Because I was jet-setting back and forth to New York City for Mama Gena's School of Womanly Arts over the past four months, I had the pleasure of adding Sister Goddess Kate Northrup Moller to my list of soul sisters. Although some who don't know her like to define Kate as the daughter of Dr. Christiane Northrup, I know that Kate as much as Kate adores her mother, she doesn't need to borrow the spotlight from her famous Mama because she shines a radiant, sparkly light all her own. Kate is a CEO (Creative Expansion Optimist), multi-passionate entrepreneur, budding yogini, dancer, researcher on what it takes to thrive, and seeker -- just like many of us. I was so honored chat with her, and the rest of these amazing women, and hope you find some nuggets of inspiration, connection, and mojo from what we had to say. -- Lissa Rankin, MD, founder of Owning Pink

One recent magical evening in New York I had the pleasure of circling up at Sarabeth’s with eight beautiful women. We were celebrating my friend Danielle’s birthday in pure goddess fashion. As we went around the table, each stating a desire for Danielle (kind of like a birthday wish but with a bit more turgor), it occurred to me that we were swimming in a pool of tremendous wisdom.

You see, Danielle and I both have a desire to get married and have kids in the not-so-distant future. And there we were, surrounded by six women who have been married, divorced, and re-married, who have loved, lost, and loved again, who have mothered and been mothered, who have lusted and have been adored, and who are all currently happily matched with amazing men. I asked each woman to share a gem about love with us with the intention of adding to our already well-stocked arsenal of relationship wisdom gleaned from myriad books, classes, workshops, and inquiries. It was one of my birthday gifts to Danielle, but it was equally a gift for myself.

On love, romance and partnership

Our panel of experts was tremendous, and they had amazing advice:

• Melanie Ericksen, a cranio-sacral therapist and amazing energy/body worker, member of Team Northrup, and a graduate of Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts: "Get in touch with what you want in your heart and ask for it in a way that allows your guy to serve you. This includes boundaries. Set boundaries as a way of empowering yourself. We all love in different ways."
• Dr. Lissa Rankin (woo-hoo!), an author, mother, doctor, founder of Owning Pink, and graduate of Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts: "It doesn’t have to look any certain way as long as both people’s needs are met."
• Caroline Muir, an author, world-renowned tantra teacher, teacher at the Divine Feminine Institute, and conscious lover extraordinaire: "Make loving a daily practice. Create acts of conscious, loving kindness every day such as getting off the computer and dressing up to greet your man when he comes home. Tell him how much you adore him. Feed your love every day."
• Maddy Vertenten, a writer, mother, member of Team Northrup, founder of Vibrant One, graduate of Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts: "Be with someone who requires your voice. Be with someone who can hold the vision of your life together through the dark times and who you can celebrate all the moments of your life with."
• Dr. Deborah Kern, an author, mother, wellness expert and speaker, founder of Wild Dance Workout, and Team Northrup member, and graduate of Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts: "Find a man who is strong enough, powerful enough, and man enough that you can soften in his arms. Give that part of yourself to him and allow him to have that. The magic only happens when you surrender."
• Dr. Karen Wolfe, an author, mother, wellness expert, speaker and coach, Team Northrup member and graduate of Mama Gena’s School of Womanly Arts: "Be in your full joy. Stay present in the moment. The barometer for a relationship is if you feel like, “he makes me a better person.” Partnership, love, and relationship are all a choice. Always tell the truth. The man has to love you to pieces." (Her mother always told her its better if the man loves you a little bit more than you love him.)

Thank you beloved women for infusing us with your truth and jeweled wisdom. Danielle and I will pack it carefully and hold it tight in our evening bags as we date and eventually find, and choose, love.

What insights can you share, Pinkies? What is your gem of wisdom on the topic of love?

Taking notes,

Kate