16 Guidelines Practice Circles – A Year of Connection and Deepening Practice
Featuring: Claudia van Zuiden
This year, Claudia van Zuiden was delighted to host a special series of online bi-monthly 16 Guidelines Practice Circles, designed for those who had already participated in at least one 16 Guidelines for Life program. The intention was simple yet powerful: to provide a welcoming space to reconnect with the wisdom of the Guidelines, share experiences, and deepen practice together as a supportive international community.
A Global Community, Shared Values
The gatherings drew participants from across the globe, including the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Ecuador, Thailand, and Mexico, reflecting the universal relevance of the Guidelines in diverse cultures and contexts.
The first session in February served as an introduction, where participants explored what they most needed from these circles. Eight people joined and contributed to shaping the flow of the series. A sense of openness and curiosity laid the foundation for the months ahead, with everyone eager to re-engage with the 16 Guidelines and one another.
Bringing the Guidelines into Everyday Life
The April session welcomed twelve participants and focused on the theme of how to bring the 16 Guidelines more vividly into everyday life. The conversation was rich and varied: from using the Guidelines to support children and teenagers struggling with mental health issues, to applying them in end-of-life care, where values such as forgiveness and mindful leading were seen as especially powerful. Participants shared creative ways of bringing the Guidelines alive, such as through online art classes focused on one Guideline at a time, for example, using Contentment as a grounding anchor.
The group also highlighted the importance of teaching the 16 Guidelines in schools, with an emphasis on compassion and love as essential values for the next generation. Denisa Flora’s “Root, Shoot & Bloom” was mentioned as a valuable resource, and the group reflected deeply on Respect and Forgiveness as the foundation for right relationship, with self, with others, and with the Earth.
A guided meditation invited reflection on the question:
‘What does it mean to offer deep respect in a world of difference and disconnection—and where do we withhold respect from ourselves and others?’
Joanna Macy’s ‘Work That Reconnects’, provided additional inspiration for this powerful dialogue.
Protecting Our Inner World with the Guidelines
The June session, attended by eight people, centred on the theme ‘Protecting Our Mind with the Guidelines’. Recognising how easy it can be to feel overwhelmed in today’s global climate, participants explored what it means to truly care for our inner world. Using the 16 Guidelines as companions for clarity, presence, and resilience, the group reflected together on the importance of nurturing inner balance while engaging with the outer challenges of our time.
Each gathering included mindful reflection, breakout discussions, group dialogue, and closing practices, ensuring that participants not only connected with the Guidelines conceptually but also experienced them in practice. The sessions were warmly received, with participants expressing how valuable it was to reconnect with both the teachings and one another.
Continuing the Practice Circles
Looking ahead, the Practice Circles will continue, with opportunities for others in the community to step forward and lead sessions when inspired. In a world where compassion, wisdom, and ethical living are more vital than ever, these gatherings remind us that the 16 Guidelines remain timeless companions for personal growth, meaningful connection, and collective well-being.
Interested in taking part in a 16 Guidelines course?
Find upcoming trainings and retreats on our events calendar.
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