About us
Authentic Relating Toronto: Where relating is ART
ART offers events, workshops and courses involving Authentic Relating, Intersubjective Meditation (aka Circling), and Dialogos.
Our intention is to deliver cutting edge practices and experiences that afford us (as individuals and a society) to address our various perennial problems. Sometimes we deliver this intention through a one-of casual drop-in community-style event, or a purpose-focused, closed-group fellowship, multi-month growth-oriented course.
Regardless of the type of event, we use a general underlying framework that affords growth and transformation through addressing what are known as 'states of consciousness', 'structures of consciousness' and 'shadow work'.
While most of our spaces focus on what is known as 'participatory knowing', meaning our events tend to be highly experiential and interactive and through practice we can expand this area of knowing. Some offerings also work on one or more of the other three 'ways of knowing', such as our perspectival (through integration and theory), propositional (theory) and procedural (trainings) ways of knowing.
What is Authentic Relating?
For us, Authentic Relating is a practice of 'authenticity in relationship' (any kind of relationship - familial, professional, intimate, etc.) Here the practice of 'authenticity' is moving more and more towards an outward expression that more accurately reflects our inner experience.
Therefore, as we're all at least a bit different, and we're practicing, there isn't really any 'right way' on how to relate.
Our spaces tend to allow participants to drop trying to come off a certain way, to explore/appreciate whatever arises, while allowing ourselves to 'mess it up'.
For many of our spaces, if we can manage to cultivate even just 1% more connection, transparency, and aliveness in our interactions, we're walking-the-walk.
Though, it's also understood and/or accepted that trying to be authentic all the time is (ironically) inauthentic to many of us.
You can read more about Authentic Relating on our website at authenticrelatingtoronto.com
What is Intersubjective Meditation (ART Circling)?
ART Circling is an organic, in-the-moment interpersonal process that’s equal parts art form, meditation, and group conversation — all designed to allow a visceral experience of connection and understanding of another person’s world, celebrating who and where they are right now.
It’s practicing using our genuine curiosity to better understand and become a connoisseur of another person’s world though present moment awareness while breaking through the assumptions and projections we have about each other.
Different than sitting on a meditation cushion by yourself, Circling is a relational practice. And though it works exquisitely in intimate relationships of all kinds, it can be applied in ALL areas of life because it’s so organic, non-analytical, effective, and fun.
You can read more about ART Circling on our website at circling.ca
What is Dialogos (Dialog-OS)?
In this case, Dialogos references a 'state' we can experience through dialog.
Dia = through, Logos = the word.
ART offers various practices that would be considered Dialogos Practices, practices in which the presence of the 'logos' may be experienced.
Merriam Webster defines Logos as 'reason that in ancient Greek philosophy is the controlling principle in the universe' and while that may sound a bit too new-agey or 'spiritual' to some ears, you can just as easily describe it as the experience of something like a 'collective flow state'.
An experience of getting into 'right relationship' together with whatever has our attention (usually the here-and-now/present moment of the connection between us).
You can read more about Dialog-OS on our website dialog-os.com
Some more about ART
ART has been running events, workshops and courses for over a decade now and in some of those years we have run over 100 in-person sessions within the calendar year.
You can use this group to stay up to date with future offerings once they are posted (online and in-person), or you could sign up for our newsletter on our website at http://circling.ca and there usually get a heads up on upcoming events before the events go live on meetup. Just so you know, we average 1-2 emails per month and you can, of course, unsubscribe at any time.
Upcoming events
16
- $30.00
Connection Labs Online (aka Crossroads & Connections)
ONLINE, Toronto, ON, CA### Each Crossroads & Connections workshop is a fast, friendly mash-up: short demos, paired practices and intentional reflection. We keep it light, embodied, and social—so wisdom lands in your muscles and your circle, not only your mind. There isn’t one technique that fixes everything, for everyone, in every situation.
### What is it?
We pair complementary domains to spark shared flow, fresh insight, and unforgettable “aha!” moments. You leave with lived skills, not just notes.
- Dialogue gets you out of solo spin: small-group formats expose blind spots and sharpen “shared reality,” so your next move matches this person and this moment.
- Imaginal practice is guided “as if” rehearsal you look through, not at: walking the beats before the scene means your body recognizes turns when stakes rise.
- Mindfulness steadies the camera: attention stops jerking around, drama gets de-amplified, and you can catch the instant you’re narrating motives and swap in one honest question.
- Embodiment makes it actionable through direct, non-verbal experience and how your inner experience matches your outer expression.
Facilitators: Varies
Fee: $30USD - Or a 10-pack for $200USD
Please visit here for registration and more information.
3 attendees - $30.00
Connection Labs Online (aka Crossroads & Connections)
ONLINE, Toronto, ON, CA### Each Crossroads & Connections workshop is a fast, friendly mash-up: short demos, paired practices and intentional reflection. We keep it light, embodied, and social—so wisdom lands in your muscles and your circle, not only your mind. There isn’t one technique that fixes everything, for everyone, in every situation.
### What is it?
We pair complementary domains to spark shared flow, fresh insight, and unforgettable “aha!” moments. You leave with lived skills, not just notes.
- Dialogue gets you out of solo spin: small-group formats expose blind spots and sharpen “shared reality,” so your next move matches this person and this moment.
- Imaginal practice is guided “as if” rehearsal you look through, not at: walking the beats before the scene means your body recognizes turns when stakes rise.
- Mindfulness steadies the camera: attention stops jerking around, drama gets de-amplified, and you can catch the instant you’re narrating motives and swap in one honest question.
- Embodiment makes it actionable through direct, non-verbal experience and how your inner experience matches your outer expression.
Facilitators: Varies
Fee: $30USD - Or a 10-pack for $200USD
Please visit here for registration and more information.
3 attendees - $650.00
TIAMAT - Transformation through Play (Training / Tier 1 / Toronto)
Roncesvalles, Toronto, ON, CAFIRST TIME IN TORONTO AND SPACE IS LIMITED!
## Some experiences create a before and after. This is one of them.
There are workshops. And then there are experiences that truly give you the chance to reorganize how you see yourself, your work, and the people around you — that create a genuine fork in the road. TIAMAT is the latter. It has done this for performers, clinicians, seekers, and skeptics across four continents. Now, for the first time, it is coming to Toronto.
This is not a weekend of concepts and takeaways. It is a full-body encounter with a framework built at the intersection of cognitive science, philosophy, contemplative practice, and embodied performance — designed specifically to transfer. What shifts in the room follows you home.
We are in a moment of profound disconnection — from purpose, from one another, from a sense that our lives cohere. Most offerings gesture at this problem. TIAMAT does something about it. It gives you a living, rigorous, embodied practice for navigating the world differently — and access to a community of people taking that seriously alongside you.
Awaken to Meaning is proud to bring this to Toronto for the first time. This is a rare opportunity, and seats are limited.Two audiences. One experience.
Whether you come as a practitioner or as someone who knows something is missing, TIAMAT meets you there.Clinicians, Coaches & Therapists: Sharpen your sense of transference and countertransference in real-time / develop a more robust lens for where clients get stuck - somatically and relationally / expand capacity to track body, affect and relational field simultaneously / deepen self-awareness as your primary clinical instrument / gain a shared language you can bring directly into practice
Seekers, Builders & The Curious: A framework that bridges cognitive science, philosophy and lived practice / Real agency over how you think, feel and act - through skill, not willpower / Entry into a fellowship taking the meaning crisis seriously / A language for your inner life that holds under pressure / Transformation that doesn't fade by Monday morning
## TIAMAT has travelled. Now it visits a new place.
## Before Toronto, TIAMAT has been delivered across four continents – to performers, clinicians, researchers, educators, and people who simply knew something was missing. Each cohort has shaped the practice.
## TAIWAN | JAPAN | INDONESIA | FRANCE | NETHERLANDS | CZECHIA | UNITED KINGDOM | SINGAPORE | UNITED STATES (MAY 2026)
Schedule
- Friday, May 22nd - 6pm to 10pm
- Saturday, May 23rd - 10am to 8pm
- Sunday, May 24th - 10am to 5pmFee: $650 USD
Facilitation by Ethan Hsieh, Taylor Barratt & Dr. John Vervaeke
For more information on this and the residential Tier 2 (June 7th - 12th, 2026) please visit our site.
10 attendees - $30.00
Connection Labs Online (aka Crossroads & Connections)
ONLINE, Toronto, ON, CA### Each Crossroads & Connections workshop is a fast, friendly mash-up: short demos, paired practices and intentional reflection. We keep it light, embodied, and social—so wisdom lands in your muscles and your circle, not only your mind. There isn’t one technique that fixes everything, for everyone, in every situation.
### What is it?
We pair complementary domains to spark shared flow, fresh insight, and unforgettable “aha!” moments. You leave with lived skills, not just notes.
- Dialogue gets you out of solo spin: small-group formats expose blind spots and sharpen “shared reality,” so your next move matches this person and this moment.
- Imaginal practice is guided “as if” rehearsal you look through, not at: walking the beats before the scene means your body recognizes turns when stakes rise.
- Mindfulness steadies the camera: attention stops jerking around, drama gets de-amplified, and you can catch the instant you’re narrating motives and swap in one honest question.
- Embodiment makes it actionable through direct, non-verbal experience and how your inner experience matches your outer expression.
Facilitators: Varies
Fee: $30USD - Or a 10-pack for $200USD
Please visit here for registration and more information.
3 attendees
Past events
455
