"I don't know what it is, but when I'm here its like another world. I can feel the sincerity of it, it makes me forget about the nasty people. "
- Wisdom Circle Participant
"I felt like one with the earth, the moon, the river. One with love, one with each other."
- Wisdom Circle Participant
"This circle is my favorite place."
- Wisdom Circle Participant
There is a brokenness out of which comes the unbroken, a shatteredness out of which blooms the unshatterable. There is a sorrow beyond all grief which leads to joy and a fragility out of whose depths emerges strength.
Rashani Rea
"Through quantum physics it is now scientifically proven that your emotions have a profound effect on your physical body, down to the DNA. Scientific thought is catching up with what witches, mystics, indigenous peoples, shamans, and most mothers and fathers have known for eons...love heals."
Robin Rose Bennett - Herbalist and Teacher at wisewomanhealingways.com
"Aging is not a process of inexorable decline, but a time for the progressive refinement of what is essential."
C. G. Jung
"After the session, residents were relaxed and making positive comments, expressing how wonderful the experience was, saying how wonderful and sincere the facilitators were as well as the setup. They felt like new people and were very happy with the rose that they left the circle with. Some residents felt the desire to help others, others felt considerate and decided to give the rose to their caregivers."
Nathalie Mejia - Recreation Therapist at Methodist Home for Nursing and Rehabilitation
"Everyone feels included as a part of the circle even those that might be non-verbal or not as high functioning, no one is excluded."
Grace White - Recreation Director at Hudson Pointe Nursing Home at Riverdale
“Wisdom Care’s program is a wonderful and unique empowering experience for all women. One that has the power to revitalize your self-esteem and allow you to feel peace and love with yourself and the people around you. I believe the strongest aspect of their work is their ability to interact and connect with each resident on a personal level even though it takes place in a group setting. After a session most of the resident appear calm and relax; they also appear happy as evidenced by the smiles on their faces. The comment I heard the most was “I wish my daughter/sister/niece could have been here to experience this with me.”
Andrew Ferreyra - Activities Director at Methodist Home for Nursing and Rehabilitation
"It was the first time in my life I had said “I love you” to myself. Thank you, this was a very important step for me, I couldn’t have done it alone"
Sandy - Wisdom Circle Participant
"I really felt the earth, water, rain…. I felt like this was heaven, and heaven was a beautiful place."
Valerie - Wisdom Circle Participant
“Both Karina and Paula have a wonderful authentic connection to elder women, they are exceptionally kind and inclusive of all participants. They take great care with setup and listen and honor each elder participating. The environment is carefully constructed, and the group is offered a range of sensorial experience so that all can benefit. Their manner conveys care and compassion.”
Lucia McBee, LCSW, MPH, CYI - Author of Mindfulness-Based Elder Care: A CAM Model for Frail Elders and Their Caregivers
"These two women communicate a lot of tenderness, a lot of love that to elders like me, it touches us profoundly. They create a space where we are able to participate and feel active. They make us feel needed, like we have something to offer, that we are alive."
Fela - Wisdom Circle Participant
This is our collective prayer for every women to reach elderhood knowing and embodying her divinity and wisdom as she is carried by her community.
We bow to the wisdom that our Grandmothers carry within and to the moon that connects all women of all time.
“The residents who have been participating in Wisdom Care program in the past would refuse to attend programs, now I see an increase in participation, they have become more open and are now more willing to interact. It’s clear that the facilitators are passionate about their work and it truly comes from their heart."
Grace White - Recreation Director at Hudson Pointe Nursing Home at Riverdale
"I thought this would be like all meditation sessions but the way the sound was brought to us was completely different. It was so powerful. I was able to really let go of my thoughts."
Ilda - Wisdom Circle Participant
"As caregivers, participating in the circle reminded us of what’s really important in life, and how women should be together and support each other. Some of the staff felt like crying, we got goosebumps all over the body."
Nathalie Mejia - Recreation Therapist at Methodist Home for Nursing and Rehabilitation
"I know this is something that will help me for the rest of my life."
- Wisdom Circle Participant
We bow to the wisdom that our Grandmothers carry within and to the moon that connects all women of all time.
This is our collective prayer for every women to reach elderhood knowing and embodying her divinity and wisdom as she is carried by her community.
"The work that you do is one of the most beautiful that I have ever witnessed! The idea of creating a space where what each women brings to the circle through their life experience (their stories, their feelings) is valued and brought into light is something unique, valuable and so necessary. The way that you achieve this is very simple and at the same time very magical."
Maria Sol Caycedo - Music Teacher and Co-founder of Liebre Lunar
"Wisdom Circles make people open up and feel at peace. The sessions make residents feel calm, refreshed and happy. Afterwards when we take them upstairs to their rooms, they are in a better mood!"
Elizabeth Coley - Recreation Therapist at Methodist Home for Nursing and Rehabilitation
"The care you take in bringing us beauty and what comes out of the instruments when you play them, I thank you for that"
- Wisdom Circle Participant
“The circle that I participated in was the first session in that location. In the beginning the women participating were a bit intrigued but also had their defenses up, a bit closed, observing, not willing to share so much. At the end of the session they totally trusted the process, their hearts and feelings were open, looked a lot happier and relaxed and shared their thoughts and feelings more openly. It was very beautiful to witness.”
Natalie Zuñiga
“The strongest aspect of the session I participated in was seeing the transformation of the Grandmothers, how they opened up as the ceremony went on and their faces lit up!"
Natalia Halles - Doula and Health Coach, co-founder of BrilliantBodies
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
"Come knock on my door, I may not be home, but you are always welcome."
- Wisdom Circle Participant