Women’s Shivambu Circle

Before the Circle

A few minutes of reading here leaves more of the circle for the circle itself.

← Back to the circle

Who holds the circle

Held together, roles rotating.

The circle has holders, not an audience. Three roles pass between the hosts from one circle to the next.

The host
opens the circle and guides the flow, sitting in it as a peer.
The guardian
watches the pace of the circle and holds the pause.
The timekeeper
keeps the rhythm, so that every voice has room.

The one thing asked of everyone

Be seen once.

In the opening round, each woman turns her camera on for a moment and says her name. After that, the camera can go off. Everything beyond that is a choice: sharing, listening and passing are all welcome.

If a camera isn’t possible, write ahead of the circle.

What is shared in the circle stays in the circle, so join from somewhere private, where the circle won’t be overheard.

How the circle moves

Ninety minutes, in nine movements.

  1. Welcome. The circle opens.
  2. Wonder. A few words on curiosity, and on looking at the body without shame.
  3. How the circle is held. The agreements are named, then a short grounding to arrive together.
  4. Shivambu as a doorway. Held here as a doorway, not an instruction. Whatever the word stirs up is part of it.
  5. Opening round · 30 seconds at most. Name, where you are with the practice, and one word for how you’re arriving.

    The opening round is a greeting, not a story. It’s how every woman is seen and heard once, early on, so no one has to wait to arrive. Whatever wants more room has its place in the open circle that comes later.

    • “I’m Clara. Curious, I haven’t started. Arriving: nervous.”
    • “I’m Ruth. About two years in, most mornings. Arriving: grateful.”
    • “Hi, I’m Sofia. A few weeks in. Open.”
    • “I’m Jo. Here to listen today. Tired.”

    Each of these takes about ten seconds. Thirty is the limit, not the goal. The timekeeper keeps a 30-second timer for each woman, so the open circle keeps its full time.

  6. The first question. What does this bring up in you? Not belief, not practice, just what’s there.
  7. Open circle. The hosts offer brief reflections, then the space opens to everyone: questions, reflections, feelings, anything unfinished. Not a formal Q&A.
  8. Closing round. One word, feeling or image to leave with.
  9. After. A few minutes to linger informally, or leave quietly.

Three quiet practices

Speak with intention.
Listen with attention.
Tend the well-being of the circle.

Two customs

The breath between shares

When a woman finishes speaking, the circle takes one quiet breath together before the next voice. No one needs to respond. The breath is the response.

Hand or pause

A raised hand means a wish to speak; raised hands are called in order. A pause is different. Anyone may type PAUSE in the chat at any moment. The guardian names it aloud, the circle takes one breath in silence, and then carries on. No reason is ever needed.

How we sit together

  • What is shared here stays here.
  • No one is required to share.
  • No one is required to agree.
  • No one is required to know.
  • We speak from the “I.”
  • We listen with care.
  • We leave room for mystery.
  • Every woman remains sovereign in her own body.

Curiosity is welcome. Listening is welcome. Passing is welcome.

The next circle

Friday 11 December 2026

16:30–18:00 UTC
17:30–19:00 CET · 08:30–10:00 PST

Online · 90 minutes

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