Thiasos

 

     Billie’s current women's circle has been meeting for decades, and is named Thiasos, which means a "gathering of women who are attentive to the mystery." They meet in members' homes, and rotate leadership. The host prepares an "altar" or center ahead of time, surrounded by chairs or pillows. To create a meaningful setting and focus, she places some symbolic items, like red eggs in spring, fall leaves, goddess images, photographs, feathers, stones, or flowers, and a candle on a special cloth on a low table or on the floor. The center creates an inviting environment and indicates a purposeful gathering is going to take place.

      Sometimes, a leader sends the members an open-ended question via email to reflect on before the group meets, or asks members to bring something relevant from home to add to the center.

      The leader begins with reading one or two poems and playing a piece of music, chosen for their relevance to the activity that will be shared. This gives everyone the opportunity to slow down and become fully present. Then, in silence, the host lights the candle. Everyone stands in a circle and holds hands to resonate, to sense the support and connectedness of the group. 

      Next, everyone has the opportunity to check in for five to ten minutes, or if time is limited, offer a short one- or two-word "weather report." (For some groups, it’s a tradition to use a talking stick that is passed around, and others prefer the "popcorn" method of taking turns to speak.)

      The leader guides the group in a process or activity, observing the group's established agreements and any time limitations.

      When everyone has come to closure during the guided activity, members share insights gained or feelings they have about the process. To begin closing the group, often the leader shares another poem and piece of music. The women circle around the center, hold hands, and resonate again. Often, the group sings or chants to "call the names" of friends or loved ones who are going through a difficult time.

      The candle is extinguished to mark the end of structured time, and a celebration follows with shared food and social conversation. Housekeeping items like determining the next meeting date and leader are saved until the end. In more structured groups that you lead, you may want to follow these general process guidelines, always having a clear beginning, middle, and end of your gathering.

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W.O.W. MOMS - Women of Wisdom

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     Cassi's current women's group has been meeting monthly for nearly 15 years. Women were invited by two friends, and were mostly other moms of preschool/kindergarten age children. The group has gone through different phases, beginning with an intention to share resources and recommendations, and be one another's accountability friends, supporting each other to stay true to our intentions and goals for the year. 

      We typically open the group with a brief guided meditation or silence, and then share updates about our lives, using a timer so that each woman has about an equal time to share--usually about ten minutes. At the end of each person's sharing time, the group will ask what the woman who just shared needs, or how we can support her. If one of our women is in significant crisis, we might focus on her for half the group time or more, with others checking in briefly.  

     Sometimes we set a topic for the group, and share very briefly (maybe 3-5 minutes) and then discuss the topic (we've explored financial goals, aging, death and dying, health).  We have also done more involved guided meditations, and shared what we experienced, helping each other interpret what we saw. We have sometimes drawn cards from various oracle decks to begin or end the group.

     We have also had several day-long retreats, where we spend a day or two away and engage in activities that each group member leads, from collage to movement to a contemplative walk or topic for discussion. These have really cemented our bond, and brought us closer together.

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M&Ms: Meditation and Memories

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      Another of Billie's groups was less formal and involved. It began with meditating in silence for 20 minutes.  Even in an informal group, when a meeting is opened each time with a ritual like meditating or lighting a candle, it is a reminder that it isn't just a social gathering.  The women in this group alternated between discussing a chosen book everyone was reading, watching an inspiring video and reflecting on it together, or leading a topical discussion or creative activity. After closing the group, the host offered refreshments and the women caught up with each other’s lives.