Energy healer and alchemist Sarah Lloyd celebrates women’s circles in this new quarterly series
t’s not like women’s circles are anything new. Quite the opposite, in fact. Did you know that women have sat in a circle for a millennia? It was the women who held the wisdom and created. It was the women who were in their red tents, tending the young, while the men would hunt and gather from predators. Our roles as nurturer and protector were clear and simple. This evolved and changed over the years, and now we are seeing a return to those roots our ancestors firmly planted. Being in a community and finding my soul sisters is what has certainly supported me these past few years, especially when I became a mum and when I started my own business. Perhaps it has you, too?
For so long, I have had visions for years of women sitting in a circle, each owning their innate power and sovereignty, all masters of their own, complementing each other, weaving and sewing a new way into existence together.
There are many women’s circles like those I have described popping up all over the UK. Circles where you feel welcome and supported and where you can collaborate without the old stories that have hounded ‘mothers’ meetings’ for years. These are spaces where you can share, be seen and be heard. There are many experiences I can share where this is happening, at women’s circles, spiritual retreats, festivals and collaborative creative projects.
I started one such collaboration called Wake Up Mother. This has seen 13 of us sit in a virtual circle sharing our stories, and writing a collaborative book together. As we sat together each month, we navigated and healed our collective wounds through space holding, sharing and storytelling. When I received the call for Wake Up Mother, I knew it needed to be a collaboration. The vision was a coming together of mothers, who had each experienced the journey of motherhood very differently. These women, who are all in differing stages of their journey, represent just some of the many facets of the mother in a beautiful way. Once I had set the intention, I shared the idea in my circles of women and friends and on social media. Some I knew well leapt at the chance to share, passionate about their own work. Other women I didn’t know directly soon started to seek me out too. And so followed many conversations, until we landed on the solid 13 who participated in a major way. As a huge believer of trust and divine timing, I now see a bigger picture and know that it won’t and hasn’t just stopped at the book. This process of coming together was the start of the medicine… and our ‘mothers’ meet’ complete.
In my day job as a spiritual dot-connector and publicist, it is something that comes very naturally to me and the women I co-create and collaborate with. I know that this isn’t always the case for everyone, and I’d love to offer some guidance on how to help you to seek out your own community.
So, what does the term mother mean to you? For me, the mother is in that space between. There’s the maiden – when we are finding our way in the world from our teens into our 20s; the mother, which is when we hit our 30s and upwards and is the space where we are called to create and nurture generations above and below, and there’s the crone in the space post-menopause – the sage, the wise woman, demonstrated beautifully by the triple goddess symbol.
Now try something new
Harness the power of your own circle
Know your purpose: What type of community or circle are you looking for? Are you looking to set up a moon circle, a community project or collaboration of sorts? Or are you requiring help with your family or business, or do you just want to offer other women a self-care space?
Have clear intention: Once you understand the purpose of your circle, I advise you to set a clear intention of who it is you wish to call in. Feel into what they might look like or what their interests are. Is it a specific role you are
wishing to fill? Knowing what you don’t want is also super important.
Be open to connection: Circle members can be anywhere – lurking in a Facebook group you may be frequenting, stood next to you at the school gates, on the writing retreat you are called to sign up to or even beside you in your yoga class.
Have clear boundaries: By all means create a safe space, but make it clear how much you are willing to offer outside of meetings. You may wish to set boundaries around weekends or evenings.
Ask for help: Call in support from other community leaders, or a spiritual coach; or seek out communities who are already established (and in alignment with you and your intention). Maybe it might not be your job to create the circle, but step into one already established.
Practise energy management: Holding space for others can be energetically draining. Give yourself space around gatherings to ‘ground’ after – put your feet on the earth, meditate or eat chocolate – whatever you need to feel supported. It is also important to protect and clear your energy when you move into a holding space or circle space.
Anchor the first circle: By setting a date for your first gathering, and sharing that date with those surrounding you, that anchors the intention of the group. Once you have clarity on all the above, other women will come if this space is meant for them! Have faith and enjoy!
Sarah Lloyd is a conscious mother to two girls, she is passionate about giving people a voice. Through her own brand of magic-based, conscious PR, she has supported many women in sharing their stories. An intuitive, angel communicator and Reiki energy master herself, her mission is to teach and guide others. Visit sindigosoulpr.com or sarahlloyd.co