It’s been months that I’ve been thinking of hosting a women’s circle.
A gathering of women to celebrate where we’ve been, recognize what we’re ready to change, and set clear heart~centered intentions about how we want to move forward in our lives.
Everything came together perfectly for my first women’s circle last Sunday December 21st.
Not only was this the night of a new moon, which is an ideal time for setting intentions, it was also the night of our winter solstice in the northern hemisphere, which is an auspicious time to go into the darkness and shine our lights.
I knew something magic would happen, I just wasn’t sure what it would be.
So, I prepared. I gathered my basket of beautiful things. Pure essential oils from Floracopeia, crystals from The Om, Power Thought Cards from Louise Hay, Angel Tarot Cards from Doreen Virtue + Raleigh Valentine, Angel Cards from Kathy Tyler + Joy Drake, candles, my journal, and a heart open to whatever unfolds.
When I arrived at Stella Luna Yoga, where my friend Stella graciously shared her space for our gathering, I was not sure what to expect, but I was prepared for magic + beauty + connection + trust.
I trusted that I would feel guided. I trusted that the right women would join me. I trusted that we would create sacred space where we all felt safe + supported + heard. I trusted that we would cultivate this magical energy where we would collaborate and listen and tap in to the magic that we are.
And so it is.
The night unfolded with more ease + grace + joy + light than I could have imagined. Everything just flowed.
There was laughter and ahas and compassion and understanding and tears and hugs and love.
We came together to give ourselves and one another a little light and a little love.
And it means more to me than I can express that I can be part of bringing women together in community, in circle, in love.
Because I believe this is how we can change things.
By first loving ourselves, loving each other, and shining this love for everyone around us.
Love is how we shine our lights and create the world we wish to see.
I am honored and grateful for the eight women who gathered with me to share this first circle. For their authenticity, their honesty, for showing up…for themselves and one another. For being part of something magical and beautiful and full of possibility. For tuning in to what matters most and being willing to focus on what they desire. For giving love. For sharing love. For being love.
We all felt it.
After our gathering, I received these reflections…
“Thank you so much for the beautiful experience last night. I’m looking forward to the next time. It really was perfect! Magical.”
“Thank you again for last night. It was perfect and beautiful. I am so grateful.”
My heart is full.
I wanted to share this with you in case you’re interested in creating a little sacred ritual time for yourself as we transition into another new year.
Truly, taking time for ritual is meaningful any time of year, but especially at this new year when so many of us share the same essential intentions…to be good people. To forgive more. To feel better. To practice tenderness. To understand. To give. To love.
What I realized this past solstice as I gathered with beautiful women in a sacred circle is this: We are more alike than we remember. The truth is, at the core, that our own personal challenges are the same as the challenges that everyone else is facing…self doubt, uncertainty, fear, worry, perfectionism, disconnection, feeling not enough. We are all just human beings. Doing our best to be the people we want to be.
So I invite you to remember that whether you practice on your own or in a circle of friends, you are part of something bigger than yourself. You are a brilliant light shining and illuminating the path for everyone around you.
Truly, we are in this together. And as the wise Maya Angelou so graciously reminds us: “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.”
Now, here’s a little guidance for creating a sacred space for yourself to release 2014 + welcome 2015 with love. Take what resonates with you, sprinkle in your own magic and create something beautiful.
1. Create a sacred space
This will look and feel different for each of us, but a good place to start is by making your space feel lovely and inviting. Consider all of the senses. I like to light candles, use essential oils and create a little altar of things that are magical + meaningful to me. Beyond crystals, cards, and oils, this might also include pictures, special notes, a piece of jewelry, something from nature. Bring together physical objects that evoke a sense of connection, ease, and love.
2. Celebrate + appreciate the past
During our solstice gathering, I guided us through a few yoga postures just to get us grounded in our space and in our bodies. Feeling rooted and connected to the support of our great Mother Earth. Then we sat down with our journals and wrote everything we want to celebrate and appreciate from this past year. Moments. People. Experiences. Feelings. Successes. Failures. Growth. Anything and everything. We poured our thoughts and memories onto paper. And then we shared. We listened to one another as we offered the thing or things for which we are most grateful. Appreciation evokes joy and abundance…and sets the foundation for allowing more of what we desire.
3. Recognize what we’re ready to release
We all have them. Old beliefs. Limiting thoughts. Unhelpful habits. Things no longer supporting us or uplifting us to be who we truly are. Some of us call it perfectionism, self doubt, worry, fear, dis~ease…whatever it is, we must recognize the stuff that is holding us back. When we purposefully raise awareness about what we no longer need in our lives, then we can consciously begin to let it go. During our gathering, we began letting go by writing down what we’re ready to release and then burning it. Watching our fears and limits burn is a symbolic act that begins the journey of self exploration and transformation…clearing out the old to make space for more of what we desire.
4. Decide how we want to feel
If you’ve been with me for a while, you know that I am a huge fan of Danielle LaPorte. I love her practice of setting goals with soul…and leading our lives based on our core desired feelings. Essentially, we begin with recognizing how we want to feel and then setting our life goals in alignment with those core desired feelings. I’ve been doing this for a couple years now. In 2013, my primary core desired feeling was SURRENDER. This year it’s been TRUST. 2015, I’m focusing on PLAY. When we decide how we want to feel everything changes. {Remember, you can definitely focus on more than one feeling…I like to choose one guiding feeling and then a few additional…I even post my primary desired feeling next to my bed so it’s the first thing I see each day when I rise}. Let your heartfelt desires be your guide.
5. Set heartfelt intentions about what we’re ready to create
Once we’ve decided our core desired feelings, then we begin goal setting. We stay connected with our intuition and our heart as we make plans and decide what we want to be and do and have in this coming year and in our lives. Feeling our way helps us stay true to what matters most. And when we are aligned with our hearts and souls, anything is possible. Magic. Manifesting. Miracles.
Whatever you do, give it your light + your love. Let yourself be guided by your intuition. Honor where you’ve been. Celebrate where you are. Shine light on the path you’re taking…and give yourself time + space to enjoy your beautiful journey.
And, if you feel inspired, share with us in the comments about how you release the old + welcome the new in your life.
All love,
Denise
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