A Circle of Trust
Like a wild animal, the soul is tough, resilient, resourceful, savvy, and self-sufficient: it knows how to survive in hard places. I learned about these qualities during my bouts with depression. In that deadly darkness, the faculties I had always depended on collapsed. My intellect was useless; my emotions were dead; my will was impotent; my ego was shattered. But from time to time, deep in the thickets of my inner wilderness, I could sense the presence of something that knew how to stay alive even when the rest of me wanted to die. That something was my tough and tenacious soul.
Yet despite its toughness, the soul is also shy. Just like a wild animal, it seeks safety in the dense underbrush, especially when other people are around. If we want to see a wild animal, we know that the last thing we should do is go crashing through the woods yelling for it to come out. But if we will walk quietly into the woods, sit patiently at the base of a tree, breathe with the earth, and fade into our surroundings, the wild creature we seek might put in an appearance. We may see it only briefly and only out of the corner of an eye - but the sight is a gift we will always treasure as an end in itself.
Unfortunately, community in our culture too often means a group of people who go crashing through the woods together, scaring the soul away. In spaces ranging from congregations to classrooms, we preach and teach, assert and argue, claim and proclaim, admonish and advise, and generally behave in ways that drive everything original and wild into hiding. Under these conditions, the intellect, emotions, will and ego may emerge, but not the soul: we scare off all the soulful things, like respectful relationships, goodwill, and hope.
A circle of trust is a group of people who know how to sit quietly "in the woods" with each other and wait for the shy soul to show up... In such a space, we are freed to hear our own truth, touch what brings us joy, become self critical about our faults, and take risky steps toward change - knowing that we will be accepted no matter what the outcome.
Parker J. Palmer, is a world-renowned writer, speaker and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. He has reached millions worldwide through his nine books, including Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, A Hidden Wholeness, and Healing the Heart of Democracy. Above is an excerpt from his book titled A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life.
SEED QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION: What do you understand by the term "circle of trust"? Can you share a personal experience of being in a circle of trust? What helps your shy soul "put in an appearance?"
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11 Past Reflections
On Jul 4, 2015 Anne wrote :
Learn how to do this at http://www.focusingresources.com.
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On Apr 15, 2015 Indira wrote :
I love this concept of the Circle of trust. For me, it is firstly the desire to seek ad live in solitude for some part of daily living to first center oneself and keep that soul voice alive, regardless of joy or pain. This inner center should then hopefully be able to expand into a greater, inclusive, non-judgmental circle of trust, love, understandind and support.. Herein lies the foundations of real societies and communities.
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On Apr 14, 2015 Always Trust wrote :
Full TRUST is very difficult to come by these days. People talk, chat, tweet, repeat, text . . . what they know. The more one "knows" (and can share) the more interesting one becomes. People talk for talking's sake. Story telling, expanding truth and lies has become the norm! It's no wonder my small mind cannot find "truth" (trust) within the muddle of "my world".
This is why (when I married my husband), the circle formed in our union was more of trust than of love. (Out of trust comes love . . . Usually, not the other way around!)
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On Apr 14, 2015 paashi wrote :
My circle of trust is the awareness that is drawn to wholeness of life doing its dance. It's the urge to break through the fog of separateness while simultaneously honoring our unique soul prints. Being in the presence of trees with sunlight streaming through the canopy by myself or with others , allows my shy soul to make its appearance.
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On Apr 14, 2015 Syd wrote :
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On Apr 14, 2015 Sunil,Bangalore wrote :
Circle of Trust is harmony of mind, body & soul. All three must have 100% trust in each other. When Thought, Intuition and Action are in the same wave length we are in the circle of trust. So also like minded souls can form a circle of trust.
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On Apr 14, 2015 klaus wrote :
...and the soul is there - but what happens when it is opressed by stronger forces in you, destructive and not able to listen to your positiv inner voice? Or in other words, why are there so many sucides - mainly men betwenn 19 - 25 and between 40 - 45 years?
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On Apr 12, 2015 Kristin Pedemonti wrote :
Circle of trust is a safe environment where one can share from their heart and soul and feel accepted and valued. I am fortunate to have several of these circles in my life & have relied on them in my own times of darkness. My soul is generally speaking a bit more open, yet when the darkness comes, the soul retreats and I am even more grateful for those who quietly enter space with me, sit listen and sometimes don't even say anything, simply offer their presence. Hugs to everyone, may we all be in quiet presence with each other.
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On Apr 12, 2015 david doane wrote :
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