The Retreat House at Hillsboro

Book Circle - Wild Mercy, by Mirabai Starr
2025-10-29 15:00 - 2025-11-05 15:30, 2025-11-05 15:00 - 16:30, 2025-11-05 15:00 - 2025-11-12 16:30, 2025-11-12 15:00 - 16:30, 2025-11-12 15:00 - 2025-11-19 16:30, 2025-11-19 15:00 - 16:30, 2025-11-19 15:00 - 2025-11-26 16:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Wild Mercy
Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics
by Mirabai Starr
A Zoom Book Circle
September 10 – November 19
and December 3 – 17
Wednesdays, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. EST

Join us for this online book circle, where we will explore and ponder the many gifts of the women mystics throughout both time and culture. We will read Wild Mercy slowly over many weeks, allowing for generous conversation and wondering. Wild Mercy is essential reading for anyone ready to learn more, to awaken the feminine mystic within, and birth her loving and creative essence into the world. The author’s voice has been known to be both humorous and down-to-earth. As part of our journey with the author, we will delve into the at-home spiritual practice of reflective journaling. To prepare us, for those who are drawn to this practice, we will be guided and inspired by Lisa Groen, friend of The Retreat House, contemplative writer, and author of soon to be released The Cassatt Sisters: a Novel of Love and Art.
Register HERE.

We will read one chapter a week, and come to the first gathering having read the book’s introduction. A Zoom link will be sent.
The book can be purchased by means of Amazon, The Retreat House Bookshop, or your favorite book seller:
RETREAT HOUSE BOOKSHOP:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/wild-mercy-living-the-fierce-and-tender-wisdom-of-the-women-mystics-mirabai-starr/16648245?aid=19040&ean=9781683641568&listref=community-favorites
AMAZON:
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Mercy-Living-Fierce-Mystics/dp/1683641566/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ar-ajtFMhcwfbw6el0GFklw2j4gfnhM-G9hZ99xmeoYggHKa2xZoxo_Vx5fHq9Xh7UhrvxJ4tiGijBSU0-n_Iadu37Il8CjS4nrIuYKrwcm8cuBo0MEiVMhpngxRhZAbBz-fSh486rArZRxseFdO6RhuymJB2Dw6TMsdF_nWfRg.OClcDxUOiYBKOlwC4GfFsGnws8pRFGZ977xKjKcmWNQ&dib_tag=se&hvadid=693905370856&hvdev=c&hvexpln=67&hvlocphy=9051691&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=12696072715795967962–&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12696072715795967962&hvtargid=kwd-754024912921&hydadcr=8264_13544396&keywords=mirabai+starr+wild+mercy&mcid=611b907d2315335eab08c2f5bf6385fa&qid=1752877932&sr=8-1

More about reflective journaling: Journaling as a spiritual practice can be akin to prayer, and a grounding way at home to deepen self-awareness and welcome clarity of the heart. Lisa Groen will inspire and guide us in this at-home practice, a practice unique to each of us and encouraged in Wild Mercy. She is author of The Mother’s Book of Well-Being: Caring for Yourself So You Can Care for Your Baby and the soon to be released, The Cassatt Sisters: A Novel of Love and Art.
More about Wild Mercy: We live in a world that has suffered from an unbalanced masculine rule for thousands of years—but the feminine is rising. “Seeds of feminine wisdom that have been quietly germinating underground are now breaking through the surface,” writes Mirabai Starr. “Women everywhere are rising to the collective call to step up and repair our broken Earth. And we are activating a paradigm shift such as the world has never seen.”

With Wild Mercy, Mirabai shares the subversive wisdom and fierce compassion of the feminine mystic across cultural boundaries and throughout history. From saints and sages, to goddesses and archetypal energies, to contemporary teachers and seekers—you’ll meet women who blazed a path that will illuminate your own.

Each chapter explores a different facet of feminine mysticism through a tapestry of teachings, reflections, and stories, along with a practice for integrating the chapter’s themes into your own life. As you journey through these pages, you’ll explore:

Taking refuge in contemplative practice with St. Teresa of Avila and the Shekinah
Longing, embodiment, and union as the heart of feminine spiritual practice with the Hindu poet Mirabai and Mary Magdalene
Your relationship with the Earth, motherhood in all its forms, and a loving call to action alongside Gaia and Ix Chel
Community and the web of life with Indra, the Beguines, and female prophets throughout history
Wild, playful, and compassionate mercy with Tara and Kuan Yin
Finding joy in creativity and the arts with Saraswati and Chiyo-ni
More inspiration from archetypal goddesses and amazing women past and present—Julian of Norwich, the Sufi saint Rabia, Pachamama, Sophia, Old Spider Woman, Hildegard of Bingen, Demeter, Kali, and more.

Wild Mercy provides a much-needed alternative to the models of religion and spirituality that have dominated history, an alternative suited for both men and for women. Here, Mirabai invites you to welcome the wisdom of women back into the collective field where it may transform the human family, heal the ravaged Earth, and awaken the divine love in our hearts.
