N.E.W. – the Network to Empower Women

The Nine Questions for N.E.W. Circle Meetings

The nine questions are the heart of each meeting. One question is the focus for each circle meeting, and after nine meetings, the whole process is repeated again. Each of the questions is big enough, and deep enough, to elicit a multitude of responses from each person. Hence, like the twelve steps used in twelve-step programs, they can be used over and over. Unlike the steps however, these are questions, and as such, they have no wrong answers. Each question is designed to call forth the unique wisdom and experience of each person in the circle. The questions are open-ended, and intended as tools for gentle exploration of each person´s inner landscape of beliefs and experience.

These are the Nine Questions which are used, one at a time*, at each circle meeting:

1. What am I grateful to have survived and accomplished? Who or what has empowered me in my life so far?
2. What damaging, false beliefs about myself and/or women do I want to release? What healing, helpful beliefs do I want to affirm and live?
3. How have I found and followed my own Inner Authority? How will I continue to do so?
4. What are the spiritual practices and resources that empower me?
5. What obstacles to using my innate power as a woman have I/we encountered? What are some strategies for dealing with them? How do I stop giving away my power?
6. What can I imagine, and what do I want for my flourishing and the flourishing of all?
7. What concrete actions could I/we take to manifest what I/we want?
8. How can I live with greater connection and support with women and girls in my circles, community, and the world?
9. Your choice!

(*–NOTE: Circle participants may choose to use one or more parts of a multi-part question.)

The Ninth Question is free choice because it is important for you to experience, in this way, the power of choosing for yourself. Here is an example from our N.E.W. Circles:

How can I switch from judgment to discernment, so that I live more compassionately and wisely?

We would love to know what Ninth Question your N.E.W. Circles have come up with! Visit the Share Your Stories page and let us know, or e-mail us.