February 2026 - Indoor Gathering

Written By Ancient Hearts Collective .

02/08/2026

February Message: The Light Returns: Nurturing Hope and Resilience

GATHERING MESSAGE

✧ The Resilience of the Living Heart: An Imbolc Celebration

We gathered at Atria Hall to mark the halfway point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. We acknowledged that while the surface of the earth may still look dormant, life is stirring beneath our feet. We came together to honor the resilience it takes to keep hope alive when the thaw feels far away.

We began by reflecting on the "season of gripping." We remembered how our ancestors, living in a world lit only by fire, had to lean into their resilience and hang on to hope as food stores ran low and woodpiles shrank this time of year. We reflected on the times in our own lives when we have felt that same sense of "gripping,” of clinging to a shred of hope in the dark. Jen shared a story about a dark time in her life, adding that she was unaware that she was being divinely guided. But looking back, she can see it clearly through a series of connections and "open doors" that helped her build the foundation of her life.

"Somehow, resilience comes from letting what's unbreakable rise through the broken pieces that make up our lives. And the only way to access what's unbreakable is through an open heart. Like leafless trees waiting for morning, something as great and as constant as the Earth holds us up and turns us ever so slowly toward the light. Our task is only to be rooted and patient." Mark Nepo

We then explored the difference between optimism and hope. We leaned into the wisdom that optimism is based on external circumstances, while hope is a spiritual virtue rooted in the "hidden wholeness" of the Divine. We reflected on how resilience is the ability to stand in the middle of the darkness and trust that the deep roots are alive, even when the branches look dead.

"The dark is not an end, but a beginning. It is the soil. We must not be afraid of the time when the soul seems to be under the earth. The seed that is to grow must be buried. It is in the darkness of the earth that the seed finds the strength to break its own shell and reach for the light. This is the resilience of the living heart: to know that even in the burying, there is a planting." Author Unknown

We journeyed into the remembrance of the "Tomb and the Womb." Drawing from Divine Feminine and Earth-based traditions, we discussed how the darkness is both a place where things fall away and a place where new life and creation are birthed. We learned about the active hope that Earth-Based traditions lean into during the time of the darkness, and how dance and beating the drum become an act of rhythmic defiance long before the brighter days arrive.

We centered ourselves in Interspiritual wisdom, sharing readings from Joyce Rupp’s Prayers to Sophia and Steven Charleston’s Spirit Wheel. We sat with the profound truth that being buried is not the end, but a planting.

We concluded by remembering that to be resilient is to remain soft and permeable. We left the circle committed to holding that tiny, fierce flame in the caves of our own hearts, trusting that as the light returns, it will find its way through us.

SPIRITUAL PRACTICE

✧ Meditation: Nurturing Hope and Resilience in the Cave of the Heart

We transitioned into a ten-minute guided journey into the "Cave of the Heart." We began by grounding ourselves, feeling the weight of our bodies against the earth, and descending mentally through layers of soil and rock until we reached a sacred, velvet darkness. We rested in the darkness, recognizing that this darkness isn't cold; it is the warmth of the womb and the rich, forest soil. In this space, we practiced being "tucked away," resting in the hidden wholeness where no striving is necessary. We visualized ourselves not as beings buried by life’s hardships, but as seeds that were intentionally planted. We opened the heart and rested a while.

In the silence, we listened for the pulse of the life force; the "grit" that kept us going during our hardest seasons. We listened for a message from Spirit, whether it be an image, a word, or a knowing. We concluded by recognizing that we can hold both the roots of resilience and the sprouts of hope at the same time.

✧ SPIRITUAL INVITATION FOR FEBRUARY

As this Wheel of the Year enters its final stretch, it is a wonderful time to reflect on what old habits or limiting beliefs you are ready to release, and what is beneath the soil waiting to be born into the light of the new year.

✧ QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

In our gathering, we spoke about the "season of gripping, "the times when we feel like we are hanging on by a shred of hope.

  • The Reflection: Look back at a "winter" period in your life. What was the "grit" or life force that kept you going even when you couldn't see the exit?

  • The Release: What "old habit" of survival (like hyper-independence or constant worry) served you then, but is now a "block" you are ready to tear down?

The darkness of Imbolc is a paradox: it is both a place where things fall away and a place where new life, creation, and inspiration is born.

  • The Reflection: What is currently falling away in your life? Instead of rushing to "fix" it, can you sit with the "tomb" of this ending?

  • The Creation: If your soul is currently in a "gestation period," what is the one thing—a dream, a boundary, or a feeling—that is quietly forming in that velvet darkness?

Resilience isn't about being hard like a rock; it's about being soft and permeable like a flame or a hollow reed.

  • The Reflection: Where have you become "hardened by the cold" lately? How can you "unblock your awareness" to feel the support of Source, Spirit, or the Earth today?

  • The Guidance: Reflect on a "divinely guided door" that opened for you recently. Who was the person, or what was the connection that arrived just when you needed it?

Hope is a spiritual virtue based on our "hidden wholeness." As the sun returns, we choose to bloom.

  • The Reflection: If you were to act with "rhythmic defiance" today, what joy would you claim even in the midst of your current struggles?

  • The Intention: What is one small, golden ray of light you are ready to welcome into your "heart-cave" this week? How will you nurture that seed as the light grows?

PERENNIAL WISDOM SOURCES

✧ INTERSPIRITUAL

✧ INDIGENOUS

✧ DIVINE FEMININE

  • “Prayers to Sophia” by Joyce Rupp

MUSICAL INSPIRATION:

 

NEXT GATHERING:

  • Sunday, February 22nd, 10am-Noon

    • Location: Gibbs Lake Park

    • Map link: 9103 W. Gibbs Lake Road, Janesville

    • What to know/how to prepare:

      • Join us as we explore the park and connect with the land

      • Bring water and wear comfortable shoes and warm protective clothing.

✧ ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • Our Community Support Request form is LIVE on the website, under the Giving Back tab here. This is a gentle way to let the Ancient Hearts community know that you’re navigating a difficult time or could use some extra support right now.

  • Ancient Hearts Wellness Fair: Save the date for Saturday, March 14th, 9:00 am–12:45 pm at Basics Cooperative. This free event is a gift to the Ancient Hearts community, and wellness providers are invited to donate time and services. Send an email to contact@ancienthearts.org to donate your services.

  • StoryStewards Committee: A new team is forming to help share the story of Ancient Hearts beyond the gathering space. Roles include photography/video, editing, social media design, and posting. Send an email to contact@ancienthearts.org if you are interested in volunteering.

  • Founding Members: If this is the community you’ve been seeking and you want to help sustain us, we invite you to consider becoming a Founding Member in 2026. We hope to welcome 30 Founding Members into our Founding Circle this year. Learn more and reach out to contact@ancienthearts.org with any questions you have.

✧ MONTHLY COMMUNITY EVENT: One Heart: Sacred Listening Circles

Each of us has a unique story to tell, and we each long to tell our stories - to bring them out into the light to be seen and heard.

Yet, too often, we keep our stories inside, and we miss our chance to speak our truth and share our authentic selves. Not just because life moves quickly, but also because it's not easy to find others we feel comfortable sharing our story with.

💗 That's why we are forming One Heart: Sacred Listening Circles for Ancient Hearts Collective community members.

One Heart circles are a form of group spiritual companionship where we get to practice "walking each other home," as Ram Dass once shared. These monthly circles are an opportunity for deeper, authentic connection with others in the community and companionship on your spiritual path.

🪶 Facilitator: Jen Carew, Certified Interspiritual Mentor

🪶 Frequency: One Heart Circles will be offered once a month. Attend every month or when you can.

🪶 Open Seats: For our first meeting, our maximum registration is 18 people.

🪶To Register*: Please donate between $5 - 20 (sliding scale- pay what you can) to reserve your spot here: https://givebutter.com/1heart

Thanks to Karla at Atria Hall, 100% of your donation will support Ancient Hearts Collective.

* To ensure this experience is open to all AHC community members, no one will be turned away for lack of funds - simply send an email to contact@ancienthearts.org. to reserve your spot.

Ancient Hearts Collective . https://ancienthearts.org
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