PeerSpirit Circle Guidelines2010

Basic Guidelines for Calling a Circle ESTABLISHING THE CENTER
The center of a circle is like the hub of a wheel:

all energies pass through it, and it holds the rim
This handout is a gift from PeerSpirit, Inc. an educational
company devoted to life and leadership through Circle, together. To help people remember how the hub
Quest and Story. Founded in 1994, PeerSpirit has taught helps the group, the center of a circle usually
circle process in the US, Canada, Europe, Africa, holds objects that represent the intention of the
Australia and New Zealand. It is a consortium consisting circle. Any symbol that fits this purpose or adds
of Christina Baldwin, Ann Linnea and teaching colleagues
beauty will serve: flowers, a bowl or basket, a
with areas of expertise in health care administration,
religious/church administration and congregational health, candle.
education, nonprofit boards, environmental and CHECK-IN/GREETING
community revisioning. See: http://www.peerspirit.com
Check-in helps people into a frame of mind for
council and reminds everyone of their
The circle, or council, is an ancient form of commitment to the expressed intention. It
meeting that has gathered human beings into insures that people are truly present. Verbal
respectful conversation for thousands of years. sharing, especially a brief story, weaves the
The circle has served as the foundation for interpersonal net.
many cultures. Check-in usually starts with a volunteer and
What transforms a meeting into a circle is proceeds around the circle. If an individual is not
the willingness of people to shift from ready to speak, the turn is passed and another
informal socializing or opinionated opportunity is offered after others have spoken.
discussion into a receptive attitude of Sometimes people place individual objects in
thoughtful speaking and deep listening and the center as a way of signifying their presence
to embody and practice the structures and relationship to the intention.
outlined here.
SETTING CIRCLE AGREEMENTS:
THE COMPONENTS OF THE CIRCLE The use of agreements allows all members to
 Intention have a free and profound exchange, to respect
 Welcome Start-point a diversity of views, and to share responsibility
for the well-being and direction of the group.
 Center and Check-in/Greeting
Agreements often used include:
 Agreements
• We will hold stories or personal material in
 Three Principles and Three Practices
confidentiality.
 Guardian of process
• We listen to each other with compassion and
 Check-out and Farewell curiosity.
INTENTION • We ask for what we need and offer what we
Intention shapes the circle and determines who can.
will come, how long the circle will meet, and
• We agree to employ a group guardian to
what kinds of outcomes are to be expected. The
watch our need, timing, and energy. We
caller of the circle spends time articulating
agree to pause at a signal, and to call for
intention and invitation.
that signal when we feel the need to pause.
WELCOME OR START-POINT
THREE PRINCIPLES:
Once people have gathered, it is helpful for the
The circle is an all leader group.
host, or a volunteer participant, to begin the
circle with a gesture that shifts people's 1. Leadership rotates among all circle
attention from social space to council space. members.
This gesture of welcome may be a moment of 2. Responsibility is shared for the quality of
silence, reading a poem, or listening to a song-- experience.
whatever invites centering.
www.peerspirit.com/ Extracted from The Circle Way, A Leader in Every Chair by Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea,
Berrett-Koehler, ©2010. May copy for non-commercial use.
3. Reliance is on wholeness, rather than on CHECKOUT AND FAREWELL
any personal agenda. At the close of a circle meeting, it is important to
allow a few minutes for each person to
THREE PRACTICES: comment on what they learned, or what stays in
1. To speak with intention: noting what has their heart and mind as they leave.
relevance to the conversation in the Closing the circle by checking out provides a
moment. formal end to the meeting, a chance for
2. To listen with attention: respectful of the members to reflect on what has transpired, and
learning process for all members of the to pick up objects if they have placed something
group. in the center.
3. To tend the well-being of the circle: As people shift from council space to social
remaining aware of the impact of our space or private time, they release each other
contributions. from the intensity of attention being in circle
FORMS OF COUNCIL: requires. Often after check-out, the host,
The circle commonly uses three forms of guardian, or a volunteer will offer a few
council: talking piece, conversation and inspirational words of farewell, or signal a few
reflection. seconds of silence before the circle is released.
Talking piece council is often used as part of
check-in, check-out, and whenever there is a May your circles be great teachers and places
desire to slow down the conversation, collect all to rest on the journey.
voices and contributions, and be able to speak
without interruption.
Conversation council is often used when
reaction, interaction, and an interjection of new
ideas, thoughts and opinions are needed.
Reflection, or Silent council gives each member
time and space to reflect on what is occurring,
or needs to occur, in the course of a meeting.
Silence may be called so that each person can
consider the role or impact they are having on
the group, or to help the group realign with their
intention, or to sit with a question until there is
clarity.
GUARDIAN
The single most important tool for aiding self-
governance and bringing the circle back to
intention is the role of the guardian. To provide
a guardian, one circle member at a time
volunteers to watch and safeguard group
energy and observe the circle’s process.
The guardian usually employs a gentle noise-

maker, such as a chime, bell, or rattle, that
signals everyone to stop action, take a breath,
rest in a space of silence. Then the guardian
makes this signal again and speaks to why
he/she called the pause. Any member may call
for a pause.
www.peerspirit.com/ Extracted from The Circle Way, A Leader in Every Chair by Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea,
Berrett-Koehler, ©2010. May copy for non-commercial use.

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Basic Guidelines for Calling a Circle ESTABLISHING THE CENTER

The center of a circle is like the hub of a wheel:

The guardian usually employs a gentle noise-

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