Headline news (a lot happening!)
- Jason Digges launches the Integral Circling School! See full section below.
- European group initiates a legal challenge to the Circling™ trademark.
- The Connection Project launches a new, peer-to-peer Facilitation Training Program.
- I am also adding a full section on AR-inspired Intentional Communities and Eco-Villages.
Note: on alternate months, the Circling Guide newsletter highlights offers from the smaller providers. This is one of those months. If you want to be included in a future newsletter, just reply to this email.
1. What’s happening in the community?
- Integral Circling is reborn! See below
- The Connection Project launches a new, peer-to-peer Facilitation Training Program. See below.
- Sophie and I are starting a new cohort of Authentic Relating in Community (ARC) on Tuesday May 13, with a free introduction on Tuesday May 6. This is an AR experience specifically intended for people joining or creating Intentional Communities (IC’s). Pricing starts at just $299 for the 6-week program.
- The Connection Institute has a lot going on. Includes 6-week Circling Cohorts, 6 week Parts Work Journeys work, a new coach training program, along with one-on-one coaching and consulting. Check this Facebook post for a free online training happening Friday 25.04.
- AR-GO continues its’ good work including a donation-based Women’s Connection Circle on April 22. In fact, all events at AR-GO are donation-based. And there are quite a lot of them.
- Authentic Revolution is starting a new cohort of TAF Level 2: Designing for Connection starting tomorrow, 24.04 in two cohorts with times that are friendly for both US and Europe. Pricing of $395 is also very friendly. The prerequisite program TAF Level 1 starts in the fall. Their popular free, weekly Fight Labs continue as well (I am a satisfied customer, due to my talent in getting into fights with everyone LOL). In addition, Sara continue informative, entertaining and (sometimes) intensely personal writing on the AuthRev list and on her substack.
- Sara and Kaela Atleework are leading a residential AR retreat near Austin TX on May 16-19
- Mihai Banulescu is hosting Connection Games events all over the world. Including one recently in Santa Cruz CA, and a week-long dance immersion in Montpelier France starting May 30
- Sara Ness is asking for funding for formal research on AR, with a focus on the amazing SeekHealing. See the original post here.
2. Integral Circling is reborn!
Jason Digges has launched the new Integral Circling School!
This is a major event in the community as Integral Circling went down 5 years ago with the closing of the Boulder Integral Center. Below is a summary of Jason’s proposal.
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Jason says (original announcement is here):
For those involved in the AR and Circling Movement back in 2012-2018, the Integral Center is legendary. There were many weekly circling and AR events, with people traveling from Europe and Australia to take courses and connect with the community.
After years of training with circling leaders and facilitating, I ventured into a new mission. I often asked myself how I could share this depth and presence in a way that would resonate with more people—not just those focused on psychology and spirituality.
This led me around the world, translating circling practices into The Art of Being Human. It became a 2-day course with plenty of structure and teachings that has allowed thousands to experience the presence and connection possible through relational practice. 🤝
Recently, I’ve been talking with people in the Relatefulness and Circling communities about gaps in the wider community. People want to learn to Facilitate Circling, but current options are limited.
So here’s the big announcement: Integral Circling is coming back! In a few weeks, I’ll be launching an online school offering experiences and practice in this lineage, along with facilitator training (at a modest monthly cost) and a path to Certification.
With circling, we can explore ourselves and others in a slow and dynamic way, leaping into the mystery of the unknown together. Drawing from my 7 years of leading Authentic Relating Training, I understand that aspiring facilitators need clear guidance and structure. I’m creating a robust curriculum now, and it’s been amazing to revive the many teachings that accelerated my own growth a decade ago.
I’m thrilled with the people who have aligned to help with this mission, and I’d love to hear from old-school circlers in this community. Please reach out!
Way to go, Jason! The new school offers two tracks: a Monthly Membership for $45/mth, and a Facilitator Training Track for $250/mth.
3. European group initiates legal challenge to the Circling™ trademark
There has been a request in the European Union Intellectual Property Office for a cancellation of the Circling™ trademark in EU jurisdiction. You can read the full application (including reasons for the challenge) here. The lawsuit was crowd-funded by a private group.
A brief historical note here: the trademark is currently owned by the Circling Institute. It was pushed through 5 years ago amid considerable controversy. Since then, major providers including Transformational Connection and Relateful have rebranded, but the community remains very divided.
I (Marco) am not taking sides here. I am simply wanting to raise awareness.
The Circling Institute was approached for comment, and replied that they were advised by their counsel not to comment publicly on a matter under litigation.
4. The Connection Project launches the world’s first free, peer-based Facilitation Training!
Announced as: “A grassroots social laboratory, The Connection Project is a practice platform built by its’ participants. It offers fun ways to practice and learn authentic relating, and more collaborative ways of being. Where there is a leader in every chair. Where we might have a shot at discovering what true democracy is. Where we support each other on this journey we call life. The project offers an innovative peer support model, that is as empowering as it is accessible.”
The Connection Project is proposing a radical new model for personal development — one that honors leadership ability but insists on a gift-economy model. A kind of “each-one-teach-one” AR community.
Amazing work, Peter and team! And good luck with this.
5. Authentic Relating, Intentional Community (IC) and Eco-Villages: a “match made in heaven”?
I am very interested in the intersection of AR and Intentional Community, either short-term or long-term. It’s an area that is attracting increasing attention in the AR space (and also the topic of Sophie’s and mine upcoming course Authentic Relating in Community).
John Thompson from Transformational Connection is leading the action here, with the world’s first AR intentional community! The location is Portugal a half-hour from Lisbon. For now, the main house offers daily TC sessions, food and lodging for as little as 400€ a week.
Heck — if I were not married, I would be moving in…
Another offer by Achim Burkard got my attention. The Nomad Nature Temple is a 1 week to 3 month immersion experience in Southern Spain. Designed for “digital nomads, visionaries and activists”, the dates are 20 June – 14 September 2025. There are very attractive pricing plans. Check it out!
A very interesting project is LaTierra in Costa Rica. Much larger than similar projects, they are close to 400 acres hosting 1000 people once the project gets underway. The vision occurs to me as very “burning-man-esque” and while there is no official AR component, there is a possibility to create an AR village which are investigating. If this is something that interests you, just reply to this email.
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