Why The Cycle Edition?
After our very first circle in March, something hit me: I realised I didn’t really know my own body. And if I felt like that, how many other women did too?
So Circle 2.0 became The Cycle Edition: two days dedicated to understanding the rhythm we live with every single month, and finally talking about it out loud.
I didn’t even know my own body. I want that to change.
The setting.
We gathered at a secret farm in the countryside, with crisp autumn air and views for miles. Think fire pits, lakes, the cutest little shepherd’s huts and an in-house chef keeping us all very well fed.
- 🔥 Fire pits
- 🧘 Yoga
- 🍫 Cacao
- 💆 Massages
- 🛍 Stalls
- 🌊 Lakes
- 🏡 Shepherd’s huts
The goosebump moments.
Five speakers took to the stage, with an extra digital slide presentation. These are the moments the room still can’t stop talking about.
A fern, hiding in plain sight
Charlotte, The Period Rebel, showed the room something most of us had never been taught: under a microscope, cervical fluid around ovulation can form a pattern that looks just like a fern. A whole room of women, gasping at their own bodies. Magic.
The system inside all of us
Dr Shabnam Sarshar took us inside the endocannabinoid system, or ECS: a signalling system found throughout the human body. She explained how it works and why plant medicine interacts with our bodies the way it does. You could have heard a pin drop.
The wise one
And then Dr Shabnam told us a story I haven’t stopped thinking about since.
In some cultures, when a woman reaches menopause, she becomes the wise one of the village.
Not the end of something. A new season of life.
Tears, hugs and so much courage.
There were plenty of tears across the two days, and most of them came from a place of awe. Some of the women shared what it takes to live with disability, and their strength and courage moved the whole room.
That’s what this circle is for. A space where a woman can tell her story and be met with nothing but respect.
Seen, heard and held.
So many women arrived nervous. Some came on their own, knowing no one. Every single one of them left feeling seen, heard and held. Hugs were shared, tears were shared, and phone numbers were swapped all over the place. Those are friendships that will last far longer than a weekend.
Thinking of coming to your first one? Here’s what to expect.
A note from me.
As a founder, there’s a lot of pressure to make everything perfect. I’ll be honest: I’m learning and growing so much as a person as this movement grows.
But standing in that room, watching women who arrived as strangers leave with hugs, happy tears and each other’s numbers, I’ve never been prouder of what The Women’s Circle is becoming. Thank you to every woman, speaker and partner who made it happen.
Sophie xWhat’s next.
Over 90 votes are in. Our winner is announced on Sunday 25 October, so keep an eye on our Instagram.
@thewomenscircleukWe’ve just launched pre-orders, and the first orders are already in. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
See inside → 🍂Circle 3.0: The Menopause EditionSpring 2027. A new season of life, and a circle to match.
Register your interest →🩷We’re a community, not a clinic. Speak to your GP or specialist.
About this read
Sophie’s memories and words from Circle 2.0, written up with AI support and approved by Sophie East, Founder of The Women’s Circle. Stories are shared without names to protect the women who told them. How we write.
