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A rare and unique experiential opportunity to commune in
Dia-Logos with Professor of Philosophy & Cognitive Science
John Vervaeke PhD & Guy Sengstock the originator
of the Original Circling® Approach.
Weekend Intensive - Online
As described by John Vervaeke in conversation with Tim Ferriss
February 10-11, 2024
10am - 4pm* PT
Dia-Logos refers to the core principle enacted in the Platonic dialogue in Ancient Greece which opened the ground of intelligibility we, quite literally, live inside of today. Out of this ancient and sacred dialogical practice of Philia-Sophia (Love of friendship – Wisdom) came the organizing principles such as Love, Beauty, Truth and Goodness, principles that sourced our practices
of religion, science and the humanities that we
take for granted today.
What is often forgotten is the Platonic dialogues were a response to Athens burning down in the depth of crisis. Today, like Athens, we are in our own kind of Crisis which John refers to as the meaning crisis. And today, like in ancient Athens, the ancient practice of Dia-Logos is emerging in a new way from the guts of culture as a unique and genuine response to this crisis.
In these courses John and Guy bring the reemergence of philosophic
dia-logos into a concrete formalized practice, making it accessible
and available to you and the people in your life right now.
Through John’s cutting edge research as a Cognitive Scientist, philosopher and spiritual & religious practitioner and Guy’s 25 years experience at creating and developing the Original Circling® Approach they will guide you into this powerful experiential and participatory journey as a beginning to something you can practice for a lifetime.
Through a series of progressive experiential exercises & group practices you will begin to develop skills & abilities that afford genuine Dia-logos. John & Guy will walk you through exercises in the Original Circling Approach, philosophic fellowship & philosophic dialectic, culminating into group Dia-logos.
The supportive learning environment will assist
you in developing the capacity to master these deeply challenging exercises.
A group of 4-10 people sit in a circle and put their attention primarily on one person, and, with the help of a facilitator, notice what it’s like being with this person moment by moment, share impact and observations, and co-explore what that person’s experience and world is like, essentially getting into deep relationship with what is most true and really alive for that person.
The principle is simple in essence but the practice in full expression is radical and rare. We experience “being seen” for who we authentically are without limits, one of the most rewarding experiences we can have as human beings. The Original Circling Approach teaches us exactly how to see and celebrate each person for the unique flavor they bring to the world.
We don’t give advice or try to fix anyone, which can so easily backfire. Rather, we welcome and stay with “what is”, so we can relax into the truth of our experience, feel supported, know we are not alone and allow the experience of this to deepen and
more sustainably transform us. The results are
often magical.
Circling is to get in a deep relationship with what is.
– Guy Sengstock, Founder of Circling
For deeper understanding, check out 6 Things the Practice of Circling Does Really Well…
John Vervaeke, PhD has been teaching at the University of Toronto since 1994. In addition to being the director of the Cognitive Science program, he teaches courses on: the Cognitive Science of Consciousness, Psychology of Wisdom, Buddhism and Cognitive Science,
and many more.
Professor Vervaeke is also the director of the Consciousness and the Wisdom Studies Laboratory. He has won and been nominated for several teaching awards including the 2001 Students’ Administrative Council and Association of Part-time Undergraduate Students Teaching Award for the Humanities, and the 2012 Ranjini Ghosh Excellence in Teaching Award.
He has published articles on relevance realization, general intelligence, mindfulness, flow,
metaphor, and wisdom.
He is first author of the book Zombies in Western Culture: A 21st Century crisis which integrates Psychology and Cognitive Science to address the meaning crisis in Western society. He is also the author and presenter of the YouTube series, Awakening from the Meaning Crisis.
Guy Sengstock is the founder and creator of The Original Circling Approach. He has been facilitating transformation for individuals, groups and corporations internationally for more than 20 years. He has a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and is the co-founder of The Arête Center for Excellence and the Bay Area Men’s Circle, which
is still thriving today. He is an artist, philosopher, poet, body-worker, and visionary.
Many refer to Guy as a genius in both his depth of thinking and in his way of working with participants. His humor, depth and quality of attention allows people to see and hear those things which have always been present yet have never
occurred for them.
He wakes up every day with an insatiable craving to discover the source of life’s novelty and can’t help himself but to attempt to awaken this thirst in everyone he encounters.
Korenna Reynard, PhD, is a living dichotomy. Although an extreme introvert at heart, she is passionate about people & relationships, and supporting people to have the deepest, richest, healthiest relationships possible…with themselves, with each other, with nature, and with spirit.
Korenna began her career teaching Theories of Counseling and training/supervising masters & doctoral level therapists at University. She encountered the Original Circling Approach in 2010, and soon realized – while both practicing it personally and applying it with students and clients – that the Original Circling Approach quickly and elegantly fostered profound depth, insights, and empowerment… in ways that none of the theories she was teaching at Uni had come close to.
It didn’t take long for her to feel the call to leave academia & join Guy in his efforts to help bring the Original Circling Approach out into the world. Korenna currently serves as Core Faculty & the Director of Programming at the Circling Institute. True to her dichotomous nature: during the Circling and Dialogos workshops she holds the poles for both embodied connection and for logistics & technology.
Each will provide you with a distinct set of skills immediately
applicable to your life and relationships.
The Sovereign & Explorer weekends serve as prerequisites to continue with our Practitioner Training.
6 weeks prior: $450
2 weeks prior: $495Questions? Email [email protected] for more information.
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