Circle Resources for Online Meetings
With the many recent changes both within and outside of our community, W2W Kentuckian has created a list of Circle Resources that may be helpful for Circle Work, especially during this time where Circles are being conducted online, rather than in person. Feel free to download and use the resources below for your Circle, and we invite you share any suggestions your Circle is using with us by completing the form at the bottom of the page. We may update this page with new suggestions and/or share among our community. Stay connected and stay well, Women!
Downloadable Resources:
A location to quickly find and open the resource links; can be used to share your screen with your circle:
PIES Card
Clearing Process
Coaching Clearings
Mediation Images: Caladium Leaves, Pink flowers
Poems: Ann Hillman poem, There is Love Here, Enough
PIES Card
Clearing Process
Coaching Clearings
Mediation Images: Caladium Leaves, Pink flowers
Poems: Ann Hillman poem, There is Love Here, Enough
Circle Resources
PIES Card & Ways to Use It
Clearings
How do we create a safe space for Clearings during online circles? When we do clean Clearings we deepen safety within ourselves and our circles. The best way to check you are doing clean Clearings is to step off of the Drama Triangle and out of the roles of Persecutor, Rescuer, and/or Victim. Check in with the following statement when filling out the Clearing sheet and during the Clearing:
“This Clearing is not blaming someone for my feelings or reactions. I am not trying to rescue her from her feelings and/or reactions. I am Clearing from a place of empowerment within myself.”
Click here to access the step-by-step process to screen share Clearings with circle members. This is the latest version of the Clearing model and it may be different from what you’ve been using. If so, take time in your circle (when no one is Clearing) to explore what has changed. Keep in mind that change can be uncomfortable and there has been a LOT of change lately. Give yourselves time to be with what’s new. Also, check out this great resource for coaching clearings and being cleared with.
Allowing our Vulnerable Little Ones to Be Visible – Sharing Baby Pictures
Each woman in circle shares a photograph of herself as a baby or child. Photos can be shared by text, e-mail or through screen sharing. Each woman gets the opportunity to share about her experiences as a child and what comes up for her as she looks at the photograph of herself at this young age. This can trigger some around whether we felt loved as children, so it's important to make space for that in the sharing. Also, be mindful and compassionate that not everyone has access to such images.
Using Wisdom Cards
Use a set of wisdom cards or other visual prompts to start a sharing conversation. Have each woman choose a card or an image from a magazine or the internet that causes her to experience a strong emotional reaction. Each woman shares her image and speaks about how what she sees in the image reflects something in herself.
- PIES Card – Use this model as a way to check in with your circle Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally and Spiritually
- Use the PIES screen shot to help you get “Clear” with triggers. Let’s use the example that you’ve had a challenging phone call with a family member the day of circle and you’re still feeling stirred up and confused. Choose a circle member to role play your family member and use the PIES screen shot to help you sort through the interaction. Your “family member” can repeat back to you what she’s hearing after each section of the PIES Card. Always de-role at the end.
- The PIES model is a great resource for "bringing all parts of ourselves on board" and can be used as a discussion prompt for your circle. Explore whether you experience the world primarily through…
- Physical – Your Body, “Gut,” or Instincts
- Intellectual – Thinking or mental understanding
- Emotional – Heart-knowing via emotional awarenes
- Spiritual – Sensing connection to Self, others and your Higher Power
Clearings
How do we create a safe space for Clearings during online circles? When we do clean Clearings we deepen safety within ourselves and our circles. The best way to check you are doing clean Clearings is to step off of the Drama Triangle and out of the roles of Persecutor, Rescuer, and/or Victim. Check in with the following statement when filling out the Clearing sheet and during the Clearing:
“This Clearing is not blaming someone for my feelings or reactions. I am not trying to rescue her from her feelings and/or reactions. I am Clearing from a place of empowerment within myself.”
Click here to access the step-by-step process to screen share Clearings with circle members. This is the latest version of the Clearing model and it may be different from what you’ve been using. If so, take time in your circle (when no one is Clearing) to explore what has changed. Keep in mind that change can be uncomfortable and there has been a LOT of change lately. Give yourselves time to be with what’s new. Also, check out this great resource for coaching clearings and being cleared with.
Allowing our Vulnerable Little Ones to Be Visible – Sharing Baby Pictures
Each woman in circle shares a photograph of herself as a baby or child. Photos can be shared by text, e-mail or through screen sharing. Each woman gets the opportunity to share about her experiences as a child and what comes up for her as she looks at the photograph of herself at this young age. This can trigger some around whether we felt loved as children, so it's important to make space for that in the sharing. Also, be mindful and compassionate that not everyone has access to such images.
Using Wisdom Cards
Use a set of wisdom cards or other visual prompts to start a sharing conversation. Have each woman choose a card or an image from a magazine or the internet that causes her to experience a strong emotional reaction. Each woman shares her image and speaks about how what she sees in the image reflects something in herself.
Dipping into the Collective Wisdom of your Circle
Using Art Projects/Movement/Dance/Music/Breathing Exercises/Yoga
Allow a woman in the circle to volunteer to lead a group process based on her own interests and experience. She may wish to partner with another woman to offer the process.
During Zoom circles each woman participates in her own space. If the circle wants to do an art project, the woman leading the project communicates ahead of time about the project and what materials are needed, such as collage materials. Members of the circle do the art project on their own and share it during the circle call and talk about the process of creating it and what it brought up.
Getting Tech Support within Circle– Discover new ways to connect with each other by tapping into the collective wisdom and experience of your circle members!
See if someone in your circle knows how to:
Circle Prompts
If no one is claiming time during circle, choose one of the following prompts and allow each woman to share. Have each woman say, “I pass the stone to [name another woman in the circle]” when she finishes her share. Remember that any woman can pass if she does not want to participate.
At the end of the sharing for that prompt, have each woman check in about something she felt or learned in the process. This is a way of affirming each other and making sure that everyone is back in their adult self at the end of the process.
Exploring the Five Life Themes
Conflict Style
Our conflict style can also show up during times of stress.
Exploring Our Conflict Styles
Family Roles
Which one do you identify with most from your family of origin?
Circle Prompts for Exploring Our Role
Encouraging Freedom from Family Roles
ReCircle
Bring in the Guides
ReCircles are 2-hour, personalized workshops that Guides bring to your circle, and almost all of the topics can be done online! They are an opportunity for growth, learning, and deeper connection in existing circles. The options are listed on our ReCircle page.
Other Circles
Check out an open, online Sharing Circle
There are now many online, open Circles to attend via Zoom. These are sharing circles only; we will not be working in them as we do in our own circles. There is no commitment to join or attend regularly. It is always open to you and a great way to stay connected and share your feelings in a group of supportive women.
For more information please go to Woman Within International's Open Circle Calendar.
Allow a woman in the circle to volunteer to lead a group process based on her own interests and experience. She may wish to partner with another woman to offer the process.
During Zoom circles each woman participates in her own space. If the circle wants to do an art project, the woman leading the project communicates ahead of time about the project and what materials are needed, such as collage materials. Members of the circle do the art project on their own and share it during the circle call and talk about the process of creating it and what it brought up.
Getting Tech Support within Circle– Discover new ways to connect with each other by tapping into the collective wisdom and experience of your circle members!
See if someone in your circle knows how to:
- Create a private Facebook page for your circle members to stay connected. Great for sharing updates, pictures, poems, inspirational quotes, recipes etc.
- Explore other video conferencing platforms in addition to Zoom, such as Skype, Google Duo or Google Hangouts. This could offer you the option to meet more often for any circle members who want to.
Circle Prompts
If no one is claiming time during circle, choose one of the following prompts and allow each woman to share. Have each woman say, “I pass the stone to [name another woman in the circle]” when she finishes her share. Remember that any woman can pass if she does not want to participate.
At the end of the sharing for that prompt, have each woman check in about something she felt or learned in the process. This is a way of affirming each other and making sure that everyone is back in their adult self at the end of the process.
Exploring the Five Life Themes
- Belonging/Safety –How do you create connection with others while social distancing? How are your cultivating a sense of belonging?
- Support – What are ways you are giving others support? What are ways you are receiving support? Are you receiving as much support as you give?
- Freedom – How are you creatively expressing yourself? This could include cooking, gardening, sidewalk chalk, music, scrapbooks, picture slideshows, writing, etc.. Is there some way to share it with your circle through photographs, a short Zoom “concert” or sending something fun via snail mail?
- Truth – Are you comfortable with letting your honesty be heard? Do you have people and places where you can share your truth with others?
- Value/Worth – Do you feel worthy in your life? Does your sense of worth come from doing? How has your sense of worth been affected by social distancing?
Conflict Style
Our conflict style can also show up during times of stress.
- Owl – Creates distance through observation and intellectualizing, watches closely and gathers information. May swoop in with their “claws” when they have enough evidence or feel they’ve been pushed too far.
- Rabbit – Will hide, lay low or disappear at the first whiff of conflict (danger); avoids confrontation and conflict at all costs; maintains a sense of control by refusing to participate.
- Tiger – Not afraid of conflict, willing to initiate it when needed, sometimes when not; struggles when others won’t engage; appreciates the intense energy that comes with assertiveness and even confrontation
- Beaver – Avoids conflict by getting busy; trying to create order of chaos; too busy to think about the problem, too busy to listen to others, too busy to feel their feelings.
Exploring Our Conflict Styles
- How do you see your style showing up right now in either times of conflict or stress?
- How is it serving you during the pandemic? What would you like to thank your conflict style for helping you with?
- Does your conflict style get in the way of what you’re wanting for yourself? Does it keep you from feeling connected and/or open and vulnerable communication? Does it keep you from feeling your feelings?
Family Roles
Which one do you identify with most from your family of origin?
- The Hero is very responsible and usually feels good when she is doing something for someone else. She wants to help and doesn’t always wait to be asked.
- The Rebel/Scapegoat doesn’t conform. She can be self-destructive and uncooperative. She may become a distraction from group problems, or be blamed for them.
- The Lost Child just fades away and disappears. She does nothing to draw attention to herself. She tends to be independent.
- The Mascot is the one who covers up feelings with laughter, especially fear. She can be at the center of attention and serve as the distractor.
Circle Prompts for Exploring Our Role
- How is your family role showing up lately?
- How does your role serve you? What strengths can you attribute to your family role?
- How does your role limit you? If you could, what might you soften or change about how you step into your family role?
Encouraging Freedom from Family Roles
- Offer the Hero
- Permission to make mistakes
- Opportunities to play
- Opportunities to express feelings
- Offer the Rebel/Scapegoat
- Permission to be successful
- Support – to ask for it and receive it
- Structure and consistency
- Offer the Lost Child
- Sincere, positive attention
- Encouragement to take chances
- Encouraging and supporting bids for connection
- Offer the Mascot
- Permission to go inside
- Encouragement of their thinking
- Support and validation of a full range of feelings
ReCircle
Bring in the Guides
ReCircles are 2-hour, personalized workshops that Guides bring to your circle, and almost all of the topics can be done online! They are an opportunity for growth, learning, and deeper connection in existing circles. The options are listed on our ReCircle page.
Other Circles
Check out an open, online Sharing Circle
There are now many online, open Circles to attend via Zoom. These are sharing circles only; we will not be working in them as we do in our own circles. There is no commitment to join or attend regularly. It is always open to you and a great way to stay connected and share your feelings in a group of supportive women.
For more information please go to Woman Within International's Open Circle Calendar.