Sacred Circles: A Guide To Creating Your Own Women's Spirituality Group – Practical Wisdom to Honor the Divine in Everyday Life and Build Thriving Feminine Community

by Robin Deen Carnes, Sally Craig

From Jewish to Christian, Mormon and Pagan, women's sacred circles are sprouting up everywhere, in astonishing variety providing a haven where essential female values can be discussed and embraced.This much-needed guide celebrates the rich diversity of women's spiritual lives and offers practical, step-by-step advice for those who want to create and sustain a spirituality group of their own. Sacred Circle shows us how we can use a group to explore our relationship to the sacred, and honor the divine in everyday life. The authors, drawing from their own group experiences as well as those of many diverse groups around the country, share the model they've developed, while offering wise advise on how and why groups work. They propose circle basics, such as listening without an agenda and rotating leadership, and also offer reflections on the power of personal storytelling and thoughts on reclaiming and reinventing ritual. Women longing for a powerful and supportive feminine community in which to thrive spiritually will find vital wisdom here.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Womens, Self Help, Feminism, Relationships, Goddess

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 1998

Reviews

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this twice. It was the first book I bought on women's spirituality/women's circles and despite much MORE reading and training since originally buying the book, including ordination as a priestess, i still discovered new insights on second reading. Contains great quotes from various other authors also and good bibliography. My only critique is that the section on example rituals could use a lot more detail.

[Liaken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for those thinking about how to do a women's circle of any kind.

[Linda Hollingsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection of experience in relation to women's spiritual experience, individual and in groups. It presents a variety of frameworks within which groups have formed and guidelines within which groups have achieved a level of positive interactions. It includes examples such as using storytelling and ritual as vehicles to bring a group closer together. It was sometimes interesting to read about the experience of other women, but it was also after some of those that my interest lagged and I didn't pick up the book again for periods of time.

[Imogen Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up as a resource for starting a peer support circle (not necessarily with a spiritual focus, but I figured it might be helpful!) and I wasn’t disappointed. Really handy information given regarding setting group ground rules, effective circle sharing, and structuring sessions. There is also a selection of suggested circle topics that would work wonderfully if launching a spirituality group, and plenty of tips and advice for keeping your circle strong over time.

[Dawn Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up to get some guidance on making my current group more successful. The authors share some excellent, and well researched, advice on how to begin a group and offer some ideas on how to get back in focus if a group is struggling. The resources offered are extensive but sadly, have become dated. I would be excited about a new edition.

[Mara Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very in depth "how to" and history of holding women's circles. I got some great nuggets from this book and enjoyed hearing how different circles can be held. A great book for anyone interested in starting a woman's circle.

[Sue Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advice and lots of resources.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Offers practical advice as well as inspiration for starting a women's spirituality circle. The information about anticipating problems is especially relevant, and useful guidance is offered. Authors acknowledge they are not experts or professionals - refreshing! Yet many of their ideas are based in sound academic principles, as well as common sense and inner guidance. Finally getting an opportunity to put these ideas to actual use as I form a circle of my own.

[Yaaresse · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're into the whole group-sharing, team-building, let's all hold hands and sing thing, you'll probably love this book. If you're truly an introvert (and like being an introvert), and the idea of building group dynamics or "facilitated communication" sound like slow torture, you'll probably hate this book.

It is well-written, although it is starting to seem dated. It simply came off as a little too high left field woo-woo for me.

[Kandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was written for me, at this time in my life. It is a wonderful primer on how to start a women's spirituality group - I highly recommend it.

[Tristy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for anyone wanting to put together a circle of creativity/healing - of any gender combination!

[Liaken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely fabulous book about how to form and run a women's circle. I wish I had read this book years ago before I formed my first circle. It is an excellent guide.

[Anne]

good. helpful.

[Tracy Blanchard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a good book if you've never been in or run a sacred circle. If you have, this book is likely too basic for you.