I feel comforted that, on this weekend of all times, I was not totally out of touch with my inner life. Over the years of working with my inner guide, I have come to trust the ideas and information I receive, even though they sometimes suggest things I would not ordinarily do. Despite my belief in my meditation, when my turn came, I was embarrassed that I didn't have a glorious dream to share with the group. And I was terrified to read my poem. Previously, I had only written poems for myself and my journal, and they were far and few in between. I had never read any aloud to a group like this. My friends on the other side of the circle seemed very far away. However, I was determined to trust my meditation, and so I read my poem, my voice alternately shaking and choking. People liked it! They didn't feel that I had let them down.

And so I left the weekend with a poem, encouragement to write more, and trust that I could share them. It was an experience I had had before, for being with women has been a long, healing process for me. I have learned that I really can do, and even do well, things that I had been told all my life were beyond my capabilities.

The weekend also facilitated a rebirth in my dream life. Right away, my dreams became twice as strong and vivid and fulfilling. I started making sure that I had pen and paper beside my pillow (not on the floor!) and forced myself to write down my dreams as soon as I woke up, even in the middle of the night. I discovered new ways of working with my dreams, and I found that they were becoming my meditation. As I integrated them into my conscious life, I felt less need to work with my guide. I felt that the years of working with my guide on my dreams had helped me prepare for this new depth of my dreams. I also realized that by my taking them seriously enough to spend an entire weekend on them, my dreams were taking me more seriously and were rewarding me.

I also felt that focusing that energy with other women made the validation even stronger. I knew that by coming together like this we had set up new lines of communication, strengthened old friendships, and established new connections. I felt our community had become closer. I knew that each of us would integrate some of what we'd done that weekend into her personal life and into the groups and circles she was part of. I was glad we were creating new forms for meeting together.

The weekend had been very intense, and so my favorite part was late Sunday afternoon, when everyone had left except for Ruth and Jean, two friends whom I rarely saw, and myself. The three of  us lay  on  a  hillside for  hours  talking,