Join the Mother Circle

“You are born to one mother, but if you are lucky, you will have more than one. And among them all you will find most of what you need.” ~ Clarissa Pinkola Estés

When I became a mom, it was like I was crossing a threshold into a land I had only heard about. I was surrounded by older mothers and a community who carved the way before me. So, I couldn’t help but assume that they would be there to hold and guide me. And yet when I landed in this new place, I was left to take this journey alone. Instead of having a village to support me, I learned that my friends and family were not the elders or support I thought they were. Our community lacks the true sense of this too – everyone has become so individualized that we lost the thread that kept us together. We aren’t meant to do this alone! In fact, having community and being witnessed as we embark on a rite of passage is key to integrate this new identity into the rest of who we are.

Very quickly in my postpartum experience, I learned that I had to not only find that village everyone speaks about, but I had to create it myself. It was a messy and humbling practice of finding not just other new moms, but also ones that felt aligned to what I hold dear in life and motherhood. I am grateful to the community I have created, and it is an ever-present commitment of staying there for them, and also receiving the same love and nurturance for myself.

Now, 14 years into mothering my own children, I want new mothers to receive this gift as well. While I can’t claim to be an elder yet, I do find myself in this beautiful stage of life as a Virgin: a woman who lives her life for herself. It is the right time for me to offer what I couldn’t receive. More importantly, this is something I am really passionate about. I have been honoured to support other new parents on this path. As a psychotherapist, a large part of my work is supporting new moms so that they can live their life with intention and pleasur

“In more ways than one, women talk in circles: conversation takes a spiral shape in its subjective exploration of every subject. Listening, witnessing, role modeling, reacting, deepening, mirroring, laughing, crying, grieving, drawing upon experience, and sharing the wisdom of experience, women in circles support each other and discover themselves, through talk. Circles of women supporting each other, healing circles, wisdom circles, soul sister circles, circles of wisewomen, of clan mothers, of grandmothers. Circles of crones, circles of pre-crones, lifetime circles and ad hoc circles, even circles of women in cyberspace and the business place, circles are forming everywhere.” ~ Jean Shinoda Bolen

I take for granted the gift of building a community with other new parents. These past few years have proven so challenging for many, especially mothers and were forced to do it alone. So many people I know who became parents during this time shared feeling grief that they couldn’t attend groups like this and they are now struggling to find community. That’s why I am so excited to share that my MotherCircle will be for anyone who has missed this opportunity. More specifically, this is for anyone who became mothers between 2020 and 2022 who never could attend a new mothers group due to the pandemic and subsequent long lockdowns in Toronto.

With that in mind, i am honoured to share that i became Certified MotherCircle Facilitator, created by Kimberly Ann Johnson. She is someone i deeply respect and have taken several courses with, including several of her own MotherCircles. The MotherCircle I am hosting will be in person, to deepen the connection and attunement to each other. The circle will meet weekly for 1 ½ hours at a community healing centre that is in my own personal neighbourhood. It is a beautiful room that will honour us as we bear witness to each other, and share sacred space together.

MotherCircle is an eight-session group gathering for mothers who want to understand the unseen arc of their motherhood journey, move out of confusion and into clarity and wisdom within a supportive community. It is for you if you want to be held and nourished while experiencing the rite of passage into motherhood.

Over the course of two months, we will dive deeper into themes such as archetypes, rites of passage and cycles; how to nourish ourselves, our bodies and nervous system; as well as setting intentions that will guide our parenting journey. Together, we will witness both the gravity and intensity of what it means to become a mother. Each week, the circle starts with us sharing from our sacred roots and has a theme to discuss and reflect on. We flow through a beautiful and intentional arc that Kimberly created. To learn more about the program, check out this link HERE.

This group is especially for anyone who became a mother between 2020-2022, and missed the opportunity to be in community with other new mothers. It is also for anyone who feels called to be in circle, to gather, and to share. It is never too late to join a mother’s circle – no matter how old your children are now, we are meant to be in community. We are meant to have a village, to help guide, explore, and hold each other. This is my way of helping you create your village.

“A circle of women may just be the most powerful force known to humanity. If you have one, embrace it. If you need one, seek it. If you find one, for the love of all that is good and holy, dive in. Hold on. Love it up. Get Naked. Let them see you. Let them hold you. Let your reluctant tears fall. Let yourself rise fierce and love gentle. You will be changed. The very fabric of your being will be altered by this, if you allow it. Please, please allow it.” ~ Jeanette LeBlanc

Stay tuned for the upcoming MotherCircle with me.