In essence, they are a space for men to talk, listen and grow as individuals. A space where you can really share what is going on in your life, health, relationships, identity, money, purpose, struggles or anything else that is present in your life at the moment. A space where you are heard. listened to and honoured for your honesty and vulnerability. A space where there is no shame, no judgement, no criticism, and no feedback.
As men, we are often taught or grow up to suppress our emotions; we create a facade of strength and self-control, not showing or sharing our vulnerabilities in society or even with the people we care about. Through the vulnerability in a men’s circle, we discover our deepest strength, the courage to face our fears, embrace our truth and forge connections that aren’t superficial.
The Key Principles
We follow core principles to create a supportive, transformational, safe, confidential, and constructive container.
Staying Present
Giving your undivided attention to the circle and everything that unfolds within it requires you to shift your attention away from any inner or outer distractions to truly be present. This allows us to connect more authentically with each other, paving the way for open, honest and genuine communication.
Active Listening
To truly listen is a skill that goes beyond just hearing, it requires you to listen to the speaker, feel their emotions and see their perspectives. To place no judgment and to listen without interruption. This nurtures the power of a circle where your words are truly heard, felt and understood.
Sharing Authentically
Everyone, from the participants to the facilitators, is important in creating a space that promotes trust and vulnerability. In a circle, this involves fostering a sense of brotherhood where everyone feels safe and supported so they can authentically share without fear of judgment or criticism.
What happens in a men's circle?
Each Men’s Circle will last around two hours. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed into the space. Once everyone has arrived, we will form a circle to review the agreements to ensure they are all understood and agreed to. The facilitator will then run a group activity that will vary at each session; this will usually be based on movement, meditation, breathing or other activities that are geared towards getting us out of our minds and into our bodies. Forming a circle we will then have a 3 word check-in to share what is alive in each man and what emotions they are bringing to the space.
The facilitator will then either guide the group into a practice, activity or a themed sharing circle, based on what is alive in the moment.
After this, the circle will open up to further shares, where you can step in and be heard. You can talk about whatever you want. We invite you to share what is moving for you now and how it's affecting you rather than telling us a past story. You will be invited to use “i” statements during your share, for example, “I am”, “I was”, “I feel”, etc. Everything is welcome in the circle; you can cry, rant, rage, and we will teach you some tools to help with this. You don’t need to try to be funny, clever or entertain the group; you just need to be honest.
We will then close the circle together, ending the evening.
Who are men's circles for?
The Circle of Men welcomes everyone from all walks of life, no matter what your race, financial status, background, or orientation, you are welcome. We just ask that you that you can share your experience of being a man; there are no other requirements. Men’s Circle are indeed a space for anyone who wants to grow as a person.
How often should I attend?
We run Men’s Circles in 4-week sessions with one session each week. This allows the group to get to know each other and build a greater bond with everyone, which in turn allows for deeper embodiment and greater self-growth.
What can you get out of a men’s circle
There is a lot you can get out of a men’s circle, whether it's online or in person, it really depends on you. The more you open up, feel the space and the others in the circle the more you will get out of it. Men’s Circles can improve your growth as a person and help you experience more well-being. Across the board,
- Feeling happier: people feel happier when they can share what they are going through
- Lighter shoulders: have a feeling of a weight being lifted off their shoulders
- Improved relationships: having a group you can share with often improves the relationships with their partner, children and other people in their life
- Motivation: being around other men who are growing themselves is very motivating for your own growth
- Emotional Intelligence: learning more about your own emotions and how to better work with them