About Us
We meet in a circle to praise unity...
We are a loving, loosely-knit community of people from many faith traditions. We come together to honor the world's sacred teachings and to celebrate our innate creativity. Drawing upon the Divine Feminine, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Indigenous and Native traditions, OneCircle Center offers monthly Circles, weekly drum jams, visiting non-duality teachers and a variety of house concerts. All are welcome!
In 1995, Tania Gerich, Stream Ohrstom and Julia Berger collaborated on a Universal Worship service that included spontaneity, creatively, and the arts. Julia chose to withdraw as a facilitator to make time for her Buddhist studies. Longtime participant Gloria Kozel became a co-leader. In 2012, Stephen Bloodsworth became OneCircle's troubador, creating heart-felt songs for each monthly Circle.
Tania Gerich
Tania, Russian by background, came to the U.S. as a refugee in 1950. She is an expressive artist, dancer and lover of spiritual truths. She has a Master's degree in Clinical Psychology -Master Therapist Program and extensive training in Expressive Arts Therapy. Tania has experienced the Creative Self as a portal into divinity and loves assisting others in accessing their artistic and spiritual essence. In 1996, she and her husband Stream Orstrom cofounded the Circle of Worship and have served as co-ministers of the Circle since then. Tania loves the great teachings of Advaita or non-duality and has studied with many teachers who shine the clear light of Oneness on Reality. Tania's fervent living prayer is to fully awaken into the truth of Being.
Stream Tomas Ohrstrom
Stream is a musician, a poet and an artist. Born and educated in Sweden, he has spent most of his adult life in the US. His love for the arts and his interest in the mystical power of sound led him to the Sufi path and the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan. He was initiated into the Inayati Sufi order in 1970. Along the way he has also studied the teachings of Buddhism and learned much from Native American and Earth-centered Spirituality. In recent years, non-duality as taught by Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj, Byron Katie, Pamela Wilson, Mooji and others has been the primary focus of his study and practice. Since 2015 Stream is working on a new poetic interpretation of the Tao Te Ching. Stream, with his wife Tania, co-founded the Circle of Worship.
Gloria "Willow" Kozel
Gloria or Willow is a compassionate helper to anyone going through a difficult transition. She employs both her rich life experience and her training in the Michael Harner Foundation for Shamanic Studies in her Spiritual Counseling practice. She also has 5 years of experience with the transformational inquiry of Byron Katie ("The Work") and is a student of Advaita teachers. Gloria has a deep connection with the natural world and has been a professional guide in nature centers. She loves to share her knowledge, respect for and wonder at all living things and is an expert at creating beautiful flower arrangements. She is currently studying to earn her Master Naturalist's Certificate.
Gloria is a co-facilitator of OneCircle Center's interfaith Circle of Worship service and a valued partner and advisor at OneCircle Center in regards to OneCircle events.
A devoted and proud mother and grandmother, Gloria also plays the Native American flute and drums. In her professional life, Gloria was an administrator and educator of educators. Since February 2014, Gloria has been happily retired, living into her new spiritual name - "Willow."
Stephen Bloodsworth, OneCircle Center's Troubador
Stephen was born in Baltimore, MD and grew up on the rural Eastern Shore in Somerset County where he lived on a farm nestled among peaceful marshes, rivers and ponds.
As years moved on he gravitated to music, inspired by his mother enlisting him in the grade school band and then later buying him his first guitar. Numerous cover bands followed until the time when he began writing his own music. Along with his fondness and connection with nature, this discovery opened an outpouring of feelings which he translated to music and a style was born.
In 2012, at the urging of a friend, he visited OneCircle where he met Tania and Stream with whom he quickly became friends. Since that first Sunday Stephen has been creating and singing heart-felt songs inspired by the theme of the month which he shares during the Circle ceremony on the first Sunday of every month. Besides bass guitar, Stephen also plays tamboura, harmonica, Native American and bansuri flutes, Turkish Saz, and some percussion. Stephen has played his songs in the original band “Sparrow’s Tale” with Stream for more than two years.
Spiritually, Stephen has developed a connection with numerous sages, teachers and texts including Mooji, Eckhart Tolle, Adyashanti, Rupert Spira, Alan Watts and the Tao Te Ching.
