Sisterhood feeds me and nourishes me. It fills my life with joy, and I couldn’t be more grateful for it. But it hasn’t always been like this for me.
When I was young, I struggled in a lot of ways. My parents divorced when I was 6, and my family and I spiraled into a dark place for the next several years. In that time, I needed friends, support, and love so badly, but what I experienced over and over was exclusion and cruelty for my female peers.
Thus was born my sister wound. It hurt!
I spent much of my childhood and adolescence feeling alone and dark.
I came away from that time thinking that I didn't like being friends with girls. I thought they were cliquey and shallow and always thinking they were better than me. I made friends with boys instead, or threw my whole self into whatever relationship I was in.
But slowly I started to heal. I started to meet women who were kind, compassionate, patient, aligned. I started to find commonality and trust. I undertook a path of healing and met other women who were on a path of healing too.
It wasn't until I was in my late 20's and living in California that I realized how profound, important, and wonderful it could be to gather with women. I had the joy of being included in a small women's circle, and the honor of being an organizer for an annual women's gathering. I also participated in a Waldorf teacher training that was one of the most magical circles of women I've ever sat in.
Since then, I've turned my focus to cultivating women-centered community, and I couldn't be happier about it. The sisterhood connections that I've experienced over the last decade have been among the most nourishing I could imagine. The perfect healing balm to the sister wound of my childhood.
In the past year, I completed Radical Birthkeeper School with the Freebirth Society, became a mama, and began to cultivate radical sisterhood here in the Portland area along with my beautiful sisters Amanda, Esmé, and Jess (and Kristy whom we miss dearly!). We have been holding regular women's circles, and the community of like-minded wild women has been coming together and growing stronger and deeper.
I couldn't be more delighted or grateful to be part of this. We are calling ourselves the Wild Rose Matriarchs, and we are dreaming up beautiful ways to keep growing and deepening this community.
Can you relate to my story? I would love to hear about your experience too!