Staying Sane in an Insane World – Edinburgh Circle

## About the Gathering

We’ve all been there. A comment at a dinner table. A joke at work. A remark from someone we barely know — or someone we love. Something lands in your body as wrong, and suddenly time slows down.
Do you speak up and risk conflict, awkwardness, or even safety?
Or stay quiet — and later lie awake replaying the moment, wondering what that silence says about you?
This gathering is for anyone who has felt the quiet pain of not knowing what to do in those moments. We’ll explore why these situations can hurt so deeply, how silence doesn’t mean you don’t care, and what self-compassion, awareness, and support can make possible next time.

This gathering is a space for those kinds of conversations — held safely, inclusively, and without pressure.

These gatherings are held once a month.

## What to Expect

• Arriving together
We’ll briefly share names and how we’re arriving.
• A short introductory talk (approx. 15 minutes)
On why so many of us carry unspoken grief, tension, or fear about the state of the world — and how being with these feelings in community can be strengthening rather than overwhelming. I’ll draw on the work of Joanna Macy, Francis Weller, and Tara Brach, as well as my experience as a coach supporting people working for social and environmental change.
• A simple grounding exercise
A short guided meditation to help us settle - or we might do this during / at the end).
• Small-group sharing (2–3 people)
Using simple prompts, we’ll explore together.
• Group sharing
You’re welcome to share — or to listen quietly. Both are equally valid.

Tone of the space
This is not a space for despair spirals or endless venting — but it’s also not a place where anyone will try to cheer you up, minimise your feelings, or rush you toward solutions. We’ll practise being with what’s real, together, in a way that respects everyone’s capacity and boundaries.

## Practical Details

Duration: 2 hours (including settling in)
Group size: Around 15 people
Refreshments:
☕ Coffee and tea will be available.
Afterwards:
You're warmly invited to join for some cake at the Bridgend Café

## Who this is for

• People who carry worries about the state of the world
• Anyone longing for honest conversation and gentle connection
• Activists, carers, coaches, healers — and those who don’t fit any label at all
You don’t need to be “doing enough.” You don’t need to have answers. You’re welcome as you are.

## Contribution

£5 to help cover the venue, refreshments, and Meetup organisation costs.

Cash preferred, or you can pay by transfer on the day (via QR code).

## Location

📍 Bridgend Farm, Edinburgh
More details will be shared upon registration.

## GOLDEN RULES

As discussed in our first gathering, these help create a space of trust and care. I’ll repeat and expand on them during the session.
#1 — Listen deeply to each other
#2 — No consoling, just presence
#3 — No commenting on each other’s sharing
(You’re welcome to refer to someone’s contribution only in how it relates to your own experience.)

For those interested you can find more about me on my website: www.impactsweetspot.com