Gift Circles — another way to share our abundance
The following is from Alpha Lo’s blog on Gift Culture and Gift Economy, called The Open Collaboration Blog at http://opencollaboration.wordpress.com/2009/11/28/gift-circle-faq/ . It seems fitting to look at how we can share our gifts and be open to both receiving and giving, on this eve of Christmas, 2010. You might want to look into starting a Gift Circle in your own community. Send me an email at giftingtreewellnesscenter@gmail.com to get information on how to do that.
What is a gift circle?
A gift circle is an open circle where people come to help each other, and share their needs and services. People share their services and help as a gift, without expectation of anything in return.
What is the purpose of a gift circle?
To allow people to help each other and to create a sense of community. And to further the gift economy.
What is a gift economy?
A gift economy as we define it is where people give something without the expectation of anything in return.
What are examples of gift economies?
Burning Man, Rainbow gatherings, Wikipedia, open source software.
What is the format of a gift circle?
The format we use is a work in progress, and an open source adventure. We are still experimenting.
The form we have been using is with everyone sitting in a circle, and then the order goes:
1. Check-in – where people say their names and a little bit about their recent or current experience(s).This helps everyone get to know each other better and get comfortable.
2. Sharing of needs. People share what their needs are. This could be a ride to the city, finding a housemate, someone to walk the dog, editing services, etc., etc.
3. Service offering. People offer something to the group, just “putting it out there” for whoever might need that service or object. Alternatively an offering can be made to the group as a whole. One way this can be done is to write on a slip of paper the services you have to offer and then put that in the middle of the circle. Then anyone who wants can pick up that slip of paper up. (Although we have not found this format necessary.)
4. Giving thanks. People express gratitude for services and things they have received from previous circles.
5. Scheduling. People get together and share when they can get together to give/receive their services.
Is the circle open or closed?
The circle seems to work better when it is open, because new people allow new services to be offered.
What is the time frame for a gift circle?
The circle can be anywhere in length from half an hour to a couple of hours.
What is the motivation for people to give?
Sometimes people give because they genuinely care about others and want to help them. Sometimes it is because they have a gift they would really like to share with others. Sometimes it is because they want to build community. Sometimes it may be because they want to get to know others better.
What is the role of gratitude?
Gratitude changes the mood in the circle. The circle can be guided to access their sense of gratitude.
Is there barter in the gift circle?
For the most part we are focusing on pure gifting without the expectation of anything in return. So it is not barter that occurs in our circle. However participants can of course choose to do a little barter on the side.
What is role of non-attachment?
When we give, we give from a place of wanting to share. There is no expectation of getting anything in return. We may also give from a place of wanting something in return. There is an attachment to an expectation. Letting go of this attachment creates a whole new energetic. A group may not start with this level of non-attachment, but it can evolve to this level.
What if people have a hard time expressing their needs?
It can be a new experience for people to express their needs directly, especially to a group. But it is part of the empowerment process. Many of us may have learnt not to ask or expect for our needs to be met. There can be gentle encouragement from the group for people to express their needs, and others can gently prompt a person to find and express their needs. Sometimes it just takes a little time to realize what your needs are, and that you can ask for them to be met. There can also be discussion time for circle members to discuss how they feel expressing their needs.
