Wild Women

Step inside the newest outpost of the international Wild Woman Project Circle — in Traverse City..

By Emily Tyra | Feb. 29, 2020

In Traverse City, on the night of this month’s new moon, 15 women join in a circle, essentially as strangers, about to become connected in ways immediate and unexpected.

One woman came to the circle after a friend told her it would help her with what was on her mind. A few craved self-care. Others were dealing with changes — moves, closure, new babies, new jobs — and dang it, change is hard. One brought her mom. Most arrived alone.

Wild Woman Project Circles are a worldwide movement — women across 18 countries joining in sacred circles in their local communities.

Traverse City has become one of the latest outposts for the project, thanks to yogini and wellness guide Shelley Smith, who leads the monthly circle at New Moon Yoga Studio. Though she has led yoga and meditation retreats in India, Hawaii, and Thailand, February was her first time leading a new moon circle in Northern Michigan, with more scheduled in the months to come. 

“The new moon is a time that is thought to be in connection with setting intention,” Smith said. “With each Wild Woman Circle, we have a guided meditation and, based on a different theme every month, an intention-setting portion — an insight each woman has received from her journey through the session.”

Smith set the stage with low lights, cushy blankets, hot tea, and chill music. In a symbol of solidarity, lavender and flowers were donated by local businesswomen, the owners of Wendi’s Sunset Lavender and The Flower Station. “It is warm and inclusive space for women to gather, allowing us to drop into ourselves,” Smith said. 

She added, “Our pace of life is so fast. Everyone is so busy, everyone is overwhelmed. Coming into these circles gives us some time to just get centered and to listen to the voices that want to speak up from inside of us. That voice is there — it’s there — and when we get disconnected from it, we don’t feel good, and we can’t live as fully or bring all we have to our lives, families, and communities. This is a safe place to share, and we have an opportunity to share as much or as little as we are called to. It could be about things we’re working on in our lives, situations we are facing, things we want to bring into existence.” 

“I was surprised at how open everyone was,” said participant Jessica Protetch of Traverse City, who was also pleasantly surprised that her nerves vanished when it was her turn to connect and share her message with the circle. “It was great to have that space to open up and release some heavy stuff.”

When each woman shares, she is the only one who speaks. No one offers solutions, or advice; they simply listen. “We listen as if we are hearts with ears,” said Smith. 

“I hope all have a really close circle of women friends, sisters, or family that they can be super open and authentic and vulnerable with, but I’m not sure we all have that. The circle is a closed container for that. We just respectfully witness and support each experience.”

Roommates Protetch, Moaly Molinos and Cassandra Chase do have that bond. “We do a lot of kitchen therapy, doing dishes,” said Molinos, “but this was different.” Hearing and sharing with people they had just met was a moving experience, that found all of them digging deeper into their own intuition than they had anticipated. “And I didn’t expect to cry so much, listening to everyone,” said Protetch.

After a final trip around the circle, each woman set intentions for the moon cycle ahead, and all gathered to leave. Lily Pitser of Traverse City faced the circle and deadpanned, “That was like the best TED Talk of my life.” 

A quick communal laugh, and everyone walked out to a face a full moon, ready for what comes next.

Circle Curious?
Of the four Wild Woman Circles currently held in Michigan, only one — at New Moon — happens in Northern Michigan. What you can expect: a full-sensory, sacred space, with guided meditation, sharing, and intention-setting held on or near the new moon.

Circles led by Shelley Smith are held once a month at New Moon Yoga Studio, 10781 E Cherry Bend Rd. in Traverse City. Upcoming events:

Monday, March 23, 6:30pm

Wednesday April 22, 6:30pm

Sunday May 24, 6pm

Find out more and register at www.shelleyshanti.com, or reach out at wildandfree@shelleyshanti.com