When the world needs us to sit together, listen and connect
Missie
Circles – We have a Choice has grown out of a voluntary citizens’ initiative by Kristin Verellen – who lost her life partner in the attacks of Maelbeek on 22 March 2016 – and a circle of friends. In a world where intransigence, polarization, extremism, blind violence and terror lead to traumatizing situations, we want to build a culture of inclusive togetherness inclusion and dialogue that has a healing effect and from which new connectedness, vitality, meaning and solidarity engagement can arise.
By listening with an open heart to ourselves and to each other and by communicating from person to person – apart from our roles – awareness and community development can grow. This makes it possible to free us from imposed opinions and dogmas and to make authentic and socially responsible choices. The healing of trauma implies the recovery of the ability to be present in the here and now and the restoration of an active say over one’s own life. We always have the choice.
We either let ourselves be driven by frustration, fear, and hatred or out of love for life, ourselves and each other, putting the power over our authentic life back into our own hands.
Circles – “We have the choice” works on a small scale to be a positive change on a large scale. With our circle methods, we create ripples in the water that can not be stopped and will spread continuously. They create support for a humane, loving and peaceful future. Our field of activity extends throughout the world.
We have the choice
The choice is pretty simple, actually.
Either we step onto the downwards
spiral of violence that violence calls for
Or we step onto the upwards spiral of
violence that unlocks love
Love transcends everything.
It is sufficient to remember where we
come from and where we are going
back to. To let go of all the forms that
we identify ourselves with and to
understand what our axis is.
The earth turns on its axis.
A human life turns on the axis of love.
Love that unites light and shadow.
That is where it begins and that is where it ends.
life partner and soul mate of Johan Van Steen who died in the
attacks in Metro Maalbeek in Brussels on the 22nd of March 2016
Target audience
Anyone who has been affected in one way or another by a traumatizing situation (from a crisis, terror, violence, disaster, extremism…) that had an impact on a large group of people or community and seeks a meaningful way to deal with it.