Our Circles are, and will always be, free to join.
What is a Circle?
Circles have been used in ancient traditions for millenia. Participating in a sharing circle offers you a transformative experience, providing a unique opportunity for emotional support, connection, and personal growth.
Through active listening and respectful communication, you will have the opportunity to share your story and express your thoughts, feelings, and experiences - all in a safe and non-judgmental environment.
At Come What May, our Circles are specific towards sexuality with each Circle having a sexuality related topic to explore.
Even if you haven’t had sex, you have a story to share. Nobody is too experienced or inexperienced to be in Circle, therefore everyone is welcome.
Want more information about our next Circle?
What to Expect?
Every Circle may be completely different from each other, however, this is a general outline:
// Short introduction from each person in Circle
// Agreements (see below)
// Meditation & Introduction to Topic
// Sharing Rounds
// Closing
Some Stats:
When – Every Fortnight on Tuesday
First Circle – March 1st 2022
Who – People from 6 out of 7 Continents
Youngest Participant – 16
Oldest Participant – 80
Benefits:
- A sense of belonging and understanding
- Reduced feelings of isolation
- Connection to community
- Stress reduction
- Release of shame
- Empowerment
- Courage and resilience
- Improved communication skills
- Coping strategies
Agreements for Circles
This is the Minimum Standard required for every Circle that takes place:
These Agreements will be shared in full during the Circle
It is required that each member of the Circle agrees. For example: at the end of the explanation for each Agreements “If you agree, please raise your hand”
Once the Agreements have been made, nobody else can enter the Circle
If there is anybody that does not agree to ANY of the Agreements, this will violate our values of Safety and Integrity, therefore the person will be asked to leave
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Please keep everything you hear during the circle confidential. The topics discussed may be intimate and personal, therefore it is important to keep the safety of the container once the Circle has finished
Please do not share the names of the attendees of the Circle
If you are to share about your experience in the Circle, share about what YOU have learned or gained from the wisdom in the group, not about anyone else
During the Circle, if you are sharing an experience that involves another person that is OR is not present in the Circle, please keep that person nameless to protect the integrity of the community as a whole.
This Agreement is void if we believe that you, or somebody close to you, may be in danger.
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Be completely present with your brothers/sisters. It is easy to get lost in your mind thinking about what you will share, however, this is an opportunity for you to hold space for others in the circle and to gain wisdom from the people around you
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Speak from the I. This is an opportunity for you to share from your heart, from a more vulnerable, deeper place rather than at surface level. Authentically showing up in Circle also means that you can decide not to share if that is what feels right for you, however, this has to be communicated verbally to the group
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This is a space where each person’s unique expression is accepted
I invite you to do your best to practise non-judgement
We will be discussing topics that may be confronting and taboo, which may go against your values and potentially trigger you. If judgement does arise, please use this as an opportunity to be curious about your own triggers and where that comes from inside you
We also have a non-consensus agreement. This means that if two people have two opposing views on a situation, it is ok to disagree and not try and change someone's opinion
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Always ask permission when offering feedback, reflections or if you want to ask a question.
There must be no unsolicited coaching, counselling or advice.
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If online, camera must be on at all times
Abusive or aggressive behaviour is not tolerated
Our participants must not be at the effect of drugs or alcohol
COME WHAT MAY MEMBER 2023:
“Saying words I never thought I’d share to another human, let alone a group of almost strangers about my sexual abuse as a child, liberated some pieces of myself that I didn’t even know I had been hiding away for so long. The words spoken out loud gave me the freedom to own my truth more fully. To release the pain I had been holding and open up to so much more pleasure and expression in my whole life, as well as my sex life”.
Circle Training
Do you want to learn how to run your Circles for your community?
Come What May has an aim to sit 100,000 people in Circle. We are a grass-roots Movement and want to build spaces for communities to get together, in-person, and have these incredibly important conversations. That’s where you come in!
We run the Circle Training, for free, four times a year. The training runs over 12 hours, on a Saturday and Sunday.
*There is no obligation that you run Circles for Come What May after joining this training. This is our gift to you and we hope that you spread the power of Circle to your community in whatever way that works for you!