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Calling the Circle

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Christina Baldwin

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Calling the Circle

Christina Baldwin

4.06 · Rating details · 144 ratings · 15 reviews

Christina Baldwin is the author of Calling the Circle, "Seven Whispers," and most recently "Storycatcher," which won a 2006 Books for a Better Life Award. She teaches and lectures extensively through her educational company, PeerSpirit. S

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ebook, 256 pages

Published August 26th 2009 by Bantam Books (first published October 1st 1994)

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Nov 17, 2017 Evan Anderson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

An immensely practical book; if I have any criticism it's that the key concepts can be explained in two to three chapters, and some of the examples of group dynamics in action feel like the author's efforts to make the circle more "relevant" in today's business environment. In fact, it is visionary: a rediscovery of an ancient practice of connecting in a circle that's been shoved aside in our still-entrenched pattern of hierarchical, top-down structures of living and decision-making. The book's ...more

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May 13, 2013 Molly rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-books

This book is a good resource overall. It started to lag during the second half and feel repetitive and I began thinking it could have been distilled into an article, rather than expanded into a book. Helpful guidelines for circle work though and good basics of group process that I will use in future classes!

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Aug 19, 2011 Lindy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: spiritual-direction

This is a great resource for women's spiritual studies. Gathering together in harmony and with positive intention.

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May 20, 2018 Tracy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: spiritual-guidance-program-reading, conflict-transformation, religion-spirituality

Interesting process. I'm sure I'll try a bunch of this as it aligns with things I already do. Not right, I think, for all occasions, but needs fair testing. However, the book probably could have been half the length. Baldwin just uses too many words. Her style is way too verbose for me personally and I kept feeling like I was reading the same thing over and over. Could have been half as long. Ended up feeling like a very hard sell by the end, a hard sell on things I was already convinced of, ...more

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Feb 01, 2020 Antoinette rated it did not like it · review of another edition

I don't particularly think there was anything outstanding about this book. In my mind, I read it and realized it was all a way to capitalize on 12 step meetings/indigenous wisdom. I don't know if I agree with the premise that circles are a whole culture unto themselves. I use a modified version of the PeerSpirit (tm! see what I mean by capitalizing on stuff that really shouldn't be trademarked?) format for a group, which is why I read it, but was unimpressed by the book itself.

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Jan 08, 2018 Pupak Haghighi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I appreciate Christina's writing on the subject. Her book helped me get a better grasp of calling and creating circles. Becoming a citizen of the circle is a profound experience and Christina tells the tales masterfully. Thank you for your passion to write this book.

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Jun 14, 2019 Luci rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: gave-up

It's hard to rate a self-help type of book. Was it enjoyable to read? not really. Was it helpful? Could be. Did I learn something? yes.

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Mar 29, 2016 Mark Oppenlander rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: self-help-and-advice, theology, new-age

A former co-worker gifted this book to me and it took me some time to get around to reading it. I assumed it was just another self-help book on management techniques. As it turns out, it is something else altogether and the contents are only tangentially associated with the workplace.

Local (Whidbey Island) author Christina Baldwin is an advocate for circling as a technique for creative dialogue and problem solving. In her view, circles are the first and primary form by which humans came together A former co-worker gifted this book to me and it took me some time to get around to reading it. I assumed it was just another self-help book on management techniques. As it turns out, it is something else altogether and the contents are only tangentially associated with the workplace.

Local (Whidbey Island) author Christina Baldwin is an advocate for circling as a technique for creative dialogue and problem solving. In her view, circles are the first and primary form by which humans came together for decision making (e.g. tribal councils). But this technique has been lost by our industrial and increasingly digital and virtual society. She advocates for a return to circling as a process of spiritual discernment and problem solving. The three basic principles of circling are rotating leadership, shared responsibility and a reliance on spirit.

The book has a definite New Age vibe to it. However, while Baldwin recognizes a spiritual component to her ideas, she remains agnostic, stating that the circling techniques she describes can be used in either sacred or secular settings. She provides personal examples from churches, businesses and even community settings (e.g. a PTA group) of effective circles. The book starts with understanding the purpose of circles and then gives step-by-step advice on calling a circle, getting started and trouble-shooting problems that may arise in a circle, especially over time. It is like a field guide to circling.

The concept of circling and the principles underlying it are pretty counter-cultural. Baldwin shares stories of people overcoming objections to circling from their peers. I found some of these anecdotes believable and some of them less so. I would love to think that businesspeople would pick up this idea and run with it, but I struggle to imagine a work team at, say, Amazon.com thinking circling was a great idea. But maybe that's just my cynicism.

As a Quaker, this book seems very familiar to me. The Quaker process of group discernment and consensus building has much in common with Baldwin's "circling" prescription. For anyone who has ever learned to Clerk a Quaker meeting - or even just watched a gifted Clerk in action - you will see the similarities. But for those who have no such tradition to draw upon, you may find this book helpful. It sets up a structure and a process for doing discernment together that can be adapted to a wide variety of situations and settings. ...more

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Jul 24, 2008 Colleen Shannon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

In a break from the traditional group dynamic - TQM discource (yet still applicable in many of the afore mentioned situations) this book interwove practical implications with an anthropological, spiritual and indigenous origins of collective movements as well as mediation and personal growth. I thought it was a great, and more holistic, reference for facilitating a variety of group interactions from community organizations, project/task groups, therapeutic support groups and just circles of like ...more

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Mar 15, 2014 Catherine Wilson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

"Calling the Circle" shows us the answer to conflict at all levels. This simple, ancient-yet-new way of communicating, finding consensus, and deepening respectful connection is artfully presented by Baldwin, whose prose is a pleasure to experience. Our countries, our businesses, our families - all groups of human beings - need to move towards these simple methods if we are going to begin to accomplish peace in our world.

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Nov 09, 2012 Franco rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: sacred-circle

A most precious resource for those who wish to explore the healing power of the circle in a very pragmatic and direct way. The text provides effective tools for dealing with group dynamics, which can be easily applied in any context of life, such as family, organisations, workplace and intimate relationships. The book is inspired by a deeply holistic consciousness, which can provide significant insights for anyone on the path of group healing and reconciliaton.

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Sep 21, 2012 Holly rated it liked it · review of another edition

I ambled my way through this book over a long period of time with an intial fascination with the possibilities of stepping into a new leadership role with a sense of honor for those I would be leading and hope for great teamwork. I believe that this book laid a hopefilled framework in my mind and that we collectively achieved much in the way of greater results from greater respect for each other and those that we would serve.

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May 20, 2010 Tina Whittle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: spirituality

A profound book that gives voice to that often unintelligible need we have for communion, community, and culture. It articulates the call. Necessary and beautiful.

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Feb 10, 2009 Janne Asmala rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: art-of-hosting

Although the language gets a bit New Agey at times, this is still the definite guide to circling, a minimal structure of dialogue and co-creative leadership.

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Nov 18, 2007 gail rated it liked it · review of another edition

Circling - "a council of ordinary people who convene to create a sacred space and from that space accomplish a specific task, supporting each other in the process."

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