Join us for the Winter Solstice Goddess Gatherings.  These Gatherings will be held from 4:30pm-8:30pm around the date of every solstice and equinox.

This gatherings includes a white elephant gift exchange (bring a gift if you want to participate), healthy potluck (bring a dish!), talking circle and mom and baby connection time from 4:30-5:30 (feel free to come even if you don’t have children to connect with the community kiddos).

If you are new to gatherings, more about why we gather can be found below the schedule.

Please see the schedule for a specific breakdown of the timeline. Also, if you are interested in leading circle, please contact Kellee and Roxanne at Kellee@nakturnal.net and Roxanne@aikenhouse.com.

MOM AND BABY INFO Mom’s and babies for the duration of the gathering as childcare is offered next door to the Goddess Nest! Note mom AND baby time is from 4:30-5:30 so please do come early with children or if you want to hang with community kiddos!

We hope to see you!!!



SCHEDULE FOR THE EVENT!
4:30pm - mom and baby play time
5:30pm - potluck food and social time for all
6:15pm - Children head next door so moms can join the talking circle!
6:30 - Talking circle
8:30pm - clean up and exchange of info with all the new ladies you connected with!

Feel free to read highlighted parts only if you don’t have much time. :)

In terms of what the gathering is, to put it simply, we all get together to eat and talk, or just listen if you don’t feel like talking. We see it as community building or lovingly called “goddess gathering” and a chance to actually meet or see others instead of on social media or via email or text!  

The evening starts with casual socializing, generally between mommies on full moons or equinox and solstices, while kids play (see schedule for special additions).  Then others start to join the group and begin eating a healthy potluck! (bring a potluck dish if you are able, but no worries if you can’t. There is always enough and we don’t want this to deter attendance!) On new moons gatherings we currently do not have kiddo social hour or childcare but we can set this up if you need it just let us know!   After food and social time, we begin talking circles.  This is when we sit in a circle and share among a small or large (seemingly predestined group!), or just pass and listen.  Mom’s can choose to leave with children when this segment starts as children tend to make it hard to talk, lol.  Or, mom’s can stay and take part in the pre-arranged childcare on full moons and solstice/equinox right next door with partners or dads.  Moms love this time without their children so they have some much needed time for themselves among women and we love that all of the children are creating their own little community as well at the same time!  (Please check in with Kellee if you want to leave your children during the talking segment so we can be sure there is enough help.)

To explain what the gathering is, in more depth, and WHY we do this, we will share our herstory! ;o)  About 15 years ago some of our founders heard about a large women’s gathering being held in PGH.  At this gathering of over 60 women, they learned that many indigenous cultures believed that, “When women Gather, the World will heal”.  Our founders were in their early 20’s and were pretty sure the world needed healing and they felt rather helpless to do much about it.  They also felt they wanted to expand their connections with women in Pittsburgh and heal themselves! They excitedly learned that these circles were being started ALL over the PLANET!

And so, we connected and continued to meet with a diverse group of “elder goddesses” and a powerful indigenous community here in Pittsburgh who taught us how to gather in a feminine way, create friendships and have really beautiful and fun experiences together.  The events often lead to some powerful actions and changes in the world at large, but also are very valuable for each attendee, on a personal level.  Most who attend say that it’s almost like magic happens during the talking circles.  Circles help us all realize that we are not alone in our struggles and triumphs and they help us to see how very similar we are despite our “differences”. This helps each attendee feel more grounded, connected and inspired.  In the age of technology, this sort of community building that occurs is TRULY PRICELESS!

So many wonderful things have come from these gatherings over the years. And now, at a time that perhaps is in even more need of transformation, we are making an intentional plan to be sure these gatherings happen at least four times a year at the change of the seasons and every month on the full and new moons.  We will do our best to spread the word so that more and more women can participate, take leadership roles in the group and beyond, and create friendships!

It’s also helpful to know that we follow the Gathering the Women and Millionth Circle protocols which further explain the essence of what we are doing (quotes from their site):

“The Millionth Circle...is about starting and nurturing women’s sacred circles; creating a tipping point…..All who have experienced the power of circles know that when women gather with shared Principles,” (cooperation, collaboration, shared leadership, deep listening without judgment, welcoming diverse points of view, sharing of resources in an effort to create equality), as the foundation for unifying our dreams, energy, resources and actions, each event is powerful” and reverberates well beyond the gathering!

“It is one more step in transforming the old structures”, (patriarchal / serving only a few) “into life-giving systems”, who serve ALL life and the planet. Being at the gathering helps us practice putting aside, in the moment and beyond, any tendencies towards insecurity, jealousy, competition, and fear.  

Thanks for reading! We will contact you at the start of each season with an updated gathering date and we will be announcing The Goddess Flow/Song Circle at Genevieve’s, which will generally be held a week or two following the gathering so everyone can stay connected!

Peace!