International Circling Festival 2023

Dissolve: Intuitive Contact Improv Dance

Tara Li

For some out-of-the-ordinary human interactions. Dissolve is an event inspired in contact dance jams where freedom is the main rule. We’ve created a safe space for you to explore the boundaries between bodies in a lighthearted and playful way. What you might discover through this fun journey of flow might surprise you, by taking you deep down into the essence of your being.

Tara is a dedicated Conscious Dance Facilitator and DJ . She is passionate about exploring and creating human connections through the wisdom of the body. She has many years of experience in facilitating Circling, Qigong, voice, improvisation theater and Tantra to support people to connect deeply within and with others. She is renowned for her refined ear and impeccable taste in music as a DJ, and over many years of facilitation and practice she has developed a fine-tuned energetic sensitivity in navigating group dynamics in her facilitation.

Practicing Surrender with Passive Movement

Markus Schnizer

This workshop aims to give us a practical embodied exploration of surrendering with a bodywork approach called passive movement.
Hereby we aim for allowing our limbs and head being moved by a fellow particpant without helping or resisting the movement. This kind of surrender can be scary and liberating on many levels.

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, 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. 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.

4 Practices to Enhance your Festival Experience

Andrew Venezia

 4 simple practices to help you get the most out of this crazy, transformational ride.

About Andrew: 

Wizards consult him.

Bodywork

Einar Boson

What is it like to really allow your body to be here?
We will explore embodiment together, from surrender. Probably some pair work, and maybe some whole group play.

When Einar discovered Circling some years ago, it was a continuation and deepening of his exploration of meditation techniques and presence, and in Circling he found his home. He has spent a lot of time in training with Circling Europe and is now part of leading some of their trainings in Scandinavia. He also often leads Circling events in Copenhagen, Malmö and Stockholm.

He works as a body therapist in Malmö and sometimes Copenhagen, and in both body therapy sessions and Circling he uses his sensitivity and discernment to invite his clients into closer contact with the truth of the present moment where many unexpected treasures can be found.

Einar believes firmly that truth and love are the same, in the sense that true love is the absence of resistance to how things really are, and he brings truth, clarity and love into his facilitation. He is also passionate about embodiment and for allowing the intellect to be part of the play.

Circling Theory and Basics

Ronja Lofstad

What is circling? So much happens in a circling space and the words for describing and understanding it is relatively sparse. Let's build a terminology together!

This is an invitation to bring or learn about:
-homemade concepts and frames to describe and understand what we do
-terms or theories borrowed from other disciplines that are relevant for circling
-experiments with form and what they do.

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.

Connecting through Movement

Lucie Baudon

A warm up followed by a couple of exercises to explore our connections through movement and the build up of a choreography.

Lucie is a dancer & well-being researcher interested in meditative movement and human meetings, she organises and facilitates « dance of being » workshops, circling events, and has been coaching people to improve their well-being since 2014. She is the founder of i âme (www.iame.me) and the author of a wellbeing game called «mes 7 familles bien-être ».

Among other things she is a certified facilitator in Reiki, Dance-therapy, Mimmotherapy, the Festen method (Fear Release), Circling and Authentic Relating Games.

Being with the Other in their World

Els Marie Cardinaels

Being with the other in their world (practiced in the context of a birthday circle) is a very deep way of
meeting someone exactly where they are. It's a practice of giving someone high quality attention, while
exploring the nuances and depths of their in the moment experience – and our own - and going on a
journey together that can reveal deeper layers of their relational patterns, life challenges, as well as their
gifts, power, authentic expression and being.

When we allow our hearts and being to be impacted by the unfolding of the circlee's human-ness and
innocence when circling them, it's like receiving the most precious gift.

As we are invited to also bring our full selves to the circlee, we, ourselves, get to discover our own
leadership in being authentic, in trusting our experience and in holding someone's experience as sacred in
the process.

During this workshop you'll explore Being with the Other in Their World with pair and small group
practices that zoom in on the nuances of this principle. We'll also be leading birthday circles.

Els Marie is a student of life and a spiritual seeker with a deep longing to show up transparent in and for life and to be connected to her pure essence, innocence, radiant light and fullness as a woman.

Struggling with loneliness, depression and a deep sense of unworthiness in the past, she embarked on a journey of inner healing and growth about 13 years ago.

She ventured into the lands of family constellations and systemic work, where she spent years training and working, she explored the rich landscapes of human emotion in sound during her Primitive Voice® Training with internationally sought after voice therapist Jean-Rene Toussaint, dove into the exciting territory of the shadow with numerous plant medicine journeys, danced her way into deeper embodiment with the feminine archetypes, and trained as a HeartIQ circle work facilitator with Christian Pankhurst. Recently she's discovered new passions in working with Existential Kink, offering spiritual guidance and practicing magick. 

The practice that continues to inspire and inform her most deeply, however, is the practice of Circling and Surrendered Leadership. She's been deeply immersed in the practice, leading numerous events and co-leading Circling Europe's facilitator training, since she finished her own training as a facilitator in 2014.

The common denominator in feedback from people who have worked with her, is that they feel safe, seen and guided by her in a deep way, and that she is that open space where the answers that were already inside can come to the surface naturally.

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.

Improv Theatre

Romana Städler

In this workshop we dive into the uncensored and immediate expression of impulses. In simple exercises we trust what comes and allow creative expression free rein. There are no mistakes. Do you like to dive into the play and be surprised (by yourself)?
We also take time for sharing impact and reflection. Both beginners and experienced people are welcomed!

As a handicraft teacher, Romana accompanied adolescents in their individual creative expression for two decades. Her core value being realness, she also studied expression and dance therapy, massage techniques and self-inquiry practices. When she encountered Circling, she deeply committed to the practice and allowed her life to realign step by step. Travelling, learning and teaching in the jungle and across Latin America connected her deeper to nature and her longing in life: radical authenticity, commitment to connection, aliveness, full embodiment, simplicity and attunement to nature.
She now offers exploration spaces such as, Circling, improvisation theater, vision quests, nature experiences, coaching sessions and continues to bring her passion to kids in schools and families. Her life is an ongoing research on re(a)lationships.

Magic in Circling Spaces

Ben Hodgson

This is an invitation to those who are starting to suspect, appreciate, and who already feel the magic present in Circling, to connect with others, and share experiences and insights. Ben will offer some of his own maps and frames that have been interesting and useful in navigating some of the sacred and profound spaces encountered through the practice, as well as highlighting some of the pitfalls that can await us. There is an intention and openness for this workshop to be conducted as a sacred meeting, with both theory and Circling presence welcomed.

Ben has been Circling for almost a decade, based in London, and facilitating events in the UK and Europe. He loves the esoteric side of the practice, exploring humanity through the magical nuances of symbolism. Ben is exploring the frame of Circling as a deep meditation in and around the ground of consent. A consistent participant in the scholar teams at events, he believes in honouring the supporting structures in Circling process, and the great value to be gained through working meditation. Ben is a fencing instructor, perfume collector, philosopher, artist, board gamer, pole dancer, web designer, and coder.

From Vision to Impact: Unlock the World-Transforming Power of Your Work

Sylvie van den Meerendonk

Attention, change-makers. Join this immersive exploration with Sylvie to dive deep into your vision for our world, uncover your purpose, and find your personal work towards your utopia. Get ready to unleash your highest contribution and create the world you dream of!

Effortless Ice Baths

Björn Heijligers

Pain and discomfort are inevitable. Suffering is a choice.

Björn, an astronomer gone rogue, found his mission after 12 years exploring alternative relationship forms: help men be present, vulnerable and free. This so they can serve the world and their women into deeper trust and surrender.

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.

Circling Coaching Demo

John Thompson

Witness and experience Circling coaching at work. Max 24 people.

More about Circling Coaching: https://www.circlingeurope.com/coaching-training

John Thompson is the co-founder of Circling Europe, the organisation most 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.

Touch & Circling

Marielle Klaassen

The intention of this workshop is discovering yourself while you are touching/circling another. Especially during massaging, the tendency is to focus on the other, but focussing on discovering yourself as well can be very enriching and helpful for the one receiving. Circling and Massage both are excellent in connecting to and discovering more of your body. To meet all what is here, also that is vulnerable, hidden or unknown. With the focus on discovery, this can be accessed with more ease.

Mariëlle is a holistic massage-therapist for the last 10 years (www.wachteven.nu) She has been at the Circling festivals and assisting and co-leading in many Circling events. She loves to include circling in her massage therapy.

Connecting with Death, to live more fully

Deborah Scherz & Andrew Venezia

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!

About Deborah:

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.
These days, I am training as a Therapeutic Coach (Women's Inner Leadership).
Life has also brought me to work with Grief & Death."

About Andrew:

Wizards consult him.

Animal Movement and Touch

Tara Li

Drawing inspiration from the wisdom of animals, we will explore how their presence and intuitive nature can guide us in connecting more deeply with ourselves and others.
The essence of this event lies in exploring the energetic traits of various animal archetypes and how they manifest in human interaction. Through a combination of guided meditations and movement exercises, participants will tap into their inner animal energies and explore the transformative power of touch.

Tara is a dedicated Conscious Dance Facilitator and DJ . She is passionate about exploring and creating human connections through the wisdom of the body. She has many years of experience in facilitating Circling, Qigong, voice, improvisation theater and Tantra to support people to connect deeply within and with others. She is renowned for her refined ear and impeccable taste in music as a DJ, and over many years of facilitation and practice she has developed a fine-tuned energetic sensitivity in navigating group dynamics in her facilitation.

Trust your Movement Expression

Lucie Baudon

A warm up followed by a couple of exercises to play with our movement expression and the build up of a choreography

Lucie is a dancer & well-being researcher interested in meditative movement and human meetings, she organises and facilitates « dance of being » workshops, circling events, and has been coaching people to improve their well-being since 2014. She is the founder of i âme (www.iame.me) and the author of a wellbeing game called «mes 7 familles bien-être ».

Among other things she is a certified facilitator in Reiki, Dance-therapy, Mimmotherapy, the Festen method (Fear Release), Circling and Authentic Relating Games.

Circling, Meditation and the Boundaries of Experience

Sean Wilkinson

This workshop will be developing our capacity to be a cross paradigmatic practitioner. We will be going into deep stillness together and then combining this with high quality Circling practice. 

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.

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. There is also time for reflection and sharing impact. Will you come and play?

Anja-Sophie Boorsma (NL) is an improv theatre teacher, corporate facilitator/mediator/teamcoach and certified circling leader. Having discovered improv in 2000 when her teachers at the Amsterdam Theatre School warned her that she wasn't 'in the moment' enough, she has taught improv classes for 20+ years now and was artistic director of one of the biggest international improvisation theatre festivals in the world, IMPRO Amsterdam. She has taught mindfulness to her improv students and now wants to bring improv to circlers, to bridge the gap between her 2 favorite worlds. 

Welcome to your Dark Side

Christian Pankhurst

This workshop is an opportunity to celebrate and claim the emotional-energetic ranges that we often make wrong and hide. The consequence of these parts being exiled is that we don't bring all of us to life, to our relationships and to our purpose.

Through joyful, safe and embodied practices, we will journey together to harvest the gold in our shadows and bring them into the light. We will liberate the bound, dormant life force that has been held in the body for decades and create right relationship with these aspects of self, by channeling this newly liberated energy through the heart.

This workshop contains practices that will bring you to your edge and requires capacity and a regulated nervous system to get the most from it. We will be doing practices that will invite you to be witnessed and felt by others in a group and the exploration might bring up memories, triggers and parts that have not been felt before. Thus, we will be completing the workshop with designated 'Tribal Regulation Time' to nourish your nervous system through the collective heart field we will co-create together.

Christian Pankhurst is globally recognized as an eminent authority on emergent group dynamics. Through the integration of various embodied modalities, he has devised a groundbreaking method to foster profound transformational spaces, employing a unique circle technology known as Heart iQ. Heart iQ is about doing deep inner work together with others in community.

This approach is both potent and intuitive, allowing the field's wisdom to steer the course, rather than the facilitator's predetermined agenda. Christian's mastery lies in imparting the art of attuning to the subtle cues within the field and deciphering group dynamics, enabling the circle itself to assume the role of the teacher. Since commencing his journey as a group facilitator in 2002, Christian has amassed an impressive 50,000 hours of teaching experience in circle at his deep dive retreats.

He had trained and certified more than 400 practitioners, facilitators, and coaches hailing from over 50 countries worldwide. Currently, he primarily teaches in the United States, UK & Europe. In 2015, Christian established and co-founded "New Eden," an idyllic transformational retreat centre nestled in the Netherlands. Spanning a breathtaking 10-acre property, this sanctuary provides an ideal backdrop for immersive and soul-stirring experiences. It serves as his spiritual haven and a sacred space where he delves into his most profound work. 

Circling in and with Nature

Pieter Lichtert

We’ll bring our awereness to the nature in and outside of us. We’ll Circle nature beings like trees and bring the forces of nature into our Circles. We'll be walking, sitting, exploring, and experimenting in the beautiful woods and surroundings around the venue. 

Pieter facilitates Circles since 2019 and has trained with Circling Europe intensively. He's a coach, trainer and partner for about 15 years at Van Kelst & Co, bringing Circling to business and leadership programs. Spending time in nature is where he finds truth, nourishment and support. Pieter works with horses and trees as a doorway to more depth and connection. Pieter is also a talented musician.

Reclaiming the Shadows of Sexuality

Dirk Plas

What do you secretly desire, but find difficult to reveal? Which difficult parts of you are buried under shame, guilt and self judgment? What are your dark sexual fantasies? how would it be for you to bring and be all of you? 

This (clothes on) workshop gives you the space to explore the sides of you which are residing in the shadows of your being. They want to see the light, and if they do, you might 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!

The 3 Dimensions of Movement

Bjarte Hiley

 Developing a movement practice is deeply supportive of living a life connected to Soul. Can movement and training be something which is an enjoyable pursuit in and of itself? In Fundamentals of Movement we'll be exploring that question through movement practices in the three dimensions of movement: Capacity, Sensitivity, and Expression.

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.

Feeling, Exploring and Embodying four Levels of Consciousness

Romana Städler

This research is inspired by four simplified levels of Integral Theory: Egocentric, Etnocentric, Worldcentric and Cosmocentric.
We explore these different states of being through movement and embodiment practices. We will be able to perceive what it is like for us to be in the respective consciousness, as well as to experience others in embodiment and our being with them.
We also take time for sharing impact and reflection.

As a handicraft teacher, Romana accompanied adolescents in their individual creative expression for two decades. Her core value being realness, she also studied expression and dance therapy, massage techniques and self-inquiry practices. When she encountered Circling, she deeply committed to the practice and allowed her life to realign step by step. Travelling, learning and teaching in the jungle and across Latin America connected her deeper to nature and her longing in life: radical authenticity, commitment to connection, aliveness, full embodiment, simplicity and attunement to nature.
She now offers exploration spaces such as, Circling, improvisation theater, vision quests, nature experiences, coaching sessions and continues to bring her passion to kids in schools and families. Her life is an ongoing research on re(a)lationships.

Collective Intelligence on Gender

John Thompson & Ben Hodgson

John and Ben Hwill start the session with a mini dialogue on gender. A topic that's been very much in the public focus these last years. The spirit of this is courageously pursuing truth together and including our being during the process as at least as important as the issues being discussed, and then extending this into the whole group. 

John Thompson is the co-founder of Circling Europe, the organisation most 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.. 

Ben has been Circling for almost a decade, based in London, and facilitating events in the UK and Europe. He loves the esoteric side of the practice, exploring humanity through the magical nuances of symbolism. Ben is exploring the frame of Circling as a deep meditation in and around the ground of consent. A consistent participant in the scholar teams at events, he believes in honouring the supporting structures in Circling process, and the great value to be gained through working meditation. Ben is a fencing instructor, perfume collector, philosopher, artist, board gamer, pole dancer, web designer, and coder.

Embodied Innocence Being Mov[ed]

Sat Prem [Stephanie Bardin]

This workshop is designed to explore qualities of embodied presence, in movement and speech, it includes hands-on exploration of bodily practices leading into pairs and group contact, movement and circling. 

Being moved is a way to attune to yourself, others and the field. To expand your capacity to connect and feel on a deeper level to yourself and others, at the level of sensations where, maybe, lies our embodied innocence.

Let's find out together!

No previous experience needed in dance or Contact Improvisation. Includes *consent*.

*Sensory and neuro-proprioceptive practice not sensual/sexual.

Stephanie Bardin is a researcher at heart. 

After years of teaching movement and having her own dance-theater company funded by Unesco, she became a trauma informed body-mind and dance therapist, yoga teacher, and Authentic Relating and Circling leader and coach. Her ongoing research on the embodiment process takes root in a profound spiritual awakening she experienced as a child. She has also completed a 4 year non-dual retreat. 

Primal Play

Katharina Alevia

Join us for the embodied relational practice of Primal Play! Explore what happens when the embodied authentic truth between you and another expresses itself through breath, touch, sound, movement but NO words. Said differently: What would happen if we took circling to the pure expression of your body? Come and play with us!

Katharina is an embodiment coach weaving business and somatic modalities to support solopreneurs in bringing their gifts into the world. She's also a devotee and creator of relational spaces where beings can meet with their embodied truth in the present moment.

Sourcing the Code

Stephane Segatori and Forrest Wilson

Sourcing The Code (STC) is a practice for advanced practitioners and facilitators who are skilled in self-sensing and co-sensing to unveil hidden truths and liberate innate potential. STC connects us to a 'primordial code', akin to discovering ancient artifacts in an uncharted diamond cave, liberating us from constraints and reconnecting us with our foundational essence.

Sourcing the Code supports the non-symbolic energy of our most essential longings and life dreams to liberate and shape itself into clear and unobstructed living. The workshop supports an embodied experience of releasing distractions and disturbances to connect and nourish the pure and raw life force energy that supports the richest elements with us to flourish without inhibition.

Sourced by over 500 hours of co-sensing and deep listening between Forrest Wilson and Stéphane Segatori - STC has practically supported several successful projects, including a many month incubator program and many weekend retreats and gatherings. We use STC to support our way of working, collaborating, and facilitating to anchor us in the moment, free from diversions, allowing us to develop clear enactment. To support this we create a dynamic playful and supportive 'We-Space', amplifying collective capacities.

Sourcing The Code has not been released to the public. This is an opportunity to preview STC before we share more widely with the world.

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. 

Forrest Wilson is a coach, facilitator, and the co-founder of Light in Action, an incubator for consciousness supporting pioneers and luminaries passionate about human potential, recreating planetary systems, transformational healing work, and creating a world where we all thrive together.

Shadow Cabaret

Ben Hodgson

As twilight falls, Ben would love you to attend this playfully subversive cabaret experience: folk are welcome to bring their skills, humour, masks and personas, desires and fears, in an exploration of the irony that honours the pain and beauty we weave. Active participation is encouraged, and the illusion of separation may be challenged!

Ben has been Circling for almost a decade, based in London, and facilitating events in the UK and Europe. He loves the esoteric side of the practice, exploring humanity through the magical nuances of symbolism. Ben is exploring the frame of Circling as a deep meditation in and around the ground of consent. A consistent participant in the scholar teams at events, he believes in honouring the supporting structures in Circling process, and the great value to be gained through working meditation. Ben is a fencing instructor, perfume collector, philosopher, artist, board gamer, pole dancer, web designer, and coder.

Bodywork / Embodied Play

Peter Munthe-Kaas

I am a Tai Chi practitioner (since 2005), Circling leader (since 2016) and Certified Body Therapist (Since 2020). For me all of these practice connects to the daoist principle of Wuwei, pointing at effortless (or not forced) action. Moving with and being sensitive to what is already there.

A Journey into the Archetypes

Sean Wilkinson  

I will be outlining a version of archetypal consciousness and how it can empower us on our individual and collective journeys. We will take this vision into practice in order to awaken our true archetypal potential as individuals and as a collective. 

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.

Ecstatic Dance

Rain Tunger  

Hello everybody! My name is Rain Tunger and I’m really grateful to meet you guys at Circling Festival 2023. 

My job is to take you and your bodies to an inspiring musical journey through various parts of the world. Ecstatic Dance is a great passion of mine. To create the flow of musical composition, I use different tempos and styles, including ethnic-, world-, and shamanic influenced sounds, while combining and adding modern electronic dance music to the mix. Goal it to explore ourselves, our bodies and the connection between. To create space for cultivation of inner freedom and expression, thru dance, movement and endless curiosity. I’m excited and calling you to take part in this collective creation in progress.  

Rain Tunger is a DJ from Estonia. Playing music already for 26 years, working on Estonian national Radio 2 for the past 17 years with dance music show “Progression” has been the most listened show on the radio for the past 7 years. Rain is also one of the most wanted and loved Ecstatic Dance DJ-s in Estonia. Mixing world music from Brazil, Africa, Portugal combined with uplifting and joyful house music by creating a musical journey for the body and soul. Best way to understand what it is, is to join the journey and experience it.

We Flow: Active Fundamental Well-being

Stephane 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.

More info: We-Flow as an awareness-based technology has emerged from professional we-space contexts at our We-Space Lab in Amsterdam and online. It is currently used to serve several entrepreneurs & company cultures in europe and US. Weekly active online calls, a stewardship training, a monthly practice collective are run, with more than 135 professionals already served.

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. 

Hotline to the Divine

Els Marie Cardinaels & Theresa Blommerde 

A remembrance and activation circle for women to deepen connection to Source and Self.

Els Marie is a student of life and a spiritual seeker with a deep longing to show up transparent in and for life and to be connected to her pure essence, innocence, radiant light and fullness as a woman.

Struggling with loneliness, depression and a deep sense of unworthiness in the past, she embarked on a journey of inner healing and growth about 13 years ago.

She ventured into the lands of family constellations and systemic work, where she spent years training and working, she explored the rich landscapes of human emotion in sound during her Primitive Voice® Training with internationally sought after voice therapist Jean-Rene Toussaint, dove into the exciting territory of the shadow with numerous plant medicine journeys, danced her way into deeper embodiment with the feminine archetypes, and trained as a HeartIQ circle work facilitator with Christian Pankhurst. Recently she's discovered new passions in working with Existential Kink, offering spiritual guidance and practicing magick. 

The practice that continues to inspire and inform her most deeply, however, is the practice of Circling and Surrendered Leadership. She's been deeply immersed in the practice, leading numerous events and co-leading Circling Europe's facilitator training, since she finished her own training as a facilitator in 2014.

The common denominator in feedback from people who have worked with her, is that they feel safe, seen and guided by her in a deep way, and that she is that open space where the answers that were already inside can come to the surface naturally.

Theresa has dedicated her life to creating art, teaching Circling and having an everlasting passion for human development. Most recently she has rediscovered a deep love — for complete nonsense and play.

Unveiling Soul: A Collective Journey

Martje Witzel 



In this workshop you will be guided into a deeper place of meeting the unknown. By venturing into the uncharted realm, we will collectively shift our awareness beyond the individual self and tap into the soul of the world- a realm inhabited by mysterious forces that have shaped or existence since long ago. 
From this place we will enter an exploration, unveiling the gifts of the present moment and meeting each other in the collective discovery.

 Martje is 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’.

Since she was little there was a fascination for nature and human connection. Over the years she has been trained in different modalities, where circling and surrendered leadership are home for her. She holds a deep willingness and commitment to meeting what is here.

With al blend of intuition, wisdom, and a strong commitment to truth she invites a deepening sense of awareness. With a gentle and empowering approach she creates a supportive space where you explore the depths of your inner landscape, uncover hidden truths and embody your being. Through her leadership, Martje invites you to surrender to the unfolding of life, wandering a realm where the soul dances freely and mystery leads.

Embody your Fullness (women only)

Els Marie Cardinaels

In this workshop you’ll be invited to explore your natural sensuality and sexy-ness through dance,
embodiment, play and connection with the other women in the group. We'll invite in the energy of the
archetype of the Sacred Slut to supports us in this journey.

The archetypal energy of the Sacred Slut in a woman stands for her ability to enjoy all the good life has to
offer to the fullest, without inhibition or shame.

The Slut is playful, fun, alive, juicy, radiant, confident, sassy, hungry, expressed, flirtatious, sensual and
sexual.

She's connected to her heart, leadership, vulnerability and boundaries.

Her attractiveness is not dependent on the way she looks. It is her pleasure that is her real beauty, and she
loves to be seen and felt in it.

Els Marie is a student of life and a spiritual seeker with a deep longing to show up transparent in and for life and to be connected to her pure essence, innocence, radiant light and fullness as a woman.

Struggling with loneliness, depression and a deep sense of unworthiness in the past, she embarked on a journey of inner healing and growth about 13 years ago.

She ventured into the lands of family constellations and systemic work, where she spent years training and working, she explored the rich landscapes of human emotion in sound during her Primitive Voice® Training with internationally sought after voice therapist Jean-Rene Toussaint, dove into the exciting territory of the shadow with numerous plant medicine journeys, danced her way into deeper embodiment with the feminine archetypes, and trained as a HeartIQ circle work facilitator with Christian Pankhurst. Recently she's discovered new passions in working with Existential Kink, offering spiritual guidance and practicing magick. 

The practice that continues to inspire and inform her most deeply, however, is the practice of Circling and Surrendered Leadership. She's been deeply immersed in the practice, leading numerous events and co-leading Circling Europe's facilitator training, since she finished her own training as a facilitator in 2014.

The common denominator in feedback from people who have worked with her, is that they feel safe, seen and guided by her in a deep way, and that she is that open space where the answers that were already inside can come to the surface naturally.

Honouring the Genderqueer

Ben Hodgson

This is a trickster's offering: if there are men/women workshops (or male/female workshops), then this workshop offer exists to make sure that there is a space for all to feel welcome, and explore our essential nature in inclusive acceptance. It acknowledges that there is value to be gained by exploration of binaries, as well as in their integration and transcendence. If nobody wishes to attend, then it is an honour to be present at an event where all feel so included, and the offer has still served its purpose.

Ben has been Circling for almost a decade, based in London, and facilitating events in the UK and Europe. He loves the esoteric side of the practice, exploring humanity through the magical nuances of symbolism. Ben is exploring the frame of Circling as a deep meditation in and around the ground of consent. A consistent participant in the scholar teams at events, he believes in honouring the supporting structures in Circling process, and the great value to be gained through working meditation. Ben is a fencing instructor, perfume collector, philosopher, artist, board gamer, pole dancer, web designer, and coder.

Accelerated Awakening Circle for Men

Christian Pankhurst

This workshop is a journey back to your deepest essence, to your heart. It’s a journey of togetherness and an invitation to come back home, to yourself and to your brothers.

Challenges in your health, wealth, relationships & happiness are making themselves known through the cracks in your persona and failed attempts to cover up what is craving to be felt and healed.

The way I work is though a process I developed called Heart iQ Circle Work. I guide the group into a unifying space of resonance where your nervous system can finally come to rest. Through the process, you will feel safe to re-connect to the deepest parts of you, and to give space for everything that has been covered up by the toxic push of ‘doingness’ in your life.

You will laugh, you will cry. But most of all, you will be liberated from the burden you’ve been carrying as you come back to who you really are. You will come home to yourself, leaving feeling inspired, rested and open.

It’s time to release old outdated thoughts of what it means to be a man, to surrender needing to do and to achieve in order to be loved. It’s time to activate your inner Heart Intelligence, to liberate your sexual life force and channel it through your heart in service to your sacred purpose, whether that’s being the best father you can be, or to do the sacred work you’ve been called here to do.

Christian Pankhurst is globally recognized as an eminent authority on emergent group dynamics. Through the integration of various embodied modalities, he has devised a groundbreaking method to foster profound transformational spaces, employing a unique circle technology known as Heart iQ. Heart iQ is about doing deep inner work together with others in community.

This approach is both potent and intuitive, allowing the field's wisdom to steer the course, rather than the facilitator's predetermined agenda. Christian's mastery lies in imparting the art of attuning to the subtle cues within the field and deciphering group dynamics, enabling the circle itself to assume the role of the teacher. Since commencing his journey as a group facilitator in 2002, Christian has amassed an impressive 50,000 hours of teaching experience in circle at his deep dive retreats.

He had trained and certified more than 400 practitioners, facilitators, and coaches hailing from over 50 countries worldwide. Currently, he primarily teaches in the United States, UK & Europe. In 2015, Christian established and co-founded "New Eden," an idyllic transformational retreat centre nestled in the Netherlands. Spanning a breathtaking 10-acre property, this sanctuary provides an ideal backdrop for immersive and soul-stirring experiences. It serves as his spiritual haven and a sacred space where he delves into his most profound work.

Living Transformational Intimacy

Kathryn Piper & Andrew Venezia 

Join Kathryn and Andrew as they share a process for deepening your ability to anchor in love and presence in relationship, embrace the tensions that arise, and shift them into the fuel for a more enlivened, awake, and rewarding way of being. For couples and anyone interested in transformational (romantic) relationship.

Kathryn is a senior leader with Circling Europe. Facilitating Circling since 2015, she leads the practice community in Amsterdam, weekend immersions, coaching and assists SAS trainings.

Kathryn’s style of leadership invites the full range of being human in presence together, opening to what’s here in and between us all. She’s compassionate, curious, precise, fierce and playful with a streak of wildness. What all you may discover while exploring with Kathryn can profoundly transform your life.

About Andrew:

Wizards consult him.

The Dao of Circling

Peter Munthe-Kaas

In this workshop I want to connect my experiences with Tai Chi and Circling. I will present a framework borrowed from Tai Chi (the 8 trigrams) representing the fundamental techniques or energies that we can move with and use at as a mapping tool for the various "moves" we can do in Circling. We will start from some theory, work with a bit of embodiment and from there move into surrendered leadership Circling.

The last 15 years of my life has been a journey of unlearning fixed patterns of mind and body, trusting experience rather than dogma. Skilful living for me concerns 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, Bodywork I am inspired by the principle of Wuwei, pointing to an effortless, spontaneous, and skilful movement with the flow of life. I am based in Copenhagen where I have been leading Circling since 2015.

The Inquiry Protocol: Alchemy of the Body

Ferry Maidman

Ten steps in wich I can place every psychological and spiritual work. I see it as the core of every self development work and essential to know. It contains felt sense (Eugene Gendlin), essence (AH Almaas) and Absolute (Nissargadatta).

My name is Ferry Maidman, Dutch, 56 years old, father of two daughters. My working life is around psychiatric healthcare and spirituality. What I am is multidimensional and maybe not simple to explain. I share my self in a teaching/artwork wich I call Fundamental Welbeing and is inspired by many people like Eugene Gendlin, AH Almaas, Osho, Nissargadatta,etc. The thoughts and practice of Circling Europe is becoming more and more the centre of the teaching/artwork. It is mostly a bodily practice and way of life.

Flow Variation A27

Brian Raszap

This dynamic structure allows us to more directly look at the "traffic rules" we implicitly follow during Circling. When do we interrupt others, when do we allow ourselves to be interrupted? What threads and persons do we keep our attention on, even when the group attention "moves elsewhere"?

Brian is an Uruguayan-Israeli ex-software engineer who has dedicated his life to growth, learning and exploration of what-is. He fell in love with Circling in 2018 and has done thousands of hours, countless trainings, and has practiced Relatefulness all around the world. He is constantly amazed by the power of this simple practice to teach him new things, surprise him, and often kick his ass. Other passions of his are volunteering as an EMT for festivals and burns, exploring consciousness in all its forms, ecstatic dance, immersing himself in bodies of water from bath tubs to oceans, and long conversations about the heart of things.

Brian holds a BSc in Computer Science. He does Presence-based Coaching and facilitates Relatefulness at Relateful.com

Circling Movement

Ronja Lofstad

We will apply the five principles and a circling awareness to movement in various ways. Doing so is a deeply intimate way of meeting who we are as we move through space. The purpose of the workshop is to meet that person, get to know it and express it.

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.

Advanced Training for the Big Circle

Sean Wilkinson  

The biggest Circle in the world is the centerpiece of this festival. It often proves to be the true journey for heroes and heroines. This session will give you an in depth preparation into Surrendered Leadership that will support you in the festival - and beyond.

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.

Breathwork Ceremony

Nils Elzenga 

We’ll use Conscious Connected Breathing, a simple but powerful breathing technique, to basically put the mind offline for a while. This gives us access to all the vast rest of out organism. Expect a intense experience that can bring about emotional release, physiological reset and altered states of consciousness.

Breathworker, circling facilitator, coach, writer, dad.

A Circling Experiment: Circling with Sound

Pieter Lichtert & Benjamin Vandewalle

What’s it like to Circle through sound? To use the medium of voice, body percussion and musical instruments 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 our practice that we would love to share with you.

Pieter facilitates Circles since 2019 and has trained with Circling Europe intensively. He's a coach, trainer and partner for about 15 years at Van Kelst & Co, bringing Circling to business and leadership programs. Spending time in nature is where he finds truth, nourishment and support. Pieter works with horses and trees as a doorway to more depth and connection. Pieter is also a talented musician.

The Big Surrendered Leadership Circle

John Thompson, Sean Wilkinson, Kathryn Piper, Theresa Blommerde, Peter Munthe-Kaas

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.

Exploring Collective Trauma and Triumph - The True Face of War

Sean Wilkinson  

This session will explore our collective consciousness in our relation to War. We will go into our depths to discover and meet with consciousness, how we are really impacted by the human phenomena of war. My intention is to discover our collective wisdom and our personal power in the face of this often highly charged topic.

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.

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, 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. 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.

Pelvic Presence 

Marysia Pstrokonska

Come and connect with your pelvis and lower body, slowing down to listen to and honour its expression.

Anchoring in the pelvis, belly and legs can offer us more access to our aliveness, instinct, desire and joy of being alive… and is an invitation to a deeper intimacy with your whole being and your relationship to life.

In this session we will explore physical and energetic aspects with movement, breath, connection and touch.

Marysia is a bodyworker, fascinated by the power of conscious touch as a form of connection, communication and deep listening.

She specialises in pelvic work, energy work and whole body touch to invite more flow, aliveness and presence in the body.

She is a gardener, forager, forest lover and maker of plant medicines.

Bodywork 

Landon Khau

Dropping into deeper layers of conscious, subconscious, unconscious through body work.

Landon Khau is a chiropractor and a practitioner of holistic healing arts. He specializes in kinesthetic discovery and processing, non verbal communication, and body work.

Sound Bath Experience by ÉOWA 

Tess van der Putten

ÉOWA is here to love and support you with her songs of ancient futures. Let her lullaby like sounds and songs take you to a place beyond thoughts and ideas. A place where you can rest, receive and remember, the magic that's within and beyond you, this time and space.

Tess van der Putten is a trainer, coach and artist. As ÉOWA she sings intuitive, enchanting songs that are always different and come through in the moment. Be guided to a place of inner knowing, deep trust and remembrance of that place within you, where magic is never far away. Curious? Find ÉOWA on all streaming platforms, Instagram @eowaoffical or www.eowaofficial.com

Sunday Church for Wandering Mystics 

Marysia Pstrokonska & 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.

Marysia is a bodyworker, fascinated by the power of conscious touch as a form of connection, communication and deep listening.

She specialises in pelvic work, energy work and whole body touch to invite more flow, aliveness and presence in the body.

She is a gardener, forager, forest lover and maker of plant medicines.

About Andrew:

Wizards consult him.

Wake Up Sound Journey

Els Marie Cardinaels

Ease yourself into the day and into your heart with the sounds of the shamanic drum, sansula, native flute and handpan.

Els Marie is a student of life and a spiritual seeker with a deep longing to show up transparent in and for life and to be connected to her pure essence, innocence, radiant light and fullness as a woman.

Struggling with loneliness, depression and a deep sense of unworthiness in the past, she embarked on a journey of inner healing and growth about 13 years ago.

She ventured into the lands of family constellations and systemic work, where she spent years training and working, she explored the rich landscapes of human emotion in sound during her Primitive Voice® Training with internationally sought after voice therapist Jean-Rene Toussaint, dove into the exciting territory of the shadow with numerous plant medicine journeys, danced her way into deeper embodiment with the feminine archetypes, and trained as a HeartIQ circle work facilitator with Christian Pankhurst. Recently she's discovered new passions in working with Existential Kink, offering spiritual guidance and practicing magick. 

The practice that continues to inspire and inform her most deeply, however, is the practice of Circling and Surrendered Leadership. She's been deeply immersed in the practice, leading numerous events and co-leading Circling Europe's facilitator training, since she finished her own training as a facilitator in 2014.

The common denominator in feedback from people who have worked with her, is that they feel safe, seen and guided by her in a deep way, and that she is that open space where the answers that were already inside can come to the surface naturally.