Reflections on Circles, Grandmothers, and Discernment
14th August 2025
Intro:
Sometimes the threads are spun so fine you almost miss them — a word here, a look there, a shared breath in a circle. And yet, they hold. They hold the weight of memory, the shimmer of new beginnings, the quiet certainty that something just shifted.
Last night in our Silvers Circle, I felt one of those threads form — a connection with Gloria Pascua Aguinaldo.
In our newly formed Our Sassy Story Circle Messenger chat, she responded to my message — “You are the Master of your path, the Magic in your breath, and the Miracle unfolding in your ordinary day!” — with words that landed straight in my heart:
“Thank you Lian for this beautiful reminder. For the first time in a long time, I came home with a light heart — as if being together with you all in our circle, a dark cloud has been lifted from my soul. I love you all.”
Gloria has since joined Lighting from Within – Sustaining Heart-Centred Living. In her introduction, she wrote:
“Just a short introduction about myself. I am 72 years old, with two lovely children and I have become a grandmother for the first time to a cute little boy, who is now one and a half years old, although I have been a grandmother to countless of my siblings’ grandchildren for quite some time. I am a retired economist/lawyer but I prefer to call myself a retired professional nomad, having traveled half the globe as a consultant. Now, in the golden sunset of my years, I am trying to redefine a new path in life.”
Her words felt like the universe tapping me on the shoulder, reminding me that the circles I hold are not simply gatherings — they are living bridges between hearts, lives, and unseen callings.
The Circle’s Ripples
This morning I woke up with a great feeling of inner peace — the kind that comes from a day lived in alignment with purpose.
Yesterday’s Silvers Circle with seven others was an amazing success. I wrote to Emma, the organizer, this morning:
“Just to update — we had an amazing circle yesterday and my wish for a follow-up for attendees manifested. An attendee created a chat on Messenger using Facebook profiles. It was remarkable. Furthermore, I sold three books – A Listening Grandmother.”
After the circle, I did the usual big clean-up — fortunately, without hassle — and then attended Sharon Riegie Maynard’s final class of this season at midnight my time. She guided us through a process to be in the magnificence of our integrated self.
I can’t recall the details — I always allow my subconscious to do the work — but one word came through very clearly: DISCERNMENT.
In the takeaway, I remarked that since using the TAG process, things just flow with ease, so why not continue with NO FUSS?
Sharon has given us a final exercise. When complete, we are to write her the word Done along with a number between 1 and 52. For some reason, 52 feels like my number.
Now I face a decision: whether to continue with Sharon’s classes. The cost is one factor; the other is that there is already so much to integrate, it can feel overwhelming.
The Grandmother Interviews
Four grandmothers have agreed to be interviewed for a project that feels close to my heart. The questions are:
- When you think of your grandchildren’s spirit — their light, curiosity, and fearlessness — what do you feel most called to protect in them, and how do you do it?
- What personal “fault lines” or inherited patterns have you chosen to heal so they will not be passed on to your grandchildren?
- If you could send one prayer, blessing, or piece of grandmother wisdom into the mycelium network for all the world’s children, what would it be?
These interviews will be recorded and uploaded to YouTube. One of the most intriguing may be with Lian Hurst, who is working on her guilt around being the “boss lady” of the “servant class.”
An Unexpected Dinner Invitation
Last night, I also invited my Airbnb guest Angela, her guest, and their visiting friend for dinner. I’m not entirely sure why I did it — except that I sensed I would like to sit down with all three and have a deep conversation.
Angela is on her way to Sweden to attend a conference on non-violence. Mischievously, I have to admit: these conferences, to me, often feel like words, words, words.
Perhaps this dinner will offer something different — less theory, more lived experience.
The Whispers from The Field:
The connections forming — like with Gloria — are not random. These are whispered invitations, guiding me to tend the relationships that carry lightness, reciprocity, and genuine resonance. The Field reminds me: Keep the doors open, but not the floodgates. Notice the seeds. Water them with presence, not pressure.