by Martha Llanos Zuloaga To travel is my passion, and I remember my first camping trip as a student at the Catholic University — an unforgettable month of community living in Cañete with students of different careers. It was an extraordinary experience, but I discovered I had weak ankles; I was always twisting my feet. So, I bought some hiking boots that provided solid support and became my go‑to shoes for adventures and faithful travel companions. Oh, if my shoes could talk

The skies are full. The air is thick. Electricity bounces off me and the air. I can feel her. Here in my heart. Memories bounce around….of fireworks, and friends. Dogs and kiddos. Harvesting in the garden – quick before the rains come! A day when everything flowed easily…. shopping – did you get those earrings?,.. or walking up the road – did you see that cool plant, what was that, we’ll have to look it up – sshhh, did you hear that? Is it a bear, is it a turkey, ?? quick let

written by Heather Plett and presented by Judith Hurley Prosser The talking piece isn’t magic, but “what IS magic is the way that it invites us to listen in ways we don’t normally listen and speak in ways we don’t normally speak.” When a talking piece goes around the circle, the person who holds it is invited to “speak with intention”. Everyone else is invited to “listen with attention” and not interrupt or ask questions. Everyone in the conversation is invited to “tend the w

Martha Llanos Zuloaga by Martha Llanos Zuloaga – GTW Perú I have just returned from the UN Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. One session that was very significant for me was the one with the presence of Indigenous midwives from Latin America. Each representative shared her testimony about the current situation; of special interest were Brazil, Mexico, Chile, and others. The Continental Alliance of Traditional and Indigenous Midwives of the Americas bring to

Nancy Busey by Nancy Busey Let’s talk about the role of the guardian. What exactly are guardians, what do they do, and what is their relationship to the host? Together, let’s use the metaphor of a campfire to describe the difference between the host’s and guardian’s roles. The host’s job is to put logs on the fire, keeping us warm. The guardian’s job is to make sure that nobody around the circle gets so close to the fire that they get burned. In an untended circle, some

Martha Llanos by Martha Llanos Zuloaga, Peru I describe myself as a Peace Ambassador. My life mission is of global service to children, women, and families. Thanks to the understanding, compassion, appreciation, and courage that I have experienced in Circle with other women, I have been able to fulfill that mission. This support enabled me to advocate and take action for women’s rights in a world that shows violence towards women and girl children, especially when they are in