Women Designing Their Lives – and Changing the World!
On September 13, 2007, on my blog ‘Women and Emerging Futures’, I wrote:
Women talk. It’s what we do. It’s also one of the things we do best.We come together in small clusters and we talk about the things that matter to us. We talk about the people we care about. We talk about our dreams and the things that get in the way. We talk about what we love and what we hate. We talk about our children, and their children, and how their worlds are working or not.
So essential to who we are is our desire to talk that it has long been the butt of jokes, held up for scorn and ridicule, and made fun of in sitcoms, cartoons and the movies. So compelling is its impact on all of our lives that the simple act of choosing NOT to speak, in and of itself, wreaks havoc and causes great distress to the people around us. In our stony silence, the absence of what we do so naturally becomes the punishment that others must endure.
We are not just talking to hear the sound of our own voice – we are shaping our worlds.
The very act of women gathering in small groups is a force for profound change; a process that transforms lives. Imagine a world in which women from all walks of life; from every geographic location and every religious, political and economic strata, begin to notice that what they talk about and how they talk about it is already having a massive impact on the quality of their lives – whatever their perception of that outcome. What they focus their attention on strengthens and deepens their ‘reality’.
Imagine a world in which women recognize and claim this force AS a force! Recognize and claim that it is possible to create these small gatherings of women with the intention of raising the bar on what we talk about; exploring what is deeply meaningful to us and recognizing that we can redirect our attention to create what we want rather than invest time, energy/emotion/intention on what we don’t!
It begins with one woman who decides she wants diffierent conversations…more potent and powerful ones!…that allow her to discover the full measure of who she is. Conversations that invite her to break free from the burden of history and cultural conditioning and redesign her life. This one woman becomes the seed for a new collective; a small gathering of women who share her desire to become more. It begins with you!
We don’t need to know what we’re looking for – we just need to be willing to begin the search and open ourselves to the process of discovery.
In the coming months, this site will become a gathering place for women who seek to expand their lives; and who are willing to step up and become the invitation for other women to to do the same.
I created ‘Sekhmet Rising: The Restlessness of Women’s Genuis’ as a platform for the voices of other women. We have important things to share with each other! This book became a project that allowed for ’safety in numbers’ as these 17 women made the choice to decloak and reveal themselves to the world. In doing so, the lives of many, many other women were profoundly touched by this simple act of speaking up and speaking out.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be adding Regular Contributors to this community, inviting the voices of women to bring insight and wisdom, queries and challenges, fears and triumphs for all of us to discover more of ourselves. Here’s how to make sure you don’t miss a thing!
- RSS Feeds are available for both Entries and Comments. Take the time to figure out how to make them work for you so that you don’t miss a thing!
- Share this site with the women in your life. Tell them about what you’ve discovered and invite them to consider it for themselves. Although they may choose not to, they can’t consider what they don’t know exists!
- Engage! When you read something that touches you, moves you, angers you, puzzles you… take the time to submit your Comment. You can be sure that you’ll be seen, heard and acknowledged.
- Watch for coming Process pages on how you can become the Attractor/Creator for a small group of women to gather, talking…and changing their worlds. Instead of waiting for someone else to do it, be the one that takes the first step to a life-altering experience.
- Watch for coming Tools pages on what books/audio materials to use and how to use them to guide you and keep you company as you break new ground for you and the women you care about. Let the books/cd’s help you do the tough digging so you don’t have to.
I believe that women are the key to the future. I aslo believe that each of us matters and is a unique piece int the puzzle of our colletive community. I learned long ago that far too often, women wait too long before drawing the line in the sand! In this ongoing conversation, we’ll explore what it takes to be willing to stand and claim our ground – and hold the line.
I look forward to being here with all of you!


Woo hoo, Louise! I’m thrilled to be here and to discover a way to be present in a community that means so much to me and yet is physically far removed.
As I move forward creating what I have been missing, bringing it to life right here in my own backyard, I know that a connection with the community that is available here will make a huge difference for me – and by extension, many others!
Contagious enthusiasm, ohana and “practical magic” all available at the click of a mouse – I LOVE it
Many thanks for once again catalyzing something special.
Comment by
Anita Allen | December 28, 2007
Hi Anita!
You have so much to bring to this conversation and I’m delighted that you’re here! I believe that any woman – anywhere! – can become the attractor for women to gather in small groups, talking… about meaningful things in their lives in a much more powerful way. I know that the new Fully Alive, the Women and Power CD’s and other books make it possible for women to feel they are accompanied on this journey, giving them something meaty to explore and discuss.
The simple fact is: women know how to talk – we just need a little help discovering how to talk about the things that can transform our lives, and feel safe as we do so.
Your encouragement and the wisdom of your experience will bring much to many women who find their way to this place.
Welcome!
Aloha and a hug,
Louise
Comment by
Louise LeBrun | December 28, 2007
Being a catalyst in my own life moment to moment to moment feels like I am carrying the world on my shoulders at times. Sometimes I just get so irritated with the slow pace around me and the energy it takes to keep walking to the beat of my own drummer a WEL-drummer! Louise how comforting to know that there is a network to connect to where the conversation will be ‘up thre” where we can just hang out and relax in the comfort of WEl-Woman! I look forward to being part of the group and contributing on a regular basis.
Hugs to all
Pat
Comment by
Pat Donihee | January 1, 2008
[...] that I created here in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Shaping our Future really ties in well with Women Gathering that Louise has written about, declares, and lives. It came into my awareness in the middle of [...]
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