​I’ve been reflecting a lot recently on what community really means. What are the essential ingredients for community to truly thrive and foster meaningful connection?

As a facilitator of circles and community spaces, my mission is to foster a culture that embraces openness, learning, and deep listening.

Our journey into community is deeply intertwined with our ability to build relationships. Yet, the skills required for authentic connection may not have been imparted to us in our formative years. Whether we learned to keep our thoughts hidden or to forsake our true selves for approval, these gaps can create a yearning for community, a desire that might seem just out of reach.

My own experiences of seeking belonging, especially after facing bullying in school, fuelled my commitment to creating spaces of acceptance. In these circles, we welcome every aspect – both shadow and light. It’s a space to shed shame, to get real, and to build a foundation for a deeper, truer, and more accepting love.

How and Why is Community Created?

Community isn’t solely born from proximity; in today’s world, we choose the communities we want to be part of. It can emerge through common interests, shared passions, collective action, or specific circumstances. For me, “the key ingredient in community is soul, soul is the hidden unity that brings people together. When soul is absent, community falls apart.” – Michael Meade

I love this – it really speaks to the essence of what I see and feel in the different circles and community spaces I run. The depth of soul that binds us all together at different times in our lives, and in the different communities we choose to be in.

Being in Relationship: A Dance of Reciprocity

In a world steeped in hyper-individualism, the constant pursuit of personal success, and the isolation it breeds, being in relationship becomes a lifeline.

Adrienne Maree Brown underscores the importance of moving beyond individualism:

“The practice of being in a relationship with others is what we are missing. Individualism – personal and national – has created a loneliness amongst humans that is not survivable.”

Being in relationship nurtures our capacity to connect with ourselves, others, nature, and the wider world. Soul connection forms the beating heart of community, transcending physical boundaries and connecting us across continents, oceans, and lands.

“So soul is the missing ingredient. It’s natural to everybody; you cannot grab a hold of it or fully define it, but you know it when it’s not there.”

Michael Meade

In a turbulent world filled with hatred and fear, the struggle for our collective soul is palpable. As we navigate these challenges, let’s hold our loved ones close and continue building community wherever we can. The doors to Shelter remain open for another month, inviting you to discover the soulful embrace of community.

More info and ways to apply

More info about our Shelter Community

You can also book in for a free chat with me to find out more.

And if you’d like a taste of what’s on offer before you commit

Why not sign up to receive access to the free Imbolc gathering session which ran on 1st February to sample a taste of what Shelter is all about.