In today's fast-paced, often disconnected world, women are increasingly seeking spaces where they can find authentic connection, healing, and empowerment. One such sacred space is the Women's Circle, a gathering that offers women a safe and nurturing environment to share their experiences, support one another, and reconnect with their inner selves. When viewed through the lens of Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of healing and wellness, Women's Circles take on an even deeper, more profound meaning, becoming a practice that nurtures not just the mind and spirit but also the body.
Women: High-Vibrational Moon Beings
Women are inherently high-vibrational beings, gifted with the life-giving force of creation. This is an incredibly powerful and sacred energy that aligns women closely with the cycles of nature, particularly with the moon. Throughout history, women have been seen as moon beings, intimately connected with the ebb and flow of the lunar phases. The moon governs the tides of the earth, just as it governs the tides within a woman's body, particularly through her menstrual cycle.
Ayurveda teaches that women need to align with the cooling, nourishing energy of the moon in order to maintain balance in their lives. This lunar energy is soft, calm, and restorative, the opposite of the fiery, outward-driven energy of the sun. Unfortunately, in modern society, where overactivity, constant stimulation, and high-stress lifestyles are the norm, women are often forced to operate in this sun energy—which is driven by work, achievement, and doing more, more, more.
When women are disconnected from their moon energy and forced to constantly live in the fast-paced, heated energy of the sun, it leads to burnout and imbalance. In Ayurvedic terms, this overactivity can cause an aggravation of Pitta dosha (the fire element) and Vata dosha (the air element), leading to a host of issues such as hormonal imbalances, digestive disturbances, anxiety, and even fertility issues. Women may feel "dried up" both physically and emotionally, as their inherent cooling, moistening energy is depleted.
The Healing Power of Women's Circles
This is where the profound power of Women’s Circles comes in. Women's Circles are a return to the moon's energy, a space where women can slow down, turn inward, and reconnect with their true nature. These gatherings are more than just social events—they are sacred rituals that allow women to release the excess heat and overactivity of the sun and bathe themselves in the cool, healing light of the moon. This is a crucial practice for rebalancing and rejuvenating the female body and mind, especially for women who feel the effects of modern society’s relentless pace.
In my own work, I run monthly Women's Circles in Hertford around the time of the full moon, as well as online New Moon gatherings. These circles are designed to help women realign with the moon’s cycles, offering time and space to rebalance, rejuvenate, and reconnect with their bodies, their inner selves, and their sisters. Drawing upon Ayurvedic practices, my circles provide grounding rituals, meditation, breathwork, and reflective activities that allow women to find peace and healing amidst their busy lives.
These gatherings aren’t just about connection—they are a self-care tool that allows women to show themselves love and develop a deep connection to their own cycles, emotions, and physical needs. By coming together in a sacred circle, women not only experience the emotional support of sisterhood, but also engage in rituals that help them return to their cooling, nourishing moon energy. This is essential for balancing their doshas, especially during times of transition or stress.
Ayurveda and Women’s Circles: A Holistic Approach to Healing
From an Ayurvedic perspective, Women's Circles provide a holistic approach to healing by addressing the balance of mind, body, and spirit. Ayurveda teaches that each woman’s doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha) are uniquely affected by her environment, lifestyle, and inner rhythms. When women gather in a circle, they have the opportunity to not only balance their emotional needs but also their physical and energetic bodies.
For example, grounding practices like sitting in a circle and sharing stories can help to calm Vata dosha, which is often aggravated by the busyness of modern life. Cooling practices like meditation and pranayama (breathwork) can soothe Pitta dosha, which is often inflamed by the heat and intensity of daily activities. And finally, nurturing practices like self-massage or herbal tea rituals can support Kapha dosha by providing nourishment and stability.
Each of my Women's Circles is infused with Ayurvedic principles, ensuring that women leave the circle feeling not just emotionally uplifted but also physically rejuvenated and energetically balanced. These gatherings provide a space for women to replenish their Ojas, the subtle energy in Ayurveda that is responsible for vitality, immunity, and longevity. Ojas is often depleted by stress, overactivity, and emotional strain, but it can be restored through loving relationships, peaceful environments, and nurturing self-care practices—all of which are present in a well-held Women's Circle.
The Healing Power of Sisterhood
One of the most powerful aspects of Women’s Circles is the sense of sisterhood and connection they foster. In Ayurveda, the concept of satsang—gathering in the company of truth—holds that being in the presence of like-minded individuals can uplift and support one’s spiritual growth and healing. Women’s Circles embody this principle, offering a space where women can come together to share their truth, support one another, and cultivate a sense of belonging.
The emotional healing that takes place in a Women’s Circle is profound. Many women find that simply being seen and heard by other women helps to heal wounds of isolation, insecurity, and self-doubt. The power of storytelling, ritual, and shared experience creates a deep sense of connection and reminds women that they are not alone on their journey.
This sense of sisterhood also aligns with the Ayurvedic principle of Ojas, the subtle energy that sustains life and vitality. Ojas is strengthened by loving relationships, positive emotions, and a sense of connection to others. When women come together in a circle to support and uplift one another, they are actively cultivating Ojas, which in turn nourishes their health, vitality, and emotional well-being.
Women's Circles as a Vata-Pacifying Space
Vata, the dosha made of air and ether, is associated with movement, creativity, and change. While these qualities are essential to life, an excess of Vata can lead to anxiety, restlessness, and a feeling of being ungrounded. Modern life, with its constant stimulation and demands, often aggravates Vata in women, leading to stress, fatigue, and imbalance.
Women’s Circles offer an antidote to this overstimulation by creating a calm, grounded space that soothes Vata. The act of gathering in a circle, sitting still, sharing stories, and engaging in nurturing rituals helps to quiet the mind and settle the nervous system. These gatherings often include grounding practices like meditation, breathing exercises (pranayama), and slow, mindful movement, all of which help to calm Vata energy.
Furthermore, the emotional support and sense of community provided by a Women’s Circle offer a sense of stability and connection, two essential qualities for balancing Vata. Women are encouraged to speak their truth, listen deeply, and hold space for one another without judgment. This emotional grounding helps to dispel the anxiety and scattered energy that often accompany Vata imbalances.
Connecting with Yourself and Your Sisters
At its core, a Women’s Circle is a space for self-care, connection, and healing. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with your true self—the high-vibrational moon being that you are—while also connecting with your sisters who are walking similar paths. These circles provide a container for women to slow down, tune in, and realign with the rhythms of nature and their own bodies.
Through these gatherings, you not only develop a deeper understanding of your own cycles but also gain the tools and practices to support yourself through life’s inevitable ups and downs. Whether you're looking to soothe an overactive mind, balance your hormones, or simply connect with a supportive community of women, Women's Circles provide the space and practices you need to thrive.
If you’re in the Hertford area, I welcome you to join one of my monthly Full Moon circles or participate in my online New Moon gatherings. These circles are designed to honor the moon’s cycles, celebrate the turning of the seasons, and bring women back to a state of balance, peace, and connection. Each circle is a step towards healing—healing ourselves, healing our relationships, and healing our connection to the world around us.
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