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Flow of Day 1
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Story of Day 1
by Nguyen Thu Trang (Iris) Sitting in a circle. Listening with attention. Speaking with intention. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But have you ever looked back and asked yourself when the last time you practiced those principles was? When was the last time you responded when somebody asked “How are you feeling?” with all your vulnerability instead of throwing an automatic “I’m fine”? When was the last time you listened to someone with all your heart, cried with them and laughed with them without judging or trying to come up with a response?
Circle Practice has always been my favourite Art of Hosting practice. I call it the practice of The Heart: connecting to your heart to share your authentic self, and opening your heart to receive other people. So here I am, in a circle again, at the beginning of the 2nd Art of Hosting training in Vietnam, with a beautiful plant as a center piece representing our purpose, and a rim of more than fifty people from all over the planet. “Why am I here, really?” – the question for the circle is repeated time to time, person to person as we pass the talking piece around. I don’t really know the answer to that question, but my heart is telling me, “Hey, trust the talking piece, and if it hasn’t come to you yet, listen.” And at that moment, something happens. My heart hurts as it is beating so hard to make itself open, open and open more. The closer the talking piece is getting to me, the more hurtful my heart becomes. But I’m not afraid nor anxious, because I know my heart is resonating with all the sharings of the people around me, and opening itself to reach its own answer. One more sharing, and one more, and one more. The talking piece is now in my hand. It is so warm, because it is carrying the energy of all the people ahead of me. |
A moment of silence as I try to catch my breath, again. And the answer comes. “I’m here because I’m in search of magic in my life. I once asked this question in one of the workshop I facilitated, “What is the purpose of a human in life?” And among many interesting ideas, there was this one: We are here to create. I believe that this way we’re doing now, by having conversations that really matter, is the way that we can create a better world.”
The sharing circle goes on, like a flower slowly blooming, petal by petal. “Why am I here, really?” To learn. To be in a community. To heal. To seek for inspiration. To connect with myself. To form connection with others. To co-create something bigger than us. To reclaim my sense of belonging. Because I believe in love. Because I want to see the people I love again. Because it’s meant for me to be here.
So here we are, contributing our energy to the center piece which will hold us together for the journey that has already started.
The sharing circle goes on, like a flower slowly blooming, petal by petal. “Why am I here, really?” To learn. To be in a community. To heal. To seek for inspiration. To connect with myself. To form connection with others. To co-create something bigger than us. To reclaim my sense of belonging. Because I believe in love. Because I want to see the people I love again. Because it’s meant for me to be here.
So here we are, contributing our energy to the center piece which will hold us together for the journey that has already started.
Check-in
Check-in Question: Why are you REALLY here?
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Teach: Circle Practice
Further resources: Circle Practice Video, Basic Guidelines for Calling a Circle & Circle Way Website