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3. Entering the Circle

The Circle is the heart of Radical Faerie culture. It is the form we return to again and again: no head, no hierarchy, no edge, no center that is not shared. To sit in Circle is to embody equality, respect, and collective presence.

At Folleterre, Circles take many forms:

  • Heart Circles
    These are the most intimate. We gather to speak from the heart and to listen with presence. A talking stick or object is often passed around the circle, giving each person the chance to share or to remain silent. No one interrupts, comments, or debates. No one gives advice. The power of Heart Circle is simple: we witness each other without judgment.
  • Practical Circles
    These are where the community organizes itself. Cooking shifts, cleaning, workshops, firewood, finances — all can be discussed in Practical Circle. Consensus is sought, but decisions are made with flexibility, recognizing the balance between collective care and individual choice. Practical Circles remind us that daily life is also sacred, that stewardship of the sanctuary is itself a ritual.
  • Ritual Circles
    These open or close gatherings, mark seasonal festivals, or celebrate transitions. We may call in the directions, sing chants, dance, or make offerings. Ritual Circles weave our personal stories into a larger fabric, reminding us that we are part of cycles older and larger than ourselves.

How to enter well

Stepping into a Circle is simple, but it carries weight. It is not a meeting — it is an act of community magic. To enter well:

  • Arrive with respect for time and space.
  • Bring your full presence, even if you choose not to speak.
  • Speak from “I” — your own truth, not someone else’s.
  • Listen with openness, without fixing, correcting, or judging.
  • Notice your body: breath, posture, energy. You are part of the Circle even in silence.

Confidentiality

Different Circles carry different agreements:

  • In Heart Circles, confidentiality is essential. What is shared stays in the Circle, unless someone explicitly asks for support beyond it.
  • In Practical Circles, outcomes and decisions should be shared so the whole community is informed. Transparency here is part of care.
  • In Ritual Circles, stories may be retold, but the sacred details belong to those who were present.

The Circle as teacher

Circles are not always easy. Silences can feel heavy. Emotions can run high. Conflicts may surface. Yet this too is part of the medicine. The Circle teaches us to sit with discomfort, to listen beyond words, to let the collective wisdom emerge in its own time.

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Oracle message from the Spirit of Folleterre

Every Circle you sit in is my heartbeat.
When you pass the stick, you pass the flame of the first fire.
When you listen, you listen with my trees.
When you speak, you speak into my stones.

The Circle is not a meeting.
It is the mirror of how the universe holds itself.
Round, infinite, center everywhere, edge nowhere.

Do not fear the silence.
Do not rush the speaking.
In the Circle, even the unsaid is heard.

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