Past Gatherings
The Art of Becoming
We pondered the words I am the person I dream of becoming and brought them to life through fabric and other textiles. There were nine of us in the circle, and each emerged with something unique to them.
I created this little figure pictured below. My words for her are: well rested, surrounded by community, and loves deep. These are all things I’m intentionally cultivating this next year — markers of “success” for me.
My wish for everyone was to create an object they could keep in their home — a reminder of this journey of life, this journey of becoming. What emerged as a shared theme was the idea that the journey itself, the process, is really what life is all about, rather than some final destination or end result.
The gathering was filled with soft magic, ease-fullness, and flow.
Seasons Within the Circle
We explored the wisdom of the circle as a symbol of connection, interdependence, and the cycles of life. Drawing inspiration from cross-cultural traditions, including mandalas in Buddhism and Hinduism, Celtic knotwork, and community-centred circular designs across African cultures, we reflected on how circles help express what’s often beyond words. We introduced one teaching of the Indigenous Medicine Wheel, shared with care and context, as a guide for reflecting on our own internal seasons.
With one hand on our heart and one on our belly, we paused to ask: What season am I in right now? What is beginning, and what is ending? Through quiet reflection, we considered the four directions — East (beginnings), South (growth), West (release), and North (wisdom) — and the ways they mirror the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of our lives. Rather than searching for perfect answers, we allowed images, sensations, and feelings to arise.
Each person created art from nature objects — dried leaves, shells, and stones — representing where they’ve been, where they are, and where they’re going. One by one, we placed our pieces onto a shared mandala, speaking to why we chose their placement within the circle.
The gathering unfolded with a strong sense of being held in community — within a living, breathing circle of story, reflection, and connection.