Circles of Forgiveness
Healing the wounds of the heart
Presentation
“Forgiveness”… Few words are as deeply meaningful yet as poorly defined as this one, making its practice all the more challenging. This ritual aims to redefine the concept in a profoundly hopeful way while offering each participant a firsthand experience of it. Above all, it is a process to be lived.
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A transpersonal ritual, both simple and powerfully therapeutic, the Circles of Forgiveness (as well as the The Gift of Forgiveness) allow participants to practice forgiveness—toward others and themselves—even toward those who are absent or deceased. It helps our hearts heal and break free from layers of resentment, sadness, or hatred that prevent us from loving fully.
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Participants will also discover that it is possible to forgive everything… without excusing anything. While forgiveness heals the heart, we also have a mind—and discernment is essential to avoid confusing forgiving with excusing, condoning, or even reconciling. Regaining inner peace does not prevent us from standing for justice; on the contrary, it strengthens it.
—> Free yourself from the poisons of resentment, grudges, and hatred, and rediscover a loving heart, supported by a clear and discerning mind!
Created in 2012 by Olivier Clerc and now developed and promoted by the Association Pardon International (API) in a non-profit spirit, Circles of Forgiveness offer anyone who wishes a beautiful, deeply healing 2-3 hour ritual - as simple as it is powerful. Around 250 trained facilitators provide this ritual around the world, mainly in French speaking countries.
The Gift of Forgiveness: English subtitles available.
Olivier Clerc's books about forgiveness
Testimony of Alexandre
about his experience as participant of Circles of Forgiveness
English subtitles
"As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison."
Nelson Mandela
The day it all began
Forgiveness crossed paths with Olivier Clerc unexpectedly in 1999, in Mexico, during a week-long teaching session with Miguel Ruiz, author of the global bestseller The Four Agreements - whose books Olivier had translated into French.
On that occasion, Olivier experienced a profound and life-changing moment of forgiveness, which he later shared in a book published ten years later, The Gift of Forgiveness. Today, this book has been translated into 10 languages.
Inspired by this transformation, Olivier developed a group forgiveness ritual called The Gift of Forgiveness, which has since been shared in over fifteen countries.
To meet the growing need for the heart-healing power of forgiveness - and to make this work available to as many people as possible under the most accessible conditions - the idea emerged to train facilitators to lead autonomous Circles of Forgiveness (much like existing prayer circles, healing circles, and similar gatherings).
How to become a Circle of Forgiveness facilitator
Forgiveness training programs: expanding our reach
Since 2012, one or two training courses have been held annually in France, conducted in French. To date, approximately 800 participants have been trained, and around 200 active facilitators are now working - primarily in French-speaking regions such as France, Switzerland, Belgium, and Quebec.
A new opportunity: English-language training
To further expand the impact of forgiveness, API will be offering for the very first time a facilitator training in English, in France, from March 26th to 29th 2026. If you are interested, click on the link below:
Note : The Circles Forgiveness are non-profit, which means that the facilitators ask for a financial contribution to cover the costs of organization and facilitation. We ask that each facilitator respect this value and request a reasonable price from participants.
