What is a Journey Circle?
What exactly is a journey circle? What will it be like?
A journey circle is when two or more people gather together to… journey! You can find my previous post, “Learning to Journey,” if you’re unclear what journeying is and would like a written tutorial.
In the circle, we open sacred space together by lighting a candle and joining in an invocation or short meditative expression to ground and expand the energy within.
We come into our full presence here, in this moment. Taking a moment to truly land in our space, here, now. Letting all the concerns of the world fall away for now, coming into deep peace in our hearts for the work we are to do together. We reach our roots down, deep into the Earth. Watching as these roots expand deep, through the soil, the bedrock, all the layers that make this sacred land we walk upon. We connect deeply with the Heart of the Earth Spirit. Breathing a deep breath upward from the heart of the Earth Spirit, we feel that energy light up every cell in our bodies, fill our entire being with deep love, we are supported fully. And in this all encompassing support, we expand through our crowns. Reaching our awareness up into the atmosphere - beyond the air, to the furthest reaches of all that is, in all directions. We call this ever expanding awareness into our hearts now, dropping it down through the crown, passing it through our throat and planting it in our heart. And in our heart, we see the coalescing energies of Earth and Cosmos, coming together in our hearts. Swirling to feel into this big love of all that is. And in this moment we have merged our energies, aligning with the highest good for us here today.
This begins the shift into non-ordinary time and experience, as we raise the vibration of the space with the shared intention to discover new depths. Once we’ve aligned our energy with expansiveness and depth, we can move into what is called Council.
Council is where the circle really shines and takes form. We go around taking turns, in person we will pass the talking piece and with this piece, we are materializing the connection of the circle - the organizing principal. With this talking piece in hand, you have the floor - it is your time to speak from your heart. And if you are not holding the piece, it is your time to listen from the heart. This exchange is deeply connective and important to the health and vitality of the circle. We do not cross-talk, offer solutions or respond (a gentle loving nod is okay though - sometimes big feelings come up!). And that is kind of the beauty of the council. There is no solution offered because we are simply expressing freely without needing to create an external response or move through reason. We are in this time out of time, after all. We honor the integrity of the circle and inherently understand that confidentiality is of utmost important. What we bring to the circle stays within the circle as our heart prayers are lifted to Source.
Sometimes you find in the circle that there is a common thread, going around the circle, weaving through all our hearts. We really aren’t so different after all, in all our uniqueness. What a beautiful thing to witness.
After we’ve had a chance to share where we’re at in that moment, we may use the singing bowls to shift the energy or move straight into drumming. When we journey, we get comfortable and prepare to shift our consciousness within ourselves even deeper to explore the realms beyond the seen. The drumming will last anywhere from 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the group.
This is where you are taken on a journey within yourself - to explore inner realms, uncover and encounter symbols and power animals, and get clarity on something you’ve been seeking. You will be journeying to different lands, and having different experiences than the circle mate next to you. When the journey is complete and the call back has sounded, you will have time to journal or artistically express your journey on paper, quietly in your space.
After we’ve journaled or made art quietly, we will begin a round of council once more, passing the talking piece to take our turns sharing what we’ve encountered. It can be so exciting to listen to each person share what they’ve witnessed, blockages they may have cleared, and other experiences. Depending on the nature of the group, we will continue on to other things or we will close the circle together with a song or a chant.
This article is just the nuts and bolts of a journey circle but the true love story is woven in the direct experience of it. Within yourself and as yourself within that circle. You can carry that aspect of you into the world, weaving circles everywhere you go.
If you are interested in hosting or attending an in person circle: I offer in person circles in the southern New England area. I am open to suggestion for collaborative events and private events in home, outdoors or other space. Please contact me by using the Schedule a Session page or contact me directly via email.
If you are joining me online from one of the online communities I am engaged in and would like to join the mailing list for remote journey circles hosted on Zoom, use the form below to get on that list for updates!