The State of the Circle

Here’s to health, happiness and sweet surprises in 2015 — Happy New Year!

New beginnings are ripe for setting new intentions, taking on new ways of being in the world, exploring new possibilities. I love beginning again, hitting the reset button, wiping the slate clean. The Roman god Janus had two faces: one for gazing back and one for looking forward. Allow me to gaze back and report on the state of the Circle.

Last year, circles on mindfulness, transition, purpose and walking on the edge convened. My four-year long circle with teenager girls concluded as they graduated and learned how to lead circles themselves. I joined a local peace circle and also connected with people all over the country facilitating fabulous conversations in neighborhoods, corporations, nonprofits and even prisons. I brought teenagers together to reflect and collect their amazing stories to tell college admissions! While I am always dreaming up new circle topics, I most frequently circle with women returning year after year committed to diving deeper.

Since I first began this extraordinary adventure some six years ago, I have been privileged to sit in nearly 400 Circles! That’s 800 hours spent in a field of creation, inspiration, reflection and connection! Lucky lucky me — this is my very favorite way and place to be. As one woman remarked this year in a circle on transition, “Why did it take me five years to get here?” I responded that she came at the right time. We all felt the deep resonance and bright illumination of her personal transformation. She came thinking she needed a new job. Instead, she took her new views into the old job and uplifted everyone.

With a heart full of joy, I say thank you to each of you who have made the leap to explore my crazy idea and who have helped evolve me and this ancient Circle art form. With thousands of people the world over being re-introduced to circle, we are together creating a new way of being in community. Reflection and connection are needed now, more than ever.

At the dawn of a new era and five years into my passionate mission, I feel the urge for even MORE. It’s time to take things up a notch. Continuing to create circles on a variety of topics, I am ecstatic about Wise Women Consciously Aging and circles for moms launching children to college. Through sweet synchronicity I met an amazingly alive woman, Diane, and together we are co-creating courses and virtual circles (http://awomanalive.com/services/wcm/). And on January 31, I am presenting a workshop at The Well in LaGrange on Living More Mindfully (http://www.csjthewell.org/courses/living-more-mindfully/).

What are you looking forward to in 2015? What topic would allure you to come to Circle? What’s new in your corner of this wintry world? 


CONVERSATION CAFE for MOMs moving on, launching children into college and beyond! Now that the college applications have been sent, there is second semester senior slump to survive and plenty of graduation parties to plan, not to mention all that college packing. Are you looking for companions to ride the roller coaster of riveting emotions? Savor the wisdom and support of similarly situated women sending offspring out into the world. (Spoiler alert: they come back…often!) Having recently survived this stage, I know how surprising and challenging it can be. Join me as we make the most of this necessary transition (else they’d be on our basement couch forever!). It’s time to take time for yourself — how about a nine-month gestation to birth the new you? We will meet monthly from February to October to pause, reflect, and take time to plan and prepare a mindful goodbye. Along the way, we will consider possibilities for this next stage of parenting. As we move through the year, we will create meaningful celebrations marking their passage from childhood to adult, and ours from mom on main stage to guide on the side. Best of all, benefit from the privilege of tapping into group wisdom — we are far wiser, together. Come, sit in Circle, and become more of who you came to be!


NEW MOMs UNITE! Come to a Self-Care Salon, where YOU are the topic and the expert! Connect with other wonderful women bringing new life into the world. Share stories. Create a life you love. Be a better mother by practicing the oxygen principle - self care first. Having raised three children, my wisest insights have been to practice self care and create supportive spaces. Circle provides a nurturing space to reflect, connect and inspire each other to become more of who we came to be.


LAST CALL for WISE WOMEN unite! We are creating a new model of vital aging, calling us to claim our place at the fire, to live our life on purpose, more than ever before! We can choose to grow whole, not old, by discovering who we are, sharing our stories, and exploring how we become “new elders.” Join me in this ancient, new way of being in community: the CIRCLE. This one is for women in the second half of life, willing to inventure: to adventure inward into inner realms! Whether you consider yourself an “elder” or not, Come. There is no place like Circle, where we can tap into insights, greater wisdom and be nurtured to become who we came to be.


CURIOUS about LIVING MORE MINDFULLY? Are you a prospective meditator - always thinking about starting a meditation practice, but never quite fitting it in? There are literally hundreds of new scientific studies showing that meditation can literally change our brain structure in ways that might boost concentration, memory, and positive emotions. Being more mindful can make us happier and more productive! Come! Start your week off on a mindful note, with a wonderful community of women exploring mindfulness practices you can improve your life with today. Each week, Circle is a different combination of women focusing on a new aspect of meditation/mindfulness. Whether you’ve Circled before or not - come and dive into this safe, supportive space to pause, reflect and connect. Having led hundreds of Circles, I wholeheartedly believe in the transformative, inspirational power of Circle! Our world needs us now, living more mindfully, more fully activating! The very best way to do this is with similarly situated souls. We gather on Monday mornings from 10A-12P (1/12, 1/26 & 2/9 & 2/23). Please RSVP in advance.

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