The Charter for Compassion, a global movement consisting of over 400 Compassionate Cities, in 54 countries, created a week of Circle Work to mark World Interfaith Harmony Week. We felt that one of the issues that is most needed for us to heal as a human race is for us to gather in community in safe spaces that allow for our hearts to be open so we may speak freely and offer a non-judgemental presence for listening deeply to others. Creating 'safe spaces' to allow for heart felt sharing of people is the top most priority for the Religion, Spirituality and Interfaith sector of the Charter for Compassion.

Day One, February 2—A Harmony Circle for Families
The beginning of our week of celebration, reflection and education saw a gathering of a family. We called this event A Harmony Circle for Families—the idea that it is within family that we find solace, support, and a space to share our relationships with one another and “the Almighty.” In this offering, individuals shared tips on what makes families harmonious, then invited participants to consider the power of connection that transcends time, space, distance, and any of the past wounds that many of us experience in a family.

Day Two, February 3—Harmonious Interdependence and Common Humanity
Interdependence recognizes that we are all part of an extensive ecosystem and are dependent on other individuals, institutions, and the environment to survive and thrive. This recognition of interdependence acknowledges that our individual actions affect others. Learning to appreciate this interdependence can have a lasting impact on us not only as individuals but in how we relate within the context of community. To meet the global challenges we face today, we must understand and appreciate interdependence. Day two allowed for discussion and experience of creating a sacred space in every city. This event was led by a group of facilitators of the Compassionate Integrity Training, an integral education program of the Charter for Compassion, who explored topics of Harmonious Interdependence and Common Humanity.

Day Three, February 4—Compassionate Coexistence: A Path to Interfaith Harmony
This two part series with Thom Bond, introduced an evolutionary way of thinking and speaking that is changing the way we humans think about conflict, compassion, and the prospects for harmonious spiritual diversity in our future.

Day Four, February 5—Contemplative Activism Circle
For this event, we sat together in a meditative disposition, intending to bring that which contemplates into our participation in a shared virtual space.

Day Five, February 6—Experifaith: Using Personal Experiences to Connect with People of Other Faiths
Experifaith is a simple model that allows people of all faiths to connect through their experiences. By focusing on the paths of Oneness and Goodness and the resulting actions of contemplation, meditation, prayer, service, and love/compassion, people of all persuasions can communicate and learn more about areas of experience that they might have in common. During this session, Rev. Gudjon Bergmann outlined the model of Experifaith and then hosted a discussion panel based on the process.

Day Six, February 7—Meditation and Activism
This session provided a process for integrating meditation with activism. In the session, participants explored and experienced how the InterSpiritual 7-step meditation process can help us become an agent for positive change in the world.  This is a course that is offered through the Charter Education Institute.

Day Seven, February 8—Sacred Space in Every City
This event brought together the concept of interfaith community for transformative practice, compassionate listening, and community connection. The idea of Sacred Space was introduced as a model to be shared with friends, faith organizations and as a city resource for contemplative living and living in unity with all people. The mission of cultivating compassion through reflective practices and contemplative activism was introduced.

During the month of February, the Charter for Compassion also offered two other webinars:

Eliminating Religious Discrimination: a heart-felt conversation between 10 young people of different religions as they explore questions of faith, dogma, acceptance and compassion.

Wisdom Weavers of the World: as humanity stands at a crossroads, 13 Indigenous Elders from diverse cultures around the globe gather in Hawai’i to discuss the state of the world and invited the filming of their councils and ceremonies to co-create a message for humankind.

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