A Sacred Hour: The Power of Connection, Community, and Coming Home to Ourselves
Honoring the Heart Through Shared Inner Work
I’m writing this with a full heart—still held in the warmth and quiet glow of Friday evening. It was my first in-person gathering of the year, and this one felt especially close to my spirit. I designed this space for mothers—women who, like me, are navigating the layered beauty and demands of motherhood, often with little time to simply be.
With my son nearing his second birthday this June, I’ve felt something rising in me: a deep understanding that what mothers need most is not another productivity hack or tip for balancing it all. We need sacred time.
Sacred time is intentional space carved out just for you. A pause. A moment to set down the endless roles, responsibilities, and running thoughts. A time to return to your essence—not as “Mom,” not as a caregiver or planner or fixer—but as a woman, simply breathing, feeling, existing in her fullness.
This workshop was the first time I held space exclusively for mothers. And leading up to it, I noticed something powerful. When I explained that we’d spend one gentle hour checking in with ourselves—no agenda, no pressure—many women found it hard to grasp. I get it. We’re not often given permission to slow down. Our minds search for justification, for productivity, for proof that we’re “using our time wisely.” But what could be wiser than tending to our own hearts?
Twelve incredible women gathered with me that night. And what unfolded in that softly-lit room was something I’ll carry with me for a long time. I watched as the tension in their faces melted into smiles and softness. I listened as women shared the quiet struggles they’ve been holding. And most beautifully of all—I witnessed the sacred silence of others simply listening, holding space without needing to fix or change anything.
There’s something profound that happens when we come together like this.
The Ancient Wisdom of Healing Circles
Healing circles have been part of human culture for centuries—far older than any modern self-help tool. Rooted in Indigenous traditions from around the world, these circles were sacred gatherings where community members would come together to speak, listen, and heal.
The circle itself represents wholeness and equality. No one is above or below. There is no hierarchy—just presence, curiosity, and care.
When we sit in circle today, we’re continuing this ancient ritual of remembrance. We are remembering that healing doesn’t have to be done alone. We are remembering that our stories are bridges, and that vulnerability—when held with care—becomes the seed of transformation.
Hosting healing circles regularly has a ripple effect. It creates rhythm, a reliable return point where women can recalibrate and refill. Over time, something remarkable begins to unfold:
She expands her capacity for patience and grace.
Her nervous system softens; she reacts less and responds with more love.
Rage turns into recognition.
Her mental clarity sharpens.
Her body feels safer to inhabit.
She feels...more herself.
Why? Because she is attuning to her heart. And from this place, she begins to live a heart-forward life—a life guided by inner truth instead of outer noise. That shift changes everything.
Why Do We Forget Our Heart?
It’s a question I asked the group as we settled into the night.
The answer is both simple and profound.
We forget because we are taught to live in our minds. As women—especially as mothers—we’re constantly pulled into a world of planning, organizing, and anticipating. We carry the mental load of an entire household. And in the midst of that mental marathon, we slowly disconnect from the quiet wisdom within.
But the heart doesn’t rush. It doesn’t live in the past or future. It lives here. It knows through feeling, not through figuring it out.
And though we may forget, the heart never does. It waits patiently for us to return.
We can come back through breath. Through stillness. Through sacred moments of gathering like this one. When we do, we remember:
We are not here just to survive life.
We are here to feel it.
To love it.
To live it—fully, wildly, and with reverence.
An Invitation to Remember
I’ve received a lot of beautiful questions since the workshop about how to start circles like this—how to create healing spaces in your own communities. And I can tell you this: it doesn’t require perfection, or a big following, or a fancy setup.
It requires intention.
It requires presence.
And it requires trust—that when women come together with open hearts, something sacred will always unfold.
Start small. Start messy. Just start.
Because what comes from this work is nothing short of miraculous.
An expanded mother.
A softened nervous system.
A more loving home.
And most of all, a woman who is in tune with her own heart.
This is how we rise. This is how we heal.
Together.
What resonated with you in this article? I would love to know, leave a comment to keep the conversation going.
As always, with so much love and gratitude,
Lauren Alkhal
Connection Coach | Inner Garden Guide | Mama | Meditator
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