Talking Circles & The Circle Learning Journey
Anthony Cholerton, The Journey Tree

“You have noticed that everything an Indian does is in a circle. That is because the power of the world always works in circles, and everything tries to be round.... The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back again, to where they were. The life of a man is a circle, from childhood to childhood. And so it is in everything, where power moves…” - Black Elk
Whenever we gather as a group at our workshops, teaching days or private get-togethers, it is the norm for us to spend at least some time sharing our thoughts whilst sat in a circle. We call this practice the Talking Circle, and pass around an object known as the Talking Stick from person to person, to signify whose turn it is to speak. Often when introducing this technique to others they are already familiar with it, as more and more people are now using this tool both in their homes, communities and places of work. On the surface it is such a simple and obvious process that negates the need for raised voices and avoids the confusion of everyone talking at once. Underlying this process however is a deep wisdom - the talking circle can be a profound and healing experience for both the group and the individual participants. I would like to delve a little deeper and speak of the Talking Circle from an Earth Wisdom perspective.
This simple tool holds within it a consciousness that goes to the very core of Earth Wisdom teachings and addresses the duality inherent in all of Life. By duality I mean the opposites that form the whole. A common expression of this, that many of us in the West are now familiar with, is the Eastern understanding of the feminine yin and the masculine yang; light and dark, heating and cooling, expanding and contracting, activity and passivity – the list goes on… In this instance we have the feminine circle which speaks to us of unity, wholeness, and equality. Balancing this we have the masculine line (represented by the stick) that divides the circle and speaks to us of individuality and uniqueness. From basic geometry we already know that the circle contains perfect symmetry and that each point on the circumference of the circle is equal – no point is greater, or lesser, better or worse than any other. And so it is when we sit in a circle – we are reminded that each one of us is an equal, worthy and necessary part of the whole. And yet as we sit in the circle looking in towards the centre, we each glean a slightly different perspective of what is there. No two people see things in exactly the same way and so it is with our insights, our understandings and our relationships with Life.
Often in our society the awareness that we are unique and individual (and special) can be a frightening prospect and is often buried deep in our subconscious in order to escape judgement and possible reprisal from others. This often unconscious reaction can lead to a desire to blend in and be just like everyone else. We are actually being dishonest, not only with those around us but ultimately with ourselves - disharmony surely follows. When we sit in a talking circle however we are reminded that our uniqueness and individuality are qualities to be celebrated and brought to the fore. We feel safe to do this when we know that the general consensus is that we are all equals and that our beliefs, opinion and perspectives on life are respected and considered valid. The talking stick is often a beautifully constructed object and when we hold it we are mindful of the beauty of Life that surrounds us – and importantly, reminded that we are a part of this beauty.
The body of Earth Wisdom that I am currently studying (and will spend my life studying) are the ‘Teachings of the Delicate Lodge’. They refer to the talking circle process as ‘Stringing the Beads’ - as each individual holds the stick and speaks their truth, they are seen to thread their own unique bead of conscious thought into a beautiful necklace of human consciousness. The Delicate Lodge reminds us that if there is to be wholeness within the circle, if there is to be true integrity, all voices must be heard. If individual perspectives, concerns, needs etc are held onto and not voiced, the energy and vitality of both the individual and the circle can be undermined. This is why the talking circle can be seen as a healing circle. To heal means to make more whole, or holy! When what needs to be expressed is voiced in the circle, the circle becomes more whole and healing begins to take place.
The Delicate Lodge views the Human Being as holding not a single consciousness, but a circle of ‘Mind Voices’. When all of these energy consciousnesses are held brightly and in balance, when all their voices are heard, then there is integrity and wholeness in the individual. This circle can be referred to as the ‘Circle of Law’, and by regularly listening to, and deepening our relationship with these energy consciousnesses we begin to bring healing into our lives on all levels.
When I began my training with the Ehama Institute, New Mexico (an organisation responsible for holding and sharing these profound teachings with the world) I took part in what is called a ‘Circle Learning Journey’ or ‘CLJ’. This isn’t training in the conventional sense, as the concepts of the talking circle that we have started to explore above are core to its implementation. It is literally a learning journey where a circle of individuals explores and deepens their knowledge of, and their relationships with the Delicate Lodge teachings. Students are encouraged to find their own personal understandings of the teachings so that they may enter into true relationship with them. This is empowered by the collective insight and experiences of the circle.
The Teachings of the Delicate Lodge are an ancient body of knowledge and have been passed down from generation to generation through an unbroken lineage (from pre-Mayan times) to the present day keepers of this wisdom, Wind Eagle and Rainbow Hawk, founders of the Ehama Institute in New Mexico. These teachings provide powerful tools with which to deepen our Self-Knowledge, and are arranged in circles known as glyphs (or medicine wheels). The teachings have been carried by many different cultures in many lands. They are a life-changing body of wisdom and can help people with…
Self-esteem and self-authority
Accessing inner wisdom and inspiration
Finding meaning and purpose in life
Revitalising and restoring relationships with community and our Mother Earth.
Carlos Glover (an Ehama Medicine Teacher) and I run a Circle Learning Journey in North Cornwall. We hold introductory days where participants can experience the teachings and learn more. The teachings are shared in a caring, supportive, and non-judgemental manner, geared towards promoting Self-Responsibility. As well as benefiting the individual the teachings provide excellent tools for communities in areas such as conflict resolution and truly democratic decision-making. info@thejourneytree.org T: 01409-271450