In a world increasingly defined by individualism and division, Tej Steiner and Greet Heylen are pioneering a revolutionary approach to community and organizational dynamics. As the driving forces behind the WE-powered Learning Center, they are dedicated to fostering more conscious, resonant, and creative social groups. Through their innovative circle experiences, offered both online and on-demand across the US and Europe, Tej and Greet are transforming the way we connect and collaborate. In this illuminating interview, we explore the origins and impact of WE-powered, delving into how Tej and Greet’s methods are reshaping communities and organizations. Learn about their journey, the philosophy behind their work, and the growing network of WE-powered circle facilitators committed to creating a more harmonious and dynamic world. Join Mystic Mag as we uncover the secrets to building stronger, more cohesive groups through the power of collective resonance and creativity.
Can you share with us the journey of how you discovered and developed the concept of Heart Circle, and how it has evolved over the years?
Tej:
I’ve been exploring awareness and healing since the late 1960s. My interest has not only been on personal transformation but also on how we can create social environments within our schools, families, relationships, and businesses that support transformation and healing both personally and collectively. I’ve known that we must evolve beyond the singular focus on individual transformation to a more conscious, collective, cultural transformation.
Prior to my current circle facilitation work, I spent 15 years deeply involved in a yoga organization which was the largest in the world at the time. I served as the Canadian director. Over time, I became increasingly aware that the organization had no room for questioning the teacher or any aspect of the teachings and any attempts to do so were fiercely resisted. This lack of organizational openness led to my own disillusionment, especially when I discovered that the teacher was covering up his own financial and sexual abuses. This breach of trust led me to leaving the yoga foundation but only after doing what I could to alert others to what I had discovered (to no avail).
Soon after leaving my yoga community, I was introduced to ‘circle work’ under the guidance of Dr. Ross Laing in Toronto, Canada. I experienced the peer-centered, egalitarian structure of the circle that was radically different from the hierarchical pyramidal structure of the yoga organization. Using circle dynamics, I witnessed the power and beauty of creating a unified field of trust, openness, and connection which is essential for both individual healing and social transformation.
I began facilitating my own circles starting primarily within the men’s movement in the 1990’s but then moving on to facilitating circles within families, communities, organizations, and businesses. This eventually led to my creating the Heart Circle model.
In your book and video series “Waking Up with Everyone Around Us,” what are some key insights or practices you emphasize for personal and collective transformation in Heart Circles?
Heart Circle is organized around three primary understandings that kept showing themselves to me over and over again as I sat in literally thousands of circles:
First: The Five Ways of Being
I kept seeing these five timeless life-inquiries, or transformational skill-sets that cut across all religious, cultural, and spiritual teachings. They provide a roadmap for personal transformation while encouraging us to cultivate these inquiry skill-sets in daily life, in our own way, using whatever methods and teachings we choose.
BEING CLEAR: What is the purpose of our being here, alive on this planet, and the purpose of what we do from moment to moment?
BEING PRESENT: How can we quiet our minds and experience life directly rather than through the clouded lens of our constant thinking?
BEING REAL: Can we be authentic in our communication within ourselves and with one another without repressing or projecting emotions?
BEING CONNECTED: How do we come out of the ‘terrible myth of separation’ and experience our innate connection to one another and to Life.
BEING HEART DIRECTED: How can we access and follow what we truly want from moment to moment rather than follow our conditioned or programmed wants, shoulds, and desires?
Second: Groups Are Made of Agreements
All families, partnerships, friendships, schools, organizations, businesses, countries, etc. organize around the agreements that members have with one another in relationship to being in that group. Most of these agreements or enforced agreements (rules and laws) are either unconscious or simply assumed: in a store, we wait in line to check out and in a business, the owner or CEO has the final say, etc.
Understanding that groups are made of these layers and layers of agreements is revolutionary because it leads to the realization that if a social group is dysfunctional, it is because the agreements made within that group are dysfunctional. To change a dysfunctional group, we have to change the agreements within that group that make it dysfunctional. For example, the yoga organization I was a part of had the implicit agreement that if you wanted to remain in the organization, you couldn’t question the teacher. For that organization to be functional, this agreement would have to change.
Third: The Five Ways of Being Can Become the Elemental Agreements That Transform Groups
When group members in any group agree that they want to practice being Clear, Present, Real, Connected, and Heart-directed with one another, the entire culture of the organization or group undergoes a significant and often magnificent shift. These agreements create a foundation for rapid collective transformation. They also mirror back to us that many of the organizations and social groups within our culture are dysfunctional because they operate with agreements that are the very opposite of these Ways of Being in which there is little freedom to talk about the purpose of the group or the purposes of the members being in the group. Constant doing and an over-emphasis on rational thinking is valued over embodied presence. People agree to withhold talking about their emotions and thoughts even when it is unhealthy for everyone involved to do so. There is the shared belief in place that everyone is disconnected from everyone and everything else; a random collection of interactive ‘separate-selves’. And finally, what the group leader wants from its members can completely overshadow what the members want from being in the group.
Ultimately, Heart Circle is about transforming groups so that the groups themselves become the conduits of creative change needed on a systemic level to meet the global challenges we face collectively and individually.
Could you elaborate on how the Heart Circle process and these agreements support both individual awakening and collective growth?
Greet:
The process of integrating these Five Ways of Being into our daily lives as individuals and within any social group fosters healthy relationships and cultivates a healthy culture. It’s not complicated. It’s more a return to our natural state of being, albeit one that may seem new given how far we’ve strayed from it.
A Heart Circle is made up of two to ten members who want to explore the power and practice of being in a group in which there is agreement on these Five Ways of Being. It can be seen as a ‘practice group’ learning how to create a unified, safe, dynamic social environment. These skills can then be used outside of the Heart Circle within any or all the groups that a person is a member of.
In Heart Circle, we start with becoming clear by making agreements around confidentiality, about spontaneity is welcome, that we agree to not analyze or ‘fix’ one another, etc. Then we take a few minutes to get presents, quieting our minds in stillness and silence. This is followed by a short check-in in which members share something about what they are feeling or wanting as the circle begins. There is then a chance for offering spontaneous appreciation for one another (should they arise) which can often increase a sense of mutual connection quite quickly.
Being clear, present, real, and connected to the Heart Circle sets the circle ‘container’ in which space is provided for individuals to receive attention from the group, allowing them to explore what they truly want in any aspect of their lives (Being Heart-directed). This process not only supports individual growth but also enriches the group dynamic, leading to collective flourishing and a sense of community. The power of group attention is remarkable. It often brings greater clarity to the individual, tapping into deeper layers of inspiration and ideas that may not emerge through solitary reflection.
How do you navigate cultural differences and diverse perspectives when facilitating circle experiences in both the US and Europe?
What we’ve consistently observed is that being involved in personal and collective transformational work is in itself what transcends cultural differences. Our common ground is built upon universal principles such as kindness, empathy, presence, and authenticity. The embodiment of these principles serves as a language that transcends ethnic language. Furthermore, when individuals prioritize connection and community, there is a noticeable shift towards quietness and slowing down. This spaciousness allows for the language of silence to emerge where communication isn’t dependent on spoken language.
Of course, cultural differences do manifest as well. For instance, Americans tend to be more outgoing and verbose, while Europeans lean towards being more internal and reserved. Because our focus is on authenticity and genuine connection, these differences become opportunities for mutual understanding rather than sources of conflict. We can openly address cultural patterns and habits, such as Americans encouraging Europeans to express themselves more and Europeans encouraging Americans less. This openness creates a relaxed atmosphere where we can appreciate and learn from each other’s perspectives, bridging the gap between cultural differences.
One other reflection on differences between cultures within Heart Circle. We have created a world of planetary problems that threaten all of us without regard to our nationality, religion, age, gender, etc. These problems are now systemic. They can’t be resolved purely on the level of individual change. Thus, individual transformation is not enough to meet these difficulties. We must transform our partnerships, families, schools, friendships, organizations, communities, businesses, and politics so that these groups support individual transformation rather than hindering it.
What type of services do you offer?
There are different resources available for learning about the Heart Circle approach. Firstly, there’s the book, which serves as a basic handbook. Additionally, we provide online video materials for people to watch. Moreover, there are various experiences offered, such as the Heart Circle Experience, where individuals can immerse themselves in the practice of being in a Heart Circle and engaging with others. While there is a learning curve initially, once individuals grasp the basic elements, it becomes a matter of consistent practice rather than something overly complex.
Furthermore, we offer a Facilitator Experience for those interested in taking their understanding to a professional level, whether to join our team or integrate the approach into their coaching practice. The Heart Circle Experience is available both online, with international groups mainly from America and Europe, occasionally including participants from Australia, Israel, or elsewhere. Additionally, we conduct in-person sessions for those who prefer face-to-face interactions.
