Drawings with writing on them along with pastels

Deepening engagement through the expressive arts

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Discovering healing circles was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received, coming at a point in my life when I deeply needed a caring, authentic, and creative community. I’d had a long career in higher education, flourishing in a culture…
Canda Lambert

Healing through song

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Healing circles traditionally center around talking, but did you know that singing can reduce stress, stimulate the immune system, increase pain tolerance, foster a sense of belonging, enhance memory in people with dementia, ease grief, and…
Hands held over each other with space in between

Zooming in on the practice of self-care

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The embodiment movement has urged us all to shut down our screens and get outside, connect with nature, and reclaim the physical activities and somatic therapies that foster integration of mind/body/soul. Too much screen time turns us into…
Cynthia Clough with Italian flag in background

A culture of healing

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“Third culture kids” are children who are raised in a culture (or several) other than the one that is native to them. They grow up feeling that they don’t truly belong in their adoptive countries or in their country of origin. My father…
Mandala created by members of LWC 8

The traveling mandala

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Our Living with Cancer circle formed in 2020, when in-person support groups were rare. One of our members had tried other online cancer support groups, but ours was the one that stuck for her. We were creating bonds of support, love, and friendship,…
Nicci de Wet-du Toit

Sitting at the feet of masters

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Death in all forms has been a part of my life since I was a six-year old growing up in South Africa. Each death felt like something that was connected to me got lost or broke off. I was drawn to discussions about death and found it odd and irritating…
Lori Tupper

The tightrope

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Every morning, I wake up and walk the line to the bathroom (as most people do), but two years ago, when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, the line became a tightrope. My balance became very important to me as the cancer…
Polly Marshall with her dog Pumpkin and daughter Emilia

Preventing cancer while supporting those who have it

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I was diagnosed with invasive ductal breast cancer in 2009 at the age of 52, when both my children were teenagers. I had three surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation while trying to maintain my career as an attorney at a small housing and community…

Healing Circles Retreat Opening Remarks

We are in a moment in which healing is critical for our survival. Not only healing the political world but the many vectors that threaten our existence on this planet. This is the immense work ahead of us. But we have the tools. We have the “Healing Circles Way,” the “Commonweal Way.”

Sitting with Uncertainty

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The following discussion (originally posted January 22, 2012) is an example of circle taking place in many forms. Because Terri Mason asked the original questions, this post is attributed to her, but many others contributed. In the thread below,…