Empathy Circles with Conversations That MatterÂ
Free online sessions led by FDCW facilitator Janna Weiss and Ingrid Hirtz open to everybody!
A new series of 3 sessions based on the 16 Guidelines resource: Conversations That Matter
Conversations That Matter offers a new way of bringing inspiration for wise and compassionate action based on the 16 Guidelines for Life.
Sessions Schedule:
3 sessions June 20/21, July 4/5, July 18/19 – Times suitable for Asia and Australia!Â
Saturday June 20, July 4, July 17 7:00 – 8:30 pm PT / 10:00 pm – 11:30 pm ET / Sunday June 21, July 5, July 18 10:00 am – 11:30 am Mongolia
please check your time zone here. here.
The 3 sessions will explore the Wisdom Theme: How We Think and the First 2 Guidelines
• June 20 How We Think (Mongolia Sunday June 21)
• July 4 Humility (Mongolia Sunday July 5)
• July 18 Patience (Mongolia Sunday July 19)
Please come on time and plan on staying for the full 90 minutes.
Sharing our experiences and practicing together can strengthen clarity, presence, and mutual understanding. Drop-ins welcome!
If you join, please come on time and plan on staying for the full 90 minutes. You can join any session!
Participating in two (of three) sessions fulfills the requirement for the upcoming online Empathy Circle Facilitator Training https://
Who are these sessions for?
These Online Empathy Circles are for people of all ages, backgrounds and ideas, who are looking for practical tools to create positive transformation in their homes, individual lives, relationships, community, or workplace
About the Empathy Circles
The Empathy Circle practice is the most effective gateway practice for learning, practicing and deepening listening and empathy skills, as well as, nurturing an empathic way of being.
The Empathy Circle provides a clearly structured dialogue process that supports respectful dialogue, and equal participation. Participants take turns listening without giving advice, interrupting, or debating, and each speaker feels fully heard and understood.
The practice is practical and applicable to everyday conversations, and when navigating difficult conversations. The Empathy Circle practice not only hones empathy but also fosters a range of valuable skills, such as communication and conflict management skills, making it a powerful tool for personal growth, conflict resolutions and meaningful dialogue.
The Empathy Circle was developed by Edwin Rutsch, founder and director of The Empathy Center, based on the work of psychologist Carl Rogers. The four core values of the Empathy Circle are empathy, mutuality, openness and caring
If you want to know more about the Empathy Circles, please make sure to check Maria and Janna’s presentation on the 2026 Empathy SummitÂ
Watch: How To Take Part in a Basic Empathy Circle ~ 9 minutes
Posted here with transcript, and here on Janna’s YouTube
About the facilitators:
Janna is an acupuncturist and herbalist, and teaches mind science in New York City. She holds a PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in Biological Sciences—Botany (ethnobotany). Janna is also a human rights activist, for peace, for Tibet, for the rights of people with psychosocial disabilities, and for the real rights of children and families. Janna began studying Tibetan Buddhism in 2005. She is a trained 16 Guidelines Level 1 & 2 and Unlocking Your Potential Facilitator, and an Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer.
Ingrid is an Empathy Circle Facilitator and Trainer. With a diploma in social work and many years of study in Nonviolent Communication (NVC), Ingrid has built a career rooted in compassion and community. She founded and led Community Cuisine for 12 years, a meal service centered around a weekly pay-as-you-can dinner that ensured everyone had access to nourishing food regardless of their means. Now, for the past three years, Ingrid has brought that same spirit of empathy and connection to her work with the Empathy Center, continuing to create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and cared for.
Supporting Janna and the Empathy Circles: please, consider supporting Janna so that she can continue to offer these transformative sessions by making a donation scanning the QR code below or by making a donation on the dedicated page  https://tinyurl.com/nhcxcrcw
