Resilience Circle

“Here’s the deal. The human soul doesn’t want to be advised or fixed or saved. It simply wants to be witnessed - to be seen, heard and companioned exactly as it is.”

- Parker Palmer

A Community of Practice to Cultivate Soulful Resilience through the Art of Conversation with Ourselves, Others, and Life.

A Year of Virtual Conversations and Mindfulness Practice within a Cohort of Accomplished, Purposeful and Caring Fellow-Travelers.

Scheduled Launch in Fall 2025

Participation is by Referral/Invitation and entails attending an Information Session, Submitting an Application, and having an Orientation Conversation.

The Cohort is limited to 12 members.

Information Sessions

May, June and July 2025

“May you Live in Interesting Times”

We live in challenging times that can feel like walking through fire, with the weight of the world on our shoulders and better days seeming very far away.

The challenges are too overwhelming for us to understand, let alone manage, on our own.

The times call out loudly and clearly for Community!

And so, we respond with Resilience Circles.

  • Dialogue Conversations (Monthly, 2h)

    Zoom-supported gatherings to practice:

    1) Connecting with and sharing whatever is present within us,

    2) Listening deeply to ourselves as we voice our Thoughts, Feelings, and Sensations, and

    3) Cultivating the capacity to “Be With” whatever is real - the Tough Stuff, the Good Stuff, and the Uncertain Stuff.

    Of course, we need others to help us heal and build this powerful resilience capacity, so in the spirit of Ubuntu (the ancient African philosophy)… we will gather and help each other Fully Become.

  • Mindfulness Practice (Monthly, 1h)

    The development of supportive mindful practices, such as Mindful Sitting Meditation, Restorative Breathing and Recalibration, Body Scanning, Deep Active Listening, and others, enhances the practice of dialogue.

    These topics will be practiced throughout the year to support our conversational capacity.

  • Cohort Buddy Conversations (Optional)

    This amazing community offers the opportunity to create small offline connections and continue the conversations that begin in the larger cohort.

    You are encouraged to make these offline connections a rich compliment to the dialogues.

Intention

To create a communal space safe enough to hear our own “Inner Guide” support us in these Challenging Times.

Through our practice, we hope to cultivate Resilience Qualities, such as:

Courage, Presence, Awareness, Discernment, Compassion, Joyfulness, and Agency

What might a Resilience Circle session Look & Feel like?

Imagine settling into your comfortable space at home and taking a moment to breathe deeply, letting the day’s noise fade away.

We’ll begin with somatic grounding to help everyone feel fully present.

Then, we open the conversation by sharing a thought-provoking piece, like David Whyte’s poem “Sweet Darkness,” which invites us to reflect on the hidden gifts in difficult times.

Each person is welcome—but never pressured—to share their initial thoughts in a few uninterrupted minutes.

After a quiet pause, an open, flowing dialogue begins, where anyone can speak as they feel inspired - following the Touchstone guidelines we’ve all agreed will ensure a safe and supportive space.

We close the circle by honoring the confidentiality of what’s been shared, and before we part, there’s a chance for final reflections, ensuring everyone leaves feeling heard and complete.

There’s no need to advise, fix, or save anyone or anything.

Being in the dialogue will be an entire experience of its own.

It’s a rare and healing thing to co-create a space for honest, soulful connection with yourself and others.

Agenda

  1. Welcome: Begin with somatic grounding to invite us into full presence.

  2. Opening the Circle: A resilience topic is introduced through a third-source: Story, Poem, Song, or Image.

  3. Initial Responses: We’re each invited (not required) to speak to the third-source topic for a few uninterrupted minutes.

  4. Open Dialogue: After a moment of silence anyone may speak, as inspired.

  5. Closing the Circle: Closure of the space, with a reminder of Confidentiality.

  6. Check-Out: We’re invited to share any comment to feel complete.

Touchstones

To create a peaceful and powerful space, we’ll intend to practice the following guidelines:

Circle of Trust Touchstones developed by Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage and Renewal.

  • Give and Receive Welcome.

  • Be Present as Fully as Possible.

  • What is offered in the Circle is by Invitation, not Demand.

  • Speak your Truth, into the Center of the Circle, in ways that Respect other People’s Truth.

  • No Fixing, Saving, Advising, or Correcting.

  • Respond to Others with Honest, Open Questions (instead of counsel or corrections).

  • When the Going gets Rough, Turn to Wonder.

  • Attend to your own Inner Teacher.

  • Trust and Learn from the Silence.

  • Observe Deep Confidentiality.

Co-Facilitators

Start Walking the Path, Today.