In 1973, my friend Julia Riva and I decided to start a consciousness-raising group.
We were both young mothers who had marched for Roe v. Wade, stood shoulder to shoulder at rallies listening to Gloria Steinem, Shirley Chisholm, and Bella Abzug speak about equality, and devoured every book we could find about Her Story—the stories of women who came before us.
Our group was a vibrant mix of young mothers, bankers, artists, and even former rock-star wives. Together, we explored what it meant to reclaim our voices and our power as women. We discovered the sacred feminine, learned about ancient goddesses, and held Our Bodies, Ourselves as our Bible.
All of these memories came flooding back recently when my dear college friend—and the extraordinary Broadway producer—Daryl Roth invited me to lead a theater blessing for her powerful new play Liberation at the James Earl Jones Theatre in New York City.
Standing there, invoking sacred energy for a play about freedom and resilience, I felt the full circle of our collective journey.
At the James Earl Jones Theatre blessing for the new play "Liberation"—with writer Bess Wohl and producer Daryl Roth. Director Whitney White was also part of the experience, though not pictured.
We are in a time now where it’s more important than ever to remember where we’ve come from, to honor what we’ve learned, and to ask—what are we still called to do?
Yes, we’ve made tremendous progress. And yes, there have been painful steps backward.
But one thing I know for sure:
We cannot live in the past—but we must learn from it.
We need each other more than ever.
And it is essential to create intergenerational spaces where we can share stories, wisdom, and support one another in courage and truth.
Today, I dedicate this newsletter to my dear friend Rande Brown, who was among the first class of women to attend Princeton University. She was brilliant, compassionate, and deeply devoted to creating a more conscious world. Rest in peace, beloved friend.
As we approach the end of 2025 and prepare to step into 2026—a One Year of new beginnings—I feel a deep call to gather in community once again, both in person and online. It’s time to renew our energy, reimagine our future, and remember the power of women coming together.
If you would like to sponsor a Vision Workshop or host me at your organization to lead a circle, ritual, or visioning experience, please reach out. I would love to co-create with you.
With love,
Barbara