Women of Wisdom: Empowering the Dreams and Spirit of Women is being launched today and I highly recommend this wonderful, pick-up-anytime-for-insights book full of rich experience, encouragement, inspiration and beauty for yourself and all the women you know.

This anthology of spiritual essays, poetry, and art was put together by Women of Wisdom Foundation founder, Kris Steinnes. Women of Wisdom combines all the wisdom of “being women and being Divine” that has flowed from the annual WOW conferences since 1993.

Kris Steinnes has devoted her life to helping other women feel the power and significance of their feminine voice for more than a decade and continues to open paths for women who long to express themselves in the world with more confidence.

According to Kris, she still hears from women that they don’t feel heard or what they say doesn’t matter in the workplace or the family home. “Now we have new leaders like Hilliary Clinton. Here in Washington all our top leaders are women, which is remarkable. So the next generation will be different,” says Kris.

In her book Kris writes of the similarities between her personal journey and the journey of unfolding the Women of Wisdom Foundation. As she says: “It’s the journey of women seeking their place in history at this important time of the world’s evolution. It’s a revolution of women claiming their power, their leadership, their voice and their rights to equally participate in our evolution. My story is one of many taking this journey.”

Essential to Women of Wisdom (WOW) is the concept of the speaking circle where everyone is heard and everyone has a chance to express themselves.

In order for women to feel more comfortable and effective as leaders they need to practice using their voice. Kris offers these tips:

Get strong in your sense of self

. WOW was organized as a safe vessel for speaking up. So join a group that encourages your participation. It could be a woman’s group, a book club, a speaking club like Toastmasters, a card group or a spiritual group. As Kris can attest, ten years ago she was likely to censor herself in a group of men and women. Today, she says what’s on her mind without censor. In the book there is an eloquent quote on this from Jean Shinoda Bolen, who is a Jungian analyst, internationally known lecturer and author of The Millionth Circle: “From the woman’s circle, each woman learns and practices what it’s like to be in an egalitarian society. and she learns to speak up, to speak out — not with anger, but with clarity, and with her real voice. She learns how to be both truthful and direct, and to be concerned and compassionate at the same time.” (p. 251)

Become clear in what you’re saying.

This includes going inward to really know yourself. Consider your words and use specifics. For example, if you’re going to your boss about a problem, be clear about the issue and about what you want for an outcome. Kris states, “You feel stronger when you’re clear and heard. You become strong when you don’t feel you’ve wasted an opportunity.”

Understand that different women (and men) process information differently

. Kris says that you get lots of gems from people who give themselves time to articulate their thoughts. She cites the example of a very wise woman who needs pauses between conversation topics to process information. If you know your process you might say something like: “I love this topic. I’m having some feelings about this, but I need to process this more. Can I get back to you?”

Learn to listen

. Kris believes that you honor in others what you want honored in yourself. You learn a lot about yourself by listening. “Women want to be heard, not fixed. If you’re listening you’re validating the person’s experience. Let others talk out loud. Be a witness to what others are going through,” Steinnes says with kindness and knowing.

Be in your body

. Get grounded. Run energy from the earth. Breathe. Being in your body helps you to build your strength and presence. Speak from your core rather than from your throat. This will make it easier for you to be heard and help others to pay attention.

There’s a wonderful passage in Women of Wisdom that I’d like to share. It comes from Riane Eisler, who is the bestselling author of The Chalice and The Blade and The Real Wealth of Nations.

Eisler writes, “I believe that feminine consciousness is today more essential than ever, because it is women who must lead the changes in our world. For me, this consciousness has a spiritual dimension. But it is not spiritual in the conventional sense, because for me, spirituality is putting love into action. We must reclaim our heritage as spiritual leaders. This is our great challenge and opportunity: to join with one another and with enlightened men to build the foundations for a more equitable, peaceful and joyful world.”

The richness of this book is remarkable and Kris is offering bonus gifts worth more than $3000.So check them out and get a copy of this book. Then speak up, get familiar with your feminine consciousness and join with other women of wisdom.

In radiance!