C
is for Cirkel
Cirkel,
or circle in English, is a form that is well-known to most Quakers. In general,
at least in liberal Western European contexts, and as far as the room and
numbers allow, Quakers sit in a circle for their Meetings for Worship (‘andakt’
in Swedish – see A). Circles are said to represent trust, security, protection,
wholeness, unity and infinity. American Indians regard the circle as a sacred
shape that reflects nature and natural phenomena.
How many circles – and cycles – can you
identify in nature – and in life?
A circle draws an individual to the
centre, where enlightenment can be found. All the points on a circle are
equidistant to the centre, and each person in the circle can be seen and
acknowledged. Circles often conjure up images of community, connection and
inclusion.
You can be inside or outside a circle.
Included or excluded. We Quakers like to talk about inclusion, rather than
exclusion. However, I remember when I was a warden of a Quaker Meeting House in
England and the rap on the knuckles and the resistance I got when I arranged
the chairs in a way that made entry into the circle easier for all. How many
people do we exclude from our comfortable circles when we resist change, I
wonder?
When the small Småland Worship Group
comes together for ‘andakt’, standard poodle Irma lies inside the circle when
she feels safe, but stays on the outside and observes when she is unsure. When
we met at the home of another dog owner, his dog came into the circle, circled
around to each one of us and licked our hands in turn as if to say ‘welcome’. It
reminded me of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet. It also took me back in my
mind to a Retreat in Sweden that I took part in many years ago, when we
participants washed each other's feet.
How do we welcome people into our
circles, I wonder? And do we exclude anyone?
I thoroughly enjoyed this.
ReplyDeleteI am glad!
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