The Women Who Gathered

Sister Circle, Ritual, Ceremonial Cacao & Finding the Medicine Within

It was autumn 2021…kinda used to joining online groups by now and I had committed myself to spending Thursdays training, research, catching up on my admin. I was employed by a local charity at this time so it was important that I also spent some time on my own ‘stuff’. I had already been introduced to the most wonderful books written by Lynette Allen…and then she just posted on Instagram that a place had become available on her upcoming 22 day immersive sister circle!

I expected this particular online sister circle to be magical. I expected to be held in a sacred space by a beautiful soul sister based in Bali, and joined by other women in the UK, Europe and Australia. What I hadn’t expected was such a deep dive in to three aspects of myself - the girl I once was, the woman I am right now and the woman I am yet to become.

I created my space to gather in circle each week - away from prying ears and eyes, my room smudged with white sage, my favourite meditation blanket and candles at the ready. We drank cacao together, we listened to one another with open hearts and ears, followed guided meditations and could see one another on the screen as we joined in with rituals. The days in between were spent lighting candles for ourselves…reliving the playfulness of the girls we once were…honouring the women we are now with sacred bathing…and tapping in to the wise elder wisdom of the women we are yet to become. I am somebody who relishes in ritual and seeks opportunity for ceremony, but although my journal writing is becoming more frequent I beat myself up for not always sticking to daily tasks and instructions. This time it was different. This time, the small community of women I had found myself amongst and the format of the programme opened up those memories and wounds. At times it was messy - I was tired…I slept, a lot more than usual. I craved quiet time - time to carry out my daily rituals and time to rest. To process and start articulating the lessons for myself. And then…came the book!

I knew a plan was forming for participants of Lynette’s monthly Gather the Women circles to contribute a chapter towards a collaborative book. I held back…until I didn’t! It was one of those ‘to hell with it’ moments and I signed up! So here we are - after 4 online writing circles (and plenty more cacao consumed together) I am proud, nervous, still slightly reluctant and very overwhelmed to call myself (alongside the 33 other women) a best-selling author. Each and every woman, like me has shared words that even family members hadn’t heard before. Words that, now spoken bring comfort and healing to ourselves. We hope they may bring the same to someone else, just like us. We are all ordinary women - ranging in ages from 20’s to 50’s but we have found a mutual strength to tell our stories.

And there’s more…the proceeds from all e-book and paperback sales are being donated directly to Bali Street Mums. Click here to read how this incredible organisation are helping mothers and children living with poverty and the fear of trafficking daily. Bali Street Mums

You can purchase your copy from Amazon - click here for the UK link, or look up The Women Who Gathered on your local site.