Women’s Circles
…. creating heart connections…. self care for the soul…. women in circle…..
I love being in circle with other women. When I lost my job a few years ago and found myself alone, I craved kinship and healing that only women can provide even though I wasn’t able to name it at the time. The Gypsy Sister’s women’s circle was born. It arose from a natural yearning in my soul for connection with other women at a time when I was searching and in pain. I am currently a member of three circles, one that offers fun and fellowship, one for exploring my feminine spirit and another to share wisdom and ritual…. Circles have become an important part of my life!
There are many different types of circles. Indeed, women have been gathering in circle for thousands of years. Today, we gather to worship in faith communities. We celebrate birthdays, holidays and landmark events in our lives, like baptism, confirmation, graduation, marriage, anniversaries and yes, even death. We have knitting circles, afternoon tea and neighborhood picnics.
In ancient times, before electric lights and modern conveniences, women living in community, experienced their monthly cycles at the same time. They removed themselves from their menfolk during this time and gathered with other women to share wisdom and healing. They shared joys and sorrows… assisted each other in the birthing of their babies and celebrated the onset of menses and menopause. The wisdom of the grandmother was passed on to the next generation. These gatherings served as a time of retreat, reflection and renewal. On a cellular level, I believe, we long for those days.
Women’s circles are gaining momentum as a vehicle for peace… inner peace and world peace. Jean Shinoda Bolen, in her book Urgent Message from the Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World, posits that women, gathered in circle, have the potential to bring peace to our planet. Women, she states, do not send their sons to war. Her website and book titled, The Millionth Circle, describes the concept of the “millionth circle” tipping point (like the hundredth monkey). When enough women gather in circle, it will raise the feminine energy on the planet and tip it from the current male/masculine energy to the more peaceful female/feminine. I am committed to doing my part…how about you?
Interested in starting a woman’s circle? I would be happy help you get one started and offer my support for its development. To contact me, click here. I also invite you to check out my Amazon Store for recommended resources.
Here’s what other’s are saying about being a circle with other women:
“I believe circles of women getting together have their own special magic in and of themselves as we all share the experience of being women and are constantly discovering and re-discovering what it means to hold that energy in this world. I also believe that circles where people, male and female, getting together to share spiritual experience is also quite astounding and necessary in a world that focuses more on differences. It is amazing what can happen when human beings intent on learning and sharing together unite for a similar purpose… then there are no differences.” Heather
“It has been great to branch out of the rut that I created for myself. To meet women that I can share joys and concerns with. Women who’s lives are as busy as mine, and they understand it.” Dawn
For information on the benefit of women’s circles and the millionth circle concept visit: www.millionthcircle.org
About the image: “Women Wisdom Dancing” Artist: Mary Southard, CSJ
Courtesy of www.ministryofthearts.org ~ Sisters of St Joseph of LaGrange, IL
(used with permission)
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