In celebration of “spring cleaning”, we offer some tools of active listening and being a mirror that help us shine bright in our Way of the Circle community. These tools help us to clean and clear the flowing pathways of our being.

As conscious beings, we have opportunities to grow beyond our own edges, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Every encounter we experience in life is an opportunity for inner growth. The more curious we are willing to be about our responses and reactions to experiences, the more we grow.

Part of this growth will arise from experiencing a​ ​strong​ ​emotional​ reaction as a result of an event or circumstance. ​It​ ​takes​ ​humility,​ ​courage,​ ​​patience and trust​ ​to​ look​ ​and listen within ​the layers of what ​we​ ​are​ ​feeling.

We all long to be heard. Active listening is a powerful tool nurturing connection, restoring clarity and peace. Being a clear mirror offers a safe and calm space for empowerment, reflecting inner wisdom.

How to Active Listen & Mirror:

When we notice ourselves or encounter another person experiencing a strong emotion or conflict, our highest potential self invites us to hold compassionate, supportive space, recognizing this as a growing edge opportunity.

The following guidelines can be utilized to support heart clearing within oneself, and/or heart clearing with another person.

What would it be like to create a safe ​​space for active listening and being a mirror?

What​ ​would​ ​support​ ​you​ ​in being​ ​in​ ​your​ ​heart(s)?​

What is a simple way to make and maintain a connection during the sharing, listening, and mirroring?

When meeting with another person, it is helpful to agree to the event/incident in which the clearing is about. This clarifies the intention of the meeting. What would it be like to co-create a simple meeting intention, written in affirmative language of the present tense? State this intention at the beginning of your meeting, and refer back to it if the meeting gets off focus.

Role of Active Listener:

The​ ​role​ ​of​ ​active​ ​listener is to offer a mirror response, reflecting​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​person​ ​what​ was shared. ​Paraphrasing​ ​is​ ​acceptable.

While listening, maintain heart centered space by being​ ​attentive,​ ​​maintaining​ ​​connection,​ ​taking nothing personally, while​ ​refraining​ ​from​ ​interrupting.

Reflect​ ​the​ ​words​ ​back​ ​to​ ​the​ ​person​ ​sharing,​ ​after​ ​each​ ​piece​ ​is​ ​shared,​ ​rather​ ​than waiting​ ​until​ ​everything​ ​has​ ​been​ ​shared,​ ​as​ ​this​ ​can​ ​be​ ​overwhelming​ ​to​ ​remember.

If​ ​need​ ​be,​ ​ask​ ​the​ ​one sharing​ ​to​ ​slow​ ​down​ ​or repeat to​ ​ensure​ ​you​ ​are​ ​hearing​ ​all​ ​that​ ​is​ ​being expressed.

Ask​ ​the​ one sharing​ ​if​ ​you​ ​have​ ​heard​ ​them​ ​fully​ ​and​ ​clearly. The listener asks if the person sharing feels heard, clear and complete.

When​ ​people feel​ ​heard and witnessed,​ ​by themselves and others, they​ ​receive​ ​clarity​ ​within​ ​their​ ​own​ ​heart.

Prompts for the person sharing:

When “the incident” happened, how did you feel?

How​ ​is this​ ​feeling affecting ​your​ experience/relationship?

What do you need?

What does that need look like?

*Switch roles, allowing the active listener an opportunity to share, and the one who has shared to now be the active listener.

Closing:

What is a heart supportive way to close the clearing/meeting?