N.E.W. – the Network to Empower Women

N.E.W. circles are composed of three or more women (and men, under certain circumstances described in the book THE FUTURE FOR WOMEN.) Each circle meets in a safe, public location, free of interruption, and is open to any woman who wants to attend. The time frame can be as short as one hour once a week, or a couple of hours once or twice a month. Each circle meeting is governed by the Nine Agreements. Leadership is shared and rotated. Each meeting is centered on one of the Nine Questions. Everyone sits in a circle, and each person has the opportunity to speak in response to one of the questions, without interruption. Listening non-judgmentally and compassionately to each other, and keeping what is said confidential outside the meeting, are essential aspects of each circle. The book THE FUTURE FOR WOMEN provides complete information, guidelines, and resources for successful circle meetings.

The nine agreements are carefully crafted to provide a process which is clear, safe, and empowering for circle participants. When these agreements are honored by each member of a circle, the meetings are most likely to be a wonderful experience for everyone. The agreements are drawn from various sources: the traditional wisdom of Native Americans and other Original Peoples; the experience of twelve-step groups; and the thoughtful suggestions of such authors as Christina Baldwin in her book, Calling the Circle, and Jean Shinoda Bolen in her book, The Millionth Circle.

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. They are designed so that each one stands on its own, yet each one also builds on the last one. The first four questions have an inner focus. The next four questions gradually assume an outward-looking focus, based on the inward discoveries of the first four. The ninth question is free choice, meaning that each woman is free to choose a question she would like to consider, and share it with the circle. Some circles schedule a special meeting or two for these individually created questions, before returning to the cycle of questions, beginning with the first.