Circles at House of Breath Sanctuary

Circles at House of Breath Sanctuary are held spaces for shared presence, listening, and belonging.

They are not classes, therapy groups, or places to be taught or fixed.

Circles exist so that people can sit together — without hierarchy — and be met as they are. Each circle is held with care, clear boundaries, and respect for the lived experience each person brings into the room.

There are no teachers here, only shared wisdom. No pressure to speak. No requirement to explain or resolve anything.

How Circles Are Held

All circles at House of Breath Sanctuary are:

  • Small (generally up to 10 people)

  • Time-bound (offered in 6-week containers)

  • Consistent (the same group meets each week)

  • Guided by simple agreements that support safety, respect, and listening

Commitment to the full container matters. Circles are built on continuity, trust, and shared presence over time.

Shared Agreements

Circles at House of Breath Sanctuary are guided by a small set of shared agreements. These are not rules, but ways of being together that support safety, dignity, and trust.

  • Speak from your own experience

  • Share only what feels true and timely for you

  • Listening is as valued as speaking

  • No fixing, advising, or interpreting one another

  • What is shared in circle stays in circle

Silence is welcome. Passing is always allowed. Presence matters more than participation.

The Listener of Last Resort

Each circle is held by a facilitator whose role is not to teach, lead, or direct — but to tend the container.

At House of Breath Sanctuary, this role is called the Listener of Last Resort.

The Listener of Last Resort:

  • Holds the agreements of the circle

  • Gently intervenes if boundaries are crossed

  • Offers grounding when emotions run high

  • Steps in only when the group cannot hold itself

Most of the time, the circle holds itself beautifully.
The Listener of Last Resort is there not to dominate the space — but to ensure it remains safe, respectful, and intact.

Breath and Belonging Circle: Navigating Transition

(Coming Soon)

This six-week circle is for people moving through transition — whether that transition is visible to others or quietly unfolding within.

Some transitions have names: a loss, a move, a relationship change, a new season of life.
Others don’t arrive with language at all — only a sense that something is shifting, loosening, or no longer fits the way it once did.

This circle offers a steady place to sit with that in-between space, alongside others who understand that becoming is rarely linear.

Details about scheduling will be shared when the circle opens.

  • This is not a space for fixing or figuring things out quickly.

    It is a space for presence.

    Each gathering is held with simplicity and care. We meet in a small, consistent group, in the same room, at the same day and time each week. Some sessions include shared reflection or a simple grounding practice. Some include silence. Some include laughter. All are guided by what is present in the room rather than a preset agenda.

    You are welcome to speak — and equally welcome not to.
    Listening is considered a form of participation.
    Passing is always allowed.

    Over time, trust forms not because anyone is asked to share more, but because nothing is demanded.

  • This circle may be a good fit if you:

    • Are in a season of change, loss, or uncertainty

    • Feel “between” versions of yourself or your life

    • Sense that something is ending or beginning, but don’t yet have words for it

    • Want connection without advice, fixing, or pressure

    • Are seeking steadiness, not solutions

    • Value listening as much as speaking

    You do not need to be in crisis to belong here.
    You do not need to know what your transition is “about.”
    You only need a willingness to sit honestly with what is present.

    This Circle May Not Be the Right Fit If You:

    • Are looking for therapy, diagnosis, or clinical treatment

    • Want structured teaching, tools, or assignments

    • Prefer fast answers or clear outcomes

    • Are unable to commit to a consistent group over time

    This circle is not about resolving transition — it is about being accompanied within it.

    • Format: In-person circle

    • Runs for: 6 consecutive weeks

    • Group Size: Small (generally up to 10 participants)

    • Cadence: Same day and time each week

    • Location: House of Breath Sanctuary, Naples, Maine

    • Commitment: Participants commit to attending all 6 weeks

    • Exchange: $270

  • Do I have to speak in the circle?
    No. Speaking is always optional. Listening is valued equally.

    What if I miss a week?
    Continuity matters. Occasional absence is understandable, but this circle is designed as a shared journey over time rather than a drop-in experience.

    Is this group therapy?
    No. This is not therapy and does not include diagnosis or treatment. It is a facilitated listening space grounded in presence and shared humanity.

    Do I need to know anyone in the group?
    No. Many people arrive not knowing anyone. Trust builds gradually through consistency and care.

    How is safety maintained?
    Shared agreements and how circles are held — including the role of the Listener of Last Resort — are described above.

    If you’re unsure whether this circle is right for you, that uncertainty itself is welcome. You’re always invited to reach out with a question.

join a circle