Karesta Women's Circle

Karesta Women's Circle is a welcoming, safe and intimate fortnightly gathering. Join our friendly circle of women to listen, share, laugh, cry, relax and connect through guided meditation, movement and discussion, drawing inspiration from the seasons and nature.

'I have learnt to trust that what needs to be said, will be said. We hold space for each other to speak and no one is looking to give or receive advice.' Participant

Every gathering will be unique, but the circles will follow a familiar rhythm each time we meet:

OPENING - Get comfy and enjoy a fresh herbal tea as we settle in together

CONNECTING - We open the circle with a check-in: how are you arriving today? What do you need to share or express?

GROUNDING - Through gentle movement, breathing exercises or vocal expressions, we ground ourselves and connect with our bodies

DEEPENING - We will explore a theme or specific question through a nature inspired guided meditation, offering reflection and insights

INTEGRATING - We wrap up with an opportunity to share anything that has come up from the meditation, ending with pulling a card

We explore a different theme at each circle, to allow space for our own unique experiences, needs, values, hopes and fears to be shared. This is also an opportunity for us all to listen deeply to others and draw strength, solidarity and knowledge from the other wonderful women in the group.

Some of the past themes include explorations of trust, surrender, power, our roles as women and deepening our intuition.

At each circle, Becky brings in nature's gifts from the local Chettle land to uplift and inspire us, including wild flowers and herbs to smell, foraged teas to taste and chunky flints that we hold when we are speaking. We are gently exploring the many ways we can deepen our relationships with and discover support from the wild beings and elements that surround us.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID

"Karesta Women's Circle meets a need I couldn't articulate before I started attending. A need to make time for myself to step outside my day-to-day, to explore my perceptions, and to make slow connections. I was nervous the first time and worried about what I could say or how uncomfortable or frustrated with myself I would feel if I didnt say anything. Since then, I have learnt to trust that what needs to be said, will be said. We hold space for each other to speak and no one is looking to give or recieve advice. It's cathartic to be able to finish my thoughts without fear of interruption (no matter how well meant) and illuminating to listen to others without being distracted by a need to respond." Participant.

"Becky holds the space in a way that allows boundaries to be explored both personally, and within the circle, whilst feeling secure in my own autonomy. A lot of laughter, and tears; wonderful visualisations which take me deep into my own self, music which opens my heart to the moment. Most of all, a meeting of fellow women to share, to hold and to be held ..." Participant.

ABOUT BECKY

Becky Burchell has been hosting of Karesta Women's Circle for two years. She is the creator of the nightime storytelling pilgrimage Women of the Dark Skies and has been creating inspirational gatherings for over two decades, including festivals, films, plays, community gatherings, rituals and stories. Becky is passionate about creating experiences that invite people to live in ways that nurture our natural world and one another. She lives with her partner, her mother and her two children in the community of Chettle.

ABOUT SARPENELA

Karesta Women's Circle will be held at Sarpenela Natural Therapies Centre in Chettle. This warm, nourishing and welcoming space has been lovingly created by founder Sarah Lownds as a place of holistic healing, connection and wellness. https://www.sarpenela.co.uk/