More than 120 years have passed since Matthew Arnold articulated this vision of the potential healing power of the world's women. How are we women doing at stepping forward individually with our wisdom and experience to create change? How are women doing at 'coming together' to use our collective power for the benefit of humankind?

There is a growing sense of urgency that NOW is the time to manifest powerful affirmative answers to these questions. We have been called to answer these questions because humanity needs a new paradigm for solving the world's problems. We have been called to create structures of peace and sustainability so that the generations living now can hand a gift of hope to the generations to come.

There are thousands of organizations large and small working on behalf of women and women's issues around the world today. Each one represents a source of valuable insights, experience and wisdom; each one could benefit from a thoughtful exchange of resources, information and ideas with the others. Millions of women in countries around the globe would benefit from the resulting synergy... and the world would be moved closer to a model of healthy balanced leadership that incorporates feminine principles.

Constellations of Hope has come together around the following shared intentions and assumptions:

• We have witnessed a spirit-filled activism that is calling women to a new way of thinking and being.

• We have witnessed a growing desire among organizations to collaborate, recognizing that they are ready to effectively create   something together that they cannot do alone.

• We have witnessed that inspiration for tangible new projects and initiatives emerges organically when women come together to dialogue   around a shared intention.

Constellations of Hope is an open invitation for women and organizations to come together for collaborative conversations.
Only through these lived experiences can we learn more about both the barriers and the opportunities on the journey to unity.

You are encouraged to gather women representing diverse organizations locally, regionally, nationally or globally.
Create a safe space... use circle principles.... and listen deeply to the wisdom that emerges.

Blog:

Visit our blog for current information and updates.

Constellations of Hope 2008

November 7-10, 2008
IONS Retreat Center ~ Petaluma, California

Constellations of Hope was launched with this event, which was designed and convened by a core group of women representing several diverse women’s organizations. The idea emerged at a gathering in Boston in December 2007 and evolved through a series of conference calls and exploratory meetings in 2008. Women from more than 15 organizations were involved in the planning and hosting of this collaborative conversation. The event was attended by 60 women representing 40 North American women’s organizations.

2008 Conveners:

Regina Birchem -Past International President of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Dorothy Ettling - Founder and Director of Women’s Global Connection
Kathy Sanchez - Founder and Director of Tewa Women United
Kathe Schaaf - Co-Founder and Past President of Gather the Women

Organizations Represented:

Constellations of Hope 2009

A new leadership circle for Constellations of Hope has emerged to continue exploring this impulse for organizational collaboration. These emerging visions include:

Constellations of Hope 2009 – Discussions about anchoring a second retreat for North American women’s organizations to be held on the East Coast of the U.S.

Sacred Fire of the Great Peace – A delegation of North American women has been invited to participate in this indigenous ceremony on the Six Nations Reservation in Ontario, Canada in May 2009.

Women’s Spiritual Coalition – A circle of women is exploring the potential of a new coalition of Spirit-led women and organizations.

Contact

For more information, contact Kathe Schaaf