Circles

For years, when my family gathered music accompanied them. There were guitars and maybe a tambourine or maracas. A piano, a banjo? Sure, they were included when available. And there was always singing.
 
Certain songs were always on the playlist because 1) the musicians knew the whole song and 2) the rest of us knew all the words.
 
And whenever the music came out we naturally gravitated into a circle. (One of the regular songs was Harry Chapin’s Circle. “All my life’s a circle, sunrise and sundown.” It was one of those we could sing all the verses and add a little harmony.)
 
The right circles are inclusive and supportive. (Notice I say the “right” circles. Yes, there can be wrong circles but that’s not where I choose to focus.) Those right circles expand and contract as needed. The shape sustains the intention and perhaps the intention informs the shape. With my family we gathered close to listen and sing; we opened out to let others join.
 
Much is written about the power of the circle. As I contemplated writing this post I asked myself about the significance of a circle. I already had opinions. I went online to do some research.  I was curious if there was any geometric strength in a circle. (Geometric shapes don’t have strength. Strength is a property of physical objects. OK…) I was curious about quotes on circles (found lots!). I found an article by a design firm discussing the meaning of shapes, the “grammar” of a circle. Of course, that piqued my interest. “What do you feel when you see a circle, square, triangle?” For instance, we are influenced by the universal color and shape of traffic signs. If you see an octagon what comes to mind? (Very good. You may proceed.)
 
Even in my yoga class, when there’s room, we arrange our mats in a circle. The energy changes.
 
And, as so often happens, synchronicity presented me with Madison Taylor’s article Uniting in Thought and Action: The Power of the Circle.  One sentence that stood out for me in her article:

“People who take part in a circle find that their power increases exponentially while with the group.”​

Yes. Exponentially. That says so well what I wanted to convey about circles; why I'm drawn to them and why I believe in their power.
 
Particularly, in an intentional circle.
 
At The Purple Ink Café we serve up guided circles where you can imbibe the energy of the gathered patrons in a virtual, yet extremely effective, setting. Very cool! There is a Writers’ Circle as well as a 4Rs Circle: Relax, Read, Review and Research. Click on the circle name to learn more and register for a current circle. Two low-cost, low-risk ways to find time to write and research. And learn to do it in a relaxed fun way. Aah…
 
What have you experienced in a circle?