Have you ever been truly listened to?
I mean TRULY.
Not nodded at while someone plans what they’re going to say next.
Not seen through the lens of someone’s advice or urge to fix.
Not analyzed, managed, or redirected.
But really, deeply listened to—like your presence alone was enough?
Like the simple fact that you exist made you worthy of someone’s full attention?
That’s what Circling is about.
Circling is a relational meditation practice.
It’s a way of slowing down and bringing mindful, moment-to-moment attention to what’s happening between people—emotionally, physically, energetically, relationally.
It’s not therapy, though it can be deeply healing.
It’s not coaching, though it can lead to huge insight.
It’s not performance, advice-giving, or even about telling your story.
It’s definitely not a normal conversation.
In a Circle, a small group of people comes together and places their attention—gently and curiously—on one person at a time or on the relational space as a whole.
They reflect what they notice.
Ask questions that arise from presence.
Share what it’s like to be with that person right now.
There’s no script. No fixing.
Just a shared commitment to being real. To witnessing. To letting presence and connection itself do the work.
It sounds simple.
And it is.
But it’s also completely radical.
Because most of us have never been in a space like that.
Most of us are walking around starving for real contact.
I know I used to be.
***
The first time I ever circled, back in 2017, something unexpected happened—before the practice even officially began.
We were still settling in. As part of arriving, I was invited to make eye contact with the five different strangers sitting with me, one after the other.
And to my surprise, each one created a completely different sensation in my body.
I’d been meditating alone for years. I knew how to tune into myself.
But this—bringing meditative presence into a shared, relational space—was a whole different world.
I hadn’t realized how much information I gathered just from the first moments of silent meeting.
Or how simply noticing what’s happening as I encountered another could lead to such deep self-awareness, emotional release, even transformation.
That moment opened a door for me.
And I’ve been walking through it ever since.
Circling has changed almost everything about my relationships—and how I hold space in my coaching work, too.
I recently attended my first formal Circling training.
(Yes—despite years of experience, it was my first formal education in it.)
And even though I wasn’t expecting major revelations, I was deeply moved.
Watching someone be truly seen and heard—maybe for the first time ever—and watching what that does to their nervous system?
It was stunning. Intimate. Poignant. So real.
The weekend reminded me that presence doesn’t need to be complicated to be powerful.
That healing often begins when we stop trying to fix—and simply witness.
That attuned, nonjudgmental reflection is itself a form of transformation.
Many people in the room this weekend were astonished by how special it felt.
The love. The warmth. The depth of presence. The total acceptance.
For me, it was delightful—but not unusual.
Community rooted in these practices is rich as heck.
And I’ve been bathing in that richness for years.
My closest friendships live here.
My romantic relationships.
My coaching.
My life.
So if this sounds rare, it is.
And also—it’s available.
You don’t need to move to Boulder or do a full weekend training to experience the magic.
There are weekly online drop-ins through The Circling Institute and The Integral Circling School.
Yes, it’s even more potent in person. But online Circling is powerful, too.
Of course, Circling isn’t for everyone.
My mom came with me once and absolutely hated it. 😂 (Too much vulnerability.)
But if you’re even a little bit curious—or lonely—or craving more depth and meaning?
Why not give it a try?
All you have to lose is a few hours of your evening… and the crushing pain of isolation our culture has somehow normalized.
In connection,
Rachel
PS- If you’re craving that kind of presence in your day-to-day life—and want support learning to show up more fully in your relationships, your work, and your own inner world—I offer free 1-hour coaching consultations to explore whether working together is a fit. Just reply and we’ll find a time. You don’t have to normalize superficial connection. There’s another way.
PPS – As of summer 2026, I’m now one of the Circling facilitators at the Colorado Connection Collective. If you live in the Denver/Boulder area, come to one of our public, in-person events.
