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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 over
the long term 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 for
their work 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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