Building Community:  Starting a Local Sacred Circle K & Letting It Go by Caryn MacGrandle

In January of this year, I put out the call for a Sacred Circle at a local Healing Arts Center. Over 150 people responded interested from a Facebook invite. Thirteen showed up.

From strangers, we have become friends and a community.

One was on the verge of checking herself in to a rehab. 

She celebrated six months sobriety the other month in Circle.

We’ve had our share of potential drama. Egos and self-esteem issues and the potential pitfalls of being human. But we’ve made it through. Returning again and again to love to hope to dreams.

We’ve watched each other change and grow and open up.

I have been working in this arena of ‘Women’s Circles’ and the Sacred Feminine for the past nine years. I see how most do not have a regular Circle especially in light of our past two years of isolation.

I also see how much we need these.

I am an extroverted introvert. Circles are how I ‘people’. Quiet. Low on chit chat.  Sensual. Meditative. Contemplative. With song. Dance. Poetry.

I see how my Circles have evolved. From Women’s Circles where we focused a lot on our personal challenges. These days, men are welcome, and the balance they bring is valuable. 

They are less about our personal challenges and more about how we are navigating these waters and doing our best to help form this new world.

They are essential.

Because in a world full of growing pains, we are the builders. And they give us hope. 

In a world full of isolation where most are recoiling from the abundance of sorrow, they bring togetherness and support.

They are essential.

And I have figured out how to facilitate these with minimum effort and planning on my part. Little to no preparation. No stress. 

I have also figured out how to ‘let go’. I have been feeling this desire to let go my local Circle for the past month or so. I did not understand it at first as this has been one of the most successful Circles that I have sat in. 

Isn’t the idea to ride it off into the sunset getting to know each other and depend on each other as the years progress?

Maybe not.

I have been handing off the hosting of the Circle more and more, and there are now five or six that have hosted, and all have gotten wonderful feedback.

And then I had a couple of personal conflicts happen within the Circle. I addressed them and am working towards a peaceful outcome but in the meantime, I had to sit on what is the next best step?

The old me would have held on tight. MY Circle. I started it. I built it. Mine. I will hold on to it.

The new me understands you cannot. What I am holding on to has already changed and shifted.

Cycles. Trust the process. Coming together and going apart. It is all part of that process.

And I am being called to other things.

I have handed it off to a woman who was in an abusive relationship. When she first started coming to Circle, I saw her holding and struggling with this. To watch her grow from that to shining and becoming this amazingly beautiful spirited person who will take responsibility for guiding the Circle.

I could not possibly be a more proud Mama. 

“I’ve been talking about it quite a bit and finally had the courage to ask. Circle has absolutely changed my life and I wanted to try my hand at hosting! Thank you for the opportunity!”

– Anna

*  All personal stories are shared with the prior consent of involved parties.  

BIO: Caryn MacGrandle is the creator behind the Divine Feminine App which has been connecting and inspiring women [and other genders too] throughout the world since 2016 as a directory to find Sacred Circles, events and resources. Women find the app each and every day, and it currently has almost 8000 users from around the world. Caryn has also hosted Sacred Circles and events for the past nine years and is passionate about the power of a Circle to heal individuals and the world. She has participated in numerous online and location events such as the World Parliament of Religions in September of 2021 in which she presented a workshop on Embodying the Goddess:  Creating Rituals with Mind, Body and Soul and just recently a webinar/panel with Dale Allen presenting Dale’s Indie film award winning “In Our Right Minds: Leading Women to Strength as Leaders and Men to Strength without Armor.” Each and every day, Caryn (aka Karen Moon) works tirelessly towards her belief that the most important area to first find equality and balance is the divinity found within yourself.