and call out with full confidence, "I call for a Consensus for ..."

• The proposal is metaphorically shaped like a ‘seed’ of masculine energy, ready to be planted in the feminine ‘womb’ of the group’s collective silence.

Absolute Silence for Consensus:

• The key to reaching consensus is absolute silence as the talking object is passed around the circle back to the proposer.

• If the object completes a full circle without any sound - no words, affirmations like “Aho,” “Amen,” or “Yes,” or any other noises - the proposal is considered accepted.

• This silence signifies the group's unanimous agreement, alignment with spirit, and acceptance by the Divine Mother.

Option for Questions:

• If a participant needs clarification, they can place down the talking object to ask a question to the group.

• Other participants may raise their hands to answer, creating a brief Q&A exchange.

• Alternatively, the participant can direct a question to a specific person, at which point the talking object is passed directly to that individual for their response, and then returned to the original asker.

• After the question is addressed, the normal circle process resumes.

• The more silence and stillness can be integrated into the whole process, the better.

Duration: Usually 1.5 to 2 hours, though it may extend as the circle only ends with consensus.

Closing the Circle:

• The circle is closed by a call for consensus to end the meeting.

• This is again determined by the silent passage of the talking object around the entire circle.

• If anyone in the group wishes to leave before the official closing, they are free to do so, but the group as a whole remains until a consensus for closure is silently reached.

The Spiritual Consensus Circle is held weekly, yet when coherence, resonance, and unity are naturally reached - and no weighty decisions remain on the table - it may organically transition into a Talking Circle, allowing a co-intelligence space with shared wisdom and creative expression. Additionally, anyone may announce during the week that they have a proposal prepared, inviting others to come ready for focused sense-making and alignment.

The Talking Circle creates a co-intelligence space for accessing deeper wisdom, connecting with spirit, building community, and sharing creative expressions. This format allows the group to tap into collective and higher intelligence beyond individual knowing.

Setup: Arrange circle with clear visibility of all participants

Opening (2-3 minutes):

• Begin with extended silence (1-2 minutes)

• Optional invocation to ancestors, spirits, or specific wisdom sources

Core Process:

• The talking object moves around the circle

• Speak only when moved from deep stillness, not from mental preparation

• Sharing can include stories, wisdom, creative expressions, music, art and beauty

• Listening is done with full presence, as an offering to the speaker

• Anyone may pass the talking object without speaking or hold it to invite for silence

• The rules of silence and stillness here are more relaxed, allowing participants who are not holding the talking object to respond with affirmations such as "Yes", "Aho" or "Amen." etc. At times, the entire group may spontaneously begin singing or dancing together.

Duration: Normally 1.5 hours, with the possibility to continue organically until the group reaches consensus to close the circle.

Closing: All circles close only by the call for consensus to close the circle. Any individual may leave at any time, but the group remains until consensus for closure is reached.

• Speak from "I": Use only "I" messages and personal experiences

• Address the center: Speak to the circle/fire/center, not to individuals directly

• Honor silence: Recognize silence as a meaningful communication tool and emptiness as the boundless force of creative potential

• Listen fully: Offer complete attention without planning responses

• Respect confidentiality in the heart sharing circle: What is shared in the circle stays in the circle

• The Consensus Circle may be recorded and transcribed, allowing its insights and decisions to be shared with the broader organization or community while maintaining the integrity of the process

• Listeners are the givers: Those listening are sharing their attention, time, and life force

• Speak with brevity: Those who speak too long begin consuming/draining the group's energy

• Energetic awareness: The main communication happens energetically, through connection, resonance, and coherence

• Focus on the positive: Center communication around uplifting, constructive, and optimistic expressions and pay attention to the collective field - if you see smiles on the faces of your sisters and brothers, you know you are on the right path!

• Before speaking, ask yourself: Why am I talking? Be aware of your intention and need

With beginners, the natural progression through multiple rounds typically follows:

1. First round: What is on their tongue (surface thoughts)

2. Second round: What is in their mind (deeper reflections)

3. Third round: What is in their heart (emotional truth)

4. Fourth round onward: Access to stillness and wisdom (oneness space of inner silence)

The goal is to reach communication that emanates from depth rather than reactivity.

• The Heart Sharing Circle is primarily for healing trauma that occurs during the week when people unintentionally hurt each other. It builds the trust foundation necessary for all other circle work.

• The Spiritual Consensus Circle is only for those who regularly participate in Heart Sharing, as this ensures the emotional maturity needed for governance with coherence, true consensus, and Unity.

• The Talking Circle cultivates a space for co-intelligence, connecting participants with higher knowledge, strengthening community, and allowing for creative expression and shared entertainment, art and beauty.

• There is a significant risk in conducting a Consensus Circle without first establishing regular Heart Sharing Circles. Without the emotional processing of Heart Sharing, the Consensus Circle can become hijacked by unprocessed feelings, frustrating those who came for decision-making.

• A typical session lasts around 2 hours, allowing enough time for depth while maintaining focus and presence. Longer circles can be held when necessary, but consistency and regularity are more important than duration. The talking circle can last much longer - see the indigenous Mambedero practice.

• The path to mastery with these circles is through direct experience, not intellectual understanding alone. Trust the process, honor the silence, and allow the wisdom of the circle to emerge organically through consistent practice.

• In professional environments, the ideal team size with beginners is limited to a maximum of 7-8 participants to ensure a deep and meaningful experience. This allows for focused engagement and the cultivation of trust within the group. As individuals gain familiarity and proficiency in the process, the circle can gradually expand up to 13 members. This is the case with the heart sharing and spiritual consensus circle. The talking circle can be larger.

• For scaling to the whole organization, polycentric structures can be implemented using ProSocial methodologies or teal organizational models, incorporating elements of Sociocracy and Holacracy to ensure distributed coherent governance.

The principle "You cannot not communicate" is foundational to all forms of interaction, whether verbal, nonverbal, or energetic. Even in silence, our presence, body language, and the space we hold send messages that shape the collective field. In the context of spiritual and shamanic circles, this understanding deepens the significance of intentional silence, active listening, and the resonance between participants. True mastery lies not just in speaking, but in becoming aware of the messages we convey through our presence, attention, and the energy we bring into the space.

"We Indians know about silence. We are not afraid of it. In fact, for us, silence is more powerful than words. Our elders have been trained in the ways of silence, and they have passed that knowledge on to us. Observe, listen, and then act, they told us. That was the way to live.

With you, it is just the opposite. You learn by talking. At school, you reward the children who talk the most. At your parties, you all try to talk at the same time. At your work, you have constant meetings where everyone interrupts everyone else and everyone talks five, ten, or a hundred times. And you call that "solving a problem." If you're in a room and there's silence, you get nervous. You have to fill the room with noise. So you talk compulsively, even before you know what you want to say.

White people love to argue. They don't even let the other person finish a sentence. They always interrupt. To us Indians, that looks like bad manners or even stupidity. If you start talking, I will not interrupt you. I will listen. I may stop listening if I don't like what you are saying, but I will not interrupt you. When you finish speaking, I will form an opinion about what you said, but I will not tell you that I disagree unless it is important. Otherwise, I will just keep quiet and walk away. You have told me everything I need to know.

There Is nothing more to say. But that is not enough for the majority of white people. People should consider their words as seeds. They should sow them and then let them grow in silence. Our elders taught us that the earth always speaks to us, but we should be silent to hear it. There are many voices besides ours. Many voices..."

By Anpétu Wasté Win from “Deer Women and Elk Men”: Lakota Narratives by Ella Deloria (1889-1971)

* The term ‘Indians,’ used to refer to Native American tribes including the Lakota, originated with European explorers who believed they had reached the Indian subcontinent in 1492. The Lakota are a Native American tribe indigenous to the Great Plains of North America. They are known for their rich cultural heritage, spiritual traditions, and strong ties to the land. Their history is marked by a deep respect for the environment and a profound philosophical understanding that emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings.