Hi everyone,

It seems a lifetime ago that we all spent holed up in our homes and apartments trying to stave off a pandemic wildfire that nobody understood.

Remember those days? Remember when Zoom seemed like some very complicated version of Skype that none of us could figure out? 

In the end, we might all agree that it was Zoom that got many of us through. Personally for me, it was the 'Mute' button that got me through and changed the game.

It didn't start out that way. I remember noticing how my girlfriends would bristle at the idea of muting ourselves. That mute button felt like a real kill joy for the easy back and forth conversational style that we were used to when we gathered in person. 

For me it was the opposite. Without any listening guidelines or tools in place, these treasured weekly gatherings with my besties often felt like they could easily devolve into some kind of free for all. Lost was the opportunity to listen, really listen to one another, tap into our deeper wisdom, and get to know ourselves better.

Regrouping

Sensing that we could transform our weekly Zoom gatherings into something potentially more meaningful, I proposed that we shift our focus from idle extemporaneous chat, to more directed storytelling. We would need some guidelines, of course, and I suggested we adopt this simple listening format: 

• Choose a host to facilitate the Zoom gathering on a rotating basis.
• Have the host choose a discussion topic for us to reflect upon in advance. 
• Use the first five minutes unmuted to gather, say hello, reconnect.
• Agree as a group on how much time each person gets to share.
• Have the host start the clock, and mute everyone but the speaker. 
• Enter into the sacred space of listening and sharing.
• Have the host indicate when time is up and open up the circle for brief questions or comments before moving on to the next person.
• Set aside five minutes at the end to decide who hosts the next gathering.
• Open up the circle for a general catch-up over tea or wine, time permitting.

Dare I say, our Listening Circle was a huge success! For nearly 2 years we covered many far-ranging topics –– from what the pandemic was teaching us, what we loved about ourselves when we were little (with photos)... to our favorite books, movies, etc....

And that wasn't the only discovery I made. I realized that these Zoom tools were not just great in social situations. They would be perfect for anyone wishing to start a virtual clearing support group using my books as their guide!

Thanks to our Zoom experiment, I've expanded these listening guidelines and added more helpful tips to the updated edition of Your Spacious Self. 

Start a Clearing Circle Book Group

Is there someone in your life who might like to join you in some clearing, slowing down, and/or simplifying? Are you already a member of a book group, women’s circle, church group, gardening club, sewing circle, poker night . . . whatever? 

I am sure there are others you know who might really enjoy going on a ride with you—even if it is just one other person who lives halfway around the world! 

Whether meeting via Zoom (or in person), everything you need to start, facilitate, and a maintain a clearing support book group is laid out in the back of the all new Your Spacious Self. 

With sample guidelines, sample clearing agendas, and follow up meetings, there is plenty here to keep you going for six weeks or six months.

All you need is to take the first step: gather your people, get the book, read the book, start clearing, and have some fun!

Happy clearing! 

🏡 Stephanie 

Video

Being Home

My latest monthly recap is all about being...

being home, being with friends, and being with rain… lots and lots of it!. The weather is glorious in New England right now… reminding me that September (and fall is right around the corner). 

Best with sound