Spiritual Circles

Spiritual circles offer seekers a place to share ideas and experiences with others on a similar journey. In this respectful and creative environment, resources like author Vicky Thompson's Life-Changing Affirmations, The Jesus Path: 7 Steps to a Cosmic Awakening and spiritual books by other authors provide a springboard for discussion on spiritual topics of interest to you and your spiritual group.

Spiritual Circle Contacts

Thoughts on Spiritual Circles

During a spiritual journey, you will experience both internal and external times of focus and growth. Spiritual groups can support you when you are focusing externally on learning new spiritual ideas through the energy and power of a group setting.

At other times during your journey, you may wish to focus solely on your internal spiritual connection. It’s okay to let others know when you need time alone to go inside and explore your soul. Spiritual circle membership may change, reflecting the unique needs of the individuals who make up the spiritual group.

Most of your spiritual growth will occur during times of personal inner contemplation. Spiritual group work should enhance your personal inner work, not replace it. 

Creating a Spiritual Circle

Each spiritual circle reflects the unique interests and contributions of its members. Here are some general guidelines for setting up your own spiritual group.

Meeting times and places: You may wish to share hosting responsibilities by creating a calendar of hosts/home addresses. Circles also may choose to meet at a local coffee shop or other public venues. Based on group needs and desires, meetings may be held as often as the group decides (i.e., monthly on the first Thursday or biweekly on the first and third Mondays).

Spiritual circle meeting leadership: Based on the needs and desires of the spiritual group, decide who will lead each meeting. If you share hosting responsibilities, the host could serve as leader of that particular meeting. It may serve the spiritual growth of the group to have different leaders for each meeting.

Ground rules for respectful interactions: Your group may wish to agree upon rules for discussion, finding common ground for respectful interactions. During brainstorming meetings, you may wish to create a list of ground rules that can be included with your spiritual group's calendar materials. Your group may wish to have a motto of We agree to disagree, always respecting the right of others to their beliefs. The meeting leader may wish to remind the group of the motto when members do not agree on issues. The primary goal of the group should be to have respectful interactions that inspire and support the spiritual growth of the group.

Refreshments: Based on the needs and desires of the group, decide if you would like to have members bring refreshments to the spiritual circle. Hosts could provide simple beverages only or members could bring snacks as well.

Membership outreach: You may wish to post flyers for your spiritual circle at local bookstores, health food stores, yoga centers or other businesses in your area. You also may wish to submit information on your meeting to the calendar section of your local newspaper.

Spiritual Circle Meeting Format

Brainstorm with your spiritual group about creating a consistent format for meeting activities, which may include having an opening meditation or prayer, group discussions, book discussions, guest speakers or a closing healing prayer circle. Based on the unique make up of your group, create activities that serve as meaningful parts of a spiritual journey.

Opening prayers: Based on your group's desires, you can create opening prayers that reflect the topic of each meeting (i.e., for a meeting on hope and spirituality, the meeting leader could find or create a prayer about hope). Or your group may wish to use the same prayer each week to set the intention of the group for the meeting.

Meditations: The spiritual group may wish to do group meditations. You can use guided meditation CDs, play music while the group focuses on their breathing or an inner state (i.e., focus on the power of love flowing through you while listening to music), or have the meeting leader guide the group in meditation.

Group and book discussions: The group may brainstorm topics for discussion at upcoming meetings. You also may wish to use books to generate discussions by agreeing to read and discuss a book at a particular meeting. You may take ideas from the books to create prayers and meditations for the meeting.

Guest speakers: Your spiritual group may wish to bring in guest speakers or you can ask members of the group to serve as group speakers on certain topics at meetings. Speakers from the group may wish to bring in books and other resources on a topic to share during their discussion. Find out the interests and talents of your group and pull from your own circle as well as guest speakers from the community to inspire the group.

Closing Healing Prayer Circle: Your group may wish to end the meeting with a healing prayer circle. You may wish to stand in a circle and hold hands. The meeting leader may ask that the group pray for certain individuals who need healing, giving each member an opportunity to request prayers for themselves and others.

Start a Spiritual Circle in Your Area

If you would like to start a spiritual circle in your area, please contact us using the form below. Your name, email address, city and state will be added to the list of spiritual circle contacts at JourneywithSpirit.com. 

Phone number listings are optional (include your phone number below if you'd like it listed on JourneywithSpirit.com).

Copyright © 2002-2004 by Vicky Thompson