SHINE A LIGHT

An Online Candlelight Gathering

As the clocks go back, we come together.

Sunday 25 October 2026 | 7pm UK time
Online | Free | Open to All — Women, Men and Families

I've been sitting with this for a couple of weeks, wanting to respond to the deep feelings I'm experiencing in a world gone mad.

The division that arises when our social media feeds are filled with horrific acts of violence against women, and the recognition that these things don't just affect those directly involved.

They touch something in so many of us.

And here I am, looking for the right words, not wanting to trigger or upset anyone. But the reality is, this is a hugely triggering subject.

And it's not just about the large-scale atrocities that occasionally make the headlines.

These things are happening every single day, to women all around us. In the violence that often goes unseen, the experiences that go unspoken, and the quiet ways we learn to fear the world simply because we are women.

Like so many women, I've been feeling angry, heartbroken and honestly astonished by some of what we've been seeing and hearing.

And I know I'm not alone.

I've struggled with what this gathering is really about, what I feel called to share, and how we come together when there are so many emotions moving through women, men and families alike.

Because when one of us hurts, we all hurt.

Especially those of us who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual violence or the fear of simply being a woman in this world.

Sometimes, we just need somewhere to take all of that.

Somewhere to be together.

To acknowledge what we're feeling.

To know we are not alone.

That is where Shine a Light began.

I was personally deeply affected by what I was hearing and seeing. Not because it's new, but because it isn't.

Because in this day and age, we are still here.

Still witnessing such horrors. Still having our voices silenced. Still watching men being protected and being told, "It's not all men."

And you're right. It's not.

But that's not the argument here.

Because it is some men. And what are we all doing about it?

And as I thought about bringing us together, I realised that on Sunday 25 October, here in the UK, our clocks go back.

The evenings become darker.

And for so many women, the world becomes smaller.

We change our routes. We think twice about going out. We make arrangements to get home safely. We avoid places we might otherwise enjoy.

As the light disappears, so too does some of our freedom.

And that breaks my heart.

It breaks my heart for women today, for my daughter, for our children and for generations yet to come.

So I'm inviting you to join me.

On Sunday 25 October, we will come together online to Shine a Light.

A candlelight gathering of remembrance, connection and solidarity.

To acknowledge the anger, sadness, fear and grief that so many are carrying.

To honour women whose lives have been affected or lost through violence.

To remember that we are not alone.

And to hold onto the possibility that things can be different.

This is not just a women's issue.

That is why I'm inviting men to stand alongside us. To listen, to understand and to recognise the part they can play in creating a safer world.

And why families and children are welcome too, because their freedom and their future are at the heart of this.

What will this evening hold?

This will be a gently held candlelight gathering, rather than an open debate.

There is no expectation to speak or share your personal experiences. In fact, that isn't the invitation here.

Because we do not need to relive the horrors of our pasts to know they exist. We believe you. You do not have to tell your story to be heard.

There will be space for reflection, remembrance, quiet presence and solidarity.

And there will be opportunities in the future for women to share their voices, explore what they are carrying, and find ways to move through the fear, rage and anger.

Because this is not something we shy away from within Sacred Sister.

We cannot bypass our truth just to be a place of love.

Yes, I believe love is what will ultimately outshine the fear.

But we need to allow ourselves to feel what is here, together, first.

We will not solve everything in one evening.

But we can stand together.

And what I do know, through my years of working as an energy healer and creating space for others, is that when we come together with shared intention, rooted in love and connection, something powerful can happen.

Not because we have magically fixed everything.

But because we have remembered the power of being together.

And what comes next?

From here, we can begin exploring what change might look like.

How women can connect and support one another in their local communities.

How men can become stronger allies.

How we can work alongside those already creating change.

How we can begin building a world where women and girls don't have to lose their freedom when the sun goes down.

I don't have all the answers.

And I don't believe any one of us should have to.

But I do believe in the power of community, connection and collective responsibility.

For now, we simply begin by coming together.

Bring a candle, if you have one.

Bring your anger, your sadness, your hope.

Come as you are.

Sunday 25 October 2026
7pm UK time (GMT)
Online via Zoom | Free to attend

Booking is essential. The joining link will be emailed before the gathering.

This is an intentionally held space for listening, remembrance and solidarity, not debate or personal testimony. You are welcome to attend quietly, with your camera off.

The evening will address violence against women without graphic descriptions. Parents and carers are asked to consider whether the themes are appropriate for their children.

Please share this invitation and invite others to join us.

Because this is how we begin to make a difference.

By no longer waiting for someone else to fix it for us.

By coming together as a village.

By being the change we wish to see.

With love,

Rev Laura Ireland
Founder of the Sacred Sister Movement
A place for women who are ready to be the change.