Hey Reader,

For this issue of the Wild Rose Journal, I want to share what really happens in a women’s circle — beyond the ideas and expectations.

It’s a space to show up as you are, hold the messy and the quiet, and connect with others who understand without needing to explain.

A Personal Note: My Journey into Circle Facilitation

But just before we dive in, I'm excited to share with you all first that from this autumn, I'll be training with Sister Stories to deepen my skills as a circle/group facilitator. If you'd told me a year ago I'd be leading circle I would've though you were bonkers...but pushing my comfort zone has found something that feels like an integral part of the Wild Rose Path going forwards. It also means that I have big respect for women who choose to maybe push theirs and come sit in circle and share some of their own journeys - and the following post was written for those who are feeling the call to circle, but maybe still a little nervous, unsure or vulnerable.

Going forwards, I’ll be reflecting on what this training brings me and sharing insights here in the journal, where we can go a little deeper together.

So...

What Happens in a Women’s Circle?

You’re curious about women’s circles — but not sure what to expect? Here’s a gentle, no-pressure guide to what really happens when women gather in sacred space.

An invitation into a space that’s been quietly holding women for centuries.

A Different Kind of Gathering

I was first drawn to circles from a place of isolation. I didn’t feel like I had anyone around me who saw the world the way I did — or who was interested in the kinds of things I was. I craved connection, but not the surface-level kind. Something deeper.

Facilitating circles came from an inner calling — one I didn’t exactly welcome at first. I’ve always been the quiet one in a group, not what you’d call a leader. But the call persisted, and eventually, I stepped into it. Hosting that first circle was a stretch outside my comfort zone, and in truth, it still is. But I also sensed there was an unmet need in myself and others that this kind of space could hold.

Since then, I’ve realised how much we place on one or two people (often a partner or friend) to meet all our emotional needs. Circle offers a space where that support is shared — where we can speak without needing to be fixed, and listen without the pressure to solve. It’s a space to practise showing up in your truth, even if your voice shakes. A space to be held in the discomfort, with women quietly cheering you on.

And when that happens, something powerful stirs. It’s like a portal opens — and you step through it changed.

What Actually Happens in a Wild Rose Circle?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but here’s a glimpse into the flow of a typical Wild Rose Circle:

• We gather at a set time (I gently encourage arriving on time — walking in late can feel like barging in on someone mid-thought or mid-ritual!)
• We make tea, settle in, greet familiar and new faces.
• When the group is ready, I light a central candle to mark the shift into sacred space.
• We go over the circle agreements (confidentiality, no interrupting, no fixing others).
• Sometimes I’ll pull an oracle card to open the energy of the space.
• Each person is invited to share what drew them to circle that day — a simple sentence or intention.
• From there, we move into sharing. Sometimes it’s open and flowing; other times more structured, depending on the group.
• Sharing is always optional — listening is powerful too.
• I often offer a short guided meditation or reflective journaling prompts partway through.
• At the end, we go around one last time, each offering a word to describe how we’re leaving the space (someone once said “seen” — and that really stayed with me).
• We close the circle together and blow out the candle.

The rhythm of each circle shifts with the energy of the group, the season, and the time of year. At the Summer Solstice, for example, we reflected on the first half of the year — what we were proud of, what needed releasing, and what we were ready to grow toward.

But What If…?

It’s totally normal to feel nervous or unsure about coming to a circle for the first time.

Some common questions I hear:

• Do I have to share?​
  Absolutely not. Many women come and simply listen — and receive just as much.
• What if I know someone there?​
  Confidentiality is one of the core circle agreements. What is shared in circle, stays in circle.
• Is it religious / pagan / do I have to do anything weird?​
  Nope — no chicken sacrifices or dancing naked under the moon here (though the moon may well be part of our reflection themes!). These are gentle, grounded, heart-led spaces rooted in respect, not performance.

Many women carry wounds around being silenced, judged, or dismissed. It takes courage just to walk through the door. But once you do, you’ll likely find a space of welcome — not pressure.

What Circle Offers (That the World Often Doesn’t)

In circle, you realise you’re not the only one moving through your “stuff.”

There’s power in being seen and not “fixed.”
In being heard without interruption.
In noticing how often people are walking parallel paths — sharing similar struggles, even when they’ve never spoken before.

These gatherings remind us that healing doesn’t have to be solitary. That quiet transformation can ripple out from places we didn’t expect.

An Invitation, If You’re Feeling the Pull

If you’re curious but unsure, trust the nudge.

You don’t need to explain it or justify it — if something in you feels drawn, there’s likely a reason.

You can come and simply sit. You don’t need to speak. You don’t need to be anything other than exactly who you are in that moment. Sometimes just being in the space is enough to spark change.

Circle is especially powerful for those who:

• Feel silenced, unseen, or “too much”
• Long for deeper connection with themselves and others
• Are going through a life transition or a soul-deep shift
• Feel tired of the noise of the outside world and want a quieter way to reclaim their voice

If staying where you are is starting to feel more uncomfortable than the idea of gentle change — this might be the space that helps you tip the scales.

Ready to Sit in Circle?

If something stirred as you read this — even if you’re not quite sure what — you’re warmly invited to join us for the Mabon Wild Rose Renewal Circle on Sunday 21st September in Sedbergh.

It will be a small, slow, nourishing gathering where we show up as we are and remember we’re not alone.

​Join the Circle Invitation List to be the first to receive full details and booking information.

Please note, the Wild Rose Renewal Circle invite list is separate from this journal mailing list. Signing up here means you’ll receive circle dates and booking info when they’re ready.

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Look out for 'Honouring the Roots: A Ritual for Connecting with Ancestors' in the next issue of the Wild Rose Journal.

That’s it for now - if anything I’ve shared hit home or stirred something up, hit reply — I want to hear from you.

Until next time, take care of your edges.

— Sarah

P.S. If this journal spoke to you, maybe someone you know could benefit from it too. Feel free to forward this email or share the link on social media — sharing is a quiet way to hold space for others.