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Red Tent Tales

"Welcome .. come as you are, as who you are is enough"

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   When you open the door there are colours, shapes, smells, infused with energy, warmth, vibration; warm greetings, whahoos and smiles. We enter the sacred space full of our own thoughts, emotions, feelings, experiences, stories, myths .. and what is created is a circle of beauty, warmth, laughter, relationship with each other and within ourselves.

As we breathe in the joy of being together we exhale with blessings to women everywhere. At the centre, an altar piece of our cherished and treasured momentos; photos, flowers, offerings of all kinds; it draws us in, reminds us we are made of many - like a wheel; without all of its spokes it is out of balance and turns awkwardly. As a group we share the burdens and the joys our stories bring.

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“I want to build a moon lodge, where old womyn braid my hair, brushing slowly, gently, the tangles of my life free, where there are no walls, only painted cloth, flowing, circling, blanketing me from the world.” ~ Jessica Todd.

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   Our original outstanding Red Tent Gwynedd was conceived, given birth to and nurtured into its first walking steps by Jane Legge (www.womenswheel.com) in June 2013 at her beautiful home in North Wales. 

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   We gathered together in a circle under red drapes, shining pink material, soft cushions, rugs, sweet smells, smiles, excitement, candles, firelight, a blessed altarpiece at the centre and our willing hearts and minds to begin the journey into our sacred circle .... a truly  blessed and amazing time; remembered well and filled those present with a sense of belonging; a safe place to bring our woes and our joys; a place to shine, be still, create, listen and nurture friendships within the ample bosom of sisterhood. Some said: "I am home".

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   We meet as often as we can ever since at each other's homes - a nomad's trail of warm and generous spaces from warm and generous women.

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smilesfoodlaughterchallengetearsmakingcreatingweaving

sharingsingingdancingchantingeatingcelebratinghonouring

playingdrummingcallinglovingbeingfree

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North Wales seems to have more than its fair share of wild and wise women - so many are interested and we have at least 400+ members! - although not all turn up at the same time ...

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Please join us on Facebook for up-to-date discussions and meetings info. Dates and venues will be listed here when known. Diolch yn fawr.

Croeso ~ Welcome, One and All. Namaste.

 A Welcome Poem

written by Alexandra from the Red Tent

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Take a moment, sisters, breathe...
You are Home, here, we know your pain and joy
We are One, here, each a voice for another
We are each unique, here, all are welcome.

When we speak may we share our Heart
How am I really?
In essence, in summary
For the story, so sweetly, takes us on a journey
But the Truth behind it, brings us truly Home.

When we listen may we abandon our thoughts
Of what we want to say or do
And suspend judgment...
May every cell of our body develop ears
Listen, with your soul.

We need no teachers here
No healers, carers or fixers
We have all these within us
Our friends and sisters serve us
By helping us remember our wholeness

Each word spoken, lands like an offering on the altar
The conversation is between her and the Goddess
We don't answer on behalf of the Divine.

Listening, the greatest gift we can offer
To hear the Soul speaking.
And to speak the Soul clearly
Our deepest healing.

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Click on the Facebook icon - and Join us on the Red Tent Gwynedd page where you can find more discussions and info.

HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES that were put together to assist with facilitation if needed. 

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Hey All,
For guidelines on facilitating red tents, a few of us put together this document which will help you. So if you fancy giving co/ facilitating a try but haven't done it before, print this out and have a go!: 


Ideas of things to bring:
Water jug, tissues, drum, smudge stick, aromatherapy diffuser, food, something for the altar, tealights, Red Tent candle


The Circle
Start with a word from the host – where’s the loo, water jug, practical stuff…
Cleansing the space - this can be done with a smudge stick?
Add your object to the altar – The centerpiece is offered as the heart of the gathering where the fire burns, the centre of a wheel, a symbolic representation of a group’s intention.

 

Introduction and Agreements made for today:


The vision of the red tent is to:
Bring women together to celebrate our femininity, our cyclical natures, to bring alive old rites of passage for maidens, mothers and elders, to empower ourselves and each other, to live in ways that are true to us. For comfort, to ground and check back into ourselves, for a day of retreat. 
“Come as you are, because you are enough.”


The purpose of the talking circle is to:
Go within and be mindful about the emotions you are experiencing right now. Speak about yourself, what’s going on for you. Speak with intention, listen with intention and to tend to the wellbeing of the circle. Speak from the heart, communicate what’s alive in you, to connect yourself with yourself and each other in this moment.
You don’t need to speak. Truly being present and listening to others with an clear mind and an open heart is a huge blessing, you don’t need anything else.
For women who are new to the tent we thought it could be a good idea to elect a red tent representative per tent who is there to answer questions/welcome the newcomers, especially if they've come to the group on their own. Introducing the woman who is helping with this:
"If you haven’t been to many tents or this is your first one then _________ is here to answer your questions in breaks or during food please ask her anything. "


If there is a large group it was discussed that we might ring a bell/lightly or bang the drum after 5 minutes to keep the talking circle focused:
"Because we have a large group and there is an activity afterwards that we would like to have time for, so we have ________ here who is going to ring a bell after five minutes. If you are still speaking when you hear this bell, just centre yourself back on how you are feeling in the present  and try and summarize what you are saying so the next woman can speak. If you hear another cheeky bell a couple of minutes later it’s just to remind you again to summarize what you are saying."


As you know, sometimes we pass the stick round the circle and we speak in the order we are sitting. And sometimes we speak at random collecting the talking stick from the middle of the circle. Let's try ____ today. When you have finished speaking just return the stone to the centre, the heart of our circle.


After an hour we will have a break for toilets, there’s water in the middle should you need it, and tissues.


Now we’re going to light the candles – a volunteer to light the red tent candle. Light candles/tea lights. Offering of personal items for the altar blessings.


Close our eyes for a few moments and centre ourselves and settle in to the circle. We often hum an OM or say it in unison; make a sound from our breath.


Can the first woman speak when ready. And one more thing, can you say your name before you speak to introduce yourself to the rest of the group.


Last woman to speak ...
Has everyone spoken who wishes to?  Is there anyone who needs anything from the other women?


As a circle we hold what has just been said, it stays in the circle. We hold each other/hands and we offer up what has been said into the Earth while we smudge the space for cleansing.

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Could we have a volunteer?

Blow out candle/tealights

Arrange other tent gatherings.


Clear the space before food. Eat, Relax, Enjoy!
De-brief if needed. 

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