Impact of the Trademark on My Business and Perspective

Recently some people asked me to share my thoughts on the trademark’s impact on my work and my motivation for joining an initiative to challenge the Circling trademark. I felt inspired to answer :-).

Impact of the Trademark on My Business

With Circling in Business as my registered business name, this trademark could mean making adjustments if the trademark is upheld. Thankfully, I never fully branded myself under this name. Early on in my entrepreneurial journey, I chose to partner with Circling organizations as a freelance facilitator, prioritising meaningful work over brand-building. So in terms of branding, the impact is manageable. Yet in other ways, this trademark comes with a real challenge.

I’ve poured my heart, creative fire, and nearly 12 years into Circling, shaping its evolution as both a practice and a community here in Europe. The thought of not having the freedom to express myself about Circling or to fully benefit from all the labor and love I’ve invested is frustrating, to say the least.

The history of Circling is complex, marked by different initiatives and many individual contributions over time. I’ve come across many different stories, along with some understandable expressions of hurt from people who feel their creative efforts weren’t fully acknowledged. I’ll refrain from making any statements about that.

Instead, I want to focus on what happened in Europe. I recognize Guy Sengstock as an important source in the Circling field in general, but I honestly feel that Authentic World’s influence in Europe was more significant. Certified facilitators who trained through their school began practicing in Europe, and an Authentic World team came to Amsterdam to host a 3-day immersion in 2013. This connected many people in Europe and inspired others, including myself, to go on a journey with Circling.

Later in the same year, Circling Europe launched its first Circling Certification program, which I was part of. Ever since, I’ve been in the leadership team of these trainings. The certification programs sparked a vibrant, thriving community in Europe, UK and the US. We’ve certified hundreds (maybe a thousand?) Circling facilitators of whom many run practice communities to this day.

What stands out to me is that Circling developed over two decades, with contributions from people across the U.S., Europe, and beyond. This open-source evolution has been central to its success. To trademark Circling now feels counter to the spirit of shared growth that has always defined it. And it feels late. I believe that if the name were to be trademarked, it should have happened before so many people worldwide were certified as Circling facilitators through different schools. For Circling Institute to claim this trademark now feels unfair and even dismissive of the collective efforts that have nurtured the practice.

Since learning about the trademark, I’ve had to go through my own process of coming to terms with it. I’ve felt anger, sadness, grief, and even indifference at times. But when I think about what’s next, I also feel a surge of creativity and inspiration.

In the larger scheme of things, I see Circling as part of an evolutionary wave awakening humanity to the potential of relationships. Circling is just one approach within this broader movement, serving a particular audience. We are not alone, many other initiatives share this larger mission. I believe that we’re riding a wave that began long before the term Circling was coined. Guy, too, stands on the shoulders of great minds, such as Eugene Gendlin, Marshall Rosenberg, A.H. Almaas, and numerous philosophers and mindfulness teachers.

It's exciting and alive - it won’t stop.

I firmly believe that we are being called right now to deepen, expand, and infuse “our practice” with even more grace and unity. So, while this period is challenging, it’s also filled with possibility and potential.

Why do I still want to challenge the trademark? It’s simple: because I value my professional freedom and my right to own the work I’ve devoted myself to for over 12 years.

Let’s see what happens next…