This statement is offered as a co-creative invitation to further discussion.

For purposes of this discussion, a "circle" is a group of people meeting together as a group, usually in person and "face-to-face", and actually arranged in a physical circle (such as a circle of chairs). The "circle process" describes the way this meeting is conducted, and the way each participant in the circle handles their own participation and contributions.

It may be possible to define and convene various forms of "virtual circles" that do not bring the individual participants into the same physical space, but involve interconnecting them through various electronic methods (internet, telephone). In virtual circles, the circle process would still be conducted in more or less the same way, honoring the same principles.

Some recent books reviewing the circle process (click image for larger view):

I am particularly interested in the "sacred" aspects of the circle process. I do realize and appreciate the fact that the circle process has a wide range of applications, and not all of them may involve energies normally thought of as sacred. Circles can be usefully developed in highly secular and professional contexts, and they are certainly meaningful and valuable in those contexts. For me, however, the sacred aspects remain most compelling and meaningful.

I might tend to the view that the "secular" value of circles is an indirect and somewhat unconscious implication of their essentially sacred core. But it's not necessary to debate that point. For me, the essential idea is -- through a wisely-convened circle process, that follows certain reasonably clear traditional principles, the circle process supports the emergence of a sacred spirit and collective consciousness, that is valuable and transformative, and can play a major role in the healing and enlightenment of entire cultures. For me, the circle process is the key to a renaissance of culture -- and seems likely to me to embody the most potent and direct way for human civilization to respond to its various contemporary crises.

Because I believe in the universal sacred power of the circle process, taking a form that transcends the ideologies of particular religions without compromise to their essentially sacred core, the capacity of the circle process to invoke an authentic universal spirituality is highly significant, particularly in a cultural context of church/state separation. The universal spirituality of the sacred circle process transcends ideological belief without compromise to those beliefs. This is powerful, succinct, and eminently practical. It is an approach that can be successful, because it is simple, instinctive, easy to learn, easy to share, and found in cultures all over the world -- as Christina Baldwin suggests in her book, "Calling the Circle: The First and Future Culture".

From Millionth Circle (www.millionthcircle.org), by way of Beth Blevins

Create a circle.
Consider it a sacred space.
One person speaks at a time.
Speak and listen from the heart.
Encourage and welcome diverse points of view.
Listen with discernment instead of judgment.
Share leadership and resources.
Decide together how decisions will be made.
Work toward consensus when possible.
Offer experience instead of advice.
When in doubt or need, pause and silently ask for guidance.
Decide together what is to be held in confidence.
Speak from your own experience and beliefs rather than speaking for others.
Open and close the circle by hearing each voice. (Check-ins and check-outs.)

I am supposing that a clear understanding of the sacred circle process can bring a powerful guiding light to our explorations in collective destiny. How can the human community best gather its resources and assess its situation? How can we most wisely consider the thousands of separate but interdependent factors that influence the health of our societies? A network of circles approach, considering every separate issue within its own circle context, yet interlinking every separate process through their common centers, might be the most holistic and integral approach we can possibly conceive.

The energy of the circle is simple, pure, universal and authentic. Today, we know these things by instinct and intuition. Perhaps our instincts can be clarified and authenticated, in ways that could unfold as the core of a natural and organic "movement" across this planet.

This statement is offered as a co-creative invitation to further discussion.

We can perhaps simplify this complex and controversial subject in these abbreviated terms:

1. Religion generally involves matters of belief, ideology and doctrine, whereas spirituality involves psychological attitude, awareness, and the conscious practice of virtue and ethics.
2. In simple terms, spirituality can be understood as "the fruit of religion" -- ie, one primary objective and purpose of "believing in (a) religion" is the realization of personal and communal spirituality.
3. Religions that may vary widely on matters of belief and ideology are often very similar as regards matters of spirituality and ethics. For this reason, circle processes are usually consistent with the basic principles of any religion.

The circle process invokes the essential spiritual practice of most major religious traditions, in a simplified and universal form. It is consistent with those traditions, and informed by them, without being dependent upon them, or limited by them. It honors those traditions by remaining true to them, and respecting and recognizing their contribution to our collective wisdom, and does this without in any way claiming to "go beyond" them. The spirituality of circle simply honors the divine, however it is expressed, and from whatever tradition it has arisen.

We propose that the process of sacred circle can convene a kind of universal spirituality that is authenticated and universalized by the circle process. Generally, we might say that the principles involved are:

1. The spiritual practice of the circle
   • Mutual respect among all members of the circle -- indicated by such things as taking turns, listening, co-creativity.
   • The circular arrangement encourages a sense that all participants are equals; each participant is of equal value and importance.
   • As members of a circle come to know each other and become more closely bonded, a spirit of love emerges among the members.
   • The circle process encourages a deep tolerance of uncertainty and a psychological attitude of "surrender" -- of listening, of "giving up the need to be right", of absorbing ideas and insights from the other members of the circle. This is a humble process that deeply respects and trusts the divine presence, without making claims about personal knowing or authenticity.
   • Co-creativity emerges, because people respond to one another in creative ways. Rather than simply "broadcasting" ideas into the circle, people offer ideas in a co-creative way, building on ideas offered by others, and looking for solutions and concepts that incorporate and include the ideas introduced by others. The tendency is to take a "both/and" approach, rather than an "either/or" approach.
   • Participants in the circle learn from one another: each person in the circle is a teacher - each person is a student.

2. "Where two or more are gathered in My Name... and My Name is Love..."
   • The circle process tends to act as a kind of "cross-correlating validation" of the ideas and energies that enter the circle.
   • This process is consistent with -- and perhaps "the same thing as" -- the kind of spiritual communion described in traditional religion.

3. The emergence of interpersonal resonance -- resonant semantics and spiritual bonding
   • To the degree that human communication takes place through words and language, human beings often misunderstand each other because each person tends to interpret meaning in their own way, according to their own "private dictionary". In the intimate and friendly context of the circle, people are more willing to let go of their own personal interpretations and definitions, and explore new ways to understand. This is a creative process that emerges out of respectful personal relationships.
   • In a diverse context, where people are very different and the rigid meaning of words begins to fail us, a kind of "resonant semantics" can emerge. A kind of wordless understanding can appear, or an individual may experience entirely new ways to understand old concepts and ideas.

An emerging theology of circles would probably include these principles:

1. Oneness
   • The members of the group can begin to experience a kind of "oneness" -- within themselves privately, among themselves collectively, and in the larger context of the society, the world, or the universe.

2. The presence of Love is the presence of the Divine
   • All the greatest spiritual teachers have taught us to love one another. The circle process encourages this, and may accelerate and amplify it.

3. The presence of Mystery opens the way to creativity and connects the individual and the group to sacred possibilities.
   • Surrender, openness to the unknown, sacred listening, and co-creativity all encourage an awareness of and receptivity to the unknown.

4. Mysticism and Resonant Bonding
   • Personal private mysticism: connection of the individual to the absolute One in the universe. This creates a vertical connection to the absolute.
   • Collective communal mysticism: connection of the individual to all others in the circle, since their personal connection to "The One" is (more or less) connecting them to "The Same One" that others in the circle are experiencing. This creates a horizontal connection to the absolute, and is (more or less) what is meant by the Hindu phrase "Namaste".

We propose that the major religious traditions of the world are encouraging their followers and practitioners to act and behave in ways that are consistent with these principles. We suggest that many of the core ideas of the major traditions are intended to promote this kind of experience within the individual, and within the social group -- at all levels of social organization, from the family to the village to the city, region, nation, or world.

In general, following these principles is not inconsistent with religious practice and belief as taught by the major traditions. Because these principles are taken from and consistent with the great religious teachings of the world, in most cases, it is possible to faithfully follow a religious practice while also following these principles. In some cases, this may not be entirely possible, usually because of some "exclusionary" tenet of the religion. In these cases -- we humbly and respectfully invite a creative transformation of this tenet.

We might say that the traditions of the world are also "in circle" -- and, ideally should also be in co-creative and mutually respectful relationship. For many of us, a "my religion is holier than yours" attitude can be seen as a kind of "sin" -- a violation of the law of love that is probably based in short-sightedness, insularity and a lack of experience, rather than in arrogance and in moral condemnation of "the other". In most cases, further experience and conversation can heal this misunderstanding, and release the core energies of this new relationship in a vital and positive way.

Generally, we are proposing that an unquestionably authentic and universal spirituality is being convened through circle processes all over the world. This spirituality can be validated by comparison with major religious teachings, and also by insights from psychologists, philosophers, healers, shaman, gurus, and spiritual and religious leaders from widely varying traditions.

A clear realization of the sacred properties of the circle can excite and inflame a global movement. Circles everywhere can be directly interconnected -- energetically and mystically through their common spiritual core and connection to "The One" -- and electronically, through an internet-based "network of circles" system that finds circle-networks everywhere, and builds liaison between them.

This process can affect and transform all collective processes within a community, including all those elements of democracy normally thought of as "political".

A network of circles can transform our national or global politics, not only driving a tendency towards peaceful and informed problem-solving, but invoking the deepest collective genius of the culture or civilization, and bringing out the best in every participant. There is no more powerful or direct way to liberate the creative power inherent in every human being, and to bring this energy into our collective social environment as an essential force for positive social change.

Bro. Wayne Teasdale on Interspirituality -- http://www.csp.org/experience/docs/teasdale-interspiritual.html

Many Voices / One Truth -- Interspirituality Quotations and References -- JoAnn Kite -- http://interspirit.net/spirit/spirit.cfm

Introduction to World Scripture -- Dr. Andrew Wilson -- http://origin.org/ucs/ws/wsintr1.cfm