So, what is a listening circle?

Women have gathered and sat together in circle for hundreds of years.

A circle is a respectful and supportive space. A mother's circle is a type of women's circle that specifically focuses on the experiences, challenges, and joys of motherhood.

In a listening circle we practise actively listening as well as being actively heard. As simple as it sounds, circles fill a deep need we have to sit in shared spaces of connection. They can be an extraordinarily transformative experience, exploring our thoughts and feelings with others and listening with presence and compassion.

What happens in a listening circle?

• Whether you join in person or online, we will sit together in a circle and introduce ourselves, bringing our focus to the present moment and acknowledging our intention and commitment to being here.

• I will introduce you to the circle guidelines and invite you to stay present with the sharing knowing that everything shared in a circle stays in the circle.

• I will then invite you to share whatever feels most alive in you. In a circle we try to quieten down the “shoulds” and the shame and we have a chance to be heard and witnessed with whatever wants to be held.

• You may feel emotions bubble up. There may be tears, you may resonate deeply with other stories shared. We will listen with empathy and allow everything that is present to be present; tears, joy, laughter, anger or frustration can flow where needed.

• We will connect with each other through our shared experiences.

• After everyone has had a turn to share I will offer some prompts and suggestions to explore in Aware Parenting.

• We will close the circle with a grounding practice and you will leave feeling nourished, supported and like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.