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Women’s circles perfectly illustrate the
idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Women’s circles are formal or informal
gatherings in the interest of bonding, sharing energy, and creating ritual.
The origins of women’s circles are ancient, but their applications are as
modern as the women who participate in them. There are no hard and fast rules
as to how to form a women’s circle or how to run one. Some circles invent
their own agendas, rituals, goals, and ceremonies, while others borrow ideas
from sources as far-ranging as Buddhist or indigenous cultures. Some circles
are open to new members at all times, while others prefer to practice with a
set number of members, closing the circle once that number is reached. In a typical gathering, the women who are
present sit in a circle. Generally, for the sake of cohesiveness, one woman
is chosen to lead the circle each time. Allowing a different woman to lead
each meeting allows for a multi-perspective approach to the process. One
circle leader may choose to create and teach a ritual that involves using the
voice to release negative energy, while at the next meeting, another leader
may feel inspired to lead a silent meditation. On the other hand, a circle
may choose to be more focused and gather around a particular intention, such
as working together to determine a course for healing Mother Earth. When the
healing feels complete, the women may choose to stay together with a new
focus or the circle may disband. At their best, women’s circles perfectly
illustrate the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The
work that can be accomplished within the loving embrace of our sisters is far
more powerful than what we could achieve on our own. If you are not already
part of a circle, you may want to start one. Follow your intuition as to the
women with whom you’d like to work, reach out to them, and set a date to
begin. After that, you can simply allow the circle to create itself. |
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