Customer Reviews

Wisdom Circles: A Guide to Self-Discovery and Community Building in Small Groups

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This book has some of the best information I have found on community building, self-awareness and friendship through small groups. If someone is interested in starting a Circle, this is the book. After reading two other books on the subject, I appreciate the thorough coverage and information on forming and participating in a Circle that this book offers.

I bought this book because a women's group that I belong to decided to use it as a model. A few of us browsed and we *borrowed* a few ideas at the beginning..now a year later, the book is our *bible* and we wonder what we would do without the wisdom that the author share with us and their models for procedure that WORK. My admice is that if you are buying this book for a reference..that you consider trying the author's suggestion first, before you blunder as we did..for almost 8 months doing our best..to do our best..finally, in despair, we dug out the book again..and started following directions..smile.
IT WORKED...buy now and you wont need to worry later.

Wisdom Circles was written, the authors say, to help people call a circle--"a safe space within which to be authentic, trusting, caring, and open to change" The book offers "Constants" for circle work. When we come to a circle, we honor its processes and purposes as if they are sacred; we create a "safe container" and a "collective center" (transforming "I" into "we"); we speak and listen from the heart, with gratitude; we invite silence; we commit to and empower one another through a continuing relationship.

Wisdom Circles also helps us to improve our practice of circle work by offering ideas for opening and closing rituals, sustaining the process, and meeting challenges. If you are facilitating or working in a circle, you will find this book both helpful and inspiring.

by Susan Wittig Albert
for www.storycirclebookreviews.org
reviewing books by, for, and about women

Wisdom Circles is an excellent resource if you are looking to form a Circle, with suggestions of how to invite members, topics while in Circle, opening and closing rituals, and addressing any challenges that might come up in the group. The Wisdom Circles Constants provides a framework to create a group of shared leadership, a safe place for members to speak from the heart, to serve as compassionate witness, and create sacred space. If you are considering creating a Wisdom Circle this is the best resource. I recommend each member have a copy to refer to.