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THE HISTORY OF HEALING CIRCLES
The idea of women’s circles and congregating in
community circles dates back to Paleolithic societies,
a whopping 30,000 years ago, when ritual art, paint
and relics were devoted to the female form.
And today, indigenous cultures from the Native
Americans to the Maasai tribes of Africa practise
community circle gatherings, including Australia’s
own Indigenous community.
While in mainstream society the practice died
out with the introduction of patriarchal societies
and secularism, women’s circles have recently
emerged again, as part of the feminist #MeToo
movement that’s been gaining popularity around the
world, from Germany to the US, Africa and Australia.
WHY YOU SHOULD TRY ONE
Bailey is aware that for some people, women’s
circles sound like a “woo-woo” excuse to get
together and burn incense. But she insists they
are so much more than that.
“I know women’s circles are seen as a ‘hippie
thing’ ... some weird tribal version where people
dance naked under the moonlight, hold hands and
sing ‘Kumbaya’ (which, if it was that version, I’m
not gonna lie, I would still probably do that). But,
in its simplest and purest form, it’s really about
connecting with each other in a way that creates
this magic of equality,” she explains.
Professor Dr Sharon G. Mijares agrees –
she’s spent her career studying psychospiritual
development and women’s empowerment. “When we
meet in a circle, we join to hold everyone in a sacred
space and purpose,” she explains. “We are bringing
forth an ancient way of connecting into modern
times. We gather to share stories, to deepen our
identities, both individually and in a group, often
with the intention to enable and shape a post-
patriarchal way of being. We also gather to heal life.”
She points out that even progressive schools
and various meeting spaces have moved desks and
chairs into circles, so that participants are looking
at one another as opposed to the more traditional
expectation of looking at the back of someone’s head.
STEP 1: THE LOCATION
Choose somewhere that is
comfortable and welcoming.
You can sit on chairs or on the
floor, it’s up to you, and there
is no need to hold hands
(unless your group wants to).
STEP 2: THE NUMBERS
Numbers are up to the group
but having 8-10 people tends
to work best for conversations.
STEP 3: THE RULES
There are no set rules, but the
two most important guidelines
are to leave phones switched
off for the entire time, and to
avoid any judgement.
STEP 4: PICK A TOPIC
Choose an inspiring, intelligent
theme that will encourage
interaction. It could be a
common theme in the group
(dealing with cancer) or it
could be a general theme
(anxiety or burn out).
STEP 5: THE LEADER
There is generally no set
leader, however, it helps to
have someone run the event
and move the conversation on
if it has reached a stalemate.
STEP 6: THE ACTIVITIES
Create between one and three
group activities ahead of time
that are based around your
theme (these could be verbal
or physical activities).
STEP 7: AVOID ADVICE
This is not therapy, it’s a time
to come together to nourish
each other, to listen and to
elevate each other as women.
Don’t judge anyone or their
thoughts. Try to be present
and allow people to do their
own problem-solving.
STEP 8: BE RESPECTFUL
Try to speak leanly, with
intention, so that everybody
has a chance to contribute.
HOW TO DIY YOUR OWN CIRCLE
each other and seeing each other just as women,
without all of the bullshit!”
As therapeutic as that sounds, what’s the
difference between a women’s circle and your
regular Friday night hang with the girls (and
several bottles of rosé), we hear you ask?
Well, according to Bailey, a lot.
“Women’s circles are an ancient tradition that
have been [held] since the dawn of time,” she says.
“Women come together, they sit in a circle, they share
cross-generational stories, they comfort each other,
they nurture each other, they do creative activities.
It’s really about celebrating and elevating each other,
from a kind of base level.”
WELLNESS
HOW TO HOST A WOMEN’S CIRCLE
While there is a growing movement in Australia of
women’s circles, with sessions being offered in most
major cities, if you can’t find one that suits you or don’t
have access to one, Bailey says you should start your own.
“It’s my mission for there to be a women’s circle on
every corner of every street, like we have with yoga and
meditation and fitness classes,” she says. “Many different
versions of it, so that people are attracted to what their
own version is. It doesn’t have to be deeply spiritual, it
can just be about coming together, connecting, having
an intentional time for relaxation, recharging and
getting to know each other without any of our devices.”
AND THEY’RE NOT JUST FOR WOMEN...
Women’s circles are not restricted to just women,
they can extend to anyone associating as a woman
or anyone keen to connect with their feminine side.
“Women’s circles are for everyone. I just trained
some men to do men’s circles, so men can do them as
well, or you can mix men and women together. The idea
is to open the space for anybody who feels called to
this kind of experience,” explains Bailey. “We’re all here
in the circle to celebrate each other, to talk about
anything and feel completely seen and accepted.”
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