How to Start and Facilitate Your Own Women’s Circle
There is something deeply healing about women coming together with intention. In a world that often pulls us into competition, comparison, and disconnection, women’s circles offer a sacred return to sisterhood, reflection, and authentic presence.
If you’ve ever felt the longing to sit in circle—whether to explore your inner world, connect with others, or simply share space in a meaningful way—you’re not alone. And you don’t have to wait for someone else to create it. You can begin.
Here’s a simple guide to help you start or facilitate your own women’s circle.
Choose a Theme or Intention
Your circle can be centered around any theme that speaks to the heart. Some gentle, accessible themes to begin with include:
Self-love and acceptance
Self-care
Your menstrual cycle
Reconnecting with the Feminine
Healing the sister wound
Sensuality / Sexuality
Healthy Boundaries
Nourishment
Body image and embodiment
Creativity
Intuition
Seasonal reflection or moon phases
You don’t have to know everything about the theme to facilitate—trust that your presence and intention are enough.
Prepare a Few Gentle Prompts
To support sharing, it can be helpful to bring 4-5 reflection prompts related to your theme. These aren’t rules, just invitations—something for participants to anchor into if they’re not sure what to say.
For example, if your theme is self-love, prompts might include:
What is your relationship like with self-love or self-care?
What does self-love feel like in your body?
What makes it hard to love yourself sometimes?
Keep your language open-ended, gentle, and non-directive. Trust that whatever arises in the space is exactly enough.
Create a Sacred Space
No matter how simple, creating a physical or energetic container helps shift the energy from ordinary time into sacred space. You might:
Light a candle
Create a small altar with flowers, crystals, meaningful objects, or seasonal items
Burn herbs like sage, palo santo, or rosemary (if culturally appropriate for you)
Sit in a circle on the floor with cushions or around a table
Even if your circle is virtual, lighting a candle together at the start can anchor the experience.
Share Agreements
Before diving in, share some simple agreements to create safety, clarity, and trust. You can read these aloud at the beginning of each gathering. These are some common agreements used in women’s circles:
What is shared in circle stays in circle (confidentiality)
She who speaks is the only one speaking (no interrupting)
Listen with an open heart
Speak from your own experience (rather than giving advice or telling others what they should do)
Share vulnerably
Honor the wisdom in silence
A talking piece—an object passed around the circle—can help hold the structure. Only the woman holding the piece speaks, while others listen.
Choose a Rhythm
Circles are most nourishing when they happen regularly. You might gather:
Once a month on or near the New Moon (a natural time for introspection and intention-setting)
Around the Full Moon, for celebration and release
Every other week, if your group is craving deeper connection
Consistency creates a sense of rhythm and ritual.
Invite Women to Join You
Start small. Even two or three women can make a powerful circle. You might:
Invite friends who you feel safe and aligned with
Share your vision on social media with a gentle call for women seeking connection
Create a simple event description and send it via text, email, or group chat
Post on local or virtual community boards or women’s groups
Trust that those meant to join will find their way to you.
Keep It Simple and Heart-Led
You don’t need to be a “leader” or an expert. You simply need to be willing to hold space—with presence, humility, and love.
You can open with a grounding practice like movement, breathwork or a short meditation, then move into a round of sharing. Some circles include journaling prompts, creative projects, movement breaks, or rituals like intention-setting or burning what no longer serves. Others keep it to simple, spacious sharing.
Let the circle evolve organically.
Want to experience a women’s circle before starting your own? Or not quite ready to hold one just yet?
🌹 Join our online community of women circling together in safe, soulful space.
Click here to learn more and sign up → www.ebbandflowlife.com/womenscircle
About Ebb & Flow: Ebb & Flow is the holistic women’s coaching practice of Emma Brinkman. Through menstrual education, women’s mentoring, ritual and somatic practice, Ebb & Flow works to connect women to the power and wisdom within their bodies, in order to live more easeful, sensual, vibrant and empowered lives. Follow along to stay up-to-date on blog posts and articles, and check out all of Emma’s offerings, which include 1:1 mentoring, monthly donation-based online women’s circles, and custom ritual guidance for navigating life’s transitions.
