Support Circle Ceremony

The Support Circle Ceremony is based on the Talking Circle - a space that has existed for eons in numerous cultures. My experiences in Talking Circles have been on the Lac du Flambeau Reservation in Northern Wisconsin. Credit is due to respected elder, Nick Hockings, pipe-carrier of the Eagle Clan of the Lake Superior Band of Chippewa. Miigwech, Nick.
All Support Circle Ceremonies are offered at no cost as a support to the community.
A Support Circle Ceremony is an opportunity to share what is on your heart, in a supportive, non-judgmental space in which others refrain from giving advice. A feather or other item is passed around the circle, from person to person. When it's in your hands, you have the floor, while all others remain silent - holding space for you as you speak from your heart. It can be a burden that needs to be shared, a fear that is eating at you, something joyful that wants to be expressed, etc. We simply tune in to what the heart wants to say and share from that place. It is suggested that we not think about what we're going to share. Instead, let what wants to come out, come out. It doesn't need to be "good," or insightful, or emotionally moving. Let it be what it is. And let that be good enough.
The sharing is completely confidential - what is shared in the circle stays in the circle. Unless someone explicitly states that they’re open to talking about what they've shared, we don’t later talk with that person about what they said in the circle. There is no advice giving or cross talk, as the group simply holds space for each person as they share.
This is also an opportunity for the person holding the talking feather to make known other support they may need or want. It could be something as simple as needing someone to pick up their child from school one day a week, or needing a friend to have coffee with once a month, etc. There is no expectation that anyone in the group will necessarily be able to meet the stated need, but it’s certainly possible that someone could. It may benefit us to share a need and ask for something.
Once everyone has shared (or passed if their heart is not inclined to share at that time), the group will sit in silence for a few minutes to honor what the group is holding. Then, whoever feels inclined to offer spiritual support is welcome to do so. That may be in the form of a prayer, a poem, a song, or sharing something they feel inspired to offer the group. This spiritual support is offered to the entire group, rather than for a specific individual in the group. There will be prayer books from various traditions available for those who wish to use them.