Open Circles are always the last Wednesday of the month, at 7:30 pm.
Merici Lounge, Mother St. James Building, Brescia University College
(Note: this space is most easily accessed by entering Brescia from Sarnia Road).
The upcoming Open Circles are being facilitated in a collaboration between The Circle Women’s Centre & WomanEarth: Ecological Being
Facilitators: Lorenna Bousquet-Kacera from The Living Centre, Sheila Horrell, Francis Abley
Vision: To embrace the power and possibility of true woman-spirit by awakening our innate co-creative communion with Nature. In so doing, to craft a new world view that honors and protects the living Earth.This series is inspired by the work of Joanna Macy – The Work that Reconnects
The remarkable power of human imagination has brought us to this time of great peril and great possibility on the planet. How do we enter this grand adventure of building a true Earth Community with visions that emerge from our larger ecological self? Visions that allow the great unfolding and presence of feminine wisdom; that grow, guide, support and give us energy and enthusiasm through the tough times. Visions of Active Hope. Join us for an experiential process as we reclaim our imaginations for the purpose of rebuilding a future that protects and honours all Life.
We are creating with our imaginations a period of rebuilding, where the intercommunion of all species will guide our life activities. We must come to understand that these dreams of ours do not originate in our brains alone. We are the space where the Earth dreams. – Brian Swimme
At The Living Centre, London, Ontario www.thelivingcentre.com
More information coming soon!
About Open Circles
"Talking freely about aspects of women's lives and naming them as resources for spiritual strength in community have not been part of patriarchal religion. Feminist communities ecourage truth-telling - naming of the experiences that are real in women's lives. In these settings there are no correct doctrines into which women have to try to fit their experiences and so the truth telling goes on, new ways of describing women's spirituality emerge and new sources for survival and strength are named and incorporated into women's spirituality"
-Charlotte Caron, To Make and Make Again: Feminst Ritual Thealogy, 1993
When The Circle started in 1990, it was decided that the program might include one evening a month women could come together informally to read quietly, to talk with other women, to enjoy a cup of tea in the lounge space. The first small group of women who attended suggested that each evening have a theme. One woman might share an interest, a project, a book or video to twig the personal experience of those present and get them talking. The topics for Open Circle evenings have come from the brainstorming of the women who attend. After a few years, an Open Circle planning group formed and called themselves "Dynamikos" meaning "powerful."
To use Charlotte Caron's words, Open Circles have focused on "naming of the experiences that are real in women's lives," sources that have been traditionally considered improbable dimensions of spirituality. The evenings have included the truth-telling of many individuals sharing their personal stories, profound life-changing experiences, and creative processes. The diverse modes of spiritual expression have included storytelling, drawing, belly dancing, moulding with clay, journaling, meditation, drumming, etc. The hundreds and hundreds of women who have come to Open Circles over the years have taken home new ways of describing and experiencing women's spirituality and new connections with other women.
There have been so many special moments. The joy of sharing rituals to celebrate seasonal and life passages stand out. In addition, these evenings have provided opportunities for women to network and form new circles of support and solidarity. Open Circles have inspired dream groups, menopause groups, book clubs, writing groups, drumming circles, ritual groups ...and these open circle evenings continue to spiral.
**Open Circles take place on the last Wednesday of the month from September - May (excluding December).
