Active Hope Circle

An informal, heartfelt space for connection in challenging times

with Rebecca Bouhuijs and Jennie Schouten
 

What is an active hope circle?

An Active Hope Circle is a (recurring) safe, welcoming space to explore how we meet the complexities of our world. Not to fix what seems to be broken, but to share, listen, and connect to see what new insights might emerge.

Inspired by the internationally renowned work by Joanna Macy: Work That Reconnects and the Spiral of Active Hope, which is being used in many settings to support people in staying connected and active in their communities by moving through four simple steps: gratitude, honoring our pain for the world, seeing with new eyes and going forth together.

“The most radical thing any of us can do at this time is to be fully present to what is happening in the world.” – Joanna Macy
 

This is not a therapy or a problem-solving session, but a chance to be fully present with what arises, in the company of others. Whether you’re deeply engaged in change-making, touched by what is happening around you or simply curious, you’re welcome here! No experience or preparation needed, just a curious mind and a willingness to share. You will be surprised in what emergences by simply going through this facilitated process.
 

What to expect?

• A short grounding practice to arrive and settle
• Guided sharing through the Spiral of Active Hope, using open questions and reflective listening
• One experiential exercise from The Work That Reconnects 
• A light, informal atmosphere—think “kitchen table conversation” rather than a workshop
• Possibly occasional guest speakers to inspire and deepen our conversations

Why join? 

In a world that often feels overwhelming, this circle offers:

• A pause to acknowledge your feelings without judgment
• A reminder that you’re not alone in your concerns or hopes
• A sense of connection and possibility

About the facilitators and Joanna Macy’s work

Rebecca is a psychosocial therapist, mindfulness trainer, and certified facilitator of The Work That Reconnects and Active Hope. She is also a Buddhist practitioner. Deeply inspired by the teachings of Joanna Macy, Rebecca believes that inner work and care for the world are inseparable. She is driven by the conviction that in these turbulent times, we need spaces where we can be honest (with ourselves and each other) about what we are facing. Spaces that are both safe and brave, where grief, hope, and new perspectives can arise together.

Jennie is a long-term Buddhist practitioner, a bird-conservationist and a mother of 2 grown up children. Her introduction to the Active Hope Circles last year made her (finally) get off the couch and start doing something very practical: collecting plastic and trash on the beach in Katwijk, where she had only just moved.

Joanna Macy is a scholar of Buddhism, General Systems Theory, and Deep Ecology; and her teaching incorporated all of these varying disciplines. Her wide-ranging work addresses psychological and spiritual issues of the nuclear age, the cultivation of ecological awareness, and the rich connections between Buddhist thought and contemporary science. Joanna Macy shows us that when we deny or suppress our pain about the world, we also undermine our power to help heal it. From this basic insight, she developed 'The Work That Reconnects'

Practical details

• Date: Sunday September 20 – and then in a frequency of about 6/8 weeks
• Timing: 13.30 – 16.00 hrs
• Location: Maitreya Amsterdam, Tilanusstraat 8a, and online via zoom
• Language: English (but questions and the sharing in small groups can be in Dutch)
• Minimum number of participants: 8
• Questions? - Contact Rebecca Bouhuijs (amsterdam@maitreya.nl)
• Registration by email: amsterdam@maitreya.nl

Suggested Donation

Participating is on voluntary donation basis. Rebecca and Jennie offer this voluntarily, as they are passionate about supporting people in the current times. As a Buddhist center we would like to offer this safe and welcoming space to our growing community. If you would like to make a donation to our Study Fund, you can do so via this link.

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