In Loving Memory
We honor the women who have walked before us
— visionaries, circle-holders, truth-speakers, and soul-guides —
whose presence shaped the heart of Gather the Women. Each one carried the flame of the Divine Feminine, lighting paths of compassion, courage, and connection.
Though their physical forms have returned to the earth, their essence lives on in every circle we form, every truth we speak, and every act of love we offer. We remember them not only for what they did, but for who they were: radiant, wise, and deeply woven into the sacred web of sisterhood.
May this space be a sanctuary of remembrance, where their stories continue to ripple outward, inspiring us to rise, to gather, and to lead with open hearts.
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Mary Remembered:
"As I process the recent death of Mary Thorp, I am aware of the acute attention to life that she had. Mary knew, although many of us didn’t, that she had an illness that would take her life. So, in Mary Thorp fashion, she called a circle, a living memorial, inviting people who knew her and her work to join her in writing the final chapter. Two hundred people came via Zoom, to pay homage to her and her life’s work. Two days later, she transitioned. She reminded us to look for her “there” as she is still very energetically present and on to the next chapter.
Her life’s work was, in her words, “to disrupt the status quo,” to have deep and transformative conversations that would get us all to think differently. Mary was convening circles long before most of us knew what circles were. She worked with her state political party to rewrite the by-laws, she worked with many visionary thinkers in our world, and she had a passion for indigenous rights and people. She was a warrior, refusing to accept that what “is” had to be that way. She was a change agent, par excellence.
She was also a regular attender of Kathie Murtey’s Thursday Circle of Stones which is where I met her. She brought insight, vision, and challenge to each conversation. I am so grateful to have known her.
Her partner in life, and the person she so deeply loved, is Pascal Diebold. They were together for 27 years, and he brought her great joy and great love.
So it is that we bid our sister, Mary Thorp, adieu and best wishes. She will be challenging the status quo from a different place, in a different way, but she will be there, have no doubt. Her love for nature, for the earth, for people, for Pascal, will still be enfolding us from another realm.
Carry on, dear sister, as you always have with boldness, determination and a long view to all that’s possible."
With respect and affection,
~ Suzan Nolan ~
Carol Hansen Grey
Gather the Women Founding Grandmother & Circle Weaver
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Carol Hansen Grey lived a life of sacred purpose - rooted in love, guided by spirit, and devoted to awakening the Divine Feminine in the world. Her journey began in 1944 in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and unfolded across continents, careers, and callings. From her early years in Japan to her bold move to California as a single mother, Carol met each transition with courage and grace.
In 1993, a profound spiritual awakening led her to leave the corporate world and co-found the Reunion Center of Light. This marked the beginning of her public path as a healer, teacher, and spiritual guide. But it was during her tenure as Executive Director of Women of Vision and Action (WOVA) that Carol received a deeper calling.
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In late 2001, a series of synchronistic phone calls from women - each echoing the same phrase, “It’s time to gather the women”- sparked a vision. Carol listened. She registered the domain name gatherthewomen.org, sensing the energy needed grounding. What began as a whisper became a movement. With WOVA’s support, she formed a steering committee of 15 women, weaving together voices from across the country. By March 2002, Gather the Women was born - not as an organization, but as a sacred invitation to circle, to rise, and to lead from the heart.
Carol’s vision was never about hierarchy - it was about harmony. She believed in the power of women gathering in circle, where every voice matters and Spirit guides the way. Her leadership helped birth a global matrix of women committed to healing, connection, and co-creation.
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Carol’s legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren, in the circles she helped form, and in the hearts of all who were touched by her wisdom. She reminded us that love is the most powerful force, and that when women gather, the world changes.
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May we continue to walk in her light.
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Follow Carol’s journey with an open heart:
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