Listening Circle is a respite from screens and noise and shallow connections. It is quiet time to reflect. It is receiving and asking meaningful questions and allowing those questions to open the space for thought and insight. It is an antidote to the standard:
“How are you?”
“I’m fine, and you?”
Listening Circle is an opportunity to go deeper – into silence, into listening, into caring; to slow down and let the stillness speak. We practice listening and questioning and try to incorporate what we learn into our everyday lives.
As we share and listen, we have several touchstones that guide us toward deeper listening. My favorite touchstone is ‘no fixing’. When I share with the circle, no one tells me what to do or how to do it, and no one judges my sharing. Instead, my words are given the space to be heard and felt. It is the silence, followed by the thoughtful questions from the circle, which brings new ways of seeing, new insights. The questions, rather than advice or judgment, allow me to see things from a fresh perspective. I often find deeper meaning in my experiences than if I had processed them on my own.
Listening circle is one of my ‘safe places’ in a sometimes harsh and always hectic world. In the circle I can let go of the pressure of everyone else’s expectations, and work toward reaching and hearing my authentic self. I also have the privilege of witnessing the unfolding of my true self in the other members of the circle. Some of us join the circle for a season, others return year after year. I keep coming back because Listening Circle has become part of my journey – a journey toward authenticity, self-care, and a deepening awareness of myself and my place in the world. Listening Circle is a holy place. I welcome you to consider joining us. See what the circle might mean for you. -
Rebecca Anne Fellerman:
St. Peters Church, Glenside - August 27, 2017
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