About us
Authentic Relating DC is a group for people to build authentic connections and attend Authentic Relating, Circling, and other community events in DC, MD, & VA! Join us if you're craving true connection, realness, self-discovery, and fun! Together, we'll skip the small talk and play games to build authentic relationships and community.
- What are Circling and Authentic Relating Games? ([https://www.authrev.com/ar-games/)](https://www.authrev.com/ar-games/))
Circling and Authentic Relating Games are practices that get you into connection with other people very fast, gently and in a non-threatening way. They are different modalities which share the same goals: human connection, healing and transformation, friendship and fun, and/or having plain-old interesting conversations with cool people in your community. Circling and Authentic Relating is also a rapidly-growing movement for creating a better society and it has penetration in 60+ cities world-wide.
Upcoming events
5
- $35.00
Authentic Relating: A Journey into Heartfelt Connection
Location not specified yet** Please go to Ticket Leap to complete your registration ***
Authentic Relating is for those who want to get beyond small talk and connect more deeply with others in a substance-free, inclusive, and supportive environment.
Most social events throw a bunch of strangers into a room to fend for themselves, which disadvantages people who have social anxiety and with marginalized identities. Authentic Relating intentionally disrupts this dynamic with strategies that facilitate equity and inclusion.
In a world where we often wear a mask, presenting some aspects of ourselves and hiding others in order to be accepted, Authentic Relating invites us to show up as we are. All parts, dimensions, emotions, and aspects that make us human are welcome in this practice. When we share from our authentic selves, we create the opportunity for genuine connections and self-understanding. The result is often moving and therapeutic.### What Is Authentic Relating?
Authentic is being real, honest, revealed, and transparent, allowing others to see, hear, and know our inner world. Relating is welcoming the other person's authentic self and weaving their reality and experience with our own. Authenticity and vulnerability are possible in an environment absent of judgement where we are received with openness, empathy, and compassion. It is also a journey, one where we take the time to get to know each other and feel comfortable enough to reveal ourselves (no one is forced to be vulnerable or share anything they are uncomfortable sharing). Authentic Relating is about creating a space where that journey can happen in a spirit of delight and discovery.
At a facilitated Authentic Relating gathering, one can have a meaningful interaction with every person, practice deep listening and sharing, and feel a sense of belonging. Guided activities encourage participants to be playful, curious, empathetic, thoughtful, and vulnerable. Facilitation and prepared questions help people practice active listening and self-reflection. Everyone has an equal amount of time to talk, listen, and be heard, and no one can dominate the conversation or be a wallflower.### Principles and Practices for Authentic Relating
Mindfulness: Slowing down, being present and aware of our inner state and surroundings.
Empathy: Being aware of and releasing judgement, employing empathy, curiosity, openness, and recognition of multiple perspectives.
Authenticity: Vulnerability, honesty, voicing our truth, self-awareness.
Centering the other: No interrupting, giving advice, fixing, or telling your own story. Ask for permission to share your opinion, advice, your own story, and questions.
Validating: acknowledging, appreciating, reflecting, empathizing, and presencing.
Structure: Timed interactions where people take turns sharing, listening, and reflecting. Conversations range from 5 to 10 minutes.
Equity: Conversation partners are assigned randomly in order to avoid choosing partners based on personal preference. Group conversations typically involve going in order around a circle rather than popcorn style.
Prepared questions: Directs conversation towards meaningful topics and deeper reflection.### Sample Agenda
5 min: Partnered conversation to land
5 min: Loving kindness meditation
10 min: Introduction to authentic relating
10 min: Opening shares
10 min: Movement activity
45 min: Facilitated conversations
10 min: Break
45 min: Facilitated conversations
15 min: Closing circle### Sample Conversation Prompts
What are you passionate about?
What do you struggle with?
What are you most anxious or fearful about?
What gives you hope?
What is a difficulty or challenge that you’re struggling with?
What is something that you long for that you don’t have?
What do you need?### Additional Info
Advanced registration required. No walk ins.
NO REFUNDS unless the event is cancelled.
Everyone who attends is invited to join a WhatsApp group to stay in touch and connect with others one-on-one.
This event is not exclusively for singles! All ages, genders, sexualities, abilities, identities, etc. welcome!
The event is capped at 20 and will be cancelled if there are fewer than 6. This helps us create an intimate atmosphere and get to know everyone in the group.
If you would like to participate, please arrive early so we can start on time. Late arrivals jeopardize the emotional safety and flow of the event.### Videos to Learn More
2 minute video
15 minute video### Testimonials
"I live in an intentional community where I am friends with all the residents and we never lock our doors, but even here, we don't reach the depth of connection that I experience at Authentic Relating in 3 hours. This is a heart filled, nourishing practice for everyone who desires genuine connection and community."
"Thank you so much for organizing the event today. I was extremely apprehensive about the experience but you created a safe, joyful, and meaningful event. Your passionate, kind, and gentle spirit helped to create a beautiful and loving environment. I also gained skills that will help me deepen my relationships and connect with more people. I was really pleasantly surprised and moved by the experience."
"I was very surprised with how much I both needed and enjoyed the workshop. As someone who is pretty good with people, I have found that finding friends has been difficult since moving to the DMV for school. I never thought of attending a workshop made specifically for helping people meet new friends would be something I needed, let alone something I would enjoy. The facilitator was kind yet direct, and led the time well, and the activities we fun and varied. Most importantly, real connection was generated, and while obviously follow up is our responsibility, being able to attend a space that helped get us past the meeting phase was worth its weight in gold. I would happily attend again."
"This was amazing! I'm definitely coming back and inviting my friends next time!"
“I will never experience social gatherings the same way again!”
"Most social events are like fast food--stimulating but insubstantial. Authentic Relating feels more like a carefully crafted and nutritious meal, made with love for you."
"I went to this event last month and enjoyed it so much ❤️ I formed a lot of bonds in a short amount of time. Time well spent. Highly recommend it!"
"Authentic Relating is life changing!"
"Clara is a warm and engaging facilitator who makes everyone feel welcome and comfortable to be their authentic selves."
## About the Facilitator
Clara Fang, Ph.D. is the founder of Green Tara Consulting, a consulting firm that specializes in diversity, equity, and belonging. She has been working at the intersection of climate advocacy and racial justice for twenty years. She is an experienced facilitator of authentic relating, meditation, and ecstatic dance. She lives in Germantown, MD. bio.site/cfang
To learn more about my approach to creating inclusive social gatherings, please read https://greentaraconsulting.com/blog/authentic-relating-update
Subscribe to the email list to receive notification of future events and connect with other members.
** Please go to Ticket Leap to complete your registration ***
1 attendee - $30.00
Radiant Rhythms Ecstatic Dance
Location not specified yetRegister at https://flyingbuddhastudio.com/
Go to "Workshop" --> "Radiant Rhythms Ecstatic Dance"Ecstatic dance is an exceptional wellness practice exploring free expression through movement in a substance-free, facilitated, and inclusive environment. In ecstatic dance, there are no set steps or structures, you move however you feel moved to move. The goal is to get out of our heads and get in touch with our bodies, emotions, and the collective. The dance is constructed as a wave where the music starts out slowly and gradually increases in pace and intensity before coming down to resting. This structure facilitates easing into movement, building to an ecstatic state, and gradually releasing. Everyone can choose how they want to express themselves long as they don’t interfere with others’ self expression. In ecstatic dance, we co-create a safe space where everyone is free to be their authentic selves. The result is mental clarity, emotional freedom, and physical embodiment.
The benefits of ecstatic dance include:- Stress and tension relief
- Mindfulness and relaxation
- Somatic healing
- Self-expression
- Exercise and play
- Community and connection
No experience necessary! We will provide instructions and ease you into the practice. The event begins with an opening circle where we get to know each other and share intentions, followed by an hour and fifteen minute playlist, and a closing circle to share reflections. We will spend time before and after the dance connecting in community. During the dance there is no talking. This helps us to connect with our bodies and each other nonverbally. The result is often a trance-like and ecstatic experience.
6:45 Doors open
7:00 Opening circle
7:30 Dance
8:45 Closing circle
9:00 Depart
An Inclusive Space: All ages, genders, sexual orientation, and abilities welcome.
Music: A mix of new age, worldbeat, tribal, EDM, arranged in a dance wave, from slow to fast to slow. It is typically 50% non-lyrical.
What to bring: Water bottle, short sleeve, loose clothing, expect to get sweaty! Yoga mat (optional). No alcohol or food is provided and please don’t bring any.
Cost: $30### About the Facilitator
Clara Fang is the founder of Green Tara Consulting, a consulting firm that specializes in belonging, equity, and inclusion. She is an experienced facilitator of ecstatic dance, Buddhist meditation, and authentic relating. She lives in Germantown, MD. bio.site/cfang
### Testimonials
I had practically never danced in my entire life, avoiding it mostly out of embarrassment that I wasn’t good enough and that others would judge me. However, after attending one ecstatic dance with Clara, I was hooked. Clara provides a welcoming safe space for everyone present to truly be themselves, to get lost in the rhythms and leave judgment behind. Its non-performative approach opens up the opportunity to explore and connect with myself in ways I hadn’t before, and connect with others who share this sacred space with me. Clara is always finding ways for people to connect through shared vulnerability and intentional relating. She also spends a lot of effort coming up with a theme for the dance and appropriate music to match. Afterward, I always feel a sense of rejuvenation, renewal, freedom, and appreciation, then I try to take that perspective into the world with me. Whether you are a dancer or not, I highly encourage attending a dance hosted by Clara! –Matt
Embodied practices like ecstatic dance are so deeply healing – it’s not about “dancing” but truly releasing any and every emotion ever stuffed down and held inside, leaving you feeling so refreshed (lol and sweaty, all at the same time ). The pure blissful joy in the smile that stretches across my face couldn’t begin to describe the feeling of wellness in my body after this kind of reset Clara Fang’s Radiant Rhythms event on Saturday night left me feeling so free and in my body. There are no “right moves” or such thing as having “two left feet” when it comes to ecstatic dance – no prior experience is necessary and guess what, you don’t even have to like to dance!This isn’t about what our thinking thoughts wants to do, it’s about how our body wants to move freely and express everything it’s been holding back. When I tell you this is The yummiest healing space, I mean it with every cell of my being. Come. Come out. And come home–Kat
Not familiar with ecstatic dance? Try these links
High production value with attractive peopleWhat it looks like more realistically
Sober dance meetups emphasize consent and free movement ‘without judgement’ (Detroit Metro Times)
I was skeptical about ecstatic dance (New York Times)
Can ecstatic dance improve your health? (US News and World RepRegister at https://flyingbuddhastudio.com/
Go to "Workshop" --> "Radiant Rhythms Ecstatic Dance"1 attendee 
Conscious Speed Dating
·OnlineOnline** Important please go to ticket leap to pay confirm your spot https://events.ticketleap.com/events/greentara/dating **
Are you into authentic relating, mindfulness, sustainability, or social justice? Meet like minded people in an online setting, with no pressure to meet in person! All ages (18+), genders sexual orientations welcome.
Online dating is a lot of work and hit and miss, why n ot meet a bunch of people at once and interact with them in real time, without going out and spending money? On zoom so you don't have to leave home or dress up. Relaxed, low stakes, and efficient. You might meet some one you like enough to ask them out on a real date. And if you don't you haven't wasted any gas and money, and might have made a few friends.
Agenda (subject to change)
🌹One round of introductions. Examples: everyone share a favorite place that they have visited or want to visit; book you are reading or show you are watching.
🌹Small groups: What is something you're grateful for? A meaningful relationship you've had? Something you're excited about?
🌹1-2 rounds of 5 minute partnered convesrations with someone of your choice.
🌹Closing round to share appreciations.
Everyone can share their contact info with each other in a google spreadsheet.
This event is online via Zoom. Link provided after registration.
https://events.ticketleap.com/events/greentara/dating
About me: bio.site/cfang** Important please go to ticket leap to pay confirm your spot https://events.ticketleap.com/events/greentara/dating **
1 attendee
Past events
179
Group links
Organizers
Members
761
