Intercultural Circles
What are Intercultural Circles?
An Arabic speaking participant joined our Council Course, saying he wishes to experience council and learn the way of council for his own personal development. He asked to experience council in the Arabic language, because language is culture and he said that if he wishes to speak his heart it must be in his mother tongue, Arabic.
But the group that had formed was bi-lingual – Hebrew and Arabic. Many ask us if this doesn’t harm the experience, learning and practice of the participants.
In our experience multicultural circles create the opportunity for unique learning. We meet people who are different from us in many ways, not just language, because as we said, language is culture, but there are also varying traditions and beliefs that we have not met and perhaps have prejudices about, and when we find ourselves having to listen to these others with our hearts, accepting them as they are, it is an opportunity to discover new things, different traditions, and to connect.
Sometimes this happens immediately, sometimes it takes time, but the more the circle process advances, the more depth and more heartfelt personal stories arrive. People open up not only with the stories they tell, but also with their acceptance of others within the circle.
We build intercultural circles with the organization inviting the circle, so that the organization is a full collaborator in each stage. We have 20 years of experiences in council processes with a variety of people, organizations and situations.
We ourselves offer processes according to needs we see in our society: connection between the various religious communities, different peoples living in the community or area, different mother tongues and more.
Among others, we have worked with various local councils and municipalities, Women in the Center, Nazareth, Tomorrow’s Women, and various colleges.
All relationships, whether short or long term, deep or light, are based on communication. Quality communication helps create quality relationships.
The essence of the language of council is connection between heart and mind: when we speak from the heart and listen from the heart, there are understandings and wisdom that do not otherwise appear.
There are deep connections, and the wisdom of the circle is created and each circle has its own unique wisdom, based on the voices of the circle participants.
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Council in Nature
In 2003, together with other facilitators and trainers, we created the Non-profit organization “Amutat Maagal Hakshava” – Council Training Israel, the official connection to the International organization.
organization, and responsible for facilitator trainings in Israel. We did this because we saw the importance of teaching authentic heart listening and speaking as a basis for all relationships – in family, workplace, love, friendship – in anything that is not done alone and depends on how we work with others.
We have years of experience facilitating women’s circles in a variety of fields for a variety of purposes:
Women’s nature retreats – we choose beautiful environments for disconnecting from the day to day life in order to remember who we are, what we want to connect to and create in our lives. Aura is a sustainability facilitator for over 13 years. The retreats are women only, to create an intimate safe space for personal depth work. The places we choose are pleasant, quiet, beautiful and comfortable, usually taking place over 3 days.
Connecting different parts of society – we connect between people of different cultures, ages, religions, languages and more, doing peace work and conflict work. The language of the heart is learned in council, and it is a language that becomes common to all, helping to discover, understand and connect. We create a connective field through personal stories heard in a non-judgmental space.Aura and Itaf are themselves a model of partnership and peace, working together for over 20 years and building a sisterly relationship that has withstood much conflict.
Zoom women’s circles for meetings that cannot take place face to face – we often do zoom circles for women who cannot leave their homes for various reasons, or for overseas groups or world wide trainings. These circles are done in English, Hebrew or Arabic.
Women’s circles for organization, businesses and town councils – women’s organizations, teams, town women’s councils, all do important work in the world, and we offer meetings for team building, for fun and relaxation, teach relational skills and strengthen the connections between them and between each and those she works with outside the organization. We do Women’s Day activities, day trips as well as process work.
Women’s circles and support circles for women in non-profits and other frameworks – for those who are out in the field, meeting complex situations, who need self care to continue their work in the world, we offer a safe space for time out, for meeting with others in similar situations, we offer tools for self care, and quality time.
Interested in hearing more about our women’s circles?
Contact us:
Itaf Awad - 972-50-763-7058 Aura Hammer - 972-54-692-4044
Photos from various Council Circles
