Passages

Pat Hyams“They” say the top two stressors in life are losing and spouse and moving from one location to another. Both happened to me in the past 18 months. My husband, Ron, passed away in February of 2022. In May, 2023, I moved to a two-bedroom condominium.

Paring down my possessions in preparation for moving meant countless trips down Memory Lane and equally countless trips to the Good Will Store. I moved into my new condo in May and began making it my own. Living in my new home, I have felt the full impact of adjusting to widowhood and living alone. I can feel myself changing and am finally able to look beyond my circumstances and wonder what the world has in store for my next chapter. I am no longer a wife; no longer a caregiver; still a mom and still a grandma. I have always been afraid of living alone and the powerful feelings of loneliness can be intense. However, I have learned to lean into these feelings rather than running from them. I discovered that living alone isn’t so bad after all and can actually be really nice. Another discovery: sometimes feelings are like bullies. They look big and bad and menacing, but when you stand and face them, they just kind of evaporate. After all, they are just feelings. Keep breathing and you’ll get another one in no time.

Read more: Passages

Musings from our Fall 2018 Retreat

In October 2018, some lucky women made a joyful trek to the Dekoven Center in Racine, Wisconsin for a weekend of reflection, singing, writing and growth. Mary Grace ("M.G.") Bertulfo was our dynamic keynote speaker, workshops were offered, massages signed up for, vendor wares purchased, raffle prizes claimed, old freiends reunited, new friends made, and a rousing good time was had by all. The element we honored was "fire;" the fire of passion, the fire that cleanses, the fire that destroys, the fire in each of us.

Read more: Musings from our Fall 2018 Retreat

From Juli's Journal (Fall 2014)

During our fall retreat in the beautiful DeKoven Center we truly celebrated our lives as women. With the guidance of our keynote speaker, Joyce Higginbotham, we explored how to value and deepen our wisdom as women while reaching out to others in a compassionate way. Higginbotham, the coauthor of three books on Paganism, discussed Pagan Spirituality, and through meditation led us all on an exploration of our own unique life experiences. During discussions we learned much about each other, and at the same time realized that as women we shared many common concerns.

In her workshop, Higginbotham talked about the Sacred Act of Listening. Using material from the Parliament of the World Religions in 2009, she defined the sacred art of listening as:

Read more: From Juli's Journal (Fall 2014)

Adventures in Cyberspace

Was it only a few years ago (2006) that the UU Women's Connection went up with their first website? Look at us now!

Our Facebook group was added a few years ago to extend the Connection's outreach to women on the popular wave of social networking. You can find us on Facebook by clicking on the Find us on Facebook link at left.

In 2012 The Connection introduced the Voices of Women electronic mail list that brings program information, the quarterly VOW Newsletter, retreat brochures and other news of interest to women. Want an invitation to subscribe to this list? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

So...what is new now? The MEMBERSHIP link on the top menu of our site gives members a way to renew their membership and/or make a scholarship donation conveniently online. Don't know when your membership expires? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

  1. Love letter.....
  2. What is perfect about a Women's Connection Retreat?
  3. Beloved Community
  4. Going to The Mountain
  5. 90 Years and Still Counting
  6. Rev Peter Morales: Let's Get Busy!
  7. Radical Hospitality
  8. Church Life at Prairie UU
  9. The Pill at 50 Years
  10. District Assembly -- Keep on Keeping on
  11. Religious Pluralism
  12. Lovemily*
  13. Rocky at Ronora
  14. 2019 Spring Retreat at Pilgrim Park
  15. The Goddess’ own Songstress
  16. Coming Home to Our Selves
  17. Making Memories at the Fall Retreat
  18. Together Again - Pilgrim Park June 2016
  19. Fall 2015: The Red Tent
  20. Spring 2015: Noticing, Acknowledging and Listening
  21. From Juli's Journal (Spring 2014)
  22. Spiritual Work
  23. Driving Ms Starhawk
  24. Is Feminism Dead?
  25. Eighth Recommendation goal reached

Page 2 of 9