Join Our Monthly Wild Women Moon Circles

wild women moon circle FORM yoga

I am so thrilled to be offering Wild Women Moon Circles at FORM Yoga each month. I’ve found that when women circle together at the new moon and plant seeds of intention, powerful things happen.

Powerful things happened for me personally when I started attending women’s circles.

For more than 14 years I worked in the corporate world in marketing & PR. I was stressed out and always felt like there must be something better, some better way to live and work. In the corporate world, so often women are pitted against each other. It was hard to make friends or feel supported when I was essentially “competing” with my co-workers all the time for raises, promotions and recognition. But I felt stuck in the corporate rat race and didn’t see a way out.

My outlook on life and work started to change drastically when I went through yoga teacher training in 2013. Although not an official “circle” of women our teacher trainee group (majority women) was incredibly supportive. We held each other up and cheered each other on. We wanted to see one another succeed. I had never experienced this kind of camaraderie ever before. I began to see that life didn’t have to be a constant race or competition.

In 2016, a huge shift happened when I attended a Soul Nourish Retreats Women’s Weekend. It was the first time I had ever officially “circled” with a group of women. I was astonished at just how much each women in the circled “showed up.” We shared our deepest, most personal feelings, fears, frustrations, hopes and dreams. We felt safe with each other and most importantly HEARD.

How often do we take the time to listen to one another? And as women, I feel like we often struggle to be truly heard, especially in the workplace.

Shortly after that retreat, a fellow retreat participant began leading her own women’s circles through the Wild Woman Project. Craving more connection and support, I began attending circles or listening to online virtual circles when I couldn’t be there in person. Through these circles, I began to set clear and thoughtful intentions with the new moon. These intentions helped me reshape my life into something that aligned more closely with my values and beliefs. I was so inspired, I embarked on my own training with the Wild Woman Project to lead circles in our community.

Through the support of the women in circle, I was able to gain the courage to leap from the corporate world and start my own freelance PR business that would give me more freedom and control over my own schedule. I set a clear deadline to leave my job and the women in the circle were so incredibly supportive (and even sent me good vibes and notes of encouragement on the day I turned in my notice!).

It’s also powerful to have the support of other women during hard times. Last October, I suffered a miscarriage and it was a devastating experience. I don’t think I would have survived if I didn’t have a community of women who were there with their hands at my back when I needed it most.

That’s the best part of circle to me, the COMMUNITY we co-create together. When we circle, we are all connected and we form strong bonds with other like-minded women that will stay with us for a lifetime.

Below are some frequently asked questions about the circle experience. I hope you will join me and co-create a circle community at FORM yoga!

Love,

Rachel

What the heck is a Wild Women Circle anyway?

It is, quite literally, a circle of women. Each month, we meet in the studio (and yes, sit in a circle) at the new moon to explore a theme inspired by the astrological placement of the Moon. The Circle consists of guided meditation, visualization and intention-setting based on the theme of the month. Think of the circle as a monthly deep connection with yourself and other women – a sacred meeting of souls.

Why “Wild”? Are we going to dance naked in the moonlight?

The circle is an opportunity to reconnect with the wild, untamed heart within. Women were once extremely connected to nature, to the earth and to the moon (we used to cycle each month with the moon cycle). Today, with modern technology and our culture of “busy” we’re increasingly disconnected from our natural state. We take this time each month to reconnect with our more natural state of being. However, you’ll have to save your naked moonlight dancing for when you get home.

Why only the new moon?

The new moon marks the beginning of a new cycle. It’s a time of growth and a powerful time to plant seeds, both metaphorical and physical (biodynamic farmers plant at the new moon). The new moon is a good time to turn inward, reevaluate visions and goals and set new intentions for the cycle ahead.

Do I need to have a consistent yoga or meditation practice to attend?

Not at all. We don’t do much movement, maybe a little bit of stretching tops (though, sometimes dance parties may break out). We focus mainly on visualization and meditation. All meditation is guided, so don’t be intimidated if you’ve never meditated before. All you need to know how to do is sit and breathe. I’ll help you do the rest.

What should I bring/wear?

Wear comfortable clothes that you can sit in for a while on the floor. You are welcome to bring your yoga mat to sit on, but we also have bolster, blankets and blocks to help you sit comfortably. If you need to sit in a chair, please let us know in advance and I’ll have one for you.

Also, bring a journal and a pen.

Do I have to be a certain religion?

No, this circle is non-denominational and open to all that identify as women, no matter what your religious or spiritual beliefs.

Do I have to “share”?

Although sharing is always optional, we offer an incredibly safe and supportive environment. This is a “no judgement zone” and we want to foster a circle where each woman has a space to feel truly heard. Also, our circles are like Vegas – what happens in circle, stays in circle.

Why only 18 people?

Due to the sharing-nature of our circle, we limit the number of our participants to be mindful of time. Fun fact: 18 is also a sacred number in many cultures and religions. In Tarot, the number 18 is often associated with the moon, the moon being a symbol of mystery and intuition.

What is the cost? Why do FORM members have to pay?

The circle is $10 for members of FORM Yoga and $15 to drop-in. Because of the amount of preparation that goes into each circle, these sessions are more like mini-workshops than regular yoga classes. Because of the limited seats in each circle, we wanted to ensure that those that want to attend can sign up and hold their spot. The other two Wild Women Project circles in Atlanta also charge a registration fee, so we felt this was in line with what is being offered in the city.

We hope to see you Wild Women on Sept. 24 for our next circle!

Rachel Peavy

About Rachel Peavy

Rachel was introduced to yoga at the age of 16 by an 80-year-old yogi named Ruby. Immediately inspired by Ruby’s flexibility and vitality, Rachel set off on her journey to learn about the healing powers of yoga both on and off the mat.

In 2016, Rachel’s dive into self-inquiry deepened while attending a Soul Nourish Retreats Women’s Weekend. There she was introduced to the wisdom of the Enneagram (she’s an Enneagram 9) and meditation techniques that helped her better understand her patterns or samskara. Though labeled “sensitive” as a kid, Rachel discovered through this self-inquiry that she’s actually an intuitive empath who can “feel” the energy of those around her. During this weekend, she also learned that incredibly powerful things happen when women circle together.

A Taurus, Rachel also feels a deep connection with the earth and its wild nature. As a trained WILD Woman Project circle facilitator, She aims to bring women together to help them connect with their divine feminine, empower their wild nature, and nurture their untamed spirit.

Rachel completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training under the guidance of Neda Draupadi Honarvar in 2013. She has deepened her practice with 100-hour immersions with Gina Minyard and Elizabeth Rowan. She completed her women’s circle leader training with Chris Maddox of the WILD Woman Project in 2017. Rachel is also certified in Level I and II Usui Reiki and is working to become a Usui Reiki Master.

She lives in Atlanta with her husband, cat, and two giant, fluffy white dogs. She hopes to be practicing yoga, teaching yoga and leading women well into her 80s.

Activate Your Superpowers

activate your superpowers yoga workshop Atlanta
  • Do you get overwhelmed by the energy and/or emotions of others?
  • Do you feel drained after spending time in groups of people?
  • Do your sensitivities sometimes feel like a curse rather than a blessing?
  • Or maybe you know that your intuition is whispering in your ear, but you have trouble catching the message or trusting it…

Being sensitive can be hard…But it doesn’t have to be.

I used to be an overwhelmed and anxious empath. As a child I had shut down my gifts because they always felt like too much, and when I let them open up again as an adult, it wasn’t any easier. Even carrying a light client load in my healing practice would leave me exhausted and feeling sick at times. I struggled to be social in groups of people and often couldn’t explain dramatic shifts in mood that would fall over me.

Not only that, but my intuition was speaking to me all the time and I wasn’t listening…I would find myself saying things like, “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted that person!” or “If only I had listened to my gut…”

After several years of fumbling through this, I knew I needed to figure things out. So I dedicated myself to understanding energy, how it worked and how I could work WITH it in a conscious way that would allow me to feel empowered with my gifts.

I talked to my guides, to Spirit, to archangels…basically any non-physical being I felt called to work with. I asked to be shown a way to a deeper understanding of how the Field worked. I also read loads of books and took classes and listened to scores of interviews of people in my field. I became an expert in this area and everything in my world changed.

My intuition expanded even more, I was able to fill my practice, earn more money, make better decisions for myself and create the life that I now have and love. It took a lot of healing and a lot of dedication, and while it’s still a journey for all, I’m able to help others streamline their experience.

I’ve taught intuitive development in many ways over the last several years and the Activate Your Superpowers Workshop is a real treat for me. It’s highly experiential, and you learn practical tools that you get to put to use immediately.

Here is what we cover:

Day One: Foundations of Psychic Development

  • The energy body: How to sense it, see it, feel it and why that’s important
  • Becoming an empowered (instead of overwhelmed) empath
  • Learn how to distinguish between Inner Wisdom and Fear
  • How to create a comprehensible and loving dialogue with Spirit

Day Two: Psychic Development II

  • Connecting with your guides and other spiritual beings, such as angels, archangels, and ascended masters
  • Tuning Into and using your psychic senses, such as clairvoyance, clairaudience, claircognizance, and clairsentience
  • How to use your psychic senses to receive information for yourself and others

Here’s what Rebecca Slaven had to say about my last workshop:

“My impressions from the beginning were that I was going to power up or level up. I know that I was going to leave a better person from this experience. Throughout the class I felt so connected and guided to this higher level of understanding. It was wonderful and more than I could have imagined. Working with Janet was like working with a soul mother or guide. I felt immediately embraced and known when I met her for the first time. She has a great way of guiding her students to find their own truth. I feel energy more now. I trust myself more. I believe I am walking the path I am meant to be on. I also know that I am going through a very major transformation. It has been a major energetic shift in my field. I have also identified my guides and started understanding what they have meant to me throughout this lifetime. Thank you, Janet! You are an amazing gift to this world.”

We all have the ability to power up our intuition, just as Rebecca did. It is within us, our divinely given guidance system, and when we learn to enhance it and work with it instead of against it, we are able to live our life with more flow and ease. We are able to make better decisions in every area of our lives.

For me, I am more energized these days, I rarely get sick, and I usually know exactly what I need to do. This has been the game changer for me, and the reason that my life has shifted so extraordinarily over the last several years.

Intuitive development isn’t just about being “psychic,” though that part certainly is useful and fun. It’s about understanding our deepest truths and being able to align with them, both internally and externally. It’s an opportunity to understand how Spirit works with us and it’s a way for us to deepen our connection with our higher selves and the Divine to live a richer and more fulfilling life.

Nicole and Elizabeth both had powerful experiences as they shifted into understanding and working with their sensitivities. About the Activate Your Superpowers Workshop, Nicole shared:

The energy in the room was wonderful and I felt very comforted in the presence of like-minded individuals. The workshop was incredible! I have had a strong draw to Janet since the first time I saw her online and this connection led me to pursue further work with her. There is something very special about her; maybe it’s the empathy, the non-judgment and clear messages. It has given me a lot of hope and I trust her with all my heart. I have learned that the sensitivities that have plagued me my whole life are indeed gifts and I have developed deep self-compassion as a result. I understand that taking care of myself is not selfish – that it’s a gift to myself and those around me.”

And this is what Elizabeth shared about taking my online Activate Your Superpowers Course:

“I’ve read so many books on intuitive development, but none of them helped me as much as Janet’s AYS course. Getting the chance to practice engaging with my intuition in a safe, supported setting was invaluable, and Janet’s gentle guidance was the perfect container. I left the class feeling much more confident in connecting with my guides, understanding what my intuitive gifts are and with a wonderful new set of tools. I’d highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to deepen their relationship with their own intuition and with their spiritual guides.”

Are you ready to activate your superpowers?

Click HERE for more information and to register for this fun-filled, practical and transformative workshop.

There is nothing in the world that can’t improve once you align with the power of your gifts!

Much love,
Janet

Janet Raftis

About Janet Raftis

Janet Raftis is an energy healer and psychic medium with over 12 years experience helping others to heal and release outdated patterns of belief so that they may transition out of areas in which they feel stuck and into the life they truly desire.

Read more at janetraftis.com

Yoga and the F-word

yoga and the f word

Yoga and the F-wordDisclaimer; I know what all you yogis are thinking out there, that with a post titled Yoga and the F-Word this has to be a blog post about Bryan Kest. Wrong. Though I adore Bryan and his extensive use of the f-word, for that topic you must read my dear friend Isabelle Casey’s blog post Judgement & F-Bombs. Read on.

Three years ago my life was over…or so I thought.

 The world I had known and built and loved was pulled out from underneath my feet leaving me stumbling, shrieking, clawing. I was standing at the edge of darkness and staring in the face of fear. I was experiencing the terrible reality of divorce.

Screen shot 2013-02-22 at 5.21.11 PM

At this time I was 32 years old and I had never been alone. Yes, you read that right, I had never been alone. I was with my husband from the tender age of 15, and we were married three years later after learning that we were going to be parents. My husband and I both came from impoverished homes with our parents always struggling to make ends meet and to get food on the table. We were determined to have a future for ourselves and for our children. We both worked diligently from the beginning of our relationship and made many sacrifices to overcome the struggles we both knew growing up. Over the years we succeeded. We built a booming business together through hard work and dedication. For the last 8 years of our marriage our business had grown successful enough that I had the privilege of staying at home with our children. I spent my days running our household, working behind the scenes in our business, and volunteering in our children’s school and in our neighborhood. Being a strong-willed woman who liked to be in control (to put it nicely, but that is a whole other blog post), I found certainty in my marriage. We were going to grow old together and find ourselves at age 70 on a front porch swing sipping on a glass of sweet tea in the pre-dusk warmth of sticky southern summer days while our grandchildren played in the yard. My husband was my best friend, confidant and the only person in the world that I could depend on and trust.

As the reality of our divorce set in the many faces of grief and loss were swirling within my body and bubbling to the surface. Anger. Fear. Denial. Desperation. I was utterly TERRIFIED. I struggled to get out of bed. I struggled to eat. I struggled to sleep. When I was out of sight of my children I spent most of my day crying, locked inside my house. When I did go out in public I put on my warrior suit and held my head high, but inside I was screaming. I lost faith that I would ever be okay again. I was not even striving for happy, I was merely just wanting to be okay. Needless to say, it was bad.

There it is, the f word...FAITH.

Researcher and storyteller Brené Brown defines faith as “a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty.” Faith.  Much scarier than the other f-word right?

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Over the past couple of years I have found faith again (that journey will come in another blog, another time). In fact faith and I are very dear friends now. And just like with any other relationship, at times we struggle. Sometimes I push faith away because she is just too damn hard to have in my life. She constantly requires me to be present. She demands that I be vulnerable and open. She insists that I lead from my heart and not to make decisions based on fear. Sounds exhausting, right?

As a yoga teacher I strive to teach my students the concept of faith as I understand it. Through a yoga practice faith can be found when we let go of our limiting beliefs. For many of us this is not easy. As we breathe and move through postures on the mat we find ourselves challenged physically and emotionally. Just like in life, it is easy to give up when we are faced with discomfort. But when we are struggling( on the mat or out in the world) we have an amazing opportunity to explore ourselves, our patterns, our reactions. It is EASY to pull out of that utkatasana 10 breaths in when the mind yells”Abort mission!”. The hard part is learning to sit within the storm and to have faith that the discomfort shall pass.

Resolving to accept uncertainty and to choose faith not an easy place to live from, in fact it is very challenging at times. But I know now that no matter how hard it is to live within faith, it is much harder to live without it.

Within the depths of my sorrows and in the gloom of my divorce my yoga teacher Mitchel Bleier passed along this poem to me. Over time these words have carried me toward the shores of uncertainty while holding the hands of my long forgotten friends; courage and fearlessness.

THE TRUE LOVE
by David Whyte

There is a faith in loving fiercely
the one who is rightfully yours,
especially if you have
waited years and especially
if part of you never believed
you could deserve this
loved and beckoning hand
held out to you this way.

I am thinking of faith now
and the testaments of loneliness
and what we feel we are
worthy of in this world.

Years ago in the Hebrides
I remember an old man
who walked every morning
on the grey stones
to the shore of the baying seals,

who would press his hat
to his chest in the blustering
salt wind and say his prayer
to the turbulent Jesus
hidden in the water,

and I think of the story
of the storm and everyone
waking and seeing
the distant
yet familiar figure
far across the water
calling to them,

and how we are all
preparing for that
abrupt waking,
and that calling,
and that moment
we have to say yes,
except it will
not come so grandly,
so Biblically,
but more subtly
and intimately in the face
of the one you know
you have to love,

so that when we finally step out of the boat
toward them, we find
everything holds
us, and confirms
our courage, and if you wanted
to drown you could,
but you don’t

because finally
after all the struggle
and all the years,
you don’t want to any more,
you’ve simply had enough
of drowning
and you want to live and you
want to love and you will
walk across any territory
and any darkness,
however fluid and however
dangerous, to take the
one hand you know
belongs in yours.

todos santos dreamcatcher mandy roberts

About Mandy Roberts

The inspiration and driving force behind Atlanta’s FORM {yoga} Mandy is always learning, adapting and growing. As a studio owner Mandy has built a beautiful, inclusive community that focuses on empowerment, trust and connection. As a single mom Mandy leads by example teaching her two kids to (playfully) grab life by the horns and to live life to the fullest. And as a yoga teacher and retreat leader Mandy encourages her students to face their fears while exploring humility, playfulness and laughter.

Read more at mandyrobertsyoga.com