Circle Feedback

Feedback from Circle Sharing Groups around the world.

March

Kohatu Streams, Tasman, New Zealand

Refúgio Paradiso - Botucatu - SP Brazil

We had a meeting through Zoom.

Covid-19 was present during the meeting, as an obvious, very much alive guest. We shared how each one is coping with the new situation, states of mind, etc. and how isolation changed the way we have meetings for now, among other things.

We talked about the topic addressed on the material read and watched, and how turning live creatures into things by the mere use of language affects how we treat them, science, economy, socially.. in general.

Some of us shared how close to nature we were able to be during childhood and how that affected the way we experienced the world, and how that has changed and is changing in a fast pace.

Nelson 4, Nelson, New Zealand

Image of humanity being within nature, animals and fish and people and trees. Another image is a pyramid with humanity over nature. Ego-Eco. Feeling powerfully my place within the ecosystem rather than over the ecosystem. In a nutshell: eco rather than ego.
Restoration: of ecosystems inner and outer. Feeling the health of ecosystems return and knowing that all seeds will sprout in the right causes and conditions.
I wonder what lies on the other side of the great divide?
Reconnection/new connection
Two really strong contrasting things. One is about flow, restoration, waterways, cleansing. The other one: be careful of what control we give away as individuals. Be careful of big governments in this time.
Compassion for the anxious and afraid. I am prepared to hold, I have whatever it takes.
What is real and what is not. Being alert and observant through our slowing down of what was not just the big picture but also what is happening in households, behind closed doors. What can we do about it? If we can’t connect, maybe find a place where we can hold the very ordinary. Being present with the day to day reality. Trying to find new ways of being where we can’t be.
Hard to find words for what I am feeling and sensing. There is a contrast happening. Instead of rushing around in vehicles and planes, now we have time to sink in and be. Sitting on the ground. Simple.
Family, community, connection and support. Reset.
Hope.
Greatest lost, greatest gain. Opportunity.

The Orchard Group, UK

My feedback about the pieces and the meeting is that the sun still shines, the plants still grow and that the best thing to do is to see how delicate the whole process is, how the many variables have to be in balance for it all to work. We all need to realise and to educate, demonstrate this to young people through our action.

One asks of another '' What are you expecting? '', the other says ''Flowers''. One asks '' How can you expect flowers in this terrible times? '' , the other replies '' Because I am sowing flowers ''.

The material was so much more poignant and positive than the previous one which was about the inevitability of doomsday, that it touched a sense of poignancy, a sense of lost times, lost childhood. Lost but not forgotten. It reawakened memories of my own very natural sense of being at one in nature; and how most children do not have it now. It awakened my appreciation for what we do have. It also brought up the CV pandemic and how it has shut down the world as we know it. Looking through the prism of hope rather than horror, it seems that one bug has got us further than climate change activism, global environmental summits, carbon reduction schemes and all the tree planting we can possibly do. The birds are now audible, the sky is clear and people are not dying from air pollution in Wuhan.

Words and language express our worldview and consciousness that in turn govern our disposition and behaviour toward the other-than-human world. Noun-names objectify "things" so we can exploit. Consciousness evolves in us as individuals and throughout history. Childhood if we can remember it was an intense magical experience of the world as alive and ensouled. Past cultures also experienced the soul of the world. The globalisation now "locked down" is a caricature of a truly global world, where we can imaginatively empathise and connect with all human and other-than-human beings. May corona can bring us this opportunity, but it's up to us. We are on a journey together to rediscover an old language and to create a new one, that expresses joy and love for the living world we are integrally a part.

Much to re-evalute here, especially all beings in the natural world, albeit for many hard to access at this particular time , yet even more urgent for deep connections to be made on many levels.

Words, as "in the beginning was the word” . The references to Ki and Kin and the fuller resonance to ancestors and all beings everywhere .To be aware of the words we use, especially around children who may be very fearful now.

Yes, a passion and belief of creating a better world.

Language shapes and is shaped by, not the world of things in themselves, but by our relationship to those things. The material suggests that children have an innate relationship to the natural world that acknowledges its animacy. It also suggests that a culture in which we spend less and less time in nature and speak a language that describes the natural world as inanimate “its” is leaving us impoverished and the natural world decimated. We can perhaps change this relationship for the better by paying attention to how we frame our situation and our relationship to the natural world when we express ourselves. We can reanimate the natural world in our consciousness and in doing so renew our connectedness and our care for it. We can instill in the younger generation a passion and a belief that they can create a better world rather than a fearful dread of impending doom.

Hope for the earth and our future lies in seeking, nurturing, and practicing the means to connect with, experience deeply, love, and be at one with, all beings. The material highlighted several avenues to enhance this search - for me the most powerful was the lost words and spell songs and the process around their creation. I think we all, throughout our life’s journey, discover what brings us closer to our love and connection to the world around us and what takes us away from this. For me, having the opportunity to share my own journey of discovery and experience is fundamental to grounding it and becoming more able to be ‘out there’ in a positive and constructive way that is both helpful to me and, hopefully, to others.

What struck me about the first piece and the need for children to be connected to nature was, well, of course. But not just children. As a society we are increasingly distant from nature - or think we are. Of course, in reality we are not and never will be. Children who live, as more and more of us do, in urban settings, don’t understand that their food comes from the soil, the animals and the sea, but none of us are encouraged to look too closely at exactly how. They should be, we should be. But, as Wordsworth put it in his Ode, Intimations of Immortality, 'Heaven lies about us in our infancy! Shades of the prison-house begin to close. Upon the growing Boy..’ That sense that we - all of us - progressively lose that innate sense of interconnectedness as we grow older. Without romanticising them, I think children do inhabit a world far more vividly populated by animate beings, that aren’t or don’t have names or ‘adult’ logics. We educate them out of it. So maybe it’s us who should be listening to them a little more carefully..

The second, the pictures, I liked. Which is what you’d expect. I spend a great deal of time looking at, and making, pictures. And, as we all know, every one is worth a thousand words…The ones offered struck me as good of their kind, but I didn’t spend a lot of time examining them. I’m sure I’d have learned a lot more had I done so.

The long piece about language I enjoyed. Again, a subject close to my shape-shifting heart. The ways in which naming can both help and limit interpretation and understanding - especially the idea that we are fixed human beings who cannot also be coyotes, salmon, or eagles - well, anyone who’s done a bit of meditating will know about that. I’m not always me, whoever that is, but I know I will be defined by others, as I will define them, even though they - you - routinely surprise me. The tole of language - especially those for whom English is not your first language - know in your bones how deep and surprising it is. Pictures, of course, don’t suffer from that disadvantage, until we start using language to interpret them.

The Jackie Morris/Robert Macfarlane piece is familiar territory - Jackie’s poem/drawing for Otter has, for e.g., been in the Poetry Bookshop’s window in Hay for quite some time. And I’ve worked with otter with Nick Sales on ‘Rock Songs’, a theatre/film piece that had many reflections on the many variations of names and naming. I love that stuff. More proof, if proof were needed, of the vast diversity and richness of words and naming. And much more yet to come, if Generation Z have their way (they will).

All of this topped off with a lot of coronavirus commentary and reflection. My view? That it’s the price we pay for upsetting the balance of nature - or maybe rather pushing too far into it, exploiting it and coming up against — unleashing something that we had no name for - now we do - but, as yet, no ‘cure’. We will find one, but not before there has been much suffering and death. A reminder that we are not separate from nature, whatever words or concepts we use.

The article on language reminded me of Right Speech in the Eightfold Path. Where are we “coming from” when we speak? What are our intentions/motivations? Are we coming from a place of respect?

All the material for me spoke each in their own way to “how do we relate?” and the importance of connecting. As Wendell Berry once said we will only love what we know.

To the zoom meeting:

Gosh, how heart warming to see/hear you all, that was quite wonderful. Am still feeling the impact of this meeting. Go well and safely. 2nd May same time same place?!
Although I was initially reluctant and sceptical about an on line meeting, I have to say I am really pleased we managed it, regardless of technological issues here and there.
I found the meeting powerful after I could let go of the distraction of my technological muppetry and am hoping we can continue like this for as long as we need to.
I am also thinking this may offer opportunities to connect with other groups around the world and would love to hear world-wide feedback on this.
It was a powerful experience to hear each others’ voices in that way. My listening was much more focused that meeting in the circle.

London, UK

Most of us found the material stimulating and enjoyable.
As a grandparent it affirms the importance of pointing out and affirming nature to my grandchild.
It affirms the importance of our immediate locality and relating it to our Buddhism - and affirming the preciousness of the tiniest of living creatures. Like a wren outside my window - how it could vanish without me realising it - the importance of noticing tiny precious beings against the global climate backdrop and concerns.
It reaffirmed the infinitely precious nature of all aspects of nature - if we can’t name it we don’t always see it
How to find ways of expressing our perceptions and experience in as nuanced a way as possible feels very relevant at the moment when we’re in such unchartered emotional territory and our habitual ways of expressing things may no longer be adequate.

Roberts Creek, BC, Canada

I am encouraged and feel lighter pondering the forward looking notion of "building a new civilization" rather than grappling with apocalyptic doomsday-ism. Just noticing how each of those trajectories effect my body-mind, and, my parenting.

I have always been interested as to how language maps reality, especially from the mouth of colonialism. I am thinking about the new signs here on the coast with indigenous namings. It feels like step in the right direction. SWAHA!

Natures tide is constantly changing with ebbs and flows. I feel like when my heart resonates with the ebbs and flows then there is an opportunity. And through that opportunity I enter the changes knowing, feeling, and trusting that balance will be part of the process.

It has been a long winter, a very disturbing month and a week of full on uncertainty. My response to the last issue of 2020 stimulus was similar to that of Feb. and Jan. Fear, usually my close companion, is most often absent these days. Grief, on the other hand, is never far from my heart. As is my wont I broke the rules, again, being selective about what I chose to view or read or listen to of what was offered. My whole body responded to the short video about the ill effects of indoor classroom learning as opposed to outdoor education. I am both terrified and intrigued by what is happening from the point of view of the effects of global warming to the outbreak of a pandemic. Wonder struck by the stunning photos of our incredible planet, I then scanned through the main web site and came across an interview with Joanna Macy given by Jem Bendell. Since first discovering Jem in Jan. I am now captivated by both he and Joanna’s deep compassion and sensibilities. I am completely drawn in by Joanna’s description of ‘positive disintegration’. I’ve watched this interview 3 times since the beginning of March and here we are now watching this very positive disintegration she speaks of as it unfurls itself across our world. I am amazed by the beauty and balance of Mother Nature. Her impeccable timing. There is no one to blame for this random act of Nature. The only response I seem to have to her unbridled response to the damage we have done to her, the havoc we have wrecked, is awe. I am preparing for the worst. Death crowds in close. And here at the very brink is compassion and infinite opportunity for loving kindness.

I tried to feel words in my body and notice how they feel. Notice what the body does to support the thought manifest as sound and sometimes as action. Easy example. Feel yes and no.

If I had to come up with one word that encapsulates my response it would be blessed silence. Well two words.

I was inspired by Richard Louv's talk. Even though it is 9 years old, what he said still rings true. Nature is transformative. We need to celebrate it, be out in it, take our children out in it so that they know it, are comfortable in it and love it. We need to be careful not to burden children with our own fears around climate change. Nature, while ever changing, is a positive force and young minds must be inspired and allowed to create all kinds of alternative structures and practices that can help us live more sustainably as climate change progresses.

Covid -19 is currently showing us how quickly governments and people can change and adapt. Much more of this kind of action will be needed in the future and it's young people who will be in the forefront. We need to support and encourage them. Nature is such a powerful force if we work and learn from her.

Familiar and friendly stuff.

I am now experiencing some of those children that I had taken out to experience the forest and nature who are now adults with their own children. I find the word nature cold and objectifying somehow.

Interesting article on language, and objectifying things not "human". Humans sometimes do that to themselves, referring to "the foot, the heart" when it should be my foot, my heart. Usually when there is something wrong.

Ask a child if we are animals - you'll get some interesting answers.

As the consequences of our alienation from the natural world become more apparent let us open our hearts to all sentient beings , and , with respectful awareness, ask forgiveness. " I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. I love you ".

Christchurch, New Zealand

Energy and exuberance.
Wheel, hubs of light.
Energy and a still centre.
Dissolving edges, shifting the idea of separation.
Awareness and consciousness amidst nature.
A child's perspective of the world.
Tenderness of an open wound- life and energy come from this.
Not separate from nature. Knowing this unity.
Spiraling energy across the sky.

Boise, Idaho, USA

Responses are the opposite of last month, subjects easy to align with, hit home.
Made sense, hope, excitement, inspiration, fun approach to language, recognizing the power of words and the force they have sometimes get out of control, seeing our language supporting our disconnection with the natural environment; sadness and frustration of oneself and others disconnect with our natural mother earth.
Recalling childhood experiences of close connection with nature... as if part of our DNA; but experienceing this fade thru out one's life. So important to feel connected with environment.
Present these subjects as an important part of all school curriculum starting very early.
Renewed opportunity and challenge, to know the truth!
Disappointed in the lack of provocative stimulation by this theme and feeling manipulated by these varied monthly subjects, confused by so many views.
What is the truth? What is good? Is there the silver lining in all conflicts? Needed...more meditation...more retreats...looking for knowing.
Let the Earth be our lover!

Nelson Central, Nelson, New Zealand

Stimulated thought about the way, in New Zealand, we name creatures we consider pests. This gives us the right to act violently against them.
Greater awareness of the growing disconnection between humans and nature, even though we are part of nature. How skillfully to remedy this, especially for young people.
We are nature, and nature is us.
If only we could open our hearts and minds to the richness of indigenous cultures, we could open ourselves to their wisdom. We need to support our young people to connect with nature.
To be present both with listening to the wounding of the earth, which is also the wounding of ourselves, and at the same time holding this earth with love, wonder, and gratitude for all of life. If anything can save us, it is this love.

Vancouver, BC, Canada.

It was good to review the guiding principles for Community Circle Sharing.
So appreciated my father after listening to Richard Louv. Dad brought us out into nature as we were growing up — camping, hiking, fishing. Some of my happiest memories.
As a kid, I was sent out the door after breakfast and wasn’t expected back until dinner. We had so much freedom to explore outdoors, have adventure, to play. Though I don’t have children, it seems that nowadays kids are so confined by rules for safety, and play appears confined, structured. Fear is prevalent. Someone will be injured, beware of strangers...
Kimmerer’s suggestions of using the pronouns ki and kin are thoughtful but unrealistic. What’s so wrong about the pronoun it? When we refer to dogs, we never say it.
The very fact that English is a conglomeration of many ancient languages suggests an interconnectedness with nature. It is not just a language of colonization.
Richard Louv’s articulation that we must make the idea of action toward sustainability and climate change interesting and worthy of challenge for kids is timely. And, not just for kids. Negativity and fear rarely accomplishes anything.
The fact that so many of Kimmerer’s students were amazed by the introduction of ki and kin as they went out into nature was a bit much. Was relieved when there were more levelled responses from a few students. Kimmerer’s intention was good, just not practical.
The Lost Words is a unique book. It was passed around, and another copy was given out to share.
It’s beautiful and amazing to be interconnected with nature whilst one is in retreat at Wangapeka.
Lovingkindness, compassion, resilience, the dharma, prudence, goodwill - these are essential to help rebalance our experience with the world.
Doom and Gloom: Coronavirus. The seriousness of the virus cannot be overstated. People this is serious. Not hopeful it can be contained. We need to pay attention.

Motueka Central, Motueka, New Zealand

Recognition that we are already crafting lives with strong aspirations to live close with nature.
Building connections with nature is already occurring and has often driven choices to live in this region for the benefit of our children.
Eradicate fear of what is coming and trust that what is coming is for a purpose.
A critical mass is needed of people able to turn towards the difficulty and move through it.
The antidote to panic and hysteria is a conscious community, connected to others and feeling supported.

Brooklyn, Motueka, New Zealand

Grateful for the material.
Animacy: awareness of livingness within beings without hierarchy.
Connection with all - interconnectedness.
Life force.
Deepening awareness.
The balm of nature.
Seeing the space between as connection rather than something that separates.
Letting go of black and white.
A feeling of Ki and Kin with everything - related to the idea of animacy.
The world as lover.

march

February

Nelson 4, Nelson, New Zealand

I keep thinking this too will pass. The wipeouts. You know you're going to be ok!!! Interesting background.
A woman of privilege. It goes through the ages. Over and over again . Don’t let them run amok. I'm fond of the shape of you all.
I have a question. I wonder how the earth would be if instead of us surviving 'Neanderthals' had survived. If it would have been the other way around.
I have no idea how to summarise. I want to draw on some the of fun and spontaneity and community and love and surrendering to the process.

Get back up.
UUUUUhhhhh.
Slow
belly laugh.
Connection.
Whisper.
Community
Equipoise
The heart knows.
Passion
Gratitude

Take refuge in connection with all life.
Vibrancy in the moment.
I really want to be grateful and honour all the first life that made it possible for us to be here. I want to honour our ancestors or lineages . Everything that made it possible for us to be here and connect and share.
For some reason these words keep echoing in my head. "No animals were harmed in the making of this commercial." That would seem to be the biggest lie of all.....Turns out, our tireless obsession with Product has led to the destruction of all forms of life on the planet.
I have an image of this big monolithic building that is made out of concrete and it is falling and it falls into a web that is so, on one level, so precious and could disappear so easily. Fragile and strong and humans are.
And that is the web of contain sound community.
I just went though the washing machine through the wipeout, the grief. It's important to go there. Someone said to breathe out and really give space. Maybe my head has just popped up. There is love here in the space that is left. Taking refuge in what is here, the life that is here.

Nelson 5, Nelson, New Zealand

Our sharing on the themes of Inevitable Societal Collapse, Probable Catastrophe, and Possible Extinction, and its associated theme of Deep Adaptation, was intense and in-depth.
Often during the sharing, expressions related to how far the truth of impending catastrophe had “sunk in” to an appreciation of “the way things are” at this point in history. For the long-term environmental activists amongst us there was deeply felt anguish at the progressive ignoring of scientific data over many years, and seeing the warnings that began nearly half a century ago actually coming to pass.
Apprehending the themes was pushing up, for some of us, incredulity, horror, grief, confusion, numbness, depression, and old psychological issues, on the one hand, alongside a much increased recognition of the very special thing our planet and its biosphere actually is – and the rare and special thing that human existence is. Contemplation of the themes required an anchoring of emotional stability, which for some of us was grounded in the universal “big picture”.
One of our members brought inspiration from Maori culture and perspectives from a recent gathering at the Wangapeka Centre close to Nelson. The gathering had been inspired by Rob McGowan (Pa Ropata), emphasising the importance of Maori and indigenous peoples' perspectives and traditions, and of supporting young people to face the truths of the themes, of caring for the land and the biosphere, of passing the care message on to all, as if it were pollen being blown by the wind through a field of corn (a beautiful image).
Questions about how our Buddhist practice and the Buddhist view inform our response to the themes came up. One of us had recently received one of the warrior empowerments, which she was finding very energising towards positive responses to the climate tragedy. Others were still in the process of reconciling, if possible, the truths of impermanence, suffering, cessation, and path, with the themes – an ongoing task.
Questions relating to our individual decisions were strongly present too. Given that travel technology has enabled the scattering of our families worldwide, and that family bonds are so important, how much flying will I do to maintain them? What will I say to my family? How will I deal with their responses if negative? What about my friends? What does the situation demand that I Relinquish (one of Jem Bendell's Deep Adaptation three Rs). What in my life can I Restore?
It is difficult to encapsulate the entire richness of the sharing we did, and the commonality we expressed, so we'll leave it there for now.

The Orchard Group, UK

Our second meeting was felt as a more integrated experience with a clearer focus compared with the first one.

The February theme had triggered off some strong emotions of grief, sadness and despair.
It was also experienced as a powerful wake-up call: to face up to reality, take it on board and move on from there.
Times of uncertainty also offer the fertile ground for great changes to happen.

Some positive notes:

Meeting as a group (in the context of the Clear Vision Project) is by itself a positive response to the challenges we are facing; we are doing something of value that will have positive ramifications.
Being together and sharing our thoughts and emotions builds resilience and support our individual adaptations.
What we are doing here falls within the context of “deep adaptation” and re-connection with each others.

Despite the seriousness of the theme we found some space for humour.

The following questions came up:

“where are going from here as a group?”
“how (if) do we inter-act with other existing action groups?”

We did not elaborate on them as at this stage we are well aware of the fact that we are engaged in a as yet open-ended process.
Being part of the group though will support each individual in their actions within the framework of other groups. E.g. some of us are members of XR.
We felt the need for a deeper exploration and the understanding of “deep adaptation”.

_ _ _

NB: After the meeting one of our members sent out some further comments to our group on the article of Jem Bendell together with “A response to Jem Bendell” by Jeremy Lent which is available on the website of resilience.org.

I have put this in a separate attachment believing this be an important piece in our discussion to be made available under “resources” of the clear vision website together with a link to the website of resilience.org. Resilience is an organisation that gives support to building community resilience. They also give an on-line course on “thinking resilience”.

Kohatu Streams, Tasman, New Zealand

NBC, Nelson, New Zealand

Difficult but compelling material to contemplate.
Written material difficult for many. The video more approachable
The group meetings are an encouragement for us to explore the subjects more deeply.
Recognition that extinction is already happening.
Though the activity of the group is not to produce any specific results what we hear from each other changes us and may spur some to action in their field of interest.
Being with the unknown.
A revolution in each person’s heart is needed. Each person needs an open hearted approach.
In the face of potential doom, do we deny or explore the truth.
As we face unknown circumstances, we will need kindness guided by wisdom. When or if we should give away our last tin of baked beans.

Refúgio Paradiso - Botucatu - SP Brazil

Nelson Central, Nelson, New Zealand

Mixed feelings: anger, despair, hope.
Anger about how to integrate this information into life.
More questions than answers; more uncertainty than knowing. Sitting with that.
Empathy to compassion.
Important to stay as informed as possible, without losing hope. to hang on to the positive vision, to turn things around. I do believe humans are capable - to look after each other, to look after the planet.
Deep trust that we can hold true to our heart knowledge, and live in it, whatever may happen.

Orinoco, New Zealand

Our second circle sharing commenced with an introductory question concerning refuge.

Many if not all of us find refuge in the earth that we live in whether we recognise it or not. Its’ natural beauty inspires us while its material riches provide for us. We feel its physical connection through its gravitational pull. This can ground us and can give us a deeper sense of connection. Individually, we consciously make this connection to the earth before we start our circle sharing.
What if the Earth as we know it no longer felt like a source of refuge to us - ‘for us human beings’? Where then would we find some other form of refuge?
A geode was placed in the centre of the circle and represented a manifestation of the earths natural beauty. The geode was in two pieces and when opened revealed the hidden crystalline beauty within. This object of beauty, as passed from person to person, was a reminder of what lies inside us if we allow ourselves to reveal what is hidden there.
Many of us found fears coming to the fore when reading the material presented by Jem Bendell and watching the video presentation. He revealed a future (in our lifetime) that was not very welcoming if not bleak ~ a future we did not want to know about. This made us uneasy.
Yet what he expressed felt authentic, truthful and coming from the heart ~ revealing a refreshing leadership which is not common amongst today's leaders whether in the corporate world or political arena. Some of us expressed a wish for more leadership of this sort in today’s world.
All of us recognised that the material presented had had some kind of impact on us and in some cases was still having an affect - a gradual affect as if we were still waking up to what had been revealed. There was something we had been ignoring or even ignorant of.
To some there was the understanding that we human beings as individuals or as a mass are witnessing a colossal change that is beyond our control, our manipulation or ability to change.What do we do with this new awareness? How does this change our view of Life?
Others believed and hoped that humankind would still find the answers to solving the woes of the world.

A number of salient points and valuable questions have emerged from the scientific opinion offered and hypothetical (What If?) presented by Jem Bendell:

To be made aware of the imminent loss of ‘our’ environment, an environment which has been taken as a given up until recently, is now a catalyst for cherishing what truly is important to us – not unlike the experience of a near death. As such, this moment could be seen as one of great opportunity - for a shift of view and a radical change of perspective.
The causes of our current struggle have been made explicitly clear. What makes this particularly poignant is that we are all responsible in some part. There is not one individual we can blame and then feel we’re off the hook and carry on as normal. Instead we are in this together both in terms of cause and effect and result. We humans are interdependently the cause of our current struggles and will interdependently experience the effects of these causes. We will also interdependently experience the result (affect) of these causes and effects. What does this unique set of circumstances evoke in us?
With this new knowing where and what is the source of our Resilience? What is being asked of us to give up – Relinquish? What will we recreate – Restore? How and what is our new vision evolving into, now?
An appreciation for what others had shared/offered - how this had broadened the individual view of things and affirmed the commitment to this process.

A ‘What if’ Poem

What if your attention was a love song?
Your awareness a holy offering.
Indeed, the most holy of all offerings.
What if your attention was the greatest gift you have to give?
Great enough to transform your humble breath
And your simple footfall into a passionate kiss for the wild Earth.
And what if loneliness was just a dream
And lovelessness an illusion?
For what if the sun had forever been loving you
With each moment of light, and the moon,
And even the darkness too.
And the earth,and her million glories had always been holding you
In a seamless embrace.
And what if you loved like that also?
Loved this life so fiercely you saw beauty in the ugliest of places?
And wounds became wonders.
If you loved so much that even pain had purpose.
If even the most terrible of things would find a place to rest
At last In your heart.
What if all this earth really needed was for us to remember?
For us to be here,
Really be here
For our hearts to open like the spiralling arms of a galaxy.
For us to surrender our tight bones into turquoise seas
And to gather together in the high mountain pass
And circle around the fire
And beneath the mandala of the trees.
And for our tears to rain freely on all the seeds patiently waiting.
What if our attention was a love song?
Our awareness a holy offering
And this moment and every moment
A kiss For the passionate Earth.

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Sense of indignation and powerlessness about the imminent change in Brazilian legislation on the protection of indigenous lands and the possibility of the current government to approve mining and agriculture in protected areas.

Contact with disbelief and disillusion of what can be done individually and collectively.

Despite the sadness caused by the imminent ecological catastrophe, the belief that this new generation emerge with a new mentality and conscience capable of transformation.

The importance and value of being able to exercise, in contact with the group, openness to contact with feelings as diverse as pain, fear, anger, guilt, helplessness, etc. Even though it is still a very diffuse and defended contact.

The inspiring idea of leaving a development perspective to enter a movement of implication;

The 3rd R (restore) gives the impression of also having a do, in addition to a deep and shared feeling.

Evaluation of the comforts that you still don't want to give up (2nd R).

May the Walk is more supportive and less lonely.

London, England

Appreciation of resources.
We found them challenging, questioning, shocking and found value in all three of these.
Tension between isolating/withdrawing responses and sharing/involving responses.
Interested in connections between climate crises, group psychology and political crises.
Not utterly overwhelming sense of despair, but sharing, coming together creatively (including Extinction Rebellion) and non-violently.

West Coast Road (between Punakaiki and Charleston) , New Zealand

Newly Awakened hears the message and struggles to accept but begins to question priorities of the life.
Patience and Tact keeps an open mind and heart with loving understanding and compassionate protectiveness.
The Devotee of Life with undimmed optimism inspires courage to see one's way through.
Confused thinks all is too difficult and considers an inner plea to flee but summons determination to remain and grow.
Harmony and Dissonance rumble with anger and sadness though soothed by existing beauty and knows the mountain whereon form dies.
Equanimity monitors the thoughts moment by moment and keeps the feet on the ground.
Doubt challenges the premise and warns against hidden agendas and fear driven beliefs and suggests more (co2) may be better.
Alternative Science moves on a parallel path guided by whakapapa.

Yet all arrive in unity before the same door declaring that business as usual cannot continue and recognizing the great need for the creation of a new story.

The story to carry all into the journey ahead.
Through the door of transition.

Auckland, New Zealand

The material provided a rich source for people’s reflection.
The interpretation Bendell presents of the data that society will collapse in the near-term surprised everyone in the circle and is definitely disturbing.
Several people commented that it was also galvanising in a helpful way, in the same way as learning that one has cancer can have the effect of waking you up to what matters in life.
But our circle’s resident scientist was at pains to point out to the rest of us laymen that in reality Bendell’s view is only that -another, albeit well informed, interpretation of the available data.
And some of us pondered how we can respond to his view? The view that society will collapse within the decade seems too important to just believe from one person. It needs support from many voices in order to convince.
However we all agreed that the value of what he is presenting is to encourage us to live AS IF society will collapse in the near-term, whether or not it will come to pass. And having that mindset certainly is a game changer.

Roberts Creek, BC, Canada

Unknowable suffering.
Fear leads to despair, despair leads to some kind of positive - wholesome state.
Still finding that line between feeling and dealing.
Its going to be a crazy ride on the helter skelter. Hold on tight to the 3 jewels.
Shattered and disjointed, many emotions bubbling up and bursting. Need to be vocal, speak out.
Wholesome engagement, what is reliable? What is the opportunity? Instill faith everywhere.
Take responsibility for mind states and actions.

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Difficult and distressing to read the first time when the Deep Adaptation Agenda was first published. Just as difficult and distressing to re-read last week. Very academic. Lots of stats. The video made the theme clearer. Repetition good. Where do you stand in the face of social collapse due to climate change? Would you kill someone who broke in to your home to steal your food?
(Video) Liked Jem’s view of the potentiality of the world, the potentiality of humans. Liked the questions. What do we value? What do we stand for? Taking things to the heart.
Just want to live life as well as we can. Feels like we have a head start, though I am more distressed from the reading this week than I was when I first read it last week. Video was easier to contemplate.
None of this is new. For many other peoples and cultures of the world the threat of famine, drought, disease and despair is how people live and have lived for centuries. Western culture is just hitting the bubble now, because it’s affecting the privileged part of the world. We’re just becoming part of the cycle. No big deal. It’s no surprise. We’re all going to die. Humans have always been the problem and never the solution.
Frustrating to read. We know all this. Nothing new. I feel powerless that I can’t do a thing. I stopped recycling recently when I discovered what really happens to all the collected recycling. It’s always a toss between feeling very jaded and wondering if there is anything I can do to help.
We’ve been kept in the dark about this for so long. Remember the 80s? The ozone layer? But the despair will lead to something. We have to advocate with being with it rather than sitting around hoping something will miraculously fix it. Think Flood Culture.
The paper was academic. I’m glad he was speaking to academia, that ivory tower. What if we allowed ourselves to know where we stand? Does this change our response?
I’m worried that panic and a crowd mentality will bring out the zealots. I don’t want to see all that violence. I don’t want to be around for that. I don’t want to drink the Kool-aid.
Ativan is the answer! (Lots of laughter)
What is the quality of consciousness to be carried forward? If we stay focussed not with hope but with mindfulness, compassion and open-heartedness, we carry forward strong, and positive energy.
Only so much one can take when it all seems so bleak. But despair is a transition - there will be something on the other side.
Civilization is like a heat engine. It takes so much to get it started and to keep it going. Future communities will require mindfulness, compassion and open-heartedness to be sustainable.
So appreciative to be part of this circle. Jem Bendell seemed to use more loving words in the video: kind, joyful, curious. Made him warmer. He stressed the importance of a profound and loving connection with nature. It’s all a process and our circle is a part of that process.
Do as the Buddha said: appo Deepo Bhava —“Be a light unto yourself.”

Online Group: NZ/Tauranga, Brasil/Ilha Grande, NZ/Thames, NZ/Tahunanui, NZ/Motueka Valley, Brasil/Campinas.

what can we cultivate and what can I change or learn to react skill fully in difficult times.
we will never know how we will react until the time comes to react.
a certain overpowering feeling that others have control and do things without us knowing.... an example was all the satellites in the night sky.
how people , intelligent people can starting believable discussions and arguments based on fear trying to not having to deal with the situation or trying to deny it.
can we let all the stories into our hearts and can we deal with that... sometimes it's all to much to let it enter our being.
believe of how bad humans are or can be , loosing a bigger picture of love.
acknowledging fear and sadness.

Boise, Idaho, USA

Scientist will solve it...optimistic...is that denial...sadness? We are in a different world. What is important? Deeper reflection and thinking needed.
Appreciated the article but already knew the possible outcome - not sad, must make changes in life style.
Questioning author's data. Not understanding his facts need to do more research - get charged up. It is beyond one individual's influence. But change is needed for future children and vulnerable people. More meditation is needed. Academia is a terrible environment for tearing apart each other, this author is an outlier.
Really really really annoyed by the author's mind manipulation, spin for doom dayer, he is a cult. Where was he coming from? Pissed off, why did 2020 committee choose this guy? People are afraid. Pain has to be bad to initiate change. How will I change?
Shock treatment to deal with catastrophe. There is suffering in clinging to the way things are., Yes we should be affecting positive changes.
Feel depression - hopelessness - doom - have experienced these feelings before about life. All things change.
Trust for the teachers and wise ones. Compassion and joy solves problems. More love.

Belmont, SW France

gratitude to go through catastrophic moments
acceptance of cycles, developments, extinctions
accepting we are not so big and influential as we think we are
there is a bigger picture and we are present to it
balance fear with compassion
acceptance of death
we are connected, so our being does affect humanity on a collective level
positive feeling of challenges and adventures, finding solutions

Christchurch, New Zealand

Important to keep a lightness and sense of humor, but keep the depth….kamate kamate ka ora ka ora.
The power of listening without other comment is such a relief. It gives space. Coming from the heart feels so important.
Take action and don’t be afraid to share the possibilities of what may happen. The process is not exhausting. People are just listening.
The circle holds the space for individuals which is lovely.
The circle helps to practice non-judgement and knee jerk reactions (for and against) to what someone is saying. Brings a sense of community.
Liked the emphasis on the positive of looking deeply and seeing what can we do? If there is very little stay with the present. Negativity can lead to despair.
Being mindful of our actions and the interconnectedness of everything. Being accountable for what we do and how this affects ourselves and others.
Noticed the map of the world on the 2020 site and then the corono virus world map. Thought “what if this circle process is like a good virus, passed from human to human? A positive contamination of the world”!
The circle is an invitation to consider these difficult issues.
There is a reaction to the formality of the circle and the difficult content we are looking at. Feel a need to break out and have fun!
The content this month created a series of feelings…panic, then blame, denial and then action…what can I do?
It is important to question. To have bravery.
Noticed the process of listening and letting the information in. Not necessarily doing anything with it.
The impermanence of all arising, despite opinion.
Grief runs through this work. Accepting the grief, despair and negativity.

Motueka Central, Motueka, New Zealand

Really feeling the despair and grief, coming through it to a lighter place
The potentiality of humans to come together and connect
Essential living instead of peripheral living
Loving, connected living, being alive.
How do we integrate this process of despair and moving through into love and joy before the tragedy?
This love is our human-ness
The need to continue to remove the blinkers

Brooklyn, Motueka, New Zealand

Slowing down "of" ......and entering into the space to hear and feel "us".
Sitting in the one space grounded in the present, neither one side nor the other.
The space had anchored me in the sense of inter-being.
Evolution of consciousness.
An awakening of community.
Sitting and being; taking more time was valuable instead of planning and doing.
An experience of warmth and nourishment.
An experience of vulnerability.
Appreciation to be able to explore post-despair and the growth to come.
A feeling of kindness in the communication interchange, not necessarily in words.

January

Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

Appreciation of the proposed practices for opening and closing the meeting.
Relief and joy of having a holding environment where pain, suffering, and helplessness can be validated and shared, as well as sensitivity to environmental, political, economic and humanitarian issues.
Gratification for the possibility of developing listening skills.
The film's echoed question: Where from to get a hope of all this? Mobilizing the recognition of particular forms of action in the world - even if not resolutive.

The Orchard Group, UK

Gratitude was expressed for the material which was appreciated as being of the right amount.
The circle sharing was perceived as a powerful experience and the process itself was seen as part of the change needed.
Small personal actions will not be enough but participating in this project will support a change of consciousness on a larger scale and help to change things.
It may help to reach a tipping point in general awareness as the basis for the change needed.
Be the change you wish to see.
Some of us expressed the wish to have access to the material a bit earlier in order to have more time to digest it. Others preferred to see it just before the date of the meeting.

Nelson 5, Nelson, New Zealand

appreciation for the opportunity of the Circle to share thoughts and feelings.
the empowerment that comes from sharing.
concern for the degradation of the ecosphere (plastic and more).
concern about the crisis for future generations (animals and humans).
how inadequate such a short sharing is for the size of the topics brought up.
the power of being fully present for others.
desire for the joy of working with others.
doubt that people (even friends) will be there when needed.
family bonds and how death affects them.
the discipline of noticing one's own responses without needing to share them.

Nelson Central, Nelson, New Zealand

To listen deeply from our hearts. How are the materials we have studied resonating for us right now? These are some of the themes that emerged in our group.

Our profound love for this earth, and the wonder of interconnected life.
Our anguish and grief at the wounding of Mother Earth and her children.
Looking with compassion at our need to turn away from our grief and helplessness.
Rather, to commit ourselves to see and to feel. This is a conscious act of courage and love. We are willing to bear witness, to raise the question.
The richness of listening in our group, allows love to take us to deeper places of connection, of creative hope, and the transformation of our despair.
Awareness. How we live in the most ordinary seeming details of our lives, even when what we do singly seems unable to make any difference? The plastic in the oceans, which kills the albatross, is us, and is the doing of our human ignorance.
The journey of innocence, of vulnerability, of uncertainty, of not knowing. How can we travel supporting our own and one another's wellness, attending to our internal weather? To travel with open and loving hearts.

"What we most need to do, is to hear within us the sounds of the earth crying." - Thich Nhat Hanh

NBC, Nelson, New Zealand

About half the feedback comments were very positive responses to the circle process. The other half were responses to the ecological crisis and other existential threats life on earth is facing. The group became deeply engaged in the process straight away.

Regarding the circle process, comments like, “a space to be heard”, “an opportunity to express oneself deeply”, “the commonality of views expressed”, how speaking spontaneously rather than planning a comment was exciting and how the process gave rise to less repetition – once something had been heard, it didn’t need repeating, affirming or denying.

Considering the predicaments facing us by climate change and other threats, our lack as a species of recognising our interconnectedness with each other and the environment and our selfishness were raised. What each individual does matters. It’s not just work for leaders and that no one else’s contributions count. We need to be open-hearted, learning how to be active and engaged with difficult issues without causing harm from frustration or other negative emotions.

Our recognition of our wasteful habits has become more vivid - the daily stream of plastic waste. At the same time, there was appreciation of the great beauty that this world displays. Also, the issues have paradoxes. The plastic IV tube in a bird’s stomach that caused its death possibly saved someone else’s life.

Great transformational and interconnected change in society and the world’s economy is required. New Zealand, because of its small size and population is well placed and better placed than many to enact such changes.

Nelson 4, Nelson, New Zealand

Spontaneity, essence
Despair to empowerment
Despair is only one response and there are many more
Be with the beauty
Gratitude for the diversity of expression of truth
Whichever emotional response is felt leads to more energy available
Is some level of numbing, distraction, necessary?
The results of opening are unpredictable
Mother Earth knows best how to tame her unruly children
I am grateful for the medicine of being human
We begin a journey
May our children be empowered without needing to be in despair first
If I put my heart in a fridge and the power was turned off, what would I find if I came back two weeks later? Was it melted? Was it rotten? Or had it flown away?
Sensory overload of information
May aliens be on our side

Auckland, New Zealand

People in the circle clearly shared their own personal response to the material and we all recognised the benefit of hearing people’s different perspectives. What was most interesting was that each person brought forward a different focal point.

Everyone was very impressed by the feeling of presence of Joanna Macy. One person had experimented with the question someone posed in the video to others about the most important crisis in the world today. Someone else commented on the imagery of being the bell in the Rilke poem, others reflected on the ordinary content in the stomachs of the albatrosses. In terms of emotional response, the most reported response was one of being heartened by the good work being done by people in the video.

The circle consensus was that it feels as if the circle itself is in the forming stage and we are all trying to understand how to engage together with the process.

Questions arose as to how to enrich the sharing process. Suggestions were made that participants could keep in mind when reporting considerations such as memories invoked and calls to action experienced as well as emotional response. Some people requested more time for viewing the material prior to the circle to allow more time to reflect and to experience their response within their own life prior to sharing their response in the circle.

Refúgio Paradiso - Botucatu - SP Brazil

Gratefulness for the opportunity of coming together for an activity such as this one, of being able to meet.

Feelings of empathy towards what is happening to other beings on the planet, and how our daily actions impact their welfare.

Gratefulness for getting to know Joanna Macy and the Work That Reconnects.

Expressions of love for the planet.

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Joanna Macy’s video left a strong “dying dream” feeling. However I appreciate her recommendation to acknowledge whatever feelings are arising and that it’s ok to feel that way.

I am struck by my own “ostrich feeling” – a guilty feeling for ignoring what is happening out there. I have stopped reading the papers because the news is so depressing. I draw so much strength from the Dharma group. At the same time, I’m aware of the contradictions in my own behaviours such as using so many oil products when I know it’s not good.

I often think of the Buddha as doctor – humanity is on the operating table and it looks very scary. Thoughts of the end of the world keep arising in the way that many endings of past civilizations have occurred in previous times. Grass roots movements are very important even if it feels like planting a garden by the edge of the ocean and waiting for the next wave.

Growing up in the 50s and 60s things were always meant to get better and result in everyone awakening to a brighter future. That dream feels broken but I don’t want to live in a state of grief even if I sink into it from time to time. There doesn’t seem to be an obvious solution but how can we respond? Choosing who we are is important.

My instinct is to not hurt people’s feelings but I hold extreme anger and frustration at the actions of older people in creating the mess that we are now in. I want to shape a vision of how we can be better by putting this in the form of stories. I want to inject compassion into this work. I have incredible rage about what is happening but know that we are all in this together.

How will we choose to be together when things don’t go well? I believe that people are good even when conditions are bad. Would I share my place, my food with others when things get bad? I hope I can show compassion in difficult circumstances. I see friends stockpiling for themselves but feel I can’t say anything. Sending out compassion to them is really difficult when I’m feeling just the opposite. I’m impressed by people who laugh even during their own suffering.

I want to meet Joanna Macy! She’s calm in a place where the difficulties keep coming. I limit my access to news but I’m still curious about it. Friendships are islands of sanity. I saw a recent video of scientists/vets retrieving eggs from one of two white rhinos left on the planet. I was moved by them all laying their hands on the rhino at the end – a blessing of goodwill. May this work continue with compassion and supreme alertness.

I’ve been noting the different channels of energy in the group and an awareness and appreciation of the differences in everyone. I have found it’s good to check in on relationships with others I come into contact with – physical, emotional and mental states – as a basic way of connecting with one another.

I think it’s really helpful to check out other people’s coping strategies.

In childhood I was made aware of basic facts about the bomb but it felt like it was left there and no positive ways of dealing with it were offered. Similarly, pictures of Auschwitz were around at that time but no one would explain it all to me. It was impossible for me to deal with and the cruelty still feels unrecognized. I think that bombs are not made by people interested in life!

I have gratitude for being in this situation where we can discuss these issues. It’s hard to avoid negativity as it often feels like it’s everywhere. There is also gratitude for connection to Dharma. I can’t imagine being without it to face the issues. Contemplation of the asuba practices as described in the Visuddhimagga is important at this time. Grief seems to be more on the surface now rather than at a deep level. The whole of civilization could end before the end of humanity!

I appreciated the sense of community that emerged in the video pointing to the strengths of coordinated group action to solve problems large and small.

On retreat, we had a microscope set up while we brought back samples of anything we could find outdoors and view it closely. Life exists everywhere on everything! This is the sixth mass extinction that we’re going through! I don’t want us to spread humanity through the galaxy. I believe that creating apocalypse fantasy can bring people together by being able to think through and articulate ways out of seemingly impossible situations.

As a species, I think we’re pretty cool as long as we don’t destroy everything. We need to hang on to positivity as there are so many cool things happening.

We should be looking more closely at time/space, permanence/impermanence, time as commodity (Ken Wilber). Human time is insignificant in the overall scheme of things. Every minute we’re losing 25,000 cells from each of our bodies.

Roberts Creek, BC, Canada

Uncertainty keeps us awake

The power of presence, intention+ grassroots action.
Walking over-view deeptime.
Guilt, shame, hopelessness, but a resolve for change ,and the hope that offers.
Each person in the circle said something that I deeply recognized as a part of myself.
Opportunity.
Discerning awareness and impotent RAGE!
Thinking of this as the blessed Buddha field, we offer it.
So grateful for the heart-felt sharing and wisdom shown.

West Coast Road (between Punakaiki and Charleston) , New Zealand

With our tentative beginnings in this process we all shared a deep gratitude for our immediate West Coast environments. Despite our concerns and fears for the future and the futures for our grandchildren it is important to see the beauty around us, that we have right now and to offer our thanks.

Expressions of deep grief for the damage done and especially for the loss of habitats and creatures from the Australian fires.
An imploring to search for strength and positivity. It is important to remain strong and loving. To continue to love all and our families (even those members of our family who like guns).
Managing our own internal weather to be able to be aware and ready and connected.
Through our uncertainties may we become more courageous and wise.

Gracious gratitude.

Kohatu Streams, Tasman, New Zealand

Boise, Idaho, USA

Seeing renewed fear of total destruction (Trump).
Recognising the egotistical attitude of humans. Is there value in just being witness to decimation? Is this self-inflicted suffering due to clinging to a view of the way it should be?
We need to help animals out of there.
Sadness has been suppressed. Realising sadness is a gift of awareness.
Having developed immunity to despair - creates guilt. Is this good or bad? Absence of hope due to Trump. Frustration with people.
Despair morphing to anger causing confusion. Recognising the toxic nature of holding anger in.
Developing appreciation through the beauty of science and all the possible solutions. We need to extend our view of the possibilities to solve these problems because somewhere in the universe this has already been conceived.
How do we motivate to the next step, is that through this 20/20 Vision or because of Trumps bad actions. Realising the vast interconnectedness fuels the move to action or to letting go.
Remembering the smallest action can make the biggest impact.
Emphasising the need to be in a good state.
Hope!

London, England

Appreciation for the materials and the opportunity to share and talk about them + agreement that, in terms of quantity, the team providing these resources had got it right.
The importance of connectivity and the sharing of key issues in our time between individuals and groups.
A request for more contentious material – expressing different/a range of views
An awareness of the sense of feeling numb/paralysed by guilt or of simply turning away from the magnitude of the climate crisis issue.
A desire to be clearer about what is meant by ‘the work that reconnects’ and of what it is possible for an individual to do in relation to climate crisis.
The importance of speaking more openly about our feelings when there is disagreement or conflict between us

Belmont, SW France

•   Anchored state of gratitude
• Possibility of change
• Already happening the change to positive
• Not too late
• To start with oneself - be the change you want to see
•    Through the circle feeling the connectedness, feeling not alone, a strengthening feeling
•    Importance of unconditional listening
• Feeling (without judgment) is healing

Christchurch, New Zealand

Thankful that the circle group process creates connection and spontaneity
A space of respectfully listening to others, letting the judgment voice drop, not coming up with solutions. Quiet connection.
Feelings of despair. It is beneficial to see how others work with this.
The format is surprising. Things come up that probably wouldn’t in ordinary conversation.
Actively listening requires energy.
The circle creates safety.

Orinoco, New Zealand

Our Circle responded to the material presented this month in a variety of ways. The feelings and emotions expressed were fear, confusion, scepticism, despair, helplessness, grief, agitation, dissonance, guilt, anger, ignorance, resistance and gratitude.

How do we find balance and calm in our individual worlds where we carry on with our day to day life activities, routines and experiences as is ‘normal’, while becoming more aware of the destruction and growing threat to the earths’ natural environment & living organisms along with the part we play in that with our ‘normal’ ways of acting and being in the world? How and what do we do with the dissonance this stirs in us?

Stirrings of both a maternal and paternal nature arose, especially for those who have children and those wanting to or considering having children. With the knowledge of how the natural environment is being threatened by an ever growing human consumption and pollution how will life be for our children and future generations? Should I be considering having children at all?

Individually I feel helpless in dealing with such a pervasive and deeply imbedded and dysfunctional form of relating to the natural world especially when I have bought into it. What can I, one individual, do?

A sense of gratitude emerged from being part of a group of humans who have chosen to connect with others through expressing and sharing in a circle openly and honestly about our inner, individual stirrings and concerns about the precious world we live in.

Online Group: NZ/Tauranga, Brasil/Ilha Grande, NZ/Thames, NZ/Tahunanui, NZ/Motueka Valley, Brasil/Campinas.

Gratefulness and importance for the openness to connect
Confusion and many questions that arise
The numbness we can all experience , how can we try as much to be open to feel
That we are all part of the process of healing the earth
We don't like to be told what to do
Being or training to be robust to have the capacity to deal with all of what is going on and what will happen
Renunciation, what can we do in our lives that can make a change for the healing of the earth, really looking into what we can renounce on a day to day base
The wisdom and wholesomeness of Sangha and connection, deep appreciation for the support and sharing , grounding and strengthening, warming our hearts

Motueka Central, Motueka, New Zealand

Active hope
Widening horizons
Fear connected to the future of our children
Feelings of despair
Longing for calmness
A willingness to change the self centred approaches we have found ourselves in
Starting a dialogue
What else can we imagine our responses to be
Imagining hope.

Brooklyn, Motueka, New Zealand

A strong theme emerged from the group of gratitude, and appreciation to the team for setting up the project. Many people spoke of the opportunity to try something new.
Some spoke of surrender and open-heartedness.
Others mentioned the sensation of time standing still during the circle. Also there was a sense of connectivity, creativity and the possibility of exploring different ways of being.
Most people mentioned being deeply touched and sometimes overwhelmed by the footage of the albatrosses.

Questions raised:

Could the lunar calendar could be used instead of the Gregorian?
Why do we circle clockwise?
Would the group like to explore other orders of speaking in the circle? In response to this, we talked about the value of first using a tried and tested process to establish a container of trust, before trying new ideas.

circle FEEDBACK

March