We gather in circle to remember who we are.TAlking Circles and gatherings
Mostly for sisters and our genderqueer kin. Mostly in-person in Chicago’s Far North Side. Mostly at night. Sometimes around my fire pit. Sometimes inside with my cats. ALWAYS POWERFUL (and welcoming).
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What they are
Talking circles are sacred spaces. In circle, we remember who we are and move into deeper integrity with ourselves and deeper relationship with those who gather with us in circle.
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Who they’re For
Talking circles are for humans who:Hold the gender identity required by the circle
Are struggling or feeling joyful (or something else)
Are open to witchy vibes and sisterhood energy
Can be in contact with cats/cat hair
Talking circles explore issues like:Capitalism, colonialism, racism, and other -isms
Self-love and self-worth
Existential matters
Our collective wellbeing
Feminism and patriarchy
Privilege
People-pleasing, boundaries, self-care
Pretty much anything related to wayfinding
Whatever your mind or heart is pulling you to share
How to JOin
View the Events Calendar, which includes circles. Consider requesting what you want if you don’t see it offered.
Circle mascots
I wish I had pictures to share with you of circles that I’ve facilitated, as I believe they’d set you at ease and leave you feeling curious and welcomed! But I don’t because (1) I have no interest paying a photographer to snap pics of a staged circle, and (2) I would never dream of interrupting an actual circle to take pictures!
I’ve had zero luck locating any stock photos…except for these old pics from an earlier era! I LOVE them — the brooms, the slightly devious smiles and eye twinkles, and the non-ethereal nature of them. And so, I’ve adopted them as our circles’ mascots. For what it’s worth!
What’s Inside a Circle
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Circles begin with a grounding and centering practice so that we can be fully present to each speaker, and so that we can take up space when it’s our turn to share from a place of grounded presence.
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In each and every circle I facilitate, we collectively read our circling agreements. These agreements create our circle’s structure, inform how sharing happens, and reduce the potential for conflict. Participants are also invited to request additional agreements that would make the circle a safer or braver place for them.
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Some circles include a reading and a reflection prompt. Readings are varied but are always intended to help you tap into your innate wisdom, feel empowered, or otherwise wayfind.
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One of the most cherished elements of the circles I facilitate is the practice of equity in sharing.
Each participant receives equal time to share, be it with their words or their silence. This means that our circle will hold space for the same amount of time for each person present, and that no one passes the talking piece until their time is up.
I do this for many reasons, most of which stem from my own dissatisfying experience as an introvert sitting in other circles where this isn’t practiced (e.g. 99% of them!). But the gist is that this practice ensures that everyone is given the same ‘right’ to take up space. And it’s fucking powerful.
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In most circles I facilitate, the ritual is to release what no longer serves us. While I may swap out this ritual for another one, this ritual has been continuously embraced by my community since it’s initiation and will likely remain.
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During our closing debrief, we take a few minutes to share popcorn style anything that we’re feeling called to share about our experience. Often, participants will offer their support to others. It’s a beautiful way to close out our circle and transition into a more social interaction.
✦ Sister love ✦
“The community of women I found through this circle has helped me feel witnessed and safely held. I have felt my self-esteem grow after each circle. I feel more ME than ever. Kristi is not only a wonderful facilitator, she is a delightful, beautiful and totally badass human.”
-Madi R.
“Kristi is just herself, and that allows authenticity to permeate the circles she holds. What power and beauty that can come from creating space to BE, to share, to connect! Having space like that, shared with others, allowed real learning and growth for me personally. I am so grateful!”
-Julie B.
“Gathering with sisters is masterfully facilitated by Kristi. The sacredness of the circle is held with each sister being able to share from her own experience and what is important to her in the present. It’s wonderful to be in a space that is non-judgmental, accepting, and also has boundaries so that everyone feels welcome.”
-Goddess Sherry
“The sister circles bring me life, grounding, and community. I am able to be my true authentic self and feel seen by my sisters. I always look forward to the circles and never feel like they’re just one more thing on my list that I have to do.”
-Olivia
“My intuition led me to sign up for a Sacred Sister Circle online with Kristi. It sounded like it would be supportive and so I signed up without a lot of thought. Two weeks later I found myself in some fresh grief and confusion the day before the circle. I couldn’t help but think about how likely the universe had my back when I had signed up two weeks earlier. I went to the circle and felt incredibly supported by Kristi’s gifted facilitation, I was grounded by the slow intentional unfolding of the circle and I left the circle with more connection to my own wisdom, and was really encouraged by the other women in the circle. Attending this circle is my new favorite form of self-care!”
-Anna Marie
“Kristi, you are truly gifted in what your heart moves you to do. I feel so grateful and fortunate to be in your tribe. 🧡🙏🏻 and loved meeting the women you bring into the fold. I know you will continue to bring together amazing women and their lives would be richly blessed for having met you.
I have experienced something magical and ethereal during the cacao ceremony…where it felt the time stood still and I was completely at one with my sisters and the universe, but when I came out of it, I was met with peace and tranquillity. Love to you and to all the ladies who were there. Blessings.”
-Emma Jung-Beeman (RIP, dear sister)
Q & A
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All circle event listings will indicate which gender identities are welcome.
The degree of a circle’s inclusivity depends on the intent of the circle, the host’s intent, etc.
The circles I facilitate are not rooted in any spiritual tradition, as I don’t claim membership to any. They are, however, influenced by my exposure to and participation in multiple circling traditions.
I often share readings and reflection prompts from Indigenous, Earth-based, witchy, and soul-focused authors. If this would bother you, the circles I facilitate won’t be a great fit.
Open-mindedness and the ability to hold space for worldviews that differ from yours is another important criteria. I want to specifically identify white fragility as being an antithesis to holding space, as it de-centers the person harmed by systemic oppression.
An important caveat: if your worldview perpetuates (or ignores) injustice or oppression, then these circles are not for you.
The circles I facilitate are based on expressed community interest or need. I am also available to facilitate one-off or a series of bookended circles.
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If a circle is explicitly noted to be a women’s circle, anyone who identifies as (a) a woman, or (b) genderqueer and AFAB is welcome.
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I currently don’t have a regular cadence for virtual circles, though I’ve facilitated them in the past and would like to do so again. If you would like to join a virtual circle, please drop me a line! If enough interest is there to support them, I will add them to the lineup.
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If you would like me to facilitate a circle or series of circles for you, please drop me a line. I look forward to learning about your intentions and ideas!
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It depends on who’s hosting the circle and how registrations are processed. Some hosts offer a sliding scale, and if I’m aware of this I’ll include mention of it on the circle lineup page.
If you need financial assistance for a circle that I’m hosting and none is offered as an option at checkout, please email me at kristi@kristiamdahl.com. If I can work with you, I will. There is never any shame in asking.
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While talking circles have a social element to them, they aren’t social circles. With that, please keep the booze at home, and plan to turn off your phone for the duration of our circle. Note that talking circles hosted at my home and some other venues will usually transition into a more social gathering following their conclusion.
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I currently facilitate circles in Chicago’s Far North Side. Specifically, North Mayfair — near Gompers Park and a few blocks southwest of Pulaski & Foster.
I am open to facilitating circles at other locations in Chicago’s Far North Side.
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Background
My approachI practice equity in sharing so that no one’s left out.
We co-create agreements to create our circling container.
I practice skillful facilitation to prevent power dynamics.
At least 50% of our time is spent in collective sharing.
Trainings of noteSacred Circle Workshop, Center for Transformational Coaching
Becoming the Guide, SoulWork
Circle Leader Training, The Wild Woman Project
Experiences of noteSeven years of participating in and facilitating 12-Step meetings
First sacred circle: 1999; first sister circle: 2000
Circle types I’ve participated in: talking, processing, sacred ceremonial, sister, community, consensus decision-making, 12-Step, cacao
Circle types I’ve facilitated: talking, sister, 12-Step, cacao