How Might a Woman's Life be Different . . . ? Inviting Women to the Woman Within Training Weekend by Natasha Taylor 1. Casually speak to the women in your life: ・ Connect to a mission The first step in inviting a woman to the weekend is being sure in yourself that you truly believe in the transformative power of the weekend. When we are passionate about something, it comes through in who we are and what we say. Often times it is something within ourselves that stands in the way of us sharing the weekend with others. If you do believe in this work, formulate a mission statement for yourself that might inspire you to speak to more women about the experience. ・ Draw on your inner archetypal energies How we speak about the weekend has as much impact as what we say. Explore the following archetypal energies in yourself so that you can own them and draw on them when talking about the weekend: (1) Queen: Feeling a strong sense of who you are and what you know; (2) Warrior: Clarity in mind and speech; (3) Lover: Connecting -to-heart; (4) Mother: Nurturing rather than care-taking and (5) Crone: Knowing and speaking deep wisdom ・ Share your personal experience Practice speaking your answers to the following questions: - What was my life like before the weekend? What was my pain, my struggle? - What led me to register for the weekend? - How did I experience the weekend? - What did I reclaim for myself? Passion, strength, nurturing, my voice? - How is my life now different? (Think of something tangible) ・ Know who to invite and how to connect with each individual woman Consider speaking to family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers who cross your path. Take the time to find out what questions a woman is asking of herself and her life. Questions such as: If you could change one thing in your life what would it be? What might you not be pursuing in your life? By engaging with her on these questions, you might connect with her and open the way to a conversation about the weekend. ・ Know when to lovingly challenge defenses, and when to let it go In some ways the most difficult thing about sharing this experience is being unattached to the outcome. It is important to not be thinking a woman needs the weekend…this implies that she needs to be fixed. We are not here to provide answers to another woman, but rather a space for her to find her own answers. A woman may not be in a place to attend the weekend at this time or may even know that it is simply not for her. Ask gentle questions, or draw on your intuition to determine if there is a barrier that can be moved through such as finance/time constraints, fear or judgment. Be willing to let it go if a woman is clear that she is not interested. 2. Host an Open Circle An Open Circle is a space where women (both WW graduates and non-grads) come together to sit in circle. It usually consists of the following elements: Circle ritual; a brief introduction to the Woman Within weekend; a short exercise; and a space for questions and answers. It is both a marketing event and an experience of being in circle. For ideas on how to create an Open Circle, contact Erin Farrar on askmywife@juno.com. 3. Invite women to your E-Circle We encourage you to invite women to your e-circle. We suggest that instead of designing an event that is different from your typical circle, you simply conduct yourselves as normal, and include the woman in the experience. In this way she will see a reflection of who you are as women and how the weekend/community has changed your lives. 4. Give women the Invitation Postcard We have created a postcard that highlights some of the transformative gifts from the weekend. This is a great way to introduce WW and/or begin a conversation. You can pick up cards at the MKP center in Chicago; on a WW weekend in Delavan; and in some e-circles. For more information contact Natasha Taylor on natashataylor@mac.com. Natasha Taylor Spirit Leader for the Chicago Women in Circle community (Nov, 1998, Gaunts House, England) natashataylor@mac.com

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