Women's Circles - Is A Women's Group Right For You?

A women's circle is a sacred space for women to celebrate sisterhood and honor the divine feminine. A circle is a gathering of women who've set an intention to connect with and support each other. Women's circles, also known as goddess circles or women's groups, have a long and varied history that dates back to ancient cultures.

Jump to:

• What Is A Women's Circle?
• History Of The Women's Circle
• How To Host Your Own Women's Circle
• A Few Theme Ideas For Your Women's Group
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Comments

Women's circles are thankfully gaining in popularity, with women of all ages recognizing how powerful it is to unite with other women in a safe and nurturing space.

Many women report feeling rested, restored and healed after participating in this ancient ritual of sisterhood which has been honored by so many cultures.

What Is A Women's Circle?

A women's circle, sometimes referred to as a red tent, moon lodge, or a goddess circle, is simply a gathering of women where women are free to be their most authentic selves. Each woman has the opportunity to speak, and the other women simply listen without judgment.

Women's circles are often held in a private home or a dedicated space, and may (or may not) be facilitated by a trained leader. They typically include elements such meditation, journaling, and sharing, as well as activities such as yoga, massage, or art-making. The focus of all women's circles is to create a safe and nurturing space for women to connect with one another and with their own bodies and emotions.

Women's circles are typically held on the new moon or the full moon. Traditionally, the lunar cycles were linked to menstruation. And, because the moon has historically been linked to femininity, it makes sense to harness its power in a gathering of women.

Women's circles are forming all over the globe. They've proven to be a powerful way for women to connect with their own bodies, emotions, and the natural world. Most importantly, most women find a sense of support and community, and an enhanced ability to tap into their own inner wisdom and strength.

History Of The Women's Circle

The concept of the moon lodge, or menstrual hut, is found in many indigenous cultures around the world. In Native American cultures, the moon lodge was a sacred space where women would go during their menstrual cycles to rest, heal, and connect with one another and with the natural world.

In Native American culture, a woman would withdraw from her normal duties of childcare and cooking to honor her spirituality and connect with her divine essence. This practice was honored by the community, who would take up the duties of the women in the moon lodge.

The moon lodge was often seen as a place of great power and spiritual significance, and was considered to be a place where women could tap into their own inner wisdom and strength. It was a space for women to connect with their bodies and their emotions, and to gain a greater understanding of their own cycles and the rhythms of nature.

In many Native American cultures, the moon lodge was a place of great respect and reverence. Women who entered the moon lodge were considered to be in a state of spiritual transformation, and were often given special privileges and protections. The moon lodge was seen as a sacred space where women could find rest, healing, and connection with one another.

How To Host Your Own Women's Circle

These are some basic ideas to provide a framework for your circle. See below for examples of themes you may wish to explore.

1. Determine the purpose of the women's circle: What do you want to achieve through the circle? Do you want to create a space for support, connection, and healing? Do you want to focus on personal growth, spirituality, or social justice? See below for more ideas on potential themes to be explored in a women's circle. Just know that clearly defining the purpose of the circle will help you to create a clear vision and structure for the group.
2. Invite participants: Decide who you want to invite to the circle. You may want to invite a diverse group of women from different backgrounds and experiences, or you may have a specific focus in mind (e.g., women in a certain age range, women from a particular community).
   • Be clear about the purpose and expectations of the circle when inviting participants.
   • I personally love a diverse women's circle with women of all ages and abilities. Older women can pass down their wisdom to younger women, and younger women can connect older women to the powerful spirit of youth.
3. Choose a location: Consider where you want to hold the circle. A private home, a community center, or a dedicated space (such as a yoga studio or retreat center) can all be good options. Choose a location that is comfortable, accessible, and conducive to creating a sense of intimacy and connection. You may, as the group evolves, host your women's circle in a variety of settings from member's homes to outdoor settings.
4. Set a schedule: Decide how often you want to meet, and choose a regular day and time that works for all participants. You may want to meet weekly, monthly, or on a less regular basis, depending on your goals and the needs of the group. Many women's groups like to meet on the new or full moon. Traditionally this is when women gathered, and it's powerful way to honor our ancestors while harnessing the power of the moon.
5. Establish guidelines: Create a set of guidelines or ground rules for the circle to ensure that all participants feel safe and respected. This may include things like confidentiality, non-judgment, and respect for different viewpoints.
6. Plan the structure of the meetings: Determine how you want to structure the meetings. You may want to have a specific theme or topic for each meeting, or you may prefer a more open-ended structure. You may also want to incorporate elements such as meditation, journaling, or sharing.
7. Set an intention: Before each meeting, take a moment to set an intention for the group. This can help to create a sense of focus and purpose for the circle.
8. Create a welcoming atmosphere: Make sure that the space is comfortable and welcoming, and that everyone feels included and valued. You may want to bring in elements such as candles, crystals, or other symbolic items to create a sense of ritual and connection.
   • Music can be a wonderful addition to a women's circle. I highly recommend this powerful healing Native American chant. However, you are always free to choose music that resonates with your group. Yoga or meditation groups might enjoy working with the solfeggio frequencies.
   • You may also wish to cleanse your space with sage or palo santo. If you're in a space where this isn't possible, simply walk in a circle around the space, setting the positive intentions of your women's circle.
9. Encourage participation: Encourage all participants to share their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in the circle. This can create a sense of community and connection, and help to build trust and support within the group. However, some women may not feel comfortable sharing, and that should always be accepted.
   • Some women's circles do not allow the other women to verbally respond to the woman talking. They simply honor her words in silence without debating or giving advice. This is entirely a personal decision.
10. Show appreciation: Take time to express appreciation and gratitude for the group and for each individual participant. This can help to build a positive and supportive atmosphere within the circle. Gratitude is one of the most positive emotions we can experience and it will help your group bond in positivity.

A Few Theme Ideas For Your Women's Group

You are always free to choose any theme you want to focus on in your circle. Many new moon circles focus on intention setting, since the new moon is the time of planting seeds. Full moon groups might choose to focus on themes surrounding surrender, the art of forgiveness and closing out cycles with grace and diginity. Here are a few themes you may choose to forcus on in your circle:

1. Self-care: This theme could focus on topics such as stress management, healthy habits, and self-compassion.
2. Personal growth: This theme could focus on topics such as goal setting, self-discovery, and personal development.
3. Spirituality: This theme could focus on topics such as meditation, mindfulness, and connecting with one's inner wisdom. You may wish to start the session off with affirmation cards. Perhaps you'd like to explore the Wiccan wheel of the year, and make Sabbats such as Yule and Ostara a focus.
4. Social justice: This theme could focus on topics such as intersectionality, activism, and working towards social change.
5. Relationships: This theme could focus on topics such as communication, boundaries, and healthy relationships.
6. Creativity: This theme could focus on topics such as art-making, writing, and exploring one's creative side.
7. Menstruation and reproductive health: This theme could focus on topics such as menstrual cycle awareness, fertility, and reproductive health. You may also wish to discuss the lunar cycles as they relate to menstruation.
8. Menopause: This theme could focus on topics such as the physical and emotional changes of menopause, and ways to navigate this phase of life.
9. Body image and self-acceptance: This theme could focus on topics such as body positivity, self-acceptance, and loving one's body.
10. Emotional intelligence: This theme could focus on topics such as emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and managing emotions.

Frequently Asked Questions

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