About the book, and the author
Hello – my name is Cherry Gilchrist, and I’m a writer and a traveller on the path of the Western wisdom tradition. In the spring of 1981, the women in a group of like-minded seekers decided that we did not have a tradition of our own to follow. Our groups were mixed, with men and women, and open to people from any faith or background, but what was lacking was something particularly feminine, that could honour women’s wisdom. One evening, a few women headed out to the Nine Ladies stone circle in Derbyshire, in search of inspiration. In the centre of that circle, they found a bunch of nine golden daffodils. This became the symbol of the new movement, which flourished in women’s study groups, and in the book that I wrote about it in 1988.
Our Nine were thus redefined, embodied and honoured for the current era. The nine archetypes go back thousands of year - traces can be found in landscape, in myth and in history. You will find more about the origins of the Circle of Nine in my book. Even I have been astonished by the strength and age of the tradition!
Now the time has come to move the Nine archetypes forward yet again, as beacons for women in the 21st century. I’ve researched, pondered, invoked and experienced the spirit of these archetypes in renewed efforts to help them flower again in our awareness. I’ve also been able to draw on my own life wisdom as a grandmother as well as a mother, something that still lay in the future when I first wrote this book back in the 1980s.
I have always been drawn to ‘sisterhood’ – one of my greatest regrets even as a child was that I didn’t have a sister. I was happy to be part of female friendship groups at school, to bond with other pregnant women and young mothers as I entered that stage of life, and to keep the threads of feminine friendship going throughout my life. As an author, I cover a wide range of subjects, mostly on myth and wisdom traditions such as alchemy and Tarot, but sisterhood and The Circle of Nine is a part of my personal heritage, and is very dear to my heart.
Our Nine were thus redefined, embodied and honoured for the current era. The nine archetypes go back thousands of year - traces can be found in landscape, in myth and in history. You will find more about the origins of the Circle of Nine in my book. Even I have been astonished by the strength and age of the tradition!
Now the time has come to move the Nine archetypes forward yet again, as beacons for women in the 21st century. I’ve researched, pondered, invoked and experienced the spirit of these archetypes in renewed efforts to help them flower again in our awareness. I’ve also been able to draw on my own life wisdom as a grandmother as well as a mother, something that still lay in the future when I first wrote this book back in the 1980s.
I have always been drawn to ‘sisterhood’ – one of my greatest regrets even as a child was that I didn’t have a sister. I was happy to be part of female friendship groups at school, to bond with other pregnant women and young mothers as I entered that stage of life, and to keep the threads of feminine friendship going throughout my life. As an author, I cover a wide range of subjects, mostly on myth and wisdom traditions such as alchemy and Tarot, but sisterhood and The Circle of Nine is a part of my personal heritage, and is very dear to my heart.
What 'The Circle of Nine' offers
- A new outlook on women’s spirituality
- Discovering the ancient ‘Nine Sisters’ tradition, backed up by new research
- In-depth investigation of the nine feminine archetypes
- The nature of Queens, Mothers and Ladies
- Bridging myth and everyday life for women
- Guidance to working with the Circle of Nine in your life
- Advice on running Circle of Nine groups
- Stories and experiences of the Nine from the author’s life
- A viewpoint across the generations – girl, mother and grandmother
What others say about 'The Circle of Nine'
Praise received for the book
'Change happens when women gather together. The Circle of Nine is a beautiful book that assists women coming together to consider the feminine from a spiritual perspective. It provides poetic portraits of nine archetypes that can be used for both personal meditation as well as empowering connection. It’s a wonderful source for women’s interests and needs.'
Carol S. Pearson, author of Persephone Rising: Awakening the Heroine Within
'Magnificent and inspiring. The most succinct and profound discussion of the feminine archetypes that I have ever read.' --Richard Smoley, author of Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition
'Cherry Gilchrist skilfully opens the Circle of Nine so that all women may deepen their connection to the sacred feminine mysteries that the Nine Sisters weave for us.'
Caitlín Matthews, author of Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom.
'Cherry Gilchrist weaves a magical web of deep wisdom, timeless archtypes and thoroughly modern understanding. This beautifully-written book will help countless women understand, accept and celebrate our true selves - goddesses, one and all.'
Bel Mooney, author, journalist, columnist.
'With a light touch that allows us to explore the depth of her material for ourselves, Cherry Gilchrist defines nine ways to be a woman. And there is an important truth here: it is only in the company of other women that we can truly celebrate our femininity.’
Sue Bristow, author of prize-winning novel Sealskin, and practising herbalist
'Walt Whitman boasted that he contained multitudes. Cherry Gilchrist modestly confines herself to nine feminine archetypes, yet they embody every role a woman may play, the myriad relationships she may have, her essential emotions and her deepest thoughts. Reading this book, I experienced profound recognition and revelation. Cherry offers insights on how we may use the divine forces within us to reveal our truest selves.'
Mary Cutler BBC scriptwriter & Anglican Lay Preacher
'Change happens when women gather together. The Circle of Nine is a beautiful book that assists women coming together to consider the feminine from a spiritual perspective. It provides poetic portraits of nine archetypes that can be used for both personal meditation as well as empowering connection. It’s a wonderful source for women’s interests and needs.'
Carol S. Pearson, author of Persephone Rising: Awakening the Heroine Within
'Magnificent and inspiring. The most succinct and profound discussion of the feminine archetypes that I have ever read.' --Richard Smoley, author of Inner Christianity: A Guide to the Esoteric Tradition
'Cherry Gilchrist skilfully opens the Circle of Nine so that all women may deepen their connection to the sacred feminine mysteries that the Nine Sisters weave for us.'
Caitlín Matthews, author of Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom.
'Cherry Gilchrist weaves a magical web of deep wisdom, timeless archtypes and thoroughly modern understanding. This beautifully-written book will help countless women understand, accept and celebrate our true selves - goddesses, one and all.'
Bel Mooney, author, journalist, columnist.
'With a light touch that allows us to explore the depth of her material for ourselves, Cherry Gilchrist defines nine ways to be a woman. And there is an important truth here: it is only in the company of other women that we can truly celebrate our femininity.’
Sue Bristow, author of prize-winning novel Sealskin, and practising herbalist
'Walt Whitman boasted that he contained multitudes. Cherry Gilchrist modestly confines herself to nine feminine archetypes, yet they embody every role a woman may play, the myriad relationships she may have, her essential emotions and her deepest thoughts. Reading this book, I experienced profound recognition and revelation. Cherry offers insights on how we may use the divine forces within us to reveal our truest selves.'
Mary Cutler BBC scriptwriter & Anglican Lay Preacher