One of the first ways to engage your spiritual imagination is to notice whose voices have been--and continue to be--missing from the conversations. Who gets to name what is sacred and what is not? What stories are chosen to be told, which are obfuscated or wiped away completely? History has been unkind to Herstories or to any Other-stories.
A circle of women gathered together is in itself a dangerous thing. A circle of women gathered in the fullness of their truth is an act of resistance. Herstory Circles invite women* into communion with one another: to listen to each other, to give voice to, to imagine, to bless and honor our unfolding lives.
ALL CIRCLES ARE VIRTUAL. In these Circles you will: -be in encircled with other women seekers -gather in non-judgmental space that welcomes your spiritual questions, your curiosity, your I-don't-knows, your own understandings and practices of spirituality -be invited into playful and expansive encounter with ideas and the voices of women whose stories you may not know or only know peripherally . -call on the healing powers of your own soul's creative voice to guide your inner explorations. You do not need to be arty or creative in any way. --For the midrash circles, you need not have ANY knowledge of Hebrew or Christian scriptures.
HERSTORY ONE: Creativity Circle: Edgewalking 3 Wednesdays, November 2-November 16 6:30pm-7:45pm(EST) Each week, I will get our virtual conversation started by sending you an image, a prompt and a question via email inviting you to step into a story of women edgewalking between cultural expectations and their truth. This invitation then becomes yours, as you explore the edges in your own life. Edges are always where the deepest wisdom dwells.
We will gather together to briefly check in with one another before we retreat into our own creative process inspired by the prompts. We'll close the circle by naming what has emerged for you from your process.
HERSTORY CIRCLE TWO (two circle options): Practicing Imagination: Stories of Women from Hebrew Sacred Texts Morning Session: 4 Tuesdays, November 29-December 20 9:30AM-10:45am (EST) Evening Session: 4 Wednesdays, November 30-December 21 6:30-7:45pm (EST) Historically, the practice of midrash or the reading "between the lines" of sacred text and imagining what else is there in the story, was only for Jewish rabbis. This unpacking of stories behind the words is no longer the singular purview of male Jewish spiritual leaders.
This Herstory Circle coincides with the overlapping holy seasons of Hannukah, and Advent, both of which are all about the wisdom of listening and waiting, patience, and intuition.
Each week, I will offer you a story of a woman from Hebrew scriptures; we will aim to explore the stories of lesser known women. Together we will explore the dimensions of this woman's experience through the gift of our imaginations. We'll begin with a bit of biblical/historical background of the story as context. You are then encouraged to engage her-story through the vessels of art making or writing before we convene to reimagine the fullness of this story together. Please note: we will not work with these stories as any kind of religous instruction but as canvases on which to let our imaginations run free.
HERSTORY CIRCLE THREE: Creativity Circle: Women as Nests 6 Wednesdays, January 11-February 15 6:30-7:45pm (EST) Each week before we gather, I will share with you a poem from a woman poet that will give our conversation and creative expression flight around the theme "Women as Nests." We will initally gather together to share a piece of our lives before we unfold the poem, listening for what we hear in it for our own lives. You will have time at the end to nest into your own creative process inspired by the conversation.
Women who are entering mid-life, those transitioning from work identity or mothering/caregiver identity, including recent empty nesters, or are navigating the identity of crone are particularly encouraged to join this session.
HERSTORY CIRCLE FOUR:Practicing Imagination: Women's Stories from Christian Sacred Texts Morning Session: 4 Tuesdays, March 7 -March 28 9:30-10:45am (EST) Evening Session: 4 Wednesdays, March 8-29 6:30-7:45pm (EST) Ths Circle will follow the flow of Herstory Circle Two above
HERSTORY CIRCLE FIVE: Earth/Mother Creativity Circle 4 Wednesdays, April 19-May 10 6:30-7:45pm (EST) Aligning with Earth Day and and the Celtic festival of Beltane which celebrates the coming summer's fertile abundance, the week's prompts for reflection and creative expression will reclaim and re-story the intimate relationship between nature and women.
*I understand the experience of being a woman takes many shapes and forms and I celebrate them all. I sense these circles will feel most meaningful for those who had or have the biology to potentially get pregnant or give birth and/or has been historically and culturally highly sexualized.
--All circles are virtual. -Each Circle stands on its own. You are welcome to participate in one Circle or more than one as your schedule and interest allow. Because community-building is at the heart of these Circles, you are asked to commit to the weeks your session is being offered.
--The cost to partcipate in a 3 week circle or session is on a sliding scale between $90-$180. --The cost to participate in a 4 week circle or session is on a sliding scale between $120-$240. --The cost to participate in a 6 week circle or session is on a sliding scale between $180-$360. --Full Payment is requested by the start date of your circle session. I am glad to work with you if you need to pay weekly. Venmo, Paypal, Zelle, Cash App, checks or cash are available for payment.
Register here for the Circle/s you will be participating in. Please register for Herstory Circle One, beginning October 26, by Thursday, October 20.