What does it mean to become a woman? There are many voices screaming for girls and young women’s attention when it comes to this topic, from media to peers, cultural norms to taboos. How can we support girls in listening to their own inner voice and then being confident enough to express themselves creatively and verbally? How can we guide them in honoring their bodies through hormonal and physical changes? As mothers, how can we support our daughters through this sensitive transition and deepen our relationship during a time where often children grow distant?

Our goal for this series is to help facilitate open communication, reconnection, and a deeper relationship between mothers and daughters. We will combine ancient wisdom, practical advice, and fun activities designed to support girls as they reach adolescence and their mothers.

Ashley will lead the young women in stories, discussion, games, movement, and art exercises designed to facilitate understanding of womanhood and how to best cultivate it in their own life. We will start by finding our voice, then express our creativity, learn to listen and follow our intuition, then finally honor our bodies.

At the same time, mothers will work to deepen their own understanding of themselves, knowing that the best way to provide love and support for their daughter is to be grounded in their own self-mastery. To support this, Shanti will facilitate exercises and discussion surrounding the weekly topic and how it relates to motherhood.

FORMAT

Each Sunday, we will meet for two hours. We will begin gathered together in circle to introduce that week’s topic. Mothers and daughters will then part ways to explore the topics. At the end of our time together, we will rejoin the two groups to share insights and reflections.

THEMES

Week 1: Finding Our Voice
Week 2: Expressing Our Creativity
Week 3: Following Our Intuition
Week 4: Honoring Our Bodies

HOME EXTENSION

To encourage integration of the weekly topics, we will provide suggested questions to answer in a shared journal at home. Our hope is that this journal allows the space for mothers and daughters to communicate openly and authentically with each other while reflecting deeper on each week’s topic.

FACILITATORS

Shanti O'Connor is a nationally certified counselor, a licensed teacher, a past life hypnotherapist, Pranic Healer, Reiki Master, TRE (tension/trauma release exercises) provider and a postpartum specialist.
Shanti runs retreats for men and women, groups and circles for women and moms. She teaches meditation classes, chakra healing classes and spiritual exploration classes for kids. She owns the non-profit Bend Birth Connection. She also owns and runs Rooted&Open and The Hive.

Ashley Grewe is a mother, teacher, and business owner. She is passionate about holistic education as a powerful tool to empower children to be their best, authentic selves through programs that are heart-centered and purpose-driven. The driving force behind each class is to allow children to better understand and love themselves so that they can become future advocates for humans and the planet.
As an educator, she’s worked with children in public, private, charter and holistic schools in the United States and abroad for ten years. She is a licensed Oregon Elementary Teacher, a 200-hour RYT, and has been trained to teach children yoga, mindfulness, and food education through Life Project Education, Mindful Schools, and Pure Joy Planet.

REGISTRATION

Cost is $80 per person for the series, sliding scale, and includes one journal per family.

Register at obsidianeducation.org/register

Best suited for young women ages 10-15 and their mother (or mother figure).