Circles of Forgiveness
Are you seeking a gentle forgiveness experience that helps soften and release the anger, resentment or grievance that may be keeping you from fully enjoying life?
If so, you may be interested in participating in a Circle of Forgiveness, a simple, heart-opening ritual that helps dissolve the layers of resentment, sadness, or hurt that quietly limit our joy and our capacity to love.
Circles of Forgiveness are supportive, non-religious, and deeply transformative 2.5‑hour gatherings designed to help participants reconnect with inner peace, compassion, and emotional freedom. These circles were first created in France in 2012, inspired by Olivier Clerc’s life-changing encounter with Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements. Following this experience, Olivier went on to write the best-selling books The Gift of Forgiveness and Healing the Wounds of the Heart, which helped bring this work to a global audience. Since then, Circles of Forgiveness have supported thousands of people around the world in gently releasing resentment, sorrow, anger, or hurt—without requiring anyone to share personal stories or past experiences.
Each circle offers a calm, compassionate environment where participants are invited to gently dissolve layers of grievance that may have dimmed their connection to love. Together, the group creates a field of safety where burdens can be set down, and hearts can soften. Forgiveness in this context is not about condoning harm or forgetting wounds. It is about reclaiming freedom, choosing peace, and opening space for new possibilities.
Circles of Forgiveness open a pathway to forgiveness toward oneself or toward others, including people who are not physically present and even those who have passed away. The process is powerful yet gentle, allowing forgiveness to flow in a safe, private, and emotionally grounded environment. If you are seeking a forgiveness experience that helps you gently release what may be keeping you from fully enjoying life, you may find deep resonance in this work.
Participants often describe the experience as:
- Softening long-held emotional burdens
- Reconnecting with compassion
- Feeling lighter, clearer, and more open to life
- Reclaiming inner freedom
No personal disclosures are required. The circle itself does the work.
Since 2012, trained facilitators have offered Circles of Forgiveness across Europe, Latin America, and other regions—primarily in French-speaking countries. In March 2026, the first English language facilitator training was offered in France, bringing together participants from 15 different countries. This training was sponsored by the
International Forgiveness Association (Association Pardon International), founded in Cluny in 2015 to promote the study and practice of forgiveness worldwide. The Association supports the development of Circles of Forgiveness through training programs, conferences, workshops, and online events open to diverse audiences.
