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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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The Seven Circles summary
Chelsey Luger & Thosh Collins
Indigenous Teachings for Living Well
23 mins
Table of Contents
The Seven Circles
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What is Indigenous wellness?
It’s a little ironic that practices like yoga and meditation are familiar parts of mainstream American wellness culture – and yet many don’t know about the rich healing traditions of the nation’s own Indigenous peoples. The “Seven Circles” model offers a window into that wisdom. It’s an integrative approach to well-being centered around the core values of interconnectedness, balance, self-mastery, and lifelong learning.
This way of wellness starts with gratitude – a recurring emphasis across all Indigenous communities. More than a superficial feeling, gratitude involves recognizing your profound connection to all your relations: other people, animals, the land itself. Wellness, then, isn’t about achieving a “perfect state,” but cultivating the resilience and steadiness to weather life’s inevitable hardships. The aim is to help you heal, and to feel grounded and at ease in the loud, modern world.
Wellness is a cycle of taking in wisdom, actively applying it, then circling back for more learning when life changes. It asks you to stay open to receiving elders’ teachings. It requires you to achieve self-mastery – level-headedness and rationality – and then pass those lessons on to others. It focuses on honoring the interdependence of your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and communal health.
This holistic approach is embodied in seven circles: movement, land, community, ceremony, sacred space, sleep, and food. In the following sections, we’ll dive into each of these seven areas to help you recognize wellness as a lifelong practice. Each circle offers grounded wisdom for healing and growth as part of the shared human journey – but feel free to adapt these teachings based on your own unique culture and experience. Ultimately, wellness is sometimes about reclaiming lost traditions, and sometimes about creating new ones.
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What is The Seven Circles about?
The Seven Circles (2022) draws on Indigenous ancestral wisdom for achieving spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. It proposes a holistic model called the Seven Circles – a template for modern living that’s intended to keep all aspects of life in balance including food, movement, sleep, ceremony, sacred space, land, and community.
The Seven Circles Review
The Seven Circles (2022) explores Indigenous wisdom and calls for a reconnection with nature and ourselves. Here's why this book is a must-read:
- Offers profound insights on reclaiming ancestral knowledge and living in harmony with the Earth.
- Provides a refreshing perspective on spirituality, personal growth, and healing, blending tradition with a modern approach.
- Presents a captivating journey through the seven circles, inspiring readers to reflect on their own relationships with the world around them.
Who should read The Seven Circles?
- People interested in Native American culture and spirituality
- Wellness and self-help enthusiasts
- Individuals seeking community and connection
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The Seven Circles FAQs
What is the main message of The Seven Circles?
The main message is to reconnect with ancient wisdom through indigenous teachings and practices.
How long does it take to read The Seven Circles?
Reading time varies, but it typically takes a few hours. The Blinkist summary only takes 15 minutes.
Is The Seven Circles a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Seven Circles is a valuable exploration of indigenous wisdom, offering insights for personal growth and societal healing.
Who is the author of The Seven Circles?
The authors of The Seven Circles are Chelsey Luger & Thosh Collins.
What to read after The Seven Circles?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Seven Circles, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- 28-Day FAST Start Day-by-Day by Gin Stephens
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- A New Way To Think by Roger L. Martin
- The Conscious Mind by David J. Chalmers
- The Monopolists by Mary Pilon
- The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
- Think This, Not That by Josh Axe
- Power And Prediction by Ajay Agrawal
- The Idea Is the Easy Part by Brian Dovey
- Be Here Now by Ram Dass