Montreal Wholeness Circle

Gathering in person is an essential facet of our Wholeness. Our experience of Life expands in a way that is not accessible on a two dimensional screen. Your participation in the Montreal Wholeness Circle is valued and fundamental to our emergence as a community that is well. Thank you for your courage to circle up, to trust, and to fully show up.

Beginning May 2024, we will begin a new format. Our time will be spent holding space for ourselves and others as we explore a variety of topics.

Our Circle Format (2 hours)

• Suggested: Arrive early to settle in (6:20)
• Check-in: How do you hope to BE after our time together?
• Hold space for each person to share on the topic. You can pass if you would like. There is no cross conversation.
• If time allows, the floor will open for a general discussion (no advice given without asking permission first).
• As a Somatic Spiritual Coach I may offer a group practice, if relevant.

This is for you if:

1. You yearn for space to listen to your heart speak
2. You honour the journey of others as sacred
3. You are comfortable, or seek to be more comfortable, with moments of silence
4. You notice the impulse, or you desire to build the awareness of the impulse, to advice, fix, or counsel others. In other words, you are willing to do your best to pause and hold space for others.

You may want to bring a journal.

This is a free event and small donations are gratefully welcomed to fund the Meetup. Thanks for some cash in the bowl or an etransfer to [email protected], This is greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Our Standards of Presence

We come together with the intention to create and maintain a safe space in service to learning, creating, communicating, communing, and celebrating.

Acceptance is our foundation. Accept that everyone is doing their best by respecting the practice below. We acknowledge that self-acceptance is essential to experience an empowering environment.

The Practice:

• It is my intention to maintain confidentiality.
  • What I see and hear that is personal or specific to another within the group will stay here.
  • When sharing the essence of someone else's story, without the names and specific  details, I agree to share in an honouring manner that celebrates the original person’s  magnificence.
• It is my intention to have an open and innocent mind and heart.
  • I release evaluating or comparing what I am experiencing.
  • I allow myself to “try on” and wear new information for a while, as it stands.
• It is my intention to practice a positive focus.
  • What I perceive in others I strengthen in myself.
  • What I focus on expands.
• It is my intention to connect at a heart level.
  • I practice opening my heart to the essence of what is being conveyed.
  • I release the need to evaluate and judge, at least for now, in the moment.
• It is my intention to claim my experience as my own.
  • I speak in “I” statements so I can claim my own experience.
  • I release telling others what they should do, feel, believe, or act.
• It is my intention to listen deeply and with honour.
  • I am 100% engaged and my positive attention is on the person sharing.
  • I release anticipating what the person is going to share.
  • I look for the gifts being shared – their courage, authenticity, brilliance, etc.
  • I allow the person sharing to indicate that they are complete.
• It is my intention to give authentic acknowledgment and support.
  • I am authentic while giving feedback.
  • I keep it simple and speak to the essence of what I experienced.
  • I maintain heart contact with the person to whom I am giving support.
  • I notice when I want to give unsolicited advice, criticism, counselling or consulting, and then release it without sharing it!
  • Outside of Circle, I ask permission from the speaker before talking about a previous, personal subject.
• It is my intention to fully receive acknowledgment and support.
  • I am open to receiving acknowledgment – as the gift it is – and let it sink in.
  • I maintain heart contact with the person acknowledging me.
• It is my intention to practice self care and self responsibility, and allow others to do the same.
  • I maintain a safe space for myself. I take care of and honour the wisdom of my body, heart, mind, and source of inspiration, allowing them to guide me.
  • When something feels like a judgment or advice, I can simply ask within that it be reframed.
  • When I have a judgment, I say “Thank you for sharing,” to that voice within me, and I choose a more resourceful thought and focus.
• It is my intention to be fully present.
  • I come to Circle rested and in a resourceful state.
  • I value my intuition, my inner spirit, and allow my multiple intelligences to guide me.

(Edited from the Center for Transformational Coaching's Standards of Presence)