Inclusive spiritual development circles and gatherings

31 Mar

spiritual development circle an abstract circle made of flowers with a rainbow overlay

Exploring spiritual development circles, healing circles, women’s circles, men’s circles and other ways of circling

Hello and thanks for being here. I’m sure you’ve heard terms like spiritual development circle, healing circle, women’s circle and men’s circle but what do they actually mean? Before we dig into that, it feels important to say that my circles are identity and gender-affirming, welcoming people of all genders and gender expressions. I’ll talk more about that later too. I also don’t know that I’d exclusively call my circle spaces spiritual development circles. There is a spiritual element, yes but the space is more about connection to ourselves, each other and something outside of us. I’ll talk more about that below.

Circles, including spiritual development circles and other kinds (I’ve shared a list below, with descriptions), are increasingly becoming an integral part of modern wellbeing, healing, and community-building and I’ve experienced the impact of circling first hand. Several years ago, when I’d just moved to Birmingham, I joined a women’s circle and it supported me through some hard times, including the pandemic years. I’ve since sat in a lot of different circles, as well as training to facilitate them, and circling has given me a space to get to know myself better, as well as connecting me with communities that have led to some of my closest friendships.

If you’re new here I’m Laura, a registered counsellor, therapist,nature therapist, somatic therapist and space holder. My work is all about guiding people back into relationship with themselves, with their bodies, and with the wider natural world.

When I sit in circle with others, I know that I’m connecting with something ancient, that happens across cultures. People have always gathered. Whether that’s to honour the shifting seasons, to celebrate and honour rites of passage, or to do the kind of spiritual work that happens through community connection.

If you want to check out my circle based offerings check out The Rooted Self for in person gatherings and my Patreon for online explorations.

The origins of circles as a practice

“The circle practice …is a small part of the ancient story of circle and humankind co-arising around the world. Circle can be described as “remembering” something deep in our bones, in our DNA. Campfire rings in Africa and the Nile Delta date back over 100,000 years. Evidence of these long-cooled ashes of culture-building councils, along with examples on other continents such as the circles of stone chairs in historical Slovenian villages, give us a glimpse into circle as a common ancestral source” - The Circle Way

Circles are not a new trend, they’re one of the oldest forms of human gathering. Across Indigenous cultures worldwide, sitting in a circle has always been a way to share stories, make decisions, mark transitions, and connect with the land, ourselves and spirit.

In many traditions, the circle represents:

Equality (no one sits above another)
Wholeness and unity
Cycles of nature (seasons, life, death, rebirth)
A shared space for listening and presence

Modern circles are inspired by indigenous roots and it’s important to approach them with respect, humility, and awareness of their cultural origins.

What happens in a circle?

"Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing, and always come back again to where they were. The life of a person is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves." ~ Black Elk

A circle is a space where people gather intentionally. Unlike social meetups or workshops, circles are less about performance or outcomes and more about presence, authenticity, and connection.

While each circle is different, many include:

Guided meditation or grounding practices
Sharing (often with a talking piece or structured listening)
Reflection and intention setting
Ritual elements (seasonal, creative, or symbolic)
Silence, stillness, and deep listening

Circles often centre around themes like healing, personal growth, spirituality, emotional wellbeing, or life transitions.

The principles of circling

"Energy moves in cycles, circles, spirals, vortexes, whirls, pulsations, waves, and rhythms—rarely if ever in simple straight lines." ~ Starhawk

While formats vary, most circles are guided by a few core principles:

1. Equality
Everyone sits at the same level and there’s no hierarchy. The facilitator is part of the circle, not above it.

2. Confidentiality
What is shared in the circle stays in the circle, creating a sense of safety and trust.

3. Non-judgement
Participants are invited to share openly, without fear of being fixed, judged, or interrupted.

4. Deep Listening
Listening is just as important as speaking. Circles encourage presence rather than response.

5. Authentic Expression
There is no pressure to perform or “get it right.” People are welcome as they are.

In the circles I offer, I also ensure the space is held in a way that’s trauma informed, identity affirming and neurodiversity affirming. You can read about my values as a space-holder here.

Women’s circles, men’s circles, and inclusive circles

"We came whirling out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust... The stars made a circle, and in the middle, we dance." ~ Rumi

Many circles are gender-specific, offering space to explore shared experiences and identities.

Women’s circles often focus on cycles, embodiment, intuition, and collective support.
Men’s circles may explore emotional expression, masculinity, and connection beyond societal expectations.

While some spaces are organised around gender, these can unintentionally exclude gender non-conforming and gender expansive people. Because of this, it’s really important to me that the spaces I hold go beyond binary structures, creating spaces for people of all genders and identities.

As a therapist and counsellor, I also strongly believe in the power of reparative relational experiences. When we experience (relative) safety, with the agency to share or not, within spaces where all genders and gender expressions are welcome, we can start to rewrite some of the relational patterns we carry.

Why circles matter today

"The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball, and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours." ~ Black Elk

In inclusive circle spaces, there is an opportunity to experience connection differently: to be seen without assumption, to be met without judgement, and to be in authentic relationship with people whose experiences may not mirror our own. This doesn’t mean safety is assumed; it’s co-created by ensuring boundaries are respected, consent is centred and agency is always invited.

In a culture that prioritises productivity, circles can offer something different: a space that intends to support people to show up as they are, while recognising that this is not always equally accessible or safe for everyone. Rather than existing outside of the systems that shape our lives, circles can offer a space to become more aware of, and gently relate differently to, the ways capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy live in our bodies, relationships, and sense of belonging.

As a white facilitator, I’m aware that I don’t experience these systems in the same way as everyone who may enter the space. Power dynamics don’t disappear within a circle, they need to be acknowledged, reflected on, and responsibly held.

Types of healing and spiritual development circles

"Earth Mother, you who are called by a thousand names. May all remember we are cells in your body and dance together." ~ Starhawk

Circles take many forms, depending on intention, tradition, and the needs of the people gathering. the circles I offer align with some of these categories and I’ll talk more about that below. Here are some of the most common types:

Moon circles – Often aligned with the full or new moon, focusing on reflection, release, and intention-setting
Seasonal circles – Marking the wheel of the year (e.g. solstices, equinoxes, Beltane, Samhain)
Earth-based / nature circles – Rooted in connection to the land, elements, and natural cycles
Eco-spiritual circles – Blending spirituality with ecological awareness and care for the Earth
Ritual circles – Structured around symbolic acts, intention, and transformation
Ceremony circles – Drawing from spiritual or cultural traditions
Fire circles – Gathering around a fire for storytelling, release, or communal ritual
Healing circles – Focused on emotional, energetic, or spiritual healing
Somatic circles – Centred on body awareness, nervous system regulation, and embodiment
Trauma-informed circles – Held with awareness of safety, consent, and nervous system sensitivity
Grief circles – Spaces to process loss and be witnessed in mourning
Sharing circles – Emphasising voice, listening, and being heard without interruption
LGBTQ+ circles – Centring queer and trans experiences and community
Cultural or affinity circles – Held for specific communities or shared identities
Spiritual or spiritual development circles – Exploring connection to self, spirit, or the unseen
Meditation circles – Group meditation and mindfulness practice

Art circles – Using creativity as a form of expression and healing
Writing or journalling circles – Guided reflection through words
Movement circles – Dance, intuitive movement, or embodied expression
Sound circles – Using voice, music, or sound healing

The Rooted Self circle: nature, somatics, ritual and trauma-Informed practice

Paganism is rooted in a rich history of spiritual tradition on these lands, that honours the natural world, draws inspiration from mythology and stories, and offers insights into our relationship with ourselves and the more-than-human world around us.

The Rooted Self Circle meets monthly in Birmingham, at a nature centre and we spend a significant part of each session connecting with the land. We do this through somatic and embodiment practices, guided meditation, journalling and reflection, eco-therapy practices, ritual and ceremony, nature-based spirituality, and exploration of psychology, archetypes and folklore.

We follow The Wheel of The Year, which is rooted in Celtic Paganism but you don’t have to be a Pagan to join us. These sessions are for anyone who wants to gather in community and they’re open to people of all faiths, and those with none. Gatherings are trauma-informed, identity and gender-affirming, and neurodiversity-affirming, welcoming people of all genders and gender expressions.

My online circle work takes a more solo, self-paced approach to circling. In my Patreon, I offer seasonal reflections, somatic and journalling invitations, and audio-guided practices that explore ritual, ceremony, archetypes, and our relationship with nature.

While these guided circles are experienced in your own space and time, they’re not intended to be isolating. Each offering invites you into connection with yourself, with nature, and with the wider web of community who are exploring these practices alongside you, across space and time.

Again, offerings are trauma-informed, identity and gender-affirming, and neurodiversity-affirming, welcoming people of all genders and gender expressions.