The universe and the mysterious ways in which it works have never failed to amazing me and rightfully put me back in my place. On my first day in my apartment in Medellin, I decided to take a stroll around the neighborhood (Laureles) and stopped at quaint little cafe, La Factoria. I sat down and ordered a Michealada (your choice of beer, with a whole lot of salt and lime juice) and a veggie quiche (THE BEST QUICHE IN ALL OF THE LAND). I noticed an energetic, smiley woman and her dog and just as I noticed her, she also noticed me. She smiled and said, "Hey, you look like you speak english!". Not sure what gave it away, maybe my bright blonde hair, pale skin, or my botched Spanish accent (or the combination of all three?). Let me tell you, when you arrive in another country that does not speak your native language and you finally hear someone around you speaking the same language as you, you automatically want to spark up a conversation. We ended up talking for hours about life, our travels, our purpose. It was genuinely a conversation that I never wanted to end. I told her of my dreams of finding ways to speak to women around the world about about menstrual health and education and that's when she told me that she leads a Women's Circle where women have a place to listen and support one another, without judgment, without interruption. 

Like I said, the universe works in mysterious ways. This woman, Sierra, holds a Women's Circle two blocks from my house? I just can't say no to this. So I didn't. The Circle holds eight-week sessions with around five women in each cycle. I was going to arrive two weeks late to the cycle and that terrified me. I couldn't help but think that these women had already formed a special bond and I was going to be way out of my element. And to be fair, the first few weeks I didn't say lot but rather chose to just listen. 

Sierra has a few guidelines for group:

• Avoid asking members the usual questions
  • Where are you from?
  • What do you do? 
  • How old are you?
• When we are in circle, we are fully present
  • No cellphones or outside distractions if possible 
• Hold space for your sisters
  • Learn how to listen to listen and not listen to reply 
  • Ask your sister if she wants advice before throwing your opinion out there 
    • We often reply to others experiences with experiences of our own, without realizing that we may be undermining that persons experience without fully realizing. Women are not often fully heard or listened to, so this is our sacred space for that.
  • What a woman chooses to share is to remain fully confidential and only to be spoken about within Circle

I ended up doing three 8 week sessions with Sierra and a select group of women that I will consider my dearest friends for the rest of my life. I learned more from listening to other peoples experiences and outlooks than I have learned in any book. We learned how to recognize our emotions and what our bodies might be telling us. We had full moon ceremonies and pot lucks, and trips to chocolate fincas, and weekend poolside getaways. 

I learned how to listen, how to hold space for yourself and other people. I learned that our emotions and reactions are valid, no matter who may try to discount them. I learned that my body is power and magic all in one. I learned how to laugh until you cry and cry until you laugh. But most of all I learned that we worthy and when women start supporting and listening to other women, we can move mountains. 

Deepest gratitude to all of the women in my life and a special thank you to my soul sisters: Sierra, Cynthia, Erin, Shelley, and Greta. <3

PS-Thanks for letting me capture all of your lovely faces.