Wisdom Circle - Holding Space

This 'Heart - shaped' bowl is on the center table at Grace's House where our Wisdom Circle is held every Friday evening.
This bowl contains stones that were collected from beautiful places in nature all over the United States.
These stones know all about 'holding space'.
Stones have been the great 'space holders'.
They know all about holding and supporting the Earth.
They were there when history was made and hold all the stories of all that has
ever happened.
Stones are anchors, grounding forces, foundational structures that are a very necessary part of the way Mother Nature holds herself together.

In the same way that stones 'hold space' for the Earth, we 'hold space' for each other.
By believing in someone and keeping that belief alive in our hearts, we are 'holding space' for that person's 'becoming'.
We are acknowledging the soul potential that we see in another that they may not
yet see in themselves.
We are holding a picture alive of the other person in a larger more expanded form.
Teachers 'hold space' for their students.
Parents 'hold space' for their children.
Brothers hold space for their sisters.
Sisters hold space for their sisters.
And it goes on and on...

Each week in our Wisdom Circle, individuals may chose to take a stone from the Heart - bowl, and place it on the table.
This is done with the intention of the stone 'holding space' for someone that might need a bit of extra support, strength, courage...
We also create the intention that the Creator will give them exactly what is best
for their highest good.
By creating this simple ceremony, we honor the person, their life and their
work in the world.
We honor their efforts at becoming all they can be as well as their humanness.

We each have benefited tremendously over the course of our lives from having a teacher or a family member or friend 'hold space' for us.
Sometimes, this experience is the difference between us 'making it' or not.
'Holding space' for another can give them just the 'umph' that they need to
shift into a whole new place.
Our angels do this for us constantly.
Our Creator does this for us every moment.

How blessed we are that there is so much support for us to be all we can be.

Wisdom Circle - Creating Intention

Another aspect of Wisdom Circle design is the process of creating intention.
In the picture above, you can see the 'bowl of intentions' created by our Wisdom Circle group.
When our Circle began, we took the time to explore possible intentions or focuses.
We considered creating intentions to exploring other religious traditions, ways to increase peace in the world, how to support environmental health issues, and many more.
After a lively discussion on the possibilities, our Circle chose to create intentions surrounding spiritual openness, community, and exploration.
These intentions were accepted by the group and have served us well over the years that we have been meeting.
They form the foundation of what we choose to consider and discuss as we continue to gather together week after week.
Anyone that wishes to bring up other options certainly can and the Circle will then consider it in the larger scope of its service in the world.

Additionally, each year our Wisdom Circle members create individual intentions for the upcoming year.
As the previous year closes out, we take time to honor our current intentions and share how they came to manifest themselves in our lives.
Then we create ceremony to support release and surrender of all the the things that no longer serve us.
As part of this ceremony, we release our 'ego' and all the things that get in the way of our full 'becoming'.
We make a conscious choice whom we will serve and how we wish to commit our lives in this service.
On the first Wisdom Circle of the new year, we all complete the documentation of our individual intentions on specially prepared cards for this purpose.
These cards are then placed in a bowl and a blessing is asked for these intentions that they may all serve the Creator and be offered in full humility, goodness and integrity.
This bowl of intentions 'holds space' for our intentions all year until we are again ready to repeat the process for another blessed new year.

This process has served our group well.
It is a reminder to us that to live a life of service to the Divine requires conscious intention and action.
We have chosen as a group, to support the intentions of each other as we journey on this Earth together.
The Circle is a powerful way to come together in community and intention.

Wisdom Circle - Creating a Sacred Center

When our Wisdom Circle first began, we decided as a group that we wanted to create a
Sacred Center.
This was to be a space at the 'center' of our Circle that reminded us that when we came together, we would focus on the sacred.
This space at the 'center' was to be symbolic of the 'heart' of our Circle...a place where we hold our hopes, dreams, intentions, commitments...
It was always to be a way for us to stay grounded in the original purpose of our Circle...
to create a space for spiritual openness, community, and sharing from the heart.

We were blessed to receive a gift of an angel from our friend, Heidi Kujat.
She is an amazing bronze sculptor who creates beautiful magical angels.
The angel she gave to our Circle is called Radiance.
She is the one who is on the center table of our Circle and who reminds us about the importance of 'radiating' our light and love in service to the world.
She holds the space of deep reverence for the Divine and also for the beauty in each
individual soul.
The presence of Radiance in our Circle has served to further create a sacred space for us to experience each week as we gather together.

Having a Sacred Center within the Circle also serves as a reminder of the importance of creating a Sacred Center within ourselves.
This Center is our oneness with our Creator.
It is from this Center that we can connect with others and with the Divine.
It is from this Center that we experience true love and acceptance.
This Center is our core...it is who we truly are.
This Center is a place that must be nurtured and honored.
This place is one that we must visit often and pay attention to, if it is to grow and flourish.
This Sacred Space can, in turn, nourish us so that we can grow and flourish.

Sacred Space within is a place where we welcome the Divine...it is a place where we 'show up' to listen to the Whispers of Spirit speaking directly to us.
By consciously creating an opening for God to enter, we 'make room' for more than just the routine of daily life.
We 'make room' for a fuller life...one that is abundant with miracles and healing and hope.
We build a bridge to a life of service and joy.
We create a direct connection to hear the voice of God within.

Wisdom Circle of Grace

Our Wisdom Circle, the Wisdom Circle of Grace, sometimes choses to meet outside.
We we are outside, we have enjoyed creating ceremony together as we sit within our Circle.
One of ceremonies that has been so healing to our group has been the one we did about Forgiveness.
We began the Circle just like we always do by passing the 'talking stick'.
This Native American tradition of using a stick to focus attention has really helped our group remember to 'listen' rather than debate or challenge.
The person who holds the 'stick', has the 'floor' and presents 'wisdom' from his or her own experience.
Those that do not have the 'stick' listen and open to the 'wisdom' of the one speaking.

After we have a 'round' of everyone 'checking in', we move into meditation, which for our group has become the 'listening' part of prayer.
The meditation this particular night was all about letting go all those things that we have been having difficultly forgiving within ourselves.
After the meditation, we passed the 'talking stick' again and each individual had an opportunity to speak to what was difficult or easy to release or forgive within themselves.
We learn from each other.
We experience the joy another feels when a true sense of release from the chains of un-forgiveness happens.
We experience wisdom from listening to the story of another.
We come to realize that we all share part of the same story.

After our meditation, we moved into a sacred ceremony.
We each had chosen a few pieces of wood that would represent for us, things we wanted to fully forgive within ourselves or another.
Then, one at a time, we each placed our 'wood' in the fire pit that we had created to 'transmute' our pain and suffering into the joy of full release and forgiveness.
As we sat and watched all of our 'stuff' being consumed by the fire,
it was a beautiful metaphor for the love of God and how empowering it is.

The love of God is so much bigger than we are.
The love of God is all consuming of those things that we carry that are not in our
highest good.
The love of God is so available to us.
The love of God is able to release us from all those things that weigh us down
and encumber our beings.

Time seemed to stand still as we all sat in silence and watched as the fire continued its dance.
We were all reminded of our connection to each other.
We were reminded of our humanness.
We were also reminded of the gifts of 'Spirit' that are available to us.
We remember the peace of silence, the beauty of sharing from the heart,
and the joy of forgiveness.

We closed our Circle that night with the blessing of a word we each chose to 'gift' each other with for the upcoming week...
Some of the words were 'Joy', 'Peace', 'Adventure', 'Curiosity', 'Discovery', 'Forgiveness'...
And so it is.....

How Do You Get the Ball Down the Field?

We know when we are fully connected to our Source, our God, when we experience much less effort/force required and much more power/joy available to us.

The force that we must exert in order to get something accomplished is much greater when we are trying to do it on our own power vs. Divine power.

A disconnection from Source can cause us to get energy depleted and

fatigue can set in.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Divine Energy is always available to us to support our work in the world.

All that is necessary is that we do all we can ourselves and then ask God for help.

It doesn’t work to just ‘leave the driving to God’.

There is a part we must play because we are here to learn and grow and that can’t be accomplished if we are not active participants.

So how do you know when it is time to ‘power – up’?

When you find yourself physically tired, energy depleted, out of new ideas, repeating the same problems over and over again, it is time for a ‘time out’…

It’s time to reconsider what is out of balance…what is not aligned with Source.

It’s time to reconsider priorities and which goals are you moving towards or away from.

Do you have the ‘ball’ well in hand, or are you losing your grasp and about to fumble?

Is the team you are playing with going in the same direction you are?

Are your goals clear?

What is the gameplan?

Who’s callin the shots?

When was the last time you scored a touchdown?

Are you enjoying getting beaten up on the field or is it time to consider a different way to move down this field of life?

What part of the game are you enjoying?

How can you attract more of that into your life?

Where are you in your game of life?

Are you sitting on the sidelines or actively involved in getting the ball down the field?

Support the Full Potential of Each Person

Any family, community or organization is made up of individuals.

By supporting the potentiation of each individual, the family, community or organization benefits tremendously.

Each individual brings to the ‘table’ special gifts and skills that are unique.

When each of these gifts are given space and support to grow and mature,

miracles happen and tremendous creation can occur.

Creating mentoring/coaching programs is key.

In some situations, mentoring is focused on changing behaviors, creating vision, or if done at a soul level, it can become pure soul potentiation.

Soul coaching supports the individual in developing a lifepath that helps them accomplish what their life purpose is.

It helps the individual realize that there is more to life than what may have been consuming them previously.

There is an opportunity to move beyond what ‘has been ‘ and connect deeply with purpose and reason for being.

An individual that comes to recognize within themselves their true purpose is a person who senses their own power for good.

This individual has connected with the Divine within them…the power to bring forth what God had in mind when they were created.

This individual has a new sense of what is important and what takes priority.

This individual knows more fully who they are as soul.

It is the responsibility of each individual to seek out a mentor…someone who can lead them closer to who they are wanting to become.

Often the mentor simply reminds them of who they already are, but have forgotten.

The mentor often redirects the individual back within themselves to find the gifts that have been there all along.

A mentor is someone who honors with integrity and commits to the development of the mentee.

Mentors see beyond what is…they can see what may come to be with love and nurturance and believing.

Move Beyond ‘The Box’

‘The Box’ provides security, safety, the status quo.

‘The Box’ is where many people and organizations choose to be.

‘The Box’ is not a ‘bad’ place, it is simply one choice of where to be.

‘The Box’ does provide a place to start.

A concern might be that ‘the same Box’ is where you finish.

So, what is beyond ‘The Box’?

That’s a great first question because from there, the possibilities are endless.

Starting to imagine what ‘could be’ rather than reinventing the past,

is the beginning of a new condition, a new reality.

Imagine a better way to take care of people, to heal, to grow…

This creates an opportunity to make an entire system better.

After imagining and visioning a brighter future, comes the next step…

Developing more ‘form’ around the concepts and a plan as to how you might start moving toward your desired future.

First steps can be challenging because they often require courage and a departure from the comfort of the way life has always been.

But with persistence on the new pathway, success is certainly within reach.

It’s important to talk to others that may be partners in your new endeavor.

This creates higher energy around moving your plan forward faster.

It’s important to also talk to others who have ‘been there’…those who have taken the ‘path less traveled’ and have been able to fulfill their own dreams.

By creating connections with other dreamers and innovators many pitfalls can be avoided and many shortcuts can be realized.

Once an individual or an organization moves fully out of ‘The Box’, there is no going back.

The innovation, freedom and creativity of the new way of doing things can provide reinforcement to continue on this path.

This path of the innovator is sometimes a lonely path, but it is one filled with discovery and adventure.

It is a path that few choose, but the rewards are great.

Take the risk…Take the leap of faith and venture outside of ‘The Box’.

Move beyond the comfortable and dare to go where few have gone before.

Dare to lead the way to the future with the commitment for excellence, dignity, service, justice and hospitality.

Be all you can be and then some…

Be all your Creator intended you to be.

Fulfill your potential.

Fulfill your dream.

Reach for the stars.