Interview: Robert Bellarn on the Power of Heart Circles
- healingbearcollect
- Aug 28
- 3 min read
Robert, you’re hosting an upcoming Bi+ Heart Circle with BiRequest. For those unfamiliar, what is a Heart Circle?
A Heart Circle is a simple yet profound practice. We gather in a circle — in this case on Zoom — and invite people to share openly from the heart. No one interrupts, debates, or tries to fix. We listen deeply, without judgment. It’s about presence, compassion, and connection. Communities like The Billys and the Edward Carpenter Community have practiced Heart Circles for decades, and they describe them beautifully as ways of cultivating radical authenticity and deep listening.
What inspired you to bring Heart Circles to the Bi+ community?
As a coach and facilitator, I’ve seen how powerful it is when people are truly heard. The Bi+ community, like so many parts of the LGBTQ+ family, often faces invisibility and misunderstanding. Heart Circles create a container where people can drop into their bravest authenticity, share what’s real, and feel witnessed with care and respect. Hosting with BiRequest is an exciting way to bring this healing practice to bi+ folx and allies.
How does a Heart Circle actually work?
What can participants expect? We’ll begin with a quick overview of the guidelines — things like speaking from “I,” statements, confidentiality, and respecting silence. Then we move into rounds of sharing. Each person has time to check in, breathe, and express whatever is alive for them. Others listen — deeply and without interruption. Presence is required in the heart circle, you can speak if you’re ready. It’s not therapy, and we remind people of that — it’s a complement to professional support, not a replacement. But it can be a beautiful form of self-care and community care.
What makes Heart Circles so effective?
Our culture is very solution-oriented: people want to give advice, fix, or compare. Heart Circles turn that upside down. They invite us into deep listening, compassion, and non-judgment. That kind of presence is rare, and for many, it’s the first time they feel fully seen and accepted. It’s not just what’s said — it’s the shared silence, the respect, the sense of belonging.
Tell us about the upcoming Bi+ Heart Circle. Who is it for?
It’s open to all genders, and anyone bi+, bi-curious, questioning, or supportive is welcome. We’ll gather on Zoom, Sunday September 28, 2025 at 4pm Eastern / 1pm Pacific / 21:00 UTC. It’s free, but we ask people to sign up through BiRequest’s Meetup page. Most importantly, we ask participants to come with respect, consent, and openness. You don’t have to bare your soul — even just listening is powerful. Like I said earlier, presence is what is wanted. Sometimes presence is all that is needed.
How do you see Heart Circles fitting into your larger work as a coach and facilitator? For me, Heart Circles are both a practice and a philosophy. They dovetail with my work in life coaching, mindfulness, bodywork, and sacred intimacy, because they’re about showing up fully and authentically. Whether I’m coaching men, facilitating community spaces, or guiding breathwork, the essence is the same: presence, trust, and connection.
Where can people learn more about Heart Circles?
The Edward Carpenter Community and The Billys both have wonderful guides that go deeper into the tradition. And of course, the best way is to experience one yourself. I encourage anyone curious to join us — you’ll see how simple and profound it can be.
Event Details:
📅 Sunday, September 28, 2025
🕓 4:00pm ET / 1:00pm PT / 21:00 UTC
📍 Zoom
🌈 Hosted by BiRequest
🔗 Signup: BiRequest Meetup
Come as you are. Bring your presence. Leave with a lighter heart.
Info on Heart Circles
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