Symbolic Space Circle

Participation in a Symbolic Space Circle allows individuals to experience a novel way of exploring their intentions and connections with the self and the world. A Symbolic Space Circle offers an opportunity to explore a relationship with a creative, spiritual or an every-day-life situation, a goal, an intention using bodily awareness and movement in space. This allows to activate additional processing mechanisms in the brain that are otherwise unavailable to conscious thinking.

The circle begins with a grounding exercise. Then an individual or a group intention is formulated. Sharing of an individual intention with the circle is optional.

Each session has a different approach, depending on the formulated intention(s). Guidance for a session consists of prompts or a series of simple, non-suggestive questions. Usually the goal is to externalise the intention and the situation surrounding it, and to explore a relationship with them through feeling into the bodily sensations, becoming aware of any images and associations coming to mind, working with provided objects, and/or moving through space of the room. The process might be individual or involving a group dynamic, depending on the intention(s).

Debriefing and optional sharing is done at the end of the session.

Ekaterina Shurkova, PhD, is a cognitive neuroscientist. She is interested in how we connect with the world: how we learn, play, communicate, solve problems, and change our mind. Her research interests lie in creative problem solving and seeing the world in terms of relations, including the role of symbols, metaphors, and an awareness of space around us in our growth and problem solving. She has an interest in research on the mind and the brain, as well as in studies on animism, ritual, and ceremony. Ekaterina is currently a Teaching Fellow at the Department of Psychology at the University of Edinburgh and runs a private coaching practice, Symbolic Space, https://www.symbolicspace.site/.

Participation in community-led events at the Salisbury Centre is often on a voluntary ‘by donation’ basis. This means that nobody is expected to make a payment if they cannot afford to do so. However, any donations received will be shared between the Centre and the facilitator, helping to make the events’ programme sustainable as well as to provide some reciprocity towards community facilitators’ time and skills offered.

Where a “suggested donation” is listed, this is just an indication of what the event might cost if it was ticketed – it is fine to donate less (or nothing at all). Donating is one way to show your appreciation for the value of the Salisbury Centre. Please consider ‘paying it forward’ by donating a bit extra if you can afford, helping to keep it possible for everyone to take part, regardless of their circumstances.

This is an invitation to practice ‘Dana’ (generosity) – please pay only what you can afford to attend. If you cannot afford the event, please get in touch with the facilitator to request a free/discounted place.

Suggested donations : £5 unemployed, £8 waged, £12 pay it forward.

Email us: info[at]symbolicspace.site

Olga Vornava, https://www.instagram.com/olgavornavaart/ .

Host or Publisher Symbolic Space