FIERCE, GENTLE LOVE
AN ONLINE WEEKLY CIRCLE // 8 WEEKS // 2HRS A WEEK
220Eur
Foster the courage to relate with authenticity, vulnerability and wisdom by sharing about yourself and practicing difficult conversations with people like you
How many times have you heard that, in relationships, we are supposed to say what we feel, be vulnerable, say “no” when we mean “no”, talk about our neeeds, be authentic?
Books and teachers tell us that speaking our heart with a lover, a friend, or a sibling is the pathway to true connection and intimacy. And I believe deep inside, we can all feel the truth of that.
But let’s be honest, how easy it is?
Speaking openly means that we become vulnerable, the other can reject us, make fun of us, use the information against us or simply ignore us.
Most of us have not even had one experience of an open, vulnerable conversation for fear of these consequences.
Hi,
I am Radha Alina Ionescu and, as you may know, my work and passion is creating a life of connection and intimacy.
I wish I could tell you that carrying out open, authentic conversations is like flipping a switch. But that has not been my experience.
13 years ago, I would have rather chosen the dread of bunjee jumping than have a real conversation.
Confronted with difficulties in my relationships, I was often shutting down, swallowing my feelings, giving in (only to retaliate later), trying to influence (read “manipulate”…)… Anything but having a true conversation.
My relationships were painful, exhausting, conflictual or confusing, at best.
Things have changed over time … but time is not what made it happen. It was rather these TWO THINGS:
A clear understanding that something blocks our vulnerability - we need to know what that is and be intentional about removing it (“just be vulnerable!” will not do it).
An entourage of people I could carry open conversations with, which built up my courage to be vulnerable, honest and open in the “outside” world.
Today I talk openly about things I would have not even dreamt of years ago: my insecurities, my fears, my needs, my boundaries. I had healing conversations about past abuse (with the people who did it), vulnerable “I have feelings for you” conversations, or “I feel some resentment on your side, is that true?” kind of conversations.
If there was only one thing I could pass on to people, knowing it will completely change their life, it would be the courage to speak openly.
“Just be vulnerable” takes practice
In my work, I encourage and support people towards vulnerability in 1-to-1 session.
However, the most impactul work has been when this happened as part of a sharing circle I had the honour to facilitate for 3 years. In that, I gave guidance (to help with the understanding of our blockages) and then pretty much stepped aside. Conversing authentically with a partner, in a trustful, safe, warm atmosphere, does all the work: we get insights, we build courage and we find the words that feel just right for us.
This inspired me to create “FIERCE, GENTLE LOVE” - a weekly circle to foster the courage we need to open up about ourselves or carry difficult conversations with authenticity, vulnerability and wisdom.
Together is much easier
“Through the chosen themes and the suggested tools, I had the chance to dig inside and learn to identify and speak about difficult emotions and wounds, to find a mirror in the other women’s stories and thus understand myself better. Maybe the most beneficial thing for me was that I became more gentle and patient with me.”
Alina Popovici, Bucharest - participant in “She Trusts”, a 3-year long sharing circle for women
What a typical week looks like
Friday evening an email comes in your inbox with the topic for the next week of “Fierce, Gentle Love”. It usually contains insights into what prevents us to be vulnerable, plus an assignment (usually observation and journaling) to support you move in the direction of vulnerability.
On the day of the meeting (Wednesday), we all get together on Zoom. A typical session unfolds like this: a guided meditation to ground us all in the topic of the week, then a group sharing or pair work (rehearsing conversations), and we round up with a final group sharing or Q&A.
Throughout the process, I am available for questions in between sessions on the topics discussed or on situations you are encountering.
If you want to go deeper on a specific topic in an online (or live) 1-to-1 session, you are welcome to do so at a discounted price for the period of the journey.
“FIERCE, GENTLE LOVE” in detail
What it is
An 8-week journey
A sharing group
A safe, trustful space to rehearse vulnerable, open, heart-felt conversations
How it works
The journey is a gentle opening to vulnerability.
Over the course of 8 weeks, we begin with group sharing on general aspects of our ways of relating, then about particular situations and only then move into rehearsing conversations we’d like to have in our important relationships.
Weekly themes:
WEEK 1 // “Creating Safety for Opening Up”
WEEK 2 // “The Ways in Which We are NOT Vulnerable”
WEEK 3 // “Vulnerable with Myself”
WEEK 4 // “Vulnerable with Myself - Going Deeper”
WEEK 5 // “Vulnerable with Another”
WEEK 6 // “Deep Dive in Our Love Needs”
WEEK 7 // “Deep Dive in Boundaries”
WEEK8 // “Living with Vulnerability”
And my role is:
to provide guidance under the form of written texts in-between the weekly meetings and guided meditations during the meetings
to provide support when people get stuck.
"Week after week, Radha’s gentle guidance and nurturing energy have created a safe space for growth and self-discovery.
”Each session seamlessly builds upon the last, fostering a deep sense of connection and understanding among the ladies. Her ability to create a space where we feel supported, accepted, and truly heard is remarkable.
”I've not only gained valuable insights but have also developed practical tools to navigate life's challenges with grace and authenticity.“
Janina Mirea, Rotterdam
Participant in “She Trusts”, a 3-year long sharing circle for women
This circle is for you if:
you know you have difficulty expressing what you feel and what you need in a relationship;
you have difficulty setting boundaries;
you know you have patterns of pleasing or shutting down and would like to develop an alternative;
your relationships suffer, as people around you perceive you as too rough or direct;
therapy or coaching is working for you but you don’t see the results in your relationships;
if you simply want to become “fluent” in speaking vulnerably, so that the connection and intimacy in your life become deeper.
…and you know that
you can commit to do the weekly homework ( reading & self-observation);
you can commit to being present at the weekly meetings - this is purely an “in-person” journey, the value comes from the presence of all of us;
your lifestyle allows you to leave behind your phone/emails/outside disturbances for the duration of each weekly meeting.
"Joining the circle was a good decision... I was able to not only get to learn and unlearn (!) many stories I have been telling myself about my life, but I got to see new perspectives from hearing and mirroring my feelings in others’ experiences.
There is no doubt for me that joining the circle has brought many good things: new insights about myself, tools to work with the inner judge, but also a community that felt like a safe space and that was there when I was having a hard time and dealing with hard feelings like, fury.“
Andreea Barin, Denmark
Participant in “She Trusts”, a 3-year long sharing circle for women
What will you get?
If you put your heart and time in this journey, you are most likely to come out of it with:
the courage you need to initiate the important conversations you know you need to have, which in turn will deepen the connection and intimacy in your life;
the trust that disturbances don’t mean the end of a relationship, they can be navigated with vulnerability and authenticity;
a clearer understanding of what you unknowingly bring in a relationship that can disturb the connection;
an understanding of what you can do to create a safe space of open sharing in your close relationships;
a community of people who can be there for you in the future when you want support with a difficult relationship situation.
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"For me the circle meant time for myself, self-discovery, meditation, profound inner journeys…
“I’ve understood that it is normal to have fear, it’s normal to have patterns from childhood, and I learned to accept them and work with them.
“I surely feel like a more evolved version of myself, with much more patience and love for myselelf and, for this, I am deeply grateful!”
Mihaela Buligoanea, Buchareast
Participant in “She Trusts”, a 3-year long sharing circle for women
Practicalities
Period: 25 Apr - 26 Jun
Exact session dates: 25 Apr, 2 May, 9 May, 23 May, 30 May, 6 Jun, 13 Jun, 26 Jun
Time: 19:00 – 21:00 Berlin time // 20:00 - 22:00 Bucharest time
Price: 220 Eur
Taster: To give you a taste of what this circle can be for you, you are welcome to join the taster on the 17th of April (details below).
For any enquiries, please feel welcome to write me at radha@truthmakesitintimate.com
To sign up:
Free Taster
To get a taste of what this circle is and to have your questions answered (and none can be too silly!), you are invited to a Taster. Details below.
Day&Time: 17 Apr // 19:00 pm – 21:00 pm Berlin time
TO SIGN UP AND RECEIVE THE ZOOM LINK:
More about me
My name is Radha Alina Ionescu and I have two passions: conscious relating and meditation.
I combine both in my work, which is to support people create a life of connection and intimacy, while falling deeply in love with themselves.
I’ve been doing this for 7 years now in individual sessions, Conscious Relating courses, Meditation courses and a 3-year long online sharing circle. In the connection with people, I am always touched by the longing we all have for a true, deep connection but also of the power relationships struggles have to bring us home to ourselves every single day, to build self-esteem, self-trust and self-love…if we know how to use them.
It all started with my personal struggle in creating a deeply connected intimate relationship. This struggle took me from courses and books, to experimenting a lot in dating, friendships and work relationships. I was trained by The Learning Love Institute and Rori Raye’s school of coaching, I dove deep into non-violent communication and Byron Katie’s “The Work”, and I am deeply influenced by Osho’s vision on relating.
Today, I am enjoying beautiful friendships, a better than ever connection with my parents (which was not the case years ago)… and above all, a relationship of constantly deepening connection with a man I appreciate and love deeply.
