Women’s Circles: How to Unite to Change the World

Since the late 80’s, women’s groups In different countries they meet periodically in a circle, retaking the atavistic tradition of sharing life with others and what is important to them.

In the circle of women, none is superior to the others and respect and honesty prevail. Each one becomes a source of support, improvement and changefor others and for themselves, as well as an engine of social transformation.

The origins: women’s circles to talk face to face

Circle meetings between women refer us to meetings that have taken place since the beginning of time in small villages or indigenous communities. The people, women and men, spoke looking into each other’s eyes, and from the same height, about what was relevant for each one and for the community. Sometimes they shared personal stories, other times they communicated with the spirit in ritual ceremonies around the fire…

In women’s circles a space was created for connection, enriching peer-to-peer communication or healing, and bonds were strengthened. However, although they persist in small groups of natives from all over the world, these meetings were losing validity when the patriarchal model was established.

The circle meeting was replaced by the line meeting, where men and women became passive recipients of information and instruction from people in leadership positions.

With the patriarchythe circle was replaced by the meeting in lines, where men and women become passive recipients

Women’s circles today

One of the pioneers in joining the modern movement to retake the old circles of the wise grandmothers was the Jungian psychiatrist and analyst Jean Shinoda Bolenknown internationally for books such as The goddesses of every woman.

Jean Shinoda Bolen created the concept of millionth circle in order to favor these circles throughout the world and move towards a turning point capable of giving birth to a more conscious and balanced humanity.

Empower and create critical mass

With that same idea that Bolen pointed out, more recentlyGather The Women, a virtual community that brings together women from 52 countries. Marta Martínez Arellano is the coordinator of the organization in Spain.

According to Marta Martínez Arellano, the objective of promoting women’s circles is promote personal empowerment and create awareness to reach the critical mass capable of the social transformation to which Dr. Bolen alludes. “The connection to one’s femininity and the growth that women experience has an impact on their social environment,” she explains.

Great diversity of circles

exist circles of many types and sizes: of only four members who have always known each other and circles of more than thirty in which women see each other for the first time. They can be held in a private house, a forest, a cave, a place… Most only have a symbolic cost to contribute to minimal expenses, although some are organized for therapeutic purposes, they last for a while and the cost is higher.

The topics covered in circles they are very diverse; there are circles of percussion, of meditation, of creating mandalas, of planting a garden together; circles in which we talk about sexuality, nutrition, self-care, the goddesses of each woman, death…

How the meetings take place

The space of the circle is a sacred realm in which one becomes aware of where and why one is in it. In the center there is usually an altar where they are placed ceremonial objects: candles, flowers, incense, crystals, feathers, shells, photos, books… that invite you to connect with the intimate.

Four years ago, Noemí Lázaro, a doula and therapist from Pamplona, ​​felt the desire to summon a circle of women and put it into practice: “I summoned it for the next New Moon among my contacts, by email, and I had 28 days to think about how to nurture the women who participated.For the dynamics I was guided by thea guideline proposed by Jean Shinoda Bolen in his book The Millionth Circle and I added my own ideas, such as making a box in which each woman who gave a session would leave something of her own”.

“There are circles that place a speaking stick in the center that each woman picks up when she wants to speak, or passes the stick around clockwise, so that everyone can express themselves,” Lázaro tells us. For her, he affirms, the circle has been a gift. “Many friendships have emerged from the circleprofessional collaborations, common readings and, above all, great moments of joy and support”.

13 keys to create a circle of women

Summon it by email, on social networks, through flyers or word of mouth… These guidelines for “The Millionth Circle” They will help you energize it.

Propose that they speak one by one. When a question arises or you need it, stop and silently ask for help. Speak and listen from the heart. Open and close the circle listening to the voice of each participant. Consider it a sacred space. Offer experience in place of advice.Listen carefully, without judging.Speak from your own experience and beliefs, rather than from that of others.Decide with other women how decisions will be carried out.Welcome diversity of viewpoints. Share leadership and resources. Decide with other women what to keep confidential. Work for consensus when needed.