We had a phenomenal third meeting for Rebirthing Ourselves: A Women's Writing Circle on Tuesday evening.
Our discussion was rich, illuminating and resonant. I am beyond grateful to be in shared space with women as brilliant, wise, and vulnerable as you are. You all make living this life a bit easier -- your authenticity continues to inspire me.
For those of you who were interested in participating but unable to attend please find the following contemplative prompt and discussion questions below that were covered in the circle:
Contemplative Prompt:
I will not die an unlived life
I will not live in fear
of falling or catching fire.
I choose to inhabit my days,
to allow my living to open me,
to make me less afraid,
more accessible,
to loosen my heart
until it becomes a wing,
a torch, a promise.
I choose to risk my significance;
to live so that which came to me as seed
goes to the next as blossom
and that which came to me as blossom,
goes on as fruit.
Discussion questions in circle (15 min writing)
What is the song that wishes to be expressed by your soul?
Where do you currently meet your passions?
What suppresses the song of your heart?
What can free your heartsong from captivity – give it wings?
Free Share
Parting question for contemplation:
How do you envision life opening up to you when you engage with the soul’s calling/song? What does a life lived with passion look and feel like to you?
Invitation: A space to share and exchange writings with one another in discord -- resounding yes!
Please join our discord link here: https://discord.gg/YWKZZYaf
Future Meetings:
The Mind (What I think about myself/world around me)
The Skin I'm In (Body)
The World (How do I view and operate within the context of 'community' -- locally and globally?)
Little Me (Making peace with the past -- the environments that shaped us) (Lacy)
Me @ present (What does it mean to be a woman in this moment?)
Who I am becoming (How do I wish to define myself?)
Holisticism/Integration of my parts (Paulette)
Sign up here to co-facilitate on upcoming circle topics: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/4/d/1E0INvWkxdQ_7Y7n8FB8pY_UBSbcNV5kgHf-kwqaFEAE/edit?usp=forms_home&ths=true
Closing words from participants: 1 word or sentence
Closing meditation:
“What the World Needs” Guided Meditation Script:
I invite you to close your eyes.
Relax the body. Maybe take a couple of slow deep breaths.
Softening any tension around your shoulders or your belly.
"Don't ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive and go out and do it.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
This is a quote from Howard Thurman.
Don't ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive.
And go out and do it.
Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Let the words in this quote sit with you for a moment.
Don't ask what the world needs.
Ask what makes you come alive and go out and do it.
Because of what the world needs is people who have come alive.
Becoming aware of any feelings, sensations, thoughts,
or images that might come.
And what do you notice?
What makes you come alive?
What can you do with that?
Asking yourself, "What makes me come alive?
What can I do with that.
" What are the times when you feel most vivid, energized, engaged?
What patterns emerge when you look at the times
or circumstances that your unique gifts shine through?
What are those patterns?
Our passionate responses to life are like a string of shining lights guiding us home to ourselves into deeper meaning.
These lights are the talents, perspectives, and gifts that long to be expressed through us for the world.
So, now is the time to ask yourself,
"What makes me come alive and what can I do with that?"
We're often guided to try to find our bliss and to follow that
but following this directive can be like chasing sunshine.