Women's Circles in Sarasota and How to Find a Good One

Women's circles have become one of the quiet growth stories of spiritual Sarasota. Across the Suncoast you can find new moon gatherings, breathwork circles, priestess trainings and simple living room meetups. This guide explains what a women's circle is, what happens inside one, and how to find a circle that truly holds you. It draws on our conversation with Sarasota psychotherapist Jamie Day on the Quantum Collective Podcast with Jonah Bolt (@iamjonahbolt).

This page shares spiritual practices and personal experiences with respect. It is not medical or mental health advice.

What Is a Women's Circle?

A women's circle is a small group of women who gather with intention to share, listen and support one another. Most circles sit in a ring, open with a simple ritual such as lighting a candle, and give each woman time to speak without interruption. The aim is connection, honesty and growth, not therapy or performance.

The format is ancient. Women have gathered around the hearth, the harvest and the birth room in cultures across the world. The modern revival, often linked to the red tent and moon circle movements, has spread through yoga studios, wellness centers and private homes.

What Happens Inside a Women's Circle?

Most circles follow a simple rhythm: an opening, a check in where each woman shares how she is arriving, a theme or practice, deeper sharing, and a closing. Practices might include meditation, journaling, breathwork, song, movement or a talking piece passed hand to hand. What is shared in the circle stays in the circle.

Jamie Day founded the Divine Mommy women's circles in Sarasota in 2016. She describes what happens when women meet as equals in an intentional, prayerful way: a compassionate, shared interdependence, and women birthing what she calls idea children from the creative center of the womb. Asked what it is like to sit with a group of empowered women, she did not hesitate.

"It is pure gold." Jamie Day

In her circles, women explore sovereignty, the energy body, the wisdom of the womb center, the mysteries of the menstrual cycle and birth, and the release of old shame. Read the full story in Inside a Women's Circle: Jamie Day on the Rising Divine Feminine.

Why Are Women's Circles Growing in Sarasota?

Sarasota draws healers, artists and spiritual seekers, and many describe the area as a place that amplifies intention. Add a large community of yoga teachers, therapists and wellness practitioners, and you get steady demand for gatherings where women can slow down, share honestly and feel held by people who understand their path.

Many seekers call Sarasota stargate number two and the womb of the planet, a belief we explore in Sarasota Stargate: Why Seekers Feel Called to Sarasota. Jamie says people often feel pulled to the area without knowing why, and that finding like hearted community helps them settle into its strong energy. A circle is often where that community begins.

On the podcast, Jonah Bolt shared his own view that the planet is ready for balance, with the nurturing feminine leading alongside the masculine as we move toward a new earth. Jamie added that this is not about one side winning.

"As we rise, the masculine rises with us." Jamie Day

How Do You Find a Women's Circle in Sarasota?

Start with word of mouth from friends, yoga teachers and practitioners you already trust. Then check local yoga studios, metaphysical shops, wellness centers and event listings on sites like Meetup and Eventbrite, which often post new moon and full moon circles. Visit once, notice how you feel afterward, and let your intuition decide.

• Ask your yoga teacher, massage therapist or acupuncturist. Practitioners usually know which circles are well held.

• Look for gatherings timed to the new moon or full moon. Many circles meet on the lunar cycle.

• Search Meetup, Eventbrite and the community boards at local health food stores and studios.

• Follow facilitators you resonate with on Instagram. Jamie Day shares her work at @divine.mommy.

• Consider starting small. Jamie notes that any intentional gathering can become a circle, even a conversation between two people.

What Makes a Women's Circle Safe?

A safe circle has a facilitator who holds clear boundaries without telling you who to be. Confidentiality is agreed at the start, sharing is always optional, and no one pressures you to buy, believe or disclose anything. You should leave feeling more like yourself, not smaller, more confused or dependent on the leader.

Jamie's first advice is to trust your intuition. She also names two warning signs. The first is a leader who tells you what to do, how to think or how to act. The second is a culture of commiseration, where a group bonds mainly over complaint rather than growth.

"The circle is a container. It is the temple space." Jamie Day

Other good signs: a clear start and end time, transparent pricing, a facilitator with real training or a long track record, and respect for every faith and background. If a circle includes plant medicine or other intense practices, ask in advance what is involved, and read Plant Medicine Traditions: A Respectful Guide before saying yes.

What Should You Bring to Your First Circle?

Bring a journal, a water bottle, a cushion or blanket if you like to sit on the floor, and an open mind. Some circles invite a small object for a shared altar, such as a stone, flower or photo. Wear comfortable clothes, arrive a few minutes early, and remember that listening is a full way to take part.

Many facilitators open by clearing the space with the smoke of dried herbs, and sage has traditionally been used for this in many traditions. Some circles also honor flowers held sacred in ancient ceremony, like the blue lotus of Egypt, a land Jamie returns to with groups. New to energy language? Our guides The 7 Chakras Explained Simply and What Are Spirit Guides? make good preparation.

Can Men Join a Women's Circle?

Most women's circles are for women only, so participants can speak freely about experiences like menstruation, birth and relationships. Some circles welcome all genders, and Jamie Day teaches that the wisdom of the womb center is available to everyone, regardless of gender. Mixed circles and men's circles are growing too, so simply ask the facilitator.

Women's Circles FAQ

How much does a women's circle cost in Sarasota?

Prices vary. Many community circles run on donation or a modest fee, while multi week programs, retreats and priestess trainings cost more. Ask before you go, and be cautious of any group that pressures you into expensive upgrades or long commitments on your very first visit.

How often do women's circles meet?

Many circles meet monthly on the new moon or full moon. Others meet weekly, or seasonally around the solstices and equinoxes. Try one gathering first, notice how you feel in the days after, then choose a rhythm that fits your life, your energy and your schedule.

Do I have to share in a women's circle?

No. In a well held circle, sharing is always optional, and you can simply pass when the talking piece reaches you. Listening fully is a complete way to take part. Many women say they found their voice only after a few quiet gatherings where they felt safe.

Is a women's circle the same as group therapy?

No. A circle is a peer gathering for connection and spiritual practice, while group therapy is led by a licensed clinician. If you are struggling with your mental health, please speak with a licensed therapist, ideally one open to spiritual experiences, as Jamie Day is in her own practice.

Can I join Jamie Day's circles if I live outside Sarasota?

Jamie works with clients around the world over Zoom and says the connection is just as potent online. Reach out through jamieday.love or on Instagram at @divine.mommy to ask about upcoming circles, priestess trainings and her group journeys to Egypt.

Watch Jamie Day's full interview on the Quantum Collective Podcast, read her guest profile, and follow Jonah at @iamjonahbolt. Curious about other sacred gatherings? Read Temazcal vs Sauna: What Makes a Sweat Lodge Sacred. Browse the Quantum Collective online store for products that help fund our work.

Many circles open with a warm cup of cacao. Our cacao ceremony guide explains what to expect and how to make it at home.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.