|  The
Planning Circle
by Linda Merryman
In the organic volunteer way of the Millionth Circle, a group
of 7 wanted to be the working circle to plan MC's participation
in GTW Congress. This was a first for MC to be a part of something
that was being put together by another group. At the Congress
each woman would have a choice of four activities on Saturday
afternoon. We would be one choice. In a series of 6 or 7 one-hour
phone circles we devised a plan for our 90-minute piece of
the overall GTW congress.
We decided we could say for sure that we are a grass roots,
international volunteer organization of women who believe
that by seeding, nurturing, and connecting circles we can
facilitate a change in the world. We agreed that meeting in
sacred circle allows us to speak from the heart and be heard.
Very simple it seems, but getting to that point took a bit
of conversation.
Then we decided we wanted the 90 minutes to be the experience
of circle as a noun and as a verb. We wanted it to show the
efficient use of time that circle can provide. We wanted to
be in circle with everyone who came (and we had no way of
knowing how many people that would be) and we wanted all voices
heard. And, of course, we wanted the field to be one of beauty.
We needed flowers, and candles, and a form of smudge that
would work in the hotel and not be offensive to scent sensitive
people. In keeping with the theme of the Congress we wanted
to stay on track with Weaving a World that Works and use this
time to be heard and to speak our intentions aloud.
As the telephone circles got closer to the date and the emails
circled round and round many pieces came together. We decided
to meet in a large circle and break after 15 minutes into
small ones of 7. In these circles we would have a leader,
each of us and others from the MC. We would pose two questions.
We would smudge with boughs of rosemary dipped in water as
people came through the door. We would call in the directions,
do a centering, get information about circling and go in silence
to our small circles. We would have a candle in the center
of the large circle and one for each person in the small circles
to light and take home. We would bring scarves for the center
of each circle and have flowers for the large one. After an
hour in our small circles, we would join together again in
the big circle and have a closing and a song.
Everything was in place, but what were the questions? After
soul searching it was agreed we would ask first, in connection
with the themes of this gathering-- "What touches my
heart most deeply right now?" And after each person had
an opportunity to answer that we would ask, "How might
I use myself in our world to help manifest my deepest concerns?"
Although at times it seemed we were planning a world summit
of some great magnitude, or that no one would come, or that
we would not have it together, we all stayed present with
the process. On Saturday in a matter of minutes we transformed
the room, set the stage, and were delighted to accommodate
about a hundred women. Many people came into the door and
smelled the sweetness of the smudge and heard the beautiful
Praises To The World chant and sighed as they dropped into
this big sacred circle. Every voice was heard and every intention
was witnessed. When the small circles rejoined for the ending,
there were so many of us that we had to turn sideways to all
fit. Hopefully that energy is manifesting out in the world
now, as each person is empowered to actualize their intention
out in the world.
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