Women's Circles: Supporting the Quintessential Yin

When I found out I was having a baby girl, I was relieved. After all, I had been teaching and mentoring girls since I was a young woman myself. I thought of all the things I wanted to teach my daughter: angels and meditation, chakras and spiritual healing, Law of Attraction and the power of emotions, self-esteem exercises and women's mysteries. Ultimately she will be the one to teach me; like all babies, she comes from Source and like all babies and Children of the New Earth, she will have her own divine, unadulterated wisdom to share.

Having been a member of and sitting in various Circles, I know how powerful and nurturing it can be to be surrounded by like-minded women in a sacred space. Around the world, the concept of sisterhood - or a women's collective - is time-honoured, especially when it comes to acknowledging rites of passages. Menarche (a girl's first menstrual cycle) has long been celebrated by pagans; the Moon Goddess is invoked and the young maiden is welcomed into womanhood. Meanwhile, Native American Indians usher a heavily pregnant woman into motherhood with a heartfelt Mother Blessing.

My mother recently relayed to me an old Chinese proverb. If you see a group of women clustered around one woman, you can tell by her expression who that woman is talking about even if you can't hear the conversation. If she is weeping, her mother-in-law has upset her. If she is fuming, she is complaining about her husband. If she is laughing, she is sharing stories about her children. This proverb demonstrates the power of sharing with sisters, by blood or by soul, and whether you're experiencing highs or lows.

"We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another."

- Luciano De Crescenzo

(Yes, a man, but this quote is so relevant here!)

Women's Circles have the power to uplift and transform.

If you've been considering joining a Women's Circle or perhaps starting one yourself, here are three encouraging reasons:

1. Community: It is natural for females to talk more than males and want to share! Whether it's recipes and toilet training (as it is with my Mother's Group - not technically a Women's Circle!) or vivid dreams and intuitive impulses, there is nothing quite like being in a group of conscious, like-minded women. This community can also support and uphold you during your toughest hour as it offers you the gift of true and beautiful friendships. When you sit in Circle with this community, the collective Feminine Divine is honoured and celebrated.

2. Sharing Women's Wisdom: My dear second cousin, a former Tibetan Buddhist Nun, reminded me that in indigenous cultures village life is integral to daily life. Within village life there is an inherent respect for elders; wisdom is shared from generation to generation. Seniors are called "elders" - and not "elderly" as they are in the West. Generational sharing still occurs in some Women's Circles. I joined my first Spiritual Circle when I was nineteen; I was the age of the women's young grandchildren. It was here that I learned to respect their wisdom and life journeys, it was here that I learned to see them as "elders".

There is something indescribably powerful about a woman who is connected to the Feminine Divine, the quintessential Yin. We are all supported by the ultimate mum, Mother Earth - but a woman in her power, whatever her age, seems a little more in touch. When she speaks in Circle, she passes on ancient knowledge of the earth and her ancestors. Like Mother Earth, she transits through seasonal cycles: bleeding, rejuvenating, fertility, maid, mother, crone. She reminds us that women mirror the earth; we are the microcosms of the greater macrocosm. Her sage advice are jewels to be treasured.

3. Stability during Growth: Children, teenagers and young adults experience a tremendous amount of growth from month to month, year to year. There is also much stimulation in this modern world and in some cases, instability. It is easy for young ones to become un-centred and lose roots; easy for them to become willy willies, tossed side to side in turmoil. A consistent teacher or mentor outside the family unit can be reassuring; a familiar face who will love, guide and care about them as they grow. Steiner schools have the same class teacher for seven years. Martial arts also offers this pivotal figure as well as structure - and gifts one with a natural initiation when when one reaches black belt. If you are thinking about starting a Women's Circle, consider including younger females so they may learn from you, and be sounding boards for each other as they endure similar troubles and triumphs.

If you're interested in Young Women's Circles for yourself or your daughter, Sensei Sheryn is re-claiming her facilitator hat after a year's break! Young Women's Circles are nurturing Day Retreats, held once a season in the beautiful Surf Coast town of Jan Juc.

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