Heart Circle Reminders

The heart circle is a long-standing radical faerie tradition. At its core is the practice of sitting in a circle and
speaking from our hearts.

Heart circle participants often begin a heart circle share by saying their names, which is usually repeated in
unison by the rest of the heart circle participants. Then, participants speak, sing, move, or shares in any way
they wish from their hearts. Due to the nature of the heart share, a heart circle usually has no theme, topic, or
agenda other than sharing from the heart.

Heart circles may follow “go-around”, “popcorn”, or other styles. “Go around” means that each person takes
a turn speaking (or passing by remaining silent or just saying their name) one by one going around the circle,
which encourages broader participation from the group. “Popcorn” means that participants located anywhere
on the circle speak one after another as they feel moved to do so, which favors participation by people who
feel the greatest urgency to share. Participants may remain where they are in the circle to speak or they may
enter to speak from the center of the heart circle.

Heart circles often make use of one or more talismans, or ritual objects designed to focus attention on the
current heart circle participant. Talismans may take the form of shawls, crystals, or any other item that it
reasonably easy to pass from person to person.

A heart circle usually has a facilitator, sometimes with one or more co-facilitators, to call the circle together
with some kind of ritual (as simple as going around the circle saying names, singing a faerie song, and/or a
grounding of some kind), to create a protective sphere or shield around it, to review how heart circles work
which is particularly helpful to new heart circle participants, to keep track of time, to mediate any issues that
arise, and to wrap up (“open”) the heart circle at the appropriate time and with some kind of ritual.

Brief reminders a facilitator may wish to share with participants at the beginning of each heart circle:

• Share from your heart (please avoid intellectual debates or chatter)

• Heart circle time is precious, so make sure to share what you need, but don't repeat or dwell on
matters in a way that reduces the time available for other participant's heart shares

• (If using one or more talismans) Share only when holding a talisman.

• Avoid crosstalk (please don't focus directly on other participant's heart circle shares, but
instead on expressing your own heart)

• Do not attack any of the heart circle participants verbally or physically.

• If you wish to respond in an affirming manner, consider hissing quietly or making “jazz
hands”, so as not to disrupt the flow of the heart circle.

• What's shared in heart circle stays in heart circle (ask permission from all of those involved
before sharing outside a given heart circle anything shared during that heart circle)

Version 0.2 prepared by Stardust on 20160523