What is a circle of trust?
Our renewal offerings are based upon the circles of trust model developed by Parker J. Palmer and the Center for Courage & Renewal. We create a safe, trustworthy space where individuals, in community, can explore and strengthen the connection between who they are and the work they do in the world. This model is fully described in Dr. Palmer’s book Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life.
Creation of these circles is dependent upon skilled facilitators, trained by the national Center for Courage & Renewal, who model and teach practices to participants that honor each individual and engage the mind, emotions and spirit of each person.
Touchstones help to create the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual space that encourages meaningful personal and professional renewal and are used in all offerings. They include the following:
- Come to the work with 100% of ourselves
- Presume welcome and extend welcome
- Believe that it's possible to emerge refreshed, surprised and less burdened than when we came
- There is always invitation, never invasion; always opportunity, never demand
- No fixing, no saving, no advising, and no setting each other straight
- When the going gets rough, turn to wonder
- Speak for yourself
- Listen to the silence
- Observe deep confidentiality
- Let the beauty we love be what we do
Circle of Trust® Retreats
The Center for Courage & Renewal offers a series of three progressive Circle of Trust® retreats designed for those interested in experiencing a circle of trust and focusing on ways to bring deeper connections to their lives and work. This series of retreats is intended for persons in diverse professions including education, healthcare, law, philanthropy, religious life, non-profit and community leadership.
- Circle of Trust I: The Journey toward an Undivided Life
This introductory retreat focuses on the rejoining of soul and role, on reconnecting who we are with what we do. Clearness Committees, a communal process of discernment around a difficult life or vocational issue, will be offered as part of this retreat.
- Circle of Trust II: Living the Questions
This, the second Circle of Trust retreat, is for people with previous experience in a circle of trust. It explores, in more depth, the conditions that help create a circle of trust, with particular attention given to the practice of asking open, honest questions. Note: Prior attendance at a Circle of Trust I: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life Retreat is required. - Circle of Trust III: Welcoming the Soul and Weaving Community
The final Circle of Trust retreat creates a space where participants not only go deeper in their own inner work but can also explore what Parker Palmer describes as "the third way." ("The third way is the way of nonviolence, by which I mean a commitment to act in every situation in ways that honor the soul." - Parker Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness). During this retreat, there will also be an opportunity to explore integrating the conditions and practices of circles of trust into participants' own work or community settings. Note: Prior attendance at a Circle of Trust II: Living the Questions Retreat is required. Alumni of Courage to Teach and Courage to Lead retreat series may also attend.
Click here for upcoming Circles of Trust in the northeast.
Click here for information about upcoming retreats around the country.
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 05, 2008