Talking Circles May Be Soul Food, But They Aren’t Enough
Overview
I'm in a new-to-me kind of liminal space that feels more luscious than unsettling. You see, the Spring Membership Circle is about to wrap up, and I don't know what's next.
I've facilitated monthly(ish) iterations of this circle since May of 2022. The first circle was born from a vino-infused social media post...and they just kept happening! Eventually, I began playing around with virtual circles and paid circles, and maybe two years in, I switched to a membership model.
I'm now exploring the next chapter of how — or even if — I'll continue to gather sisters in circle.
Community
I've been sitting with things for a while now, and I've discovered that what my soul really yearns for is community. Deep community. While talking circles are powerful, they're just one of many threads woven into the tapestry of deep community. And the truth is that circles are no longer enough for me. I want more.
I want to share circle facilitation duties. I want an intergenerational inner circle of humans who I can cry with when needed. I want to share food communally and regularly, and I don't want to always be the host. I want to gather with my peeps around fire, maybe with a guitar and a few drums...and definitely with some vegan marshmallows! I want to climb over fallen trees with them in LaBagh woods and giddily point out the beaver who's swimming across the lagoon.
I crave this...and yet, I don't know how to create it.
Maybe I'll find a community who wants to welcome me in. Or maybe I'll create the community I yearn for. Regardless, I don't know where to start, what to do, where to go.
I want a combination of in-person and virtual community, though I don't understand yet what this looks like. For instance, I know amazing people who reside in multiple continents that I'd love to become a part of this deep community I'm envisioning. And I want to gather in-person. A lot. I'm seeing a village. Obviously, there are challenges in my visioning that may not be resolvable!
Where to begin
I don't know where to begin or what action to take other than to put it out there what it is that I'm looking for. Maybe a few of you want the same and respond to this newsletter. Maybe I set up a Zoom call for us to connect. Maybe we go from there.
Or maybe I return to social media, to see what communities already exist that I can tap into.
Or maybe I pull a card from my most favorite (and new) tarot deck ever to see what wisdom arises.
Or maybe I message the sisters who've been gathering with me in circle these past few years.
Or maybe all of the above.
Circling back to you...
What does deep community mean to you? Do you have a community like this already?
If you do, I'd love to know how you created it! Just sayin'.
If you don't (and if creating deep community is appealing to you), what's one thing you might do to begin to change that? To dip your toes in the water, so to speak? Again, I'd love to hear your responses!
That is all.
Hi! I’m Kristi.
I help women & gender-expansive folk liberate themselves from capitalism’s self-blaming hamster wheel of “mindset work”, bootstrapping, and “never enoughness” while navigating life’s day-to-day challenges. This work is, ultimately, about helping humans move into deeper integrity with who they truly are so that they can flourish and contribute meaningfully to our collective liberation. Click here to learn more.
Subscribe to My Newsletter
Get content like this delivered to your inbox.
