Care Circle

A monthly community practice of conscious, consensual giving and receiving

Monthly on 3rd Wednesdays | 7:00 – 9:00pm
Upcoming dates: 2/18, 3/18, 4/15, 5/20
$15-$30 (no one turned away) | Free for Hidden Temple members

Care Circle is a recurring, facilitated space to practice asking for—and offering—support in community. Through simple, structured rounds of giving and receiving, we explore tenderness, agency, and attuned connection.

Each gathering begins with a gentle warm-up to ground in the body, build trust, and clarify needs and desires. We then break into small groups (3–5 people) for timed “centered” rounds. When you are centered, you name the support you’d like to receive—this might include listening, reflection, words of affirmation, song, touch, or another consensual form of care. Group members consent to or negotiate the request based on their capacity.

Rounds are timed (typically 5–8 minutes), followed by brief integration before rotating roles. Each participant will be centered at least twice. We close as a full group to reflect, integrate, and prepare to transition out of the space.

This is a practice space for both leading and following—for generosity, vulnerability, and presence.

Guiding principles

• Circles of care and attunement
• Curiosity and experimentation
• A “yes, and” generosity mindset

All are welcome, no experience necessary.

Care Circle is a drop-in event, recurring monthly on 3rd Wednesdays.

This is for you if…

• You want to practice asking clearly for what you need—and hearing a genuine yes or no.
• You feel nourished by offering presence, care, and support to others.
• You’re curious about touch and connection rooted in consent, agency, and awareness.
• You long for community spaces that are tender, grounded, and emotionally literate.
• You want to strengthen your capacity to give and receive without obligation or performance.

On touch, agency & consent

Care Circle is a touch-positive, non-sexual space. Participants arrive with different histories, comfort levels, and desires around touch, and all are welcome.

Consent is explicit, ongoing, and negotiated moment to moment. You are invited to go slowly, stay attuned to your own boundaries and capacity, and use clear verbal communication alongside nonverbal cues. Anyone may pause, renegotiate, or stop at any time.

Pleasure and aliveness are welcomed; pursuing erotic or romantic connection with others is not. If erotic energy arises, participants are asked to redirect it toward self-connection rather than another person.

This practice is an opportunity to reclaim personal agency and body sovereignty within relational space.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Do I need prior experience with somatics, consent practices, or group process?

No prior experience required — only a willingness to learn

• Is touch required to participate?

absolutely not! there are many ways to give and receive support without involving physical contact.

• Can I come just to give care and not receive (or vice versa)?

your participation is always by choice, and so can use the time dedicated to receiving care however you like.

• What if I don’t know what kind of support I want?

Not knowing what you want is common and completely normal. The warm-up will support participants in getting clear on their needs and desires. participants are also encouraged to evolve their support requests as we go. When in doubt, try anything!

• Is this therapy or a support group?

This class is not therapy, though there may be therapeutic effects. This is indeed a kind of support group, though there is no expectation to attend consistently each month.

• Can couples or friends attend together?

Couples and friends are encouraged to come, but may be separated into different care groups.

About the Facilitator
Christopher Collins, MSW, CMA is dedicated to cultivating healthier human communities through practices that support embodied vitality, agency, and playful collaboration. He brings extensive experience as a counselor, Laban Movement Analyst, and family constellator.

Christopher currently serves as the founder and Director of Hidden Temple, a community-building project launched in 2023, and also works one-on-one with individuals seeking greater vitality and self-direction in their lives.

Payment: Venmo @christopher-collins-149 or cash in person
Questions or inquiries: thehiddentemple444@gmail.com