Over the years, I’ve seen pictures and postcards displaying fields of radiant Sunflowers. Often, I have imagined how fun it would be, and how wonderful it would feel, to actually immerse myself in their solar-fueled energy and presence.

Well, I finally did it, and it was a powerful experience in more ways than I would have expected!

This trip was part of a special Birthday excursion that my daughter had planned for me. Being a Leo, my Zodiac flower is the Sunflower; so, it was especially fitting. ‘Not to mention, just like a sunflower, I often turn towards the sunshine as I enjoy the warmth and brightness it exudes.

Our intention was to head out first thing in the morning and make it a day trip, as the farm was located two hours north of our city.

When we awoke that morning, it was raining quite heavily, and the sky didn’t look like it was going to clear up any time soon.  So, we waited until noon to see if it would change. And it did! By then, the sun was shining brightly, and the ground was starting to dry up.

In the early afternoon, we ventured out on our road trip.  However, just as we were halfway there the sky turned grey, and it began to pour rain again. Since we had already made it that far, we decided to keep going and maintain the faith that it would clear up again.

Just as we arrived at the farm the gate was only partially open, and the sign said ‘Closed’. Not only did it rain there, it had also hailed – big pellets of icy rain – and there were still lots to be seen on the ground. Since the extreme weather conditions had taken a toll on the Sunflowers, they were closing up for the day.

Thankfully, a few of us had just arrived at the same time. So, the staff said that if we didn’t mind the impact the weather had on the farm, then we could go in and have the place to ourselves. Of course, we said ‘Yes’! I’m so happy we did, as what transpired was nothing less than a Birthday blessing curated by Mother Nature herself.

Simultaneously, as we walked over to the field, the grey clouds parted, a blue sky appeared, and the sun began to shine brightly. It felt like a completely new day—all over again!

As we neared the Sunflowers, it was visibly apparent that they had ‘weathered’ some stormy conditions. They were quite droopy, and many had their top petals distorted or removed. These were not the kind of flowers anyone would be gifting in a bouquet or displaying on a table.

What was interesting, however, was looking at the wholeness of the field of Sunflowers, those issues were barely noticeable! Instead, what was apparent was a ‘Yellow Beauty’ that shone right through and a collective sense of community, resiliency, and power.

This story carries wonderful messages that are reflected in our Women’s Wellness Circles.  I’d like to share some of them with you:

• THE SUM IS GREATER THAN ITS PARTS: Individually, we all experience our ups and downs in life; it’s a natural part of the journey. On our own, it can be a lot to handle and can take its toll. However, when we come together and join other women in Circle, the whole becomes much stronger than the individual parts. As well, just like those Sunflowers on this stormy day, those messy or droopy parts of ourselves are no longer noticeable. The reason is thanks to the power of community, we are strengthened and uplifted.
• TRUSTING THE PROCESS: During the warmer months, various Circle locations will hold their gatherings outdoors. This is something I’ve been doing for almost two decades, and it amazes me how much Mother Nature conspires to support this. On those times that rain or even hail falls from the sky, it tends to happen just before or right after our Circle gathering. Numerous times we thought we’d need to cancel and then voila, just like magic — the clouds part and the sun shines through — just like our Sunflower farm trip.

• SUSTENANCE IN VARIOUS FORMS: Circle is nourishment in a variety of ways — through the women we meet, the inspiration and learning from the topic and presenter, and of course, the host who creates the space for Circle to unfold. Sunflowers also serve a range of purposes, such as wonderful medicinal properties or as pigment for textile dye and body paint. Sunflower oil is used for internal and external uses, and the stalks were once dried for building materials. They’re also a food source for humans, animals, and plant life. Sunflower seeds are a tasty snack you’ve probably enjoyed.

So where do you experience the power, upliftment, and countless benefits of community in your life? If you have that kind of support, that’s wonderful. If you are looking for it, then consider joining one of our Women’s Wellness Circles or perhaps start one in your community. I’d be happy to chat about it!

Circles of Community Spirit,
Jill

Founder & Mentor Women’s Wellness Circles
www.womenswellnesscircles.com

Thanks to the wisdom of well-respected and longtime astrologer, Dale Osadchuk, I am opening with a quote she recently shared…

“The Medicine Wheel is a symbol for the circle of life, forever evolving. Its message is for each of us to find our personal medicine, learning to walk in balance within ourselves and our Mother Earth, and to honour all life as Sacred. Medicine is anything that enhances your connection to Great Mystery and The Oneness.  The healing of mind, body and spirit leads to empowerment, strength and understanding, living your life to bring healing to Mother Earth and all her kingdoms. Walking your path in perfect harmony with The Universe.”

This message had me reflecting on my work with the Enneagram personality system and its connection to our wholeness and to Women’s Wellness Circles.

The Enneagram dates back at least 2500 years. Its symbol is a circle with an inner triangle and hexad shape. It connects the numbers 1 through 9 in a profound way, bringing to light the relationship between 9 personality types with different patterns of thinking, feeling, and doing in the world. Knowing our ‘type’ can assist us to understand our strengths, weaknesses, automatic reactions, and can support us in our journey to presence and balance.

The symbol of the circle represents unity and oneness – so, regardless of what number you primarily resonate with, we are all connected and have parts of each type within us.

Each type brings specific gifts and strengths into the world, and each has their struggles and self-defeating habits. As we come to understand and accept all parts of ourselves, we can focus on expanding our gifts and strengths and spend less time resisting our shadow self.

A brief description of each type:

1. Reformer: Principled, purposeful, self-controlled, and perfectionistic
2. Helper: Generous, demonstrative, people-pleasing and possessive
3. Achiever: Adaptable, excelling, driven and image-conscious
4. Individualist: Creative, Expressive, self-absorbed, and temperamental
5. Investigator: Perceptive, innovative, secretive, and isolated
6. Loyalist: Engaging, responsible, anxious, and suspicious
7. Enthusiast: Spontaneous, versatile, acquisitive, and scattered
8. Challenger: Self-confident, decisive, willful, and confrontational
9. Peacemaker: Receptive, reassuring, agreeable and complacent

Over the years of hosting Circle, many attendees have taken my Enneagram course. I’m noticing the unfolding of a group of women who are standing in their own light in a stronger way and being truer to who they are. This ripples out into a strong comradery amongst the Circle goers and into our community.

As a Type Two on the Enneagram, my natural tendency is to want everyone to feel happy and to be pleased with me. I like to be the one who is of service, so I make sure that I have looked after all the details to ensure that the night goes well. My antennae are always turned on, paying attention to signs that everyone is doing well.

Of course, our gifts are strengths when in balance.  However, when they are out of balance and in overdrive, it is not conducive to ease and flow. For example, when I am in stress, my inner guidance is not accessible.  I am not relaxed and trusting in others, in divine timing, or in the opportunity of each moment being exactly what someone needs. Therefore, I don’t check in with the group to see what is called for in the moment as I feel responsible to already know it all and get everything right – ughhh!

As I tune in, my awareness allows me to trust, delegate, go with the flow and know that everything happens for a reason. I relax and enjoy the whole process from preparing the newsletter, to setting up the space and to hosting the Circle. I am filled with gratitude for all the moments and all the incredible women who come out.

I have noticed this same level of trust continuing to develop in the group. The true caring connections, the conversations that happen before, during and after Circle, have truly blossomed.

Another example is the Type Sevens, who are called the Enthusiast. They are often open to having fun and engaging in new experiences. A couple of Circle goers who have identified as Type Seven tend to sit together and then look over sheepishly when I bring the group together to start the gathering, saying, “this is probably a bad idea that we sit beside each other as we can get disruptive”. Then they quickly giggle and say, “Oh well…!”   It’s delightful to have their energy present within the group. And, it’s a gift to experience all of the personality types who take part in Circle and to witness the expansion of everyone’s collective light. As Dale would refer to it:  finding and sharing our medicine.

May each of you find the sacredness in your medicine wheel journey and may it include the experience of attending a Women’s Wellness Circle in your area. It’s time for us all to stand in our light and bring our gifts fully to our world. We are the ones we have been waiting for.

Let’s rise together!

Karen Armstrong
WWC Host, Newmarket/EG
Reiki Master, Biophoton Light Therapist & Enneagram Coach
www.in-side-out.com

Historically women have been gathering in Circles for centuries. We are genetically wired to commune, share and nurture. This energy grows and spills over into our homes, our families, our communities.

Nothing can quite compare to having a genuine, safe, and welcoming place to feel seen, held, and to share in the splendor of mutual interests, learning, and growth, while honoring and hearing each other’s voices, needs and goals. In the space of wonderful female companionships, great things occur!

It may come to us as a nudge or inner voice that sounds like, “I need to get out more with friends”, “I need someone to talk to and share my thoughts”, “I feel alone”, “Do other people ever feel this way?”,” No one understands me”…  Regardless of the reason, women come together to discover and remember how wise, strong, and connected they truly are.

During the past historical days of the Red Tent, women supported each other as they spent their menstruation or child birthing time in sacred space tuning into their body’s rhythms, needs and wisdom.  This was a natural part of their everyday lives. Today, women continue to feel this call, and it comes in the shape of a Circle.

In Circle at the end of a long day, that may have tested us from every angle, women gently hold space for one another without conditions. It is a time of a warm welcome and a safe space to take off the ‘masks’ that we sometimes wear to fit in and to please others. Here we can come home to ourselves, learn from one another, and nurture our health, wellbeing, and heart centers. This longing and need for the support of sisterhood will never end; it is part of our genetics and lineage.

When I think of the women that come to Circle, I get emotional. They are my sisters. Whether our union is old or new, each Circle sister holds a very special place in my heart. Our souls truly recognize a sister in an instant!

More and more Circles of women are communing globally. Our inner guidance seems to know where to go when we feel lost, confused, unmotivated or overwhelmed. As we come together, our vibration rises; and we become bigger and brighter with each new face that enters this space.

While women have come together in physical circles since the beginning of time, that changed when the Covid pandemic hit. With so many restrictions to abide by, we felt isolated, lonely, and fearful.  We had no idea which way to turn. Yet we continued to know our truth and our need for connection.

So, we turned to Circle, this time virtually. Could we make this work? Would the pure and powerful energy we felt at our in-person Circles be experienced online as well? We knew we had to give it a try.

With relief and happiness, women were receptive to joining this virtual experience. And you know what? Our energetic connection shone through the ethers! Within a heartbeat, it was evident that our online Circle was another home to us. Plus, this online platform made it possible to gather people from all over the world, because time zones, travel, and borders were no longer a barrier.

Our solution to being separated was to enlarge our perspective and to choose to grow in new ways. Now we are stronger than ever! Our presence has expanded! We have more sharing, more offerings, and more confirmation of the value and need for Circle.

As many of our Women’s Wellness Circles are meeting once again in our community venues, we value the opportunity to hold hands, to share in heartfelt hugs and to experience the biofeedback that occurs when we are participating face-to-face.

Of course, our wonderful online Circles continue for those who live at a distance, have mobility issues, are caregivers, or simply prefer taking part from the comfort of their own home.

As with all Circles, whether in person or online, inspired presenters join us in this sacred space to share their unique gifts and perspectives. With these educational opportunities, we fill our wells with new ways to support our wholeness, to recharge and to connect.

The outer world can feel sharp and uncomfortable at times, causing us to react or retract. Being in Circle reminds us that we are always connected to a bigger source and greater resources. Imagine a pebble in water that is being rolled and tumbled by strong waves. The pebble doesn’t resist this force, so it naturally aligns into the same flow and rhythm. Eventually the sharp edges are smoothed, and the pebble becomes polished and strong.

Life can feel uncertain and overwhelming at times.  However, being part of Circle brings smoothness to our edges, reminding us of the strength in our flexibility and of how capable we are at rising to the challenges that inevitably occur.

There is a new energy that is emerging on our planet, a slow and deep rumble that is echoing our own inner awakenings. If you would like support, strength, and sisterhood to accompany you, just follow your calling to Circle.

To Sisterhood and Circling,

Debbie Armstrong

www.facebook.com/WWCbarrieinnisfil/

Have you ever been told that you are too sensitive, that you cry too easily, or that you care too much? If so, how did that make you feel?

Did you find it frustrating?  Did you sense you were being misunderstood or perhaps unfairly judged?

As a youngster, I often felt this way.  As a result, since there isn’t a turn off ‘switch’ for sensitivities, I did my best to hide them. All the while, I was wishing that I had a tougher skin, that I didn’t take things so personally and that I could let other people’s opinions roll off of me, like others seemingly could.

It wasn’t until years later that I gradually learned how to care for and honour my sensitivities while recognizing them as gifts and strengths rather than nuisances or weaknesses. It is still a learning curve. However, I’ve come a long way because awareness and practise does work!

In my early twenties, I read a book about the ‘Highly Sensitive Person’.  That’s when everything made so much more sense. Knowledge is indeed a powerful force.

Elaine R. Aron is the author, and she is a highly sensitive person herself. Having a Doctorate and Master’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, she researched this subject intensively using hundreds of detailed interviews with Highly Sensitive People.

It turns out that being highly sensitive is not a disorder or diagnosis.  Rather, it is a personality trait, and there are more HSPs in the world than you may expect.

There are common characteristics among ‘HSPs’ like being easily overwhelmed and finding it hard to think straight when things are too busy, or by getting upset by violence on TV, and identifying as empathic and deeply emotional.

Knowing more about this personality type can assist you in navigating your life more smoothly and effectively, while acquiring strategies to develop and fine-tune these strong sensitivities, which can be used in your favour, and for the greater good – in useful and empowering ways.

If you aren’t an HSP, it’s highly likely that you have some in your family, friends, or colleague circle who are, so this is useful awareness in general.

Here’s a list of Six Typical Traits of Highly Sensitive People.

1. You Identify as Deeply Emotional
   If you have a strong connection to your emotions and you spend a lot of time and energy contemplating or cultivating your internal world, you may be an HSP. As adults, many HSPs say that as kids they were called shy, introverted or overly sensitive.

2. You Have Been Called Oversensitive
   This is a tell-tale characteristic of being an HSP, who tend to be much more sensitive to other people and environments than most people. HSPs commonly experience overstimulation from at least one of the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. This can range from a mild nuisance or distraction to feeling highly uncomfortable or anxious.

3. You Avoid Situations that are Stressful
   HSPs typically manage and structure their lives so that they can avoid stressful or overwhelming situations. While this may happen unconsciously, upon reflection many HSPs realize this is true for them. In fact, any display of violence in the media can be extremely upsetting for an HSP. As a result, they may avoid watching horror movies, or the news.

4. You Are Overwhelmed by Crowds
   HSPs often avoid big crowds, because the buzz of energy may feel overwhelming and make an HSP want to withdraw or shut down. This may be caused by the heightened and intensified sensory stimulation that comes with being in a crowd, along with absorbing emotional or mental energy from others.

5. You Are Overwhelmed by Too Many Tasks
   A long to-do list can be overwhelming for HSPs, especially when they feel as though there is not enough time to complete the tasks. This may be since HSPs don’t like to juggle too many things at once because the like to avoid making mistakes and don’t want to upset or let others down.

6. You Are Attuned to Nuances
   HSPs are adept at picking up subtleties: in the environment, in projects or art, and even in the emotional display or reactions of those around them. They often notice things that others may miss like a change in tone, a colour mismatch, or a slight temperature shift.

Do you relate to some of these above examples?

More people feel like this than we realize, and they wind up closing off their sensitivities in order to function more easily in the world.

Thankfully, with awareness and useful strategies, such as regular self care, meditation, and spending time in positive and nurturing environments like nature and our Women’s Wellness Circles, eventually, what may have seemed like a hindrance, will become strengths.

HSPs are known to be compassionate, intuitive, artistic, highly perceptive, and conscientious individuals with a depth of understanding that goes beyond the surface level.  These are indeed qualities that our world can not only benefit from, but it is also craving right now.

Jill
Founder & Mentor Women’s Wellness Circles
www.womenswellnesscircles.com

“Never compare your insides with someone else’s outsides.” 

I don’t know where I first heard this quote, but it was long before social media began and long after I had become the steward of my soul’s journey.

The first time I read it, it literally stopped me in my tracks.  Since then, I return to it often, especially when I find myself caught in a place of personal judgment or comparison thinking.

Isn’t it interesting how easy it can be to be influenced by external appearances and to not realize there is more going on than meets the eye?

I am powerfully reminded of this every time a public figure commits suicide, such as Robin Williams, Naomi Judd, and Stephen Twitch Boss, just to name a few. It’s so shocking when we realize that amidst their fame and success, they had struggles, too.

We can never assume that someone’s outside reality reflects what is truly going on inside of them. However, as humans we rely heavily on our visual senses. In the busyness of life, we forget to look closer and go deeper. Thus, we get caught up in, and sometimes lost in, images and facades.

As well, in order to fit in, most humans become highly adept at pretending, conforming, and hiding flaws. Unfortunately, by hiding our full selves, it minimizes our gifts and talents and keeps us distracted from living our most authentic path.

Life is a paradigm of duality:

• Inside and outside
• Yin and yang
• Light and darkness

We can’t have one without the other; each exists by the very nature of the other. And interestingly, one’s level of joy is typically equal and opposite to the level of one’s suffering.  This goes hand in hand with the fact that we can’t experience ‘wins’ without having any ‘losses’ along the way.

Ask a top athlete, Nobel prize winner, or millionaire if they had any challenges, setbacks, or self doubt along the way. They will say they had plenty!

What if instead of deflecting and projecting onto others, we spent more time reflecting on and introspecting our own internal lives?

My years of working closely with horses has taught me that they are masters at ignoring what humans are showing on the outside and simply responding to what’s going on inside. To find a true connection with a horse, your outward actions and image need to match your inside reality. Congruency is equal to authenticity, and they can sense it.

This horse wisdom has encouraged me to keep developing the freedom, confidence, and transparency to reflect on the outside the truth of who I am inwardly at any given moment.

The better I become at doing that, the healthier I feel, the easier my life gets, and the deeper my connections with other humans and horses grow.

If I have learned anything over my half century plus years on Earth, it is that we all need connection: a safe, reliable, and congruent place where we can sit with our own thoughts and listen to the stories and wisdom of those who have walked a similar path and come out the other side.

Sometimes it takes a while for people to ‘warm up’ and to expose what’s really going on for them. Once we feel safe, and find the courage to share our own struggles, we’ll be amazed by the impact our story can have on someone else. Even a brief, off-the-cuff remark can make a profound difference.

Whether that circle of trust is with our family of origin or a chosen family that we have sought out, among a herd of horses, or in a room full of strangers coming together for a common interest, we all need to find belonging.  This was a motivating factor behind my hosting a Women’s Wellness Circle on my horse farm in the London, Ontario, area.

I was motivated to write about this topic thanks to a young woman who started attending our Circle this past summer.  She always showed up with a smile on her face, eager to participate, and so grateful for each event.  Then I came to learn that she struggles with paralyzing anxiety and lacks any support or resources.  This makes her life very challenging.  I had no clue.  She hid it well.

Finally, she came to a point where she could reach out to me and speak her truth.  I am so grateful. I was able to connect her with resources to ease her burden a bit and hopefully impact a positive shift in her life’s trajectory.

It’s okay if you are struggling.  It’s okay to not have all the answers. It’s okay to hold it all inside until you find your safe place to share.  Just keep showing up, trying, reaching out, even if you never say a word.  No matter what’s going on in your life, I see you.  And when you’re ready, bring your inside, out.

Circles of Authenticity,

Tricia Rudy

Women’s Wellness Circle Host, London ON area

Certified FEEL Facilitator

www.harmonywithhorses.ca