Laura Grace

Women of Wisdom: Midwifing Conscious Change

“There’s never been a better time to be a woman,” affirms Jungian analyst and author, Jean Shinoda Bolen, M.D.  At a time when the planet is at a precarious crossroads, her words are bittersweet. Conscious women recognize the imbalances in our environment, our social structures, our families and ourselves. We see the destruction taking place and often feel powerless to stop it. While trying to make money, take care of loved ones and squeeze in time for ourselves, the thought of “being the change” can seem overwhelming. The million dollar question becomes, “Do we have time to steer the planet in another direction, and if so, how?”

Some of the great activists of our time, i.e., Joanna Macy, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Jean Shinoda Bolen, etc., remind us that our feminine power lies in our inter-connections, specifically, joining together in community. Right now, we are the most educated, empowered generation of women in history. We have opportunities as never before. And some our greatest opportunities are contained in our ability to create circles that allow us to express our innate wisdom and strength.

At the September 2009 Vancouver Peace Summit, the Dalai Lama affirmed: “The world will be saved by the western woman.” As women are waking up and answering the call of their soul, we are witnessing how much change we can evoke. We don’t have to quit our day jobs, neglect our families, or ignore our own needs, we simply take one step forward—together—supporting each other’s potential, successes and contributions. The probes we must ask ourselves is:

What is my highest capacity?

What can I best contribute?

How might I be a conscious co-creator in shaping the future of this world?

As a way to support women and the healing of our planet, I felt inspired to start an annual women’s symposium where I reside in Central Coast, California. On March 12, 2011, more than a hundred women came together to become more conscious, connect and create. Everyone left feeling inspired and much to my delight (and surprise), the majority of women wanted to continue the momentum that began on March 12th. It seemed natural that we would co-create through “circles” since women thrive in circles and our non-profit is called the Circle of Grace.

Here we are, in 2012, and we have a choice: we can either live in fear and pessimism, or rise up to the challenge in hope and trust. While some are choosing to be afraid of the “cataclysmic warning” of the Mayan calendar, many women are standing tall, stronger than ever. And the conscious men in our lives are supporting us along the way. Instead of feeling threatened, they understand the need for women of wisdom to midwife conscious change on our planet.

At our 2nd annual women’s symposium on March 10th, Jean Shinoda Bolen will be our keynote speaker. Her presence and wisdom will remind us why women are determining the fate of our planet, how we can take a more active role (without burning out), how to harness our potential and create positive change, and together, how we can create the future we desire.

In 1870, Julia Ward Howe wrote the first Mother’s Day proposal. It was directed toward bringing women together to create peace and harmony to humanity. After witnessing the devastation of the Civil War, Howe’s intentions were to unite women so they could bring peace where war and conflict had reigned.  Here are the final words of Howe’s proposal:

“In the name of womanhood and of humanity, I earnestly ask that a congress of women without limit of nationality may be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient and at the earliest period consistent with its objects, to promote the alliance of the different nationalities, the amicable settlement of international questions, the great and general interests of peace.”
– Julia Ward Howe, Boston 1870

Namaste,
Laura V Grace