Intro to Authentic Relating & Circling
Edmonton, AB | July 12th 6-8:30PM
$20-$30 sliding scale
22345 Township Road 514, Sherwood Park, AB T8C 1H3
In a Nutshell:
An evening of authentic connection with beautiful humans. We will start with authentic relating games that are played in pairs, small groups, or as a full group. They may be light, fun and playful, or deep, serious and edgy. Almost all of them have a focus on paying attention to your experience of yourself and others in the present moment. Once warmed up, we will experience a taste of Circling.
What is Authentic Relating?
Authentic Relating, put simply, is a practice of being you. Being real, honest, revealed, and transparent, allowing others to see, hear, and know our inner world. We will be playing AR games designed to deepen your connection with yourself and others, in an environment where it’s encouraged to express how you really feel. Authentic Relating is a growing movement with communities around the world gathering to connect and enrich the human experience.
What is Circling?
If AR is practicing the punching and kicking moves, Circling is the sparring match. Circling is a relational meditation in which participants share their sensations, emotions, and thoughts in the present moment while in connection with each other. Two common types of Circles are a “focused circle” where one person is the centre of attention for up to an hour, revealing their present moment experience in connection with the group that is exploring their world, and “organic circles” where there is no focus person as attention moves around organically as people reveal themselves and follow their curiosity. This is a strong practice for deepening intimacy, uncovering relational blindspots, and leveling up EQ/communication skills.
What people are saying…
“My first Circling Immersion was the most potent experience of my adult life. I felt supported showing up in a deep honesty and transparency that I did not know I was capable of. The integration of this experience continues to ripple through all my human connections.”
- Allistair Dell
"My circling immersion experience with Garrett was a worthwhile opportunity to practice and deepen fundamental relational skills that underpin my life. Every time I invest my time in this container, I walk away feeling profoundly connected and better resourced to step into everyday intimacy."
- Patricia Parkinson
“My first contact with circling was at a weekend immersion hosted by Garrett Rokosh and Robbie stainton. I had a wonderful experience which would set me on a path to deepen into this practice. It was a weekend that covered the full range of human experience, from a deep sense of connection to intense discomfort. Circling is an excellent opportunity to step beyond social convention and learn more about what is actually happening, in this moment, between you and I. I would recommend this to anyone who craves a clearer lens on relational reality and would choose an uncomfortable truth over a comforting lie every time.
- Foster McGee
“Garrett creates a clear and inquisitive space. His prompts are evocative, adapted to each situation and bring a sense of ease to participate. Within it, I felt safe to share my heart's content and excited to discover deeper layers of myself.”
- Manuel Matsya
“Circling is a space where I consistently feel the most alive, honest and free. It’s a place where I can settle into the comfort of my somatic experience and feel at home in myself. At the same time, I can also choose moments to lean into the bolder edges of my authenticity and take more risks in connection with others. It is one of the few places where I feel safe enough to express dissonance and feel challenging emotions like anger in a clean and embodied way. It’s a precious tool for coming into attunement with a collective and witnessing one another in what’s present here and now.
- Andrea Wiebe
"I appreciated Garrett's focused facilitation and his ability to both hold the space of the Circle, while also revealing his own experience in a transparent and vulnerable way. I've experience facilitation with many people before, and can see that Garrett is very intentional and skilled in his ability to support people to go deep and uncover their truth."
- Leo Cheung
Facilitators
Garrett Rokosh he/him
Garrett’s authentic relating journey started five years ago when depressed, numb and lonely at the end of business school he found his way into a AR games night. He left that night completely blown open, glowing, with a cathartic sense that those people had got to know him deeper than any of his closest friends. He was hooked.
He devoured an online training with the author of the authentic relating games manual, Sara Ness, then flew to Austin, TX to take her advanced facilitator training which was THE most impactful week of his life. He then moved to Austin for six months to deep dive into these practices and became an apprentice leader on her core training team. Soon after, his focus turned to Circling and led trainings with other top leaders including Jason Diggs, Mark Boughton, and Peter Benjamin. He led the first Circling Immersion in Western Canada, has led nine weekend immersions since then, and mentored several people into facilitating Circling.
Aside from AR & Circling, he just finished a two year deep nature connection program with Wisdom of the Earth Wilderness School, leads a nature mentorship program for teen boys, and is now studying compassionate inquiry with Dr. Gabor Mate. His company, Social Architect brings authentic relating into the corporate world. Some of his clients include Masterclass, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Burning Man and Mindvalley.
Michelle Newlands she/her
Michelle is an ecstatic dance and breath-work facilitator, certified energy practitioner, initiatory guide, shadow process + fire walk facilitator, ritualist & ceremonialist. Michelle specializes in creating experiences for individual and collective reflection, transformation, healing and change. Michelle offers unique programming to individuals of all sex, gender, ages, experience levels and abilities.
Michelle is a daughter, sister, auntie, mystic, dreamer, priestess, high magician, Cancer Sun/Capricorn Moon/Leo Rising & Manifestor (Human Design). Michelle has worked internationally as an educational facilitator and wellness practitioner, and acts as a program officer for an international experiential learning organization alongside her private practice. She is based between Amiskwacîwâskahikan, Treaty 6 Territory; colonially known as Edmonton, AB and unceded Algonquin, Anishinabek territory, near Golden Lake, Ontario. You can learn more about her and her offerings at: www.michellechristine.ca
Registration
To confirm your registration, please fill out this form. If you have any questions, please reach out to garrett@socialarchitect.io.
Upcoming in Edmonton…
Remembering the Village > The Revolution, August 17 to 20th (Edmonton, Alberta)
This 4-day Gathering is a calling in of individuals and families who are ready to challenge the status quo and experience what it is to revolutionize the way we come together in these times.
This gathering explores ways of being together that honours regenerative practices that allows us to be in right relationship with all beings - human and non-human, seen and unseen - including the land we walk upon, the food that nurtures us, the skills that regulate us, the people we lean on, the agreements we make, the practices that expand our capacity, the potential to create with our hands, and the commitment we must cultivate in order to tend to the dreams that wake us and call us forward into action.