Healing Circles

Authentic sharing of our stories.
More compassion. More connection.
Together, we heal ourselves.

As featured in the Love in Action Newsletter from Valarie Kaur's The Revolutionary Love Project

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As featured in the Love in Action Newsletter from Valarie Kaur's The Revolutionary Love Project 〰️

Read Feature (scroll to Love in Action section)

Join us for a FREE Online New Year’s Healing Circle

Start 2026 by cultivating
a spirit of
HEALING, LOVE, and HUMAN CONNECTION.
Be part of a Circle dedicated to authentic personal story sharing rooted in indigenous global traditions.

People of ALL genders and diverse backgrounds are welcome.

Sunday, January 25, 2026
2:00 - 3:30 pm PST / 4:00 - 5:30 pm CST / 5:00 - 6:30 pm EST

Co-facilitated by:
Dana Horstein, Certified Deep Transformational Coach
&
Anand Patel, Oceanography / Marine Biology Teacher & Way of Council Facilitator

Please read the Event Details below before registering.

Registration

Event Details

The event will feature the following two activities:

  • Guided Meditation - A short meditation to connect with our bodies, the present moment, and cultivate a more centered sense of self

  • Healing Circle

    • You’re invited to share and listen to each other’s personal stories from the heart.  The Circle is a non-judgmental space where we can deepen into compassion and connection for one another. Through our stories, we create less fear and more love. 

    • These Healing Circles were inspired in response to the many rapid changes our world is currently going through including, in particular, the dehumanizing ICE raids occurring in immigrant communities in Los Angeles and nationally.  They are intended to help counter the fear, uncertainty, and isolation that many of us are experiencing. They are also motivated by a deep-seated belief that our fates are inextricably linked and that, ultimately, we are responsible for helping to heal each other and our one, shared world.

    • Cameras: To facilitate a shared sense of connection, trust, and safety, we ask that you prepare to be on camera throughout the Healing Circle event.  Of course, we understand that life situations come up and you may need to briefly turn your camera off. 

    • Participation: This is a small, highly interactive event. To better enable authentic communication and healing, please plan to dedicate your full attention to it.  If you think that you will be distracted by other activities (i.e. driving, cooking, childcare, etc.) while trying to participate in the Healing Circle, please sign up at a time when you can be more present.

    • Time: Please plan to arrive on time. To protect confidentiality and safety, no new participants will be admitted after the first 10 minutes.

    • More Information: Read “What Is Council Practice?”
      (A Healing Circle is one form of Way of Council.)

Healing for All

This event is free in service of healing for all.

In the spirit of community, if you’d like to making ongoing healing services more financially accessible for all, you can contribute to the Healing for All Fund, so that individual healing coaching services can be provided on a Sliding Scale. There will be an opportunity to pay it forward at the end of the event. This contribution is completely optional.

Registration

Registration is limited to 12 individuals. This is a highly intimate event in which all attendees participate. If you can no longer attend after you register, kindly cancel your registration so someone else has the opportunity to attend.

If you cannot attend this event, but are interested in attending a future Healing Circle, you can be put on the mailing list by emailing Dana at dana@windhorsetransformationalcoaching.com.

Additional Information

FAQs and Facilitator Bios appear below.

Registration


1. What if strong emotion comes up during the event? 
Strong emotions often do arise in Healing Circles.  Facilitators will be incorporating healing and trauma-informed practices throughout the event.  These practices will be explained at the start.

2. What if I want to protect my identity?  
You may use a different Zoom name, such as a nickname, your initial(s), or a different preferred name. 

3. Will you record the event?
No, to preserve privacy, no recording will be made.

4. Can I log into the Healing Circle on my phone?
Yes, of course.  That said, if possible, logging into the Healing Circle via a computer or tablet is preferable, so you can more easily see everyone in the group at one time, which helps create stronger connection and support online.

5. Who can I contact with questions?
Dana Horstein, dana@windhorsetransformationalcoaching.com

FAQs

Registration

Meet the
Co-facilitator:
Dana Horstein

Dana participated in her first Healing Circle in 2007 and has participated in/facilitated this powerful practice ever since.  At present, she is the founder of Windhorse Transformational Coaching, where she supports women in mid-life with awakening their authentic self, healing, and transformation.  She previously served as an adult English language educator in Chicago and Mexico for 20 years.  She is a nature lover, avid dancer, qi gong practitioner, semi-bookworm, closet-poet-turned-blogger, traveler, seeker, and Spanish speaker. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles with her family, including Roxy the cat.  She is dedicated to facilitating social justice, uplifting our shared humanity, and creating the Beloved Community.

Meet the
Co-facilitator:
Anand Patel

For 13 years at Crossroads School, Anand has built the Marine Biology / Oceanography and Global Health programs, grounded in his 17 year science research background in oceanography and environmental health at USC and Harvard. Currently, as Community Engagement co-chair within the Equity and Justice Institute, he deeply integrates the school's foundational "Way of Council" into his work, including co-facilitating rites of passage trips for seniors to Topa Institute in Ojai.* His teaching transcends data, blending science with mindfulness, freediving, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. This holistic approach inspires students to cultivate mental resilience and approach ocean conservation with profound empathy.

*Healing Circles are a form of ”Way of Council.”