The Year of Expansion + Collaboration
3 Years In.
3 years ago today, I was putting the finishing touches on The Wild Woman Project site, taking deep breaths, filled with nervous anticipation. We officially launched on January 1, 2012. I remember that New Year’s Day with crystal clarity: the site was live, a handful of circle leaders were trained, and the path ahead somewhat clear. I wept. For the first time in my life, I felt 100% sure this was my path. Something big was happening and I was a part of it, in fact I was ushering it in.
Happy Birthday
Whether you were one of the original circle leaders (you know who you are) or you’ve recently signed up for Wild Woman Weeklyish, we are all part of The Wild Woman Project. I mean that. As we engage with the project to whatever degree, it’s spirit and message expands, deepens & integrates into our co-created life on earth.
THE WILD
If you believe wildness: living in a state of nature; Untamed. Undomesticated. Choosing inner guidance over societal shoulds.
WOMAN
If you are an advocate of honoring and empowering the feminine, in all her many expressions.
PROJECT
If you are on the path of creativity, making. Bringing forth your inner life to the outer form, outer expression.
If your values & actions are in alignment with some or all these, you are The Wild Woman Project.
2014: The Year of Expansion + Collaboration
And in the spirit of celebration, I would like to take this last day of our 3rd year to remember 2014 and give gratitude & acknowledgements for all that has come to pass for our project this year.
January-March: The Seeds
Prayers & Planning
Behind the scenes, in quiet, I was planning the 1st Annual Wild Woman Fest (4 days on a mountain top with amazing women). Planning, praying, seeking the teachers who would bring their wisdom and energy to the event. Website, logistics, posters and prayers.
Reclaiming Sisterhood: The Workshop
I lead the 2nd round of this 3 day Workshop with Meredith Edwards & a group of intelligent, heart centered women at Lila on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Sierra Brown of WildSpice Magazine wrote of the experience: “I spent a weekend with authentic women, exploring love, acceptance, growth, understanding and respect for ourselves and for others in our day-to day-lives. How to open our hearts to really look, engage with and understand one another — how to appreciate other females for who and what they are.” Her in-depth account of what she learned was featured on EliteDaily. Check it out here.
Co-Created Circle Content
Early in the year, 2 circle leaders came forth an idea for monthly content, which we co-created for the Circle Community at large. These collaborations lead to 2 of the richest rounds of circle content of the year.
Free Your Inner Wild Child (Aries Theme) by Kat Kusyszyn & The Power of Perception by Meredith Edwards (Aquarius Theme).
March-June: The Sprouting
New Leaders + Support
In the spring, Leadership Training brought another amazing group of women together. Out of that training, new circles bloomed, further expanding the tribe.
Spring Training was the first time Meredith Edwards (Brooklyn Circle Leader) joined in as the Circle Leadership Mentor. She provided extra support to the training, and lightened my load, for which I am so grateful. She continued that role in Fall training with great love and care.
July-September: Rapid Fruition
WILD WOMAN FEST is born.
I wish I could tell you about it but I can’t do it justice.
Here’s what some women who were there said:
My soul is weeping with gratitude. ~Christine S.
I cannot believe it that you planned for us to experience all that we did because it was exactly what I needed! You covered all the grounds of healing that I needed. I’ve changed in many ways and I am SO thankful that you shared this with us! ~Samantha Midler
Thank you for holding us in your heart, and creating such safe sacred space for us to connect with each other and the mystery that is the divine feminine. ll my love!~Danielle Gismondi
I can’t wait for next year! ~Katie H.
I have no words for the shift that I felt with all of you on the mountain. Honestly, the weekend was a dream come true that I didn’t know I had. ~Sienna Brown
Wild Women Fest is a temple, a union, a communion, a powerful planet of female power. ~Julie B.
It was so much more than I could have imagined. I feel deeply connected to everyone whom was there. ~Elizabeth C
Still feeling so blown away by the beautiful loving space that we all held for each other. ~Cynthia H.
There are many more statements of gratitude here.
I want to write the names of all who attended, but that would be a long list. If you were there, you know how grateful I am for your presence-I must of cried 50 times and gave hundreds of hugs. So hugs and tears to you.
If you were not there, you are invited to Next Year’s Festival: Save the Dates (July 29th-August 2nd). More details here.
Special Thanks to the Teachers & Support Staff: Fay Simpson (of the Lucid Body Technique), Felicia Sharifa Norton (of Light of Guidance Center), Carrie Grossman & Friends (of The Light Inside), Pooja Ru Prema (of Rogue Angel Theatre Company), Mary Campbell (of Divining Beauty), Gillian Gorman (of Radiance Yoga & Yoga GB), Irina Kom (of Irina Kom Dance), Sara Goff (of Giggling Goddess Yoga), Amy Webb (of Sruti Yoga Center), Wild Woman Circle Leaders (Meredith Edwards, Aimee Davis, Julie Kunz), Amanda McCall (of Inner Harmony Therapeutics), Hallie Evans (Poster Design), Shuttle Staff (Amanda Petrocelly, Conor Moran, Rehan Morey, Susan Moran), Cole Lopez (Festival clean up + emotional support), The Wonderful Abode Staff & the Sacred Land (on which many have gathered before us: native people, then the shakers, then the sufis & many others for years and years of practice on the land.)
Many more to come.
Online Home Revamp.
I slept for about 2 days after the festival and then got to work on the 3rd reincarnation of The Wild Woman Project site. I got rid of the pink & made the website I had been dreaming of for about year. This new version feels reflective of nature itself and creative fire which are inherent in the archetype of the wild woman. The resign has brought many more wild women to our tribe. The rate of women signing up for Wild Woman Weeklyish has drastically increased. The Weekly tribe is growing faster than it ever has.
Fall Leadership Training Soars
Fall Training was filled with remarkable women, representing the U.S, Canada, Trinidad, Israel & the U.K. It was the first time the training was completely sold out. Again, more circles blossoming and leaders emerging with confidence.
October-December: Requiem, Re~Vision
Requiem for the Moon: Urban Retreat Series begins.
I teamed up with Cole Lopez (TWWP Hearbalist, Founder of the House of Magick & my best friend of 12 years) to lead the first 3 hour retreat inspired by the phases of the moon & their sister seasons.
The first was in October. Inspired by the Waning Phase & her sister season: Autumn. We gathered at Awakening NY in Brooklyn for a delicious 3 hours of Restorative Yoga, Full Bodied Ritual, Tea Ceremony, Essential Oils, Inquiry, Sister Sharing & Herbal Blessings.
We will be doing these Urban Retreats every season. Next up: New Moon & Her Sister Season: Winter. Sunday, January 25th 3-6pm. If you are in NYC, I hope you can make it. Details & Registration Here.
Limor’s Circle Moves out West
Limor Hakim was one of the original Circle Leaders & early advocate and angel of the Project. She lead her circle in Manhattan for about 2 and a half years! And was beloved. In summer, she headed out west and by the fall planted her circle in Los Angeles (which, at no surprise to me or anyone who knows her, is already flourishing).
Bonus: One of her Former NYC circlers, Kimmay, just graduated from Circle Leader Training and will be leading her circle at the very same venue!
Visioning
Behind the scenes, I have been in a period of reflection & refinement. I am preparing for next year’s Leadership Trainings (Next one starts on January 19th, 11 seats left), Wild Woman Fest ’15 (Early Registration Begins in March, we gather July 29th-August 2nd) & new top secret (for now) 2015 happenings, offerings and projects.
Extra Thanks Yous + Celebration
40 Days of Deep Inner guidance + Outward Expression
All year long I have been guiding 1-on-1 journeys with women in the 40 Day Wild Woman Transformation. I am humbled by the power, courage and beauty of the each and every woman(you know who you are). The power of this journey & what it brings forth in the women who take it always astounds me. I can’t wait to see what is next for each of you.
Special love and thanks to Circle Regulars.
Your action of showing up for yourself, in community each month.
Your intentionally creating your lives, with the rhythm of the moon.
It’s powerful. For all of us. Your presence and heart light is felt beyond you and your circle. Thank you so so much for being a part of this movement.
New Moon Reports got musical with a Curated New Moon theme-Inspired playlist by Marianna. Wha-hoo!
This year The Wild Woman Project seen/heard in:
Mainstreet Magazine
Wild Spice Magazine
Elite Daily
International Women’s Artist Salon
Natural Awakenings
The Morning News
Spiritualitea
Hurray Kimmay
Lucid Body
Elephant Journal
In the Spirit Radio with Gary Goldberg
(and other places I am forgetting~remind me? or am unaware of~Tell me!).
Wild Woman Circle Themes of 2014
January/Capricorn: Getting Crystal Clear
Late January/Aquarius: The Power of Perception
February/Pisces: Creating from Devotion
March/Aries: Free Your Inner Wild Child
April/Taurus: To Blossom
May/Gemini: A Mind in Service to the Heart
July/Leo: Unleash Your Creativity
August/Virgo: Delight in the Doing
September/Libra: Opening to Beauty
October/Scorpio: Into the Depths of Desire
November/Sagittarius: Aligning with Enthusiasm
December/Capricorn: Sacred Architecture
Now your turn.
If you feel moved, I’d love to hear your favorite Wild Woman Project Moments & discoveries of the year.
Whether they happened solo, in circle, session, festival, workshop. What moved you, inspired, shifted something?
Please share in the comments below. Or if it is tender and you prefer to share in a private message. Please email info@thewildwomanproject.com. I can’t wait to read them.
I will close with a prayer for the New Year:
May the New Year bring forth
brilliant solutions & whole-hearted awakening.
May we show up for our lives
with integrity and warmth.
May we treat our bodies, emotional life, minds and energy
with the respect and care they deserve.
May we face ourselves & each other with compassion above all.
May we be loving advocates of shift
where shift is needed.
May we stand up for those whose voices
are not heard.
May we tune into our inner depths
and gracefully,
right from that place,
May we engage with the world as
the wild & wise wo(men) we truly are.
Amen.
On the Horizon
Join us for an hour-long New Moon Meditation Adventure on December 30th!
Online, from anywhere.
Using a dynamic meditation journey, we will tune into the New Moon, to your own Inner Guidance, synced up with wild-hearted women from around the world. This offering will include music, storytelling, meditation, journaling prompts & intention-setting.
Can’t make it live? No worries. All participants will receive a copy of the recording with 24 hours of the session.
Join the WILD WOMAN UNDERGROUND.
"The Circle Leader Training Program at The Wild Woman Project was one of the most transformative and healing experiences of my life. I have received many tools, resources, support, and connections that I will carry on with me forever." ~ Hannah Devin, Graduate
We have Wild Woman Project-trained Circle facilitators is 26 countries, and 44 out of the 50 United States.
Chris Maddox is the founder of The Wild Woman Project where she teaches women how to utilize the gifts of the Wild Woman Archetype in their everyday lives & how to lead women’s circles in their local communities. She is the organizer & facilitator of the beloved annual WILD WOMAN FEST, a women’s retreat-festival hybrid which fosters a deep connection to nature, a direct experience of the divine feminine & profound spiritual sisterhood among the women in attendance.
An ever student of the great mysteries of existence and nature itself, Chris believes women are holding innate gifts & tools that society at large needs – now more than ever. She is committed to helping women remember their special magic and to bring it forward into every corner of their lives, for the greater good of the planet.