International Transformational Connection Festival 2025

Dancing exploration

John Thompson

A playful exploration of dancing from the inside out, leading and following and the connection between them and being present with each others’ expression.

John Thompson is the co-founder of Circling Europe, the organisation primarily behind Circling spreading the world this last decade. John is also an Integral Master Coach and a Master NARM Facilitator. He originated the 5 principles of Circling and Surrendered Leadership and has trained and certified hundreds of Circling facilitators. He's worked with world class leaders in AI, Collective Intelligence, Sport and business and recently developed a Circling Coaching training programme. Previously John ran an elite tennis academy based on Integral Philosophy, authored award winning papers in the field of personal development and started an internationally famous project for street children in Delhi.

Desire-based touch playground

Markus Schnizer

In this "playground" we create a space whereby we share our desires and boundaries of how we want to touch or want to be touched. Can you bring your desire for a rub, a massage, a caress, being held? Coc-create with asking and using intuition, being sensitive and sensual. Being explicit about your experience/impact/desires/boundaries is highly invited.

I’m driven by my curiosity for places of more freedom and find myself continuously exploring new spaces of awareness and experiences. That brought me from science to dance, further to Alexander technique, Grinberg Method, trauma therapy, We-flow, teaching in acting school and more.

Within that, I have my own practice for body-awareness in Amsterdam for more than 20 years. Trained as a classic bodyworker I’m coming to a place where I free-flow between all the stuff I ever learned, picked up or discovered. Over the last years, circling and We-flow became a central part of my ingredients for my work, and actually as the way of leading my life. Lately I started collaborations with Marysia Pstrokonska and others.

Connection Games

Mihai Banulescu

Connection Games is a build-your-own-adventure journey through a menu of mild, medium or spicy relational games—such as council, T-group, dark reflections and wild card. We agree to practice self-leadership, return to vulnerable connection, consider group health and open to not knowing. But mostly, we try to speak truth with kindness in increasingly challenging situations, and take some of the lessons home.

Mihai became addicted to circling, authentic relating and T-group in 2010, and they’ve been a part of his life ever since. He writes software by day, travels around the United States in a camper van with his puppy Avon, writes the occasional poem and hopes to play a small part in reinventing education.

Bodywork - Co-embodiment

Einar Boson

This is a session with bodywork, where we will help each other sense our bodies deeper. You will be given demonstrations of some techniques and that you get to explore in pairs. There will be a strong focus on slowness and on connection to self to approach the other with your authentic embodiment to help them find theirs.

Einar is a bodyworker, embodiment coach, and circling facilitator. He is a senior leader with Circling Europe, and bridges analytical nuance with a warm depth of relational kindness and care. 

Einar shares some history with Circling, having been shaped by Buddhist practice and psychedelic experiences, so circling was a natural fit when he stumbled upon it. It has quickly become his main spiritual practice, though he also meditates and attends silent retreats now and then.

Circling, and especially SL Circling, is a continuation of his path towards an equanimous mind with space for the unfoldment of life in its wondrous vulnerability, complexity and intensity. No clinging! Not even to not-clinging.

Einar lives with his girlfriend in Stockholm, and works with clients looking for deeper embodiment and self-discovery through body therapy, coaching and Circling.

Let the Breath Move You

Chiara Capurro

In this holistic Hatha Yoga practice, we focus on the breath as our primary source of movement and support. In this session, you'll be guided through a series of gentle postures, mindful movements, and breathwork techniques that emphasize the vital connection between breath and movement. As you flow through each pose with intention and awareness, you'll cultivate a deeper sense of presence, balance, and inner peace. Suitable for all levels, this practice invites you to explore the profound benefits of letting your breath lead the way.

Deeply passionate about connections, communication and psychology, Chiara has been exploring deep waters within herself and in relation to others. Her vow to Life is to bring more peace, love and joy in the hearts of those she meets. Through her exploration of ancient yogic teachings, she discovered powerful tools and guidance that helped her reconnect with her soul desires. This journey inspired her to become a certified Hatha Yoga teacher, sharing her passion for movement with presence and deep listening to the needs of the body and soul.

She's creating spaces for people to come together, play, move freely, exchange thoughts and feelings, honor silence, explore touch, and ultimately be in their authentic Selves.

She recently discovered and fell in love with the transformative practice of Circling, and is now actively training in Nonviolent Communication and Authentic Relating.

Symbolic Discovery - A Archetypal Connection Workshop

Sean Wilkinson

We will watch some clips from recent cultural stories to touch into the deeper symbolic messages of collective consciousness. From here we will go into archetypal practice, developing how to access and express these deeper embodied patterns.

As Co-Founder of Circling Europe, Sean has had an enduring passion for self-awareness, human potential, wisdom traditions and an ongoing inquiry into life. This has included extensive academic research, spiritual and psychological practice, coaching and therapeutic training and a determination to apply what he is learning into everyday experience. 

He had a successful background in elite sports coaching and developing a practice utilising his integral coaching and therapeutic training. He is also an award winning published Integral theory Scholar and has published writing on Integral group leadership and consciousness. 

He has been part of spearheading Circling to 20 countries and has helped to define the paradigm-shifting nature of what Circling is. As the organisation grows, Sean maintains his passion to research and development of Circling’s principles, in both delivering the trainings, and importantly in developing the culture of the business itself.

Ensoulment through Movement

Bjarte Hiley

The mythical place of effortless action requires a high degree of alignment and self-trust. In Ensoulment Through Movement we'll explore how our relationship to our intrinsic pleasure is pivotal to maintaining that alignment and self-trust. This will be an experiential workshop conducted in the spirit of surrender.

Bjarte Hiley is an experienced facilitator, mentor and martial artist. He spent three years on the Wudang Mountains in China, delving into Daoist contemplative practices and internal martial arts. He is an expert at transforming peoples relationships to themself through movement. He's the founder of Daomove, a method he developed to invite people into a deeper contact with their embodied experience, and let themselves be moved into bold action from that place.

Multiplayer Vipassana – Ninja skills for Surrendered Leadership

Einar Boson

The "vipassana sutra" (Ānāpānasati sutta) has instructions for perceiving body in body, emotion in emotion and thought in though; all perception as themselves without adding or subtracting. We will be (outrageously) adapting that to playful exercises in pairs and groups where we will be practicing soft and strong concentration, deeper clarity around body, emotion and mind, and trusting the flow. 

We will practice feeling our bodies and staying with that while a lot is going on, as well as staying open and present to the context around us as our attention is being pulled in different directions.

It will be playful, challenging and wholesome.

Einar is a bodyworker, embodiment coach, and circling facilitator. He is a senior leader with Circling Europe, and bridges analytical nuance with a warm depth of relational kindness and care. 

Einar shares some history with Circling, having been shaped by Buddhist practice and psychedelic experiences, so circling was a natural fit when he stumbled upon it. It has quickly become his main spiritual practice, though he also meditates and attends silent retreats now and then.

Circling, and especially SL Circling, is a continuation of his path towards an equanimous mind with space for the unfoldment of life in its wondrous vulnerability, complexity and intensity. No clinging! Not even to not-clinging.

Einar lives with his girlfriend in Stockholm, and works with clients looking for deeper embodiment and self-discovery through body therapy, coaching and Circling.

Sunday Church for Wandering Mystics 

Andrew Venezia

This is an opportunity to come together, share, pray, and explore the presence of divinity in the present moment and in our lives.

We will be drawing both on the timeless wisdom of the teachings of Christ and the Christian mystics, as well as other expressions of divinity and mysticism from around the world.

You are welcome to join whatever your beliefs are, and relationship to the Spirit is.

About Andrew:

Wizards consult him. 

Energetic Awareness Circle

Winde RIenstra

In the deep center of our being houses our life force energy, this energy we will call forth and let it be our guidance. From a place of deep embodiment we will enter a wordless collective exploration of this life force energy

From being present in our body we welcome the expression of our being through movement, sound and voice. 

By tuning into our intuition and from there asking the question; ‘what wants to happen right now?’ and let our beings follow that liveliness.

Attracted by the wild forces of our nature, with their deep feminine leadership, Winde and Martje open a field for a free embodied expression from immediacy.

Since Winde Rienstra discovered Circling at the start of 2020, she fell in love with the practice and made it a part of her life ever since. She works for Circling Europe, and is an official Circling leader assistant. She’s been organising weekly Circling Nights in Amsterdam since a year now and is one of the main leaders there. 

Being a sensitive empath, she gives energetic readings and healings within different energy healing practices. Next to that, she is a Circling Coach and studying to become an Emotion Coach. 

She likes to learn new skills and is fascinated by oneness, being human and human beings. Her presence can be best described as: kind, loving, innocent, feminine, wild, cheeky and playful. 

She’s creatively gifted, adventurous, loves nature and animals, magic, ceremonial and ritual spaces and is dedicated to self-development.

Discovering touch

Marielle Klaassen

This time together will be about integrating circling into massage. 

Touch is a direct way to discover inner depth and aliveness. In this workshop you will get to explore the role of giver and receiver. I will show ways the giver can use touch to enable the receiver to discover more of their experience, while also inspiring their own transformation discovery.

Marielle has always had a love and intuitive capacity for touch. She has turned this passion into a successful holistic therapeutic massage practise (www.wachteven.nu). Marielle is also an experienced circling leader and deeply integrated this into her approach and daily life. Over the last few years she expanded her bodywork to include transformational journeys into grief and teaching the art of Wacht-even touch to intimate couples and groups. She will be available for individual sessions during the festival.

Animal Attunement

Einar Boson

In this series of meditations you will tune into the animal part of you. This is not a workshop where we play cats or monkeys, but where we explore what it is like beneath the social layers, at the level of awareness where actual cats interact (maybe, who knows?). 

We will spend some time deepening self connection at this level through guided meditation, and then we will interact from there.

Einar is a bodyworker, embodiment coach, and circling facilitator. He is a senior leader with Circling Europe, and bridges analytical nuance with a warm depth of relational kindness and care. 

Einar shares some history with Circling, having been shaped by Buddhist practice and psychedelic experiences, so circling was a natural fit when he stumbled upon it. It has quickly become his main spiritual practice, though he also meditates and attends silent retreats now and then.

Circling, and especially SL Circling, is a continuation of his path towards an equanimous mind with space for the unfoldment of life in its wondrous vulnerability, complexity and intensity. No clinging! Not even to not-clinging.

Einar lives with his girlfriend in Stockholm, and works with clients looking for deeper embodiment and self-discovery through body therapy, coaching and Circling.

Connecting with Death, to live more fully

Deborah Scherz

We will gather our courage, hearts and presence to connect with Death.

What is it in your life, that can die?

What has died already?

And what is this like for you? Who are you without this?

Are there ways you can become more present with the rawness of Death - exactly as it is?

We will gently explore this - knowing there is more Life to be found within - and on the other side. Welcome!

I have always had a deep love for what truly nourishes us.

After working as a whole foods chef & cooking teacher for years, I discovered how deep, human connection is a vital ingredient to our wellbeing.

As a lover of community, I founded Circling Belgium, sharing this practice to support both others and myself to land more deeply in themselves and the world.

I love inviting Eros into the space by asking about our authentic desires and what we really long for. Eros, in the original sense of the world: radical aliveness, piercing through our existence.

Through Circling, I discovered my deeper mission: Serving Men.

I support men in fully bringing their gifts to the world, with my feminine power, love, clarity and presence.

I am a Therapeutic Coach and also work with Grief & Death.

Effortlessness in Perspective Meditation

Björn Heijligers

What is right here, right now when there is no problem to solve? By combining Andrew Venezia's insights into effortlessness with a meditation practice rooted in Dzogchen we are going to practice a panoramic perspective meditation to rest effortlessly in awareness.

Born in 1974, Björn has an extensive background in science, bdsm, tantra, bodywork, relationship therapy and martial arts. He walks the path less trodden. Combining coaching with science and spirituality and a big sense of adventure he is ready to support men and women into their own dive down the rabbit hole.

Certification circle

John Thompson

A chance to witness a live certification circle with someone who has completed the SAS training but not yet certified.

John Thompson is the co-founder of Circling Europe, the organisation primarily behind Circling spreading the world this last decade. John is also an Integral Master Coach and a Master NARM Facilitator. He originated the 5 principles of Circling and Surrendered Leadership and has trained and certified hundreds of Circling facilitators. He's worked with world class leaders in AI, Collective Intelligence, Sport and business and recently developed a Circling Coaching training programme. Previously John ran an elite tennis academy based on Integral Philosophy, authored award winning papers in the field of personal development and started an internationally famous project for street children in Delhi.

Yang to Yin

Chiara Capurro

Join us for a rejuvenating Vinyasa to Yin Yoga flow, where the energizing qualities of Vinyasa meet the calming essence of Yin Yoga. This flow begins with an active and strengthening sequence, gradually transitioning into gentle, deep stretches that promote relaxation and inner peace, leaving you feeling deeply connected and refreshed. Suitable for all levels.

Deeply passionate about connections, communication and psychology, Chiara has been exploring deep waters within herself and in relation to others. Her vow to Life is to bring more peace, love and joy in the hearts of those she meets. Through her exploration of ancient yogic teachings, she discovered powerful tools and guidance that helped her reconnect with her soul desires. This journey inspired her to become a certified Hatha Yoga teacher, sharing her passion for movement with presence and deep listening to the needs of the body and soul.

She's creating spaces for people to come together, play, move freely, exchange thoughts and feelings, honor silence, explore touch, and ultimately be in their authentic Selves.

She recently discovered and fell in love with the transformative practice of Circling, and is now actively training in Nonviolent Communication and Authentic Relating.

Tai Chi and effortless relating

Peter Munthe-Kaas

In this workshop we explore the relational art of Tai Chi. From some simple individual exercises we go into partnerwork and explore how we show up in relation to others. The workshop is an opportunity to get a new and more embodied perspective on your Circling practice.

The last 15 years of my life has been a journey of unlearning.

Unlearning for me points to the process of letting go of belief systems and fixed patterns of mind and body, trusting experience rather than dogma. The guiding light for me is more harmonious relating to my body-being, to others, to society and to nature. 

In all the practices that are important for me; Tai Chi, Dancing, Circling and Bodywork I am inspired by the principle of Wuwei, pointing to an effortless, spontaneous, and skillful movement with the flow of life.

I am based in Copenhagen where I have been leading Circling since 2015.

Where we meet God

Martje Witzel 

We are the creation we long for. All is here, right now.


Lets build a church. Our church. Where we meet each other. And God. If there is any difference. 



There will be Silence. And Prayer. And Song. And Dance. And Love. And….. 


Feel free to bring something that is meaningful for you, like a stone, a song, a word, silence, a feather, or a poem...

I am a lover of the wild unknown, a mystical artist, a wanderer of earth and other realms. I live in wonder with deep reverence for the mystery of life and beyond.

With a gentle and empowering approach, I welcome a full embodied expression of our who we are right now. I long for us all to see that there is more freedom in each moment then we ever believed possible.

Through my leadership I invite you to surrender to the unfolding of life, wandering through places where the soul dances freely and mystery leads. 


Pelvic Presence 

Marysia Pstrokońska

Come and spend some time connecting with your pelvis and lower body, slowing down to feel its subtle language and honour its expression.

Anchoring in the pelvis, belly and legs can offer us more access to our life energy, instinct, clarity, spontaneity, joy and desire … and is an invitation to a deeper intimacy with ourselves. It can also be a doorway to profound aspects of our being, holding potent energies and capacities for us. 

In this session we will explore the physical and energetic pelvis, belly and lower body with movement, breath, awareness and touch.

Marysia is a body & energy worker, fascinated by the power of conscious touch as a form of communication and of deep listening.

Her body practice focuses on pelvic, womb & abdominal work and touch to deepen our relationship with life and aliveness in its many forms.

She's also really into being outside and hanging out with plants — and works closely with natural intelligences for medicine and magic. 

marysia-pstrokonska.com

Reclaiming the Shadows of Sexuality

Dirk Plas

What do you secretly desire but find difficult to reveal? Which challenging parts of yourself are buried under shame, guilt, or self-judgement? What are your dark sexual fantasies? How would it feel to fully express and embrace every aspect of yourself?

This (clothes-on) workshop provides a space to explore the parts of you that reside in the shadows of your being. They long to be seen, and if they are, you might just find what you’re looking for!

My quality is presence and perfection. I have been cooking and creating food for most of my life. For me nothing is more satisfying than giving my qualities and passion in the food I prepare. It’s not only about the food and its ingredients, it’s my presence and devotion that makes the difference. How I cook is how I live my life: straight from the heart.

Health, consciousness and taste are the three values I honor when creating meals. Working as a chef in the energy of a group, using high quality produce is a privilege and that will make you enjoy my creations! When creating the meals I channel my own energy and the energy of the group. Cooking is meditation for me. Fully devoted, always present and in full connection with the food and to people around me, the most delicious creations emerge.

My focus is working from the heart. I do not produce food, I create nourishment. I play with flavors, I compose meals using color, scent and taste. Enjoying my creations is like enjoying art. Take your time, look, feel and taste. 

Alongside cooking I also help people (mainly men) finding their next step in life through deep integral coaching. I help you to dream, to find your life vision and higher purpose and to determine the steps towards that vision. Creation of food as well as helping to find dreams and vision has lots of similarities, that’s why it is so beautiful to combine. It’s both a huge contribution to one’s joy and quality of life!

A Circling exploration: Circling in and with nature

Pieter Lichtert

We’ll bring our awareness to Nature's constant holding and its resources in and outside of us. We’ll Circle trees and bring Nature's elements into our Circle. We'll walk, sit, explore, and experiment in the beautiful woods and surroundings around the venue.

Pieter has been facilitating Circles since 2019, primarily in Belgium. He received intensive training with Circling Europe and has been a coach, trainer, and partner at Van Kelst & Co for about 15 years, integrating Circling into business and leadership programs. He finds truth, nourishment, and support in nature. Pieter lights up when experimenting with shamanic practices, meditation, sound, music, working with horses and trees, all as ways to deepen his Circling practice.

The Anatomy Of Addiction And Habit & The Effortless Effort Path Through

Sean Wilkinson

Addiction and habits can be ways of avoiding what we are directly experiencing, or creating short lived aliveness that are ultimately destructive. In this workshop, we will look closer at the anatomy of these patterns and then touch a truer and more loving path that supports us in navigating through these ways of being without an arduous effort or difficult battle.

As Co-Founder of Circling Europe, Sean has had an enduring passion for self-awareness, human potential, wisdom traditions and an ongoing inquiry into life. This has included extensive academic research, spiritual and psychological practice, coaching and therapeutic training and a determination to apply what he is learning into everyday experience. 

He had a successful background in elite sports coaching and developing a practice utilising his integral coaching and therapeutic training. He is also an award winning published Integral theory Scholar and has published writing on Integral group leadership and consciousness. 

He has been part of spearheading Circling to 20 countries and has helped to define the paradigm-shifting nature of what Circling is. As the organisation grows, Sean maintains his passion to research and development of Circling’s principles, in both delivering the trainings, and importantly in developing the culture of the business itself.

Shared Imaginal Practice

Rosa Lewis

A practice that puts the relational and embodied imagination front and centre. In the practice, concepts come to life through your imaginal and felt senses of them. 

Taking turns to guide and be guided, the questions open out the present moment experience of your inner world into a landscape that can be explored. The practice creates the opportunity for a fun and often moving investigation into the world of images, associations, energies and embodied feelings that are usually hidden under the surface of experience.

Rosa Lewis is a mystic and meditation teacher. Her approach combines Buddhist emptiness, shadow work, tantric embodiment, the archetypal realm and a radically new way of relating to the heart.

(Co-)Regulation in the context of the polyvagal theory

Markus Schnizer

An explanation of the fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses, indicators for  recognizing them and how to possibly regulate it or helping co-regulating it.

Not an actual workshop but more of a lecture with a Q&A.

I’m driven by my curiosity for places of more freedom and find myself continuously exploring new spaces of awareness and experiences. That brought me from science to dance, further to Alexander technique, Grinberg Method, trauma therapy, We-flow, teaching in acting school and more.

Within that, I have my own practice for body-awareness in Amsterdam for more than 20 years. Trained as a classic bodyworker I’m coming to a place where I free-flow between all the stuff I ever learned, picked up or discovered. Over the last years, circling and We-flow became a central part of my ingredients for my work, and actually as the way of leading my life. Lately I started collaborations with Marysia Pstrokonska and others.

Embodying your Archetypes & Avatar

Andrew Venezia

We are each unique blends and expressions of energies, as recounted in the world’s myths, stories, and religions. In this workshop we’ll use a handful of different approaches to contact and embody these energies to bring about a sense of your Avatar: an imprint of your highest self that can provide a blueprint for your life.

About Andrew: 

Wizards consult him.

Meeting aliveness through touch

Marysia Pstrokońska

In this space we’ll be exploring how aliveness moves through us, and how we can work with touch to support the flow of that in ourselves and each other. 

We, and the world around us are in constant motion. By listening to the rhythm of our own and others' authentic pulsation we can connect to an inner dynamism and discover what really nourishes us. By softening more deeply into relaxation, we can open and sensitise our bodies to the subtle energies that flow within us and others. 

In this workshop we are going to tap into our deeper body wisdom to explore this flow and how we can meet each other through attuned touch in this wordless space of connection. 

Marysia is a body & energy worker, fascinated by the power of conscious touch as a form of communication and of deep listening.

Her body practice focuses on pelvic, womb & abdominal work and touch to deepen our relationship with life and aliveness in its many forms.

She's also really into being outside and hanging out with plants — and works closely with natural intelligences for medicine and magic. 

marysia-pstrokonska.com

Improv Theatre: the creative magic of 'Yes, And...'

Anja Sophie Boorsma

An improviser accepts whatever arises in the moment and builds on it. It is the perfect combination of conscious practice and creativity. In this workshop, suited for beginners and experienced people alike, we will focus on spontaneity, making mistakes and the 'Yes, And' mindset, in both verbal and non-verbal exercises. (max. 20 participants)

As improv teacher, corporate trainer/teamcoach/mediator, Voice Dialogue coach, certified Circling leader and professional Relateful facilitator, Anja Sophie is a multi-faceted facilitator who feels most inspired when she can weave her different backgrounds into new offerings. She is known for her embodiment, clarity and playfulness.

Silence and touch

Peter Munthe-Kaas

An exploration of touch in silence. After a short introduction you are invited to explore touch (or no touch) with others in a wordless space. Its a simple practice that invites for exploration of sensitivity, sensuousness and boundaries.

The last 15 years of my life has been a journey of unlearning.

Unlearning for me points to the process of letting go of belief systems and fixed patterns of mind and body, trusting experience rather than dogma. The guiding light for me is more harmonious relating to my body-being, to others, to society and to nature. 

In all the practices that are important for me; Tai Chi, Dancing, Circling and Bodywork I am inspired by the principle of Wuwei, pointing to an effortless, spontaneous, and skillful movement with the flow of life.

I am based in Copenhagen where I have been leading Circling since 2015.

Slow yoga

Pieter Lichtert

What if the Sun Salutation, a classic yoga practice consisting of 12 postures, is actually an opportunity for us to become more aware of our bodily sensations and needs? What if we can use this yoga practice to tune into our own rhythm and movement? Join me in experiencing yoga in this moment, rather than simply performing yoga.

Pieter has been facilitating Circles since 2019, primarily in Belgium. He received intensive training with Circling Europe and has been a coach, trainer, and partner at Van Kelst & Co for about 15 years, integrating Circling into business and leadership programs. He finds truth, nourishment, and support in nature. Pieter lights up when experimenting with shamanic practices, meditation, sound, music, working with horses and trees, all as ways to deepen his Circling practice.

We Flow

Stéphane Segatori  

We intend to simply ‘happen’ in a collective space, with the goal of sinking in persistent fundamental wellbeing, a source of inextinguishable flow. We give people freedom before anything else. We experience human connection through our inner worlds & often wonder how limitless human experience can be! In that space we aim for 100% Play + Maximum 69% Serious; and many other beautiful things to discover! You’re welcome to bring, to share, and to do what is of utmost importance for you, right now, in the world. If necessary you’ll get backup for that! (bring your laptops and phones if it tingles) Integration of life momentum & taking action over your latest insights is invited. Whether your attention goes to your social or professional purpose, we offer a steaming-edge playbox of direct pointers evolved over 2 years.

Stéphane loves flow-states, group synergy and deciphering sci-fi for surprising insights.

He lives and works in Amsterdam, Netherlands where also co-leads thursday’s Circling Nights since 2 years.

As an entrepreneur, he's talented in the fields of Business Intelligence (since 2005), Culture change and Human potential. He loves to bring integral ideas into a practical application, like we-space for business, or matching a precise approach to unique requirements, mostly as a certified MBTI® Coach.

He has received lay ordination in the Integrating Zen tradition in 2015 with Jun Po roshi and has extensively studied the Mahamudra & Dzogchen paths with western teachers.

He’s passionate about unitive consciousness and its smooth emergence & integration into our cultures, standing in love for a bright future for all of us.

His main practices are We-Flow (practical collective state), Gifting Mind, Circling (3-schools), Surrendered Leadership, and Mondo-Zen. 

A taste of ‘Emerging Radiance: Exploring Limits, Claiming Space, and Igniting Power’

Markus Schnizer and Marysia Pstrokońska

In this workshop we will dive into some of the territory of harnessing and building capacity and skill in our sympathetic activation and fight response. 

We’ll begin exploring these responses in their different expressions and purposes — in the subtle and more expressive — from the realms of desire and going for what we want — to aliveness, to irritation, to setting limits and to our ‘fuck no’ … and back again.

We will be exploring the role of reclaiming these responses in regulation, autonomy and access to creative fire.

Working with body, energy, voice, awareness and connection we’ll be supporting ourselves and each other to connect deeper to embodied clarity and to our own unique power. 

In the fire of your Soul

Martje Witzel 

This is an exploration of the nature of our being, our soul. That place in you where the fire burns and from where you move in the world.

We welcome a discovery of the true expression and longing of your soul. And explore its relationship with the souls of other beings, things and the whole. 



In this workshop you will be guided into a deeper place into the essence of your being, and from here explore collectively the mystery that life beholds.

I am a lover of the wild unknown, a mystical artist, a wanderer of earth and other realms. I live in wonder with deep reverence for the mystery of life and beyond.

With a gentle and empowering approach, I welcome a full embodied expression of our who we are right now. I long for us all to see that there is more freedom in each moment then we ever believed possible.

Through my leadership I invite you to surrender to the unfolding of life, wandering through places where the soul dances freely and mystery leads. 


IFS and Circling with Self

Andrew Venezia

IFS — the evidence-based (trauma) therapy Internal Family Systems — and Circling, are both integrative approaches, bringing us into greater harmony and wholeness. In this workshop we will explore where these two approaches mutually benefit. You need not be familiar with IFS to join.

About Andrew: 

Wizards consult him.

Deepen as Love -Discovering the Vocabulary of Love

Ellen Waenink

Unlock the language of your heart through guided exercises, movement, meditation, and connection, and experience how you truly want to express and deepen as love.

Ellen is passionate about creating relational fields for deep connection and sacred practice spaces. She's been involved in the Circling scene in Europe since the beginning of Circling Europe. After being part of the first SAS edition, she started leading with CE and other organisation in the world. Her focus has been to bring the practice into mainstream businesses and organisations. Currently, she is a key faculty member at Circling Europe, contributing to various training programs including SAS, Circling Coaching, and Surrendered Leadership.

In addition, Ellen is also a transformational coach and teaches the embodiment practice Non-Linear Movement. She is dedicated to a path of women's practices and spirituality in a lineage of the nondual tradition of Kashmri Shaivism. She lives in Amsterdam with her husband and two kids.

Sensing

Ronja Lofstad

Sensing is “to feel or experience something without being able to explain exactly how” (Cambridge Dictionary). To feel or experience others through our own bodies is one of many capacities we might gain or develop through circling. It is indeed also a helpful tool when being with others in their world. 

This workshop is a dive into the world of sensing, mostly through 1-1 circling based practices but also surrendered leadership.

Ronja discovered circling in 2015 and it has been an active part of her life ever since, both as a participant and facilitator. Her background is as a project manager but she is recently exploring new directions in life. Nature is at the moment her greatest teacher and her aim is to bring the qualities of nature into connection.

Talks

John Thompson

Sharing on the most meaningful topics that are currently up for me, maybe including the potential of greater love, eros, deep embodiment and whatever may be alive during the festival.

John Thompson is the co-founder of Circling Europe, the organisation primarily behind Circling spreading the world this last decade. John is also an Integral Master Coach and a Master NARM Facilitator. He originated the 5 principles of Circling and Surrendered Leadership and has trained and certified hundreds of Circling facilitators. He's worked with world class leaders in AI, Collective Intelligence, Sport and business and recently developed a Circling Coaching training programme. Previously John ran an elite tennis academy based on Integral Philosophy, authored award winning papers in the field of personal development and started an internationally famous project for street children in Delhi.

The 3 Dimensions of Movement

Bjarte Hiley

Every action we take involves movement of some kind. Whether we're speaking, writing, building or loving, there are distinct dimensions of movement which we use and have access to. I call these Capacity (It), Sensitivity (I), and Expression (We).

In "The three dimensions of movement", we will explore how the dimensions of Capacity, Sensitivity and Expression relate to unlocking your full Being through practices in each of those dimensions.

Dress in clothes you feel comfortable moving in, and bring something to write on if you desire.

Bjarte Hiley is an experienced facilitator, mentor and martial artist. He spent three years on the Wudang Mountains in China, delving into Daoist contemplative practices and internal martial arts. He is an expert at transforming peoples relationships to themself through movement. 

He's the founder of Daomove, a method he developed to invite people into a deeper contact with their embodied experience, and let themselves be moved into bold action from that place.

Circling in Intentional Community

David Sequoia

Want to start a community? Relational dynamics are vital in how a community thrives. The true stretch for circling as a holistic practice is how it serves the values of an intentional community, where all aspects of life, work and play intermingle. If you dream of starting a land project, community or commune, bring your friends and let's see how circling principles and practice interplay with important features of community life.

David Sequoia leads systems and development for a conscious life center in Costa Rica called Awake. He holds weekly circling and authentic relating workshops, and leads the implementation of sociocratic governance. He is passionate about leading from love, unity consciousness, kirtan, embodiment, and deep relaxation. Originally from Los Angeles, the Netherlands is David's second home after Costa Rica. David also works as a circling coach.

Yoga Nidra: a unique state of consciousness

Chiara Capurro

Experience the profound relaxation of Yoga Nidra in this immersive session. Yoga Nidra, or "yogic sleep," is a guided meditation practice that brings you to a state of deep relaxation while maintaining awareness. During this session, you will be gently led through a journey of conscious rest, allowing your body to release tension and your mind to achieve a state of deep calm. Perfect for all levels, this practice provides a sanctuary for self-discovery and inner tranquility, helping you reconnect with your body and inner Self. Leave feeling refreshed, centered, and deeply serene.

Deeply passionate about connections, communication and psychology, Chiara has been exploring deep waters within herself and in relation to others. Her vow to Life is to bring more peace, love and joy in the hearts of those she meets. Through her exploration of ancient yogic teachings, she discovered powerful tools and guidance that helped her reconnect with her soul desires. This journey inspired her to become a certified Hatha Yoga teacher, sharing her passion for movement with presence and deep listening to the needs of the body and soul.

She's creating spaces for people to come together, play, move freely, exchange thoughts and feelings, honor silence, explore touch, and ultimately be in their authentic Selves.

She recently discovered and fell in love with the transformative practice of Circling, and is now actively training in Nonviolent Communication and Authentic Relating.

Circling and Touch

Ronja Lofstad

Including touch can move us towards a more intuitive and simple mode of connecting.

when we are circling someone or being with someone in their world. Touch also seems to work as a doorway to the less verbal realms of our experiences- old patterns, deep rooted embodied sensations, young parts of ourselves. 

You will be guided through various touch based circling practices on the theme of being with someone in their world. We will also bring touch into surrendered leadership. 

This workshop builds on the themes from the session named “Sensing”, but they stand alone.

Ronja discovered circling in 2015 and it has been an active part of her life ever since, both as a participant and facilitator. Her background is as a project manager but she is recently exploring new directions in life. Nature is at the moment her greatest teacher and her aim is to bring the qualities of nature into connection.

A Circling experiment: Circling with sound

Pieter Lichtert

What’s it like to Circle through sound? To use the medium of our voice and body to express what is alive in us from moment to moment? What’s the impact of receiving such vibrations, to see someone express their deepest truth authentically, preverbally? Questions that will be at the centre of this practice that I would love to share with you.

Pieter has been facilitating Circles since 2019, primarily in Belgium. He received intensive training with Circling Europe and has been a coach, trainer, and partner at Van Kelst & Co for about 15 years, integrating Circling into business and leadership programs. He finds truth, nourishment, and support in nature. Pieter lights up when experimenting with shamanic practices, meditation, sound, music, working with horses and trees, all as ways to deepen his Circling practice.

The Big Surrendered Leadership Circle

John Thompson, Sean Wilkinson and team

Each year on the penultimate afternoon, we step into the unknown as a practice community. This 5-hour gathering is an opportunity to dare to Surrender as a whole.

SL Dialogue - What is the World Calling From Us

Sean Wilkinson

This will be an opportunity to be in deep dialogue, to grapple with real collective conversation using our SL capacities. It will be an embodied, self aware and meaningful dialogue about how we can really serve the world.

As Co-Founder of Circling Europe, Sean has had an enduring passion for self-awareness, human potential, wisdom traditions and an ongoing inquiry into life. This has included extensive academic research, spiritual and psychological practice, coaching and therapeutic training and a determination to apply what he is learning into everyday experience. 

He had a successful background in elite sports coaching and developing a practice utilising his integral coaching and therapeutic training. He is also an award winning published Integral theory Scholar and has published writing on Integral group leadership and consciousness. 

He has been part of spearheading Circling to 20 countries and has helped to define the paradigm-shifting nature of what Circling is. As the organisation grows, Sean maintains his passion to research and development of Circling’s principles, in both delivering the trainings, and importantly in developing the culture of the business itself.

Feminine SL

Winde RIenstra, isabelle Xavier, Cilia van der Ven

We would like to immerse ourselves in the feminine with this SL circle led by upcoming Female Circling leaders. Will you join us in the field of femininity and explore our female essence this way? The space is open to explore archetypes, or any other way you want to express and explore your femininity with us.

This Circle is women only.

Awake and Alive: Circling as a Path of Awakening

Andrew Venezia

Pointing out exercises for your inherently awakened mind, brought into connection and the body as nearly bearable ecstasy.

About Andrew: 

Wizards consult him.

Awareness-based body-learning

Markus Schnizer

In this workshop we will combine the 5 principles of circling with concepts of bodywork. We will work mostly in pairs - giving and receiving sessions in alternate turns.

We create together a playground of exploring somatic patterns and looking for variations.

The ingredients for this are curiosity, awareness, touch, breathing and the 5 circling principles.

I’m driven by my curiosity for places of more freedom and find myself continuously exploring new spaces of awareness and experiences. That brought me from science to dance, further to Alexander technique, Grinberg Method, trauma therapy, We-flow, teaching in acting school and more.

Within that, I have my own practice for body-awareness in Amsterdam for more than 20 years. Trained as a classic bodyworker I’m coming to a place where I free-flow between all the stuff I ever learned, picked up or discovered. Over the last years, circling and We-flow became a central part of my ingredients for my work, and actually as the way of leading my life. Lately I started collaborations with Marysia Pstrokonska and others.