Connect, collaborate, and grow in a community that believes

deeper humanity is the goal, and the ancient sacred feminine is the anchor.

A community for women of color and their allies (and allies-in-practice) to reimagine leadership together.

I've spent years learning from incredible teachers and communities.

Some taught me about leadership and business.

Some, about spirituality and the sacred feminine.

Some challenged me to think differently about race, power, and who is being left in the margins.

And some helped me come home to my body.

I needed every one of those rooms. But over time, I found myself asking the same question...

Why are these conversations happening separately?

Why are we talking about leadership over here, spirituality over there, embodiment somewhere else, and equity in another room, when the way we lead is shaped by all of them?

That question became The Meeting Place.

The Meeting Place is a community for women who believe liberation work is spiritual work, who are willing to hold uncertainty and practice repair, and who believe the goal of our leadership is to move people towards greater humanity.

Inspired by the many faces of the Black Madonna, we call this practice Black Madonna Integrated Leadership, defined below.

Held by Melisa Keenan.

Hi, I'm Melisa, founder of The Meeting Place and HOPE, the Heart Open Publishing Enterprise.

I made this community out of a need...

But before I can tell you about the need, I have to tell you a little bit of my story.

In 2018, I was in a highly conservative marriage, a perfectionistic and dogmatic life, and still nursing my fourth baby at just 30 years old. I decided that after nine years of being a stay-at-home mom, I would get certified and open my first online business as an intimacy coach and mentor. I spent the next several years listening to women and couples' innermost stories.

I fell in love with the raw vulnerability of humanity and moments of real human connection... the moments where everything fell away, and all that mattered was repair and finding the deepest honesty in someone's soul.

Simultaneously, I began studying cultural femininity, realized I had performed nearly every toxic version of it, and ultimately began recognizing a different kind of feminine... the ancient sacred feminine, which seemed to whisper something deeper, more intimate, and beautifully messy, like the vulnerability and humanity I felt in my intimacy coaching sessions.

By 2023, I fell so in love with authentic stories of humanity and the connection that they foster... I allowed the whisperings I felt from the sacred feminine to consume me and destroy my entire internal orientation on life. I crawled out of my Christian Nationalist cave with my husband and four children, opened a publishing company focused primarily on anthologies filled with many voices, and we began rebuilding our whole belief system oriented towards freedom and humanity for all.

People's stories changed me.

And the ancient sacred feminine, through the whisperings of the Magdalene and Black Madonna, changed me.

The deconstruction has been so intense and has forced me to see the toxic systems, power dynamics, and oppression that surrounded me, and which I had both participated in and perpetuated. There's been a lot of repair needed. And the final piece that came on board for me was confronting the whiteness program - I didn't know how to create inclusive spaces, but I became determined to learn, and will for the rest of my life.

Now back to the need... In my seeking, I wanted to be in more rooms talking about the relationship between ancient sacred feminine spirituality and the work of liberation, which felt so obviously intertwined for me...

But I found again and again that the spaces that were talking about sacred feminine principles and Mary Magdalene were often isolated, mostly white spaces focused on meditation and not really talking about the issues at hand, the power struggles, and real people facing real oppression. The focus on light seemed more and more to me to be a copycat of the focus on whiteness from our ancestors. And the practice of love seemed to never extend beyond the blind spots of the women in the room...

The more I searched, the more I found women searching for a room that held it all... in fact, I found that not only were we searching for it, we believed this kind of room had the power to change the tides in a time when our planet is desperately in need.

That's why I made the Meeting Place.

"Love takes off the masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within. "

- James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time

Why Black Madonna?

Black Madonna represents many faces of the ancient sacred feminine and many of the cultures and peoples who have been in connection with the Great Mother since the beginning of time. Statues of her are found all over the world.

Though she is found in Catholic Cathedrals, we look to a more ancient, pre-patriarchal relationship that Black Madonna represents, which has, in many cases, been held for hundreds and even thousands of years by peoples and cultures impacted by colonization.

Therefore, the Black Madonna literally invites us into a meeting place where interpretations and dogma aren't centered or debated because the sacred work of liberation takes precedence.

How We Practice

Black Madonna Leadership Gathering

Expand your thinking.

Held by Melisa Keenan and Deidra Towns. Every month we gather for the conversations most of us can't find anywhere else. Together we wrestle with leadership, spirituality, liberation, power, race, belonging, and storytelling—not to arrive at easy answers, but to become wiser leaders.

The Black Madonna Codes Monthly Integration Box

Every month you'll receive a Black Madonna Codes Monthly Integration Box filled with ritual tools, artisan-crafted treasures, candles, oils, and sacred objects inspired by the landscapes and traditions we're exploring together. Each item is intentionally chosen to help you embody that month's Black Madonna Code, creating small moments of devotion, pleasure, beauty, and reflection that weave the work of this community into your daily life.

Eros, Blood & Body

Return to your body.

Each month we center a Resident Guide within the Meeting Place. This is a woman of color sharing her teachings rooted in her own lineage to help us reconnect with embodiment, pleasure, desire, and the wisdom our bodies carry. We recognize that not all women relate to the body, sexuality, and even blood in the same ways in all seasons of life, and we seek to create an inclusive space for all.

Writing Studio

Create what matters, side by side with people doing big things!

Whether you're writing a book, shaping a keynote, building a business, or simply making space to think, this is dedicated time to move meaningful work forward in good company. This gathering also joins with all the authors who have written within the Heart Open Publishing Enterprise.

Collaboration Referral Circle and Directory

Elevate one another.

We get to know each other's work well enough to genuinely collaborate, refer, celebrate, and create opportunities together.

“Rarely, if ever, are any of us healed in isolation.

Healing is an act of communion.” - bell hooks

Why
Women Join

Because they want to connect, collaborate, and grow in a community that believes deeper humanity is the goal and the ancient sacred feminine is the anchor.

If you've read this far, whether you plan to join or not, please reach out and connect with Melisa!

Would love to get to know you and hear about your journey!

Let's Chat

Frequently Asked Questions & Concerns:

Is this a closed practice?

No, the Meeting Place and Black Madonna exist to bring together all lineages, cultures, and spiritual relationships, and honor one another in our differences without making one more "right" than another. Our desire is that you walk away with understanding and celebration of others, and more deeply rooted in your own inner wisdom and lineage. That said, there is a deep emphasis on the ancient sacred feminine and pre-patriarchal spirituality. If that doesn't sound fun to you, then you likely won't be comfortable here.

Are white women welcome?

Yes! Women practicing allyship are welcome! You do not need to have everything figured out to belong here. This is a place to practice, learn, get uncomfortable, make mistakes, and grow. However, The Meeting Place should not be the first place you are encountering the realities of racism, whiteness, privilege, and power. Entering a multiracial space without any prior engagement with these realities creates a greater likelihood that your learning will come at the expense of the women of color in the room.

If you are unsure whether you are ready for this space, book a call with me at the link above. We can talk about where you are at. If The Meeting Place isn't the right next step, I can point you toward resources that may be a better place to begin.

If your worldview sounds like “I don't see color,” “I don't focus on racism, I focus on love and light,” or if the focus of your healing asks us to transcend, dismiss, or bypass the realities of our humanity, The Meeting Place is not the space for you.

Will my body belong here?

When we speak of Eros, blood, body, womb, sexuality, cycles, or other embodied experiences, we know these words do not describe every woman in the same way.

You do not need to menstruate, have particular reproductive organs, experience sexual desire, or relate to your body in any prescribed way to belong here. We are interested in the many ways women inhabit, understand, reclaim, and live within their bodies, including the places where our experiences differ.

Do I need to have a deep understanding of Magdalene and Black Madonna before I join?

I'm not sure why women keep asking me this, but no, you do not. You will not feel behind; you will not be "struggling to catch up."

Is this a gender-inclusive space?

Creating inclusive spaces requires us to be honest about both who we center and where our spaces may fall short.

The Meeting Place centers the lived experiences of women who have moved through the world as women since birth. We warmly welcome and honor trans women, nonbinary people, and people across the gender spectrum. At the same time, much of what we explore here is deeply connected to gendered embodiment and the lifelong experience of being perceived and socialized as a girl and woman.

Because of that focus, we recognize that The Meeting Place may not fully speak to or meet the needs of every gender experience. We name that openly rather than promising an inclusivity we may not always be equipped to provide.

How are the Integration Box items sourced? (And will they give me a headache?!)

We prioritize natural and organic materials, thoughtful sourcing, and right relationship. When items come from particular cultures or communities, we credit their origins, artisans, and makers and seek opportunities to support BIPOC artisans through our purchases. We also choose body- and scent-based items with sensitivity in mind; if it gives you a headache, it will likely give me a headache too, so we aren't trying to do that!

Additionally, we honor the traditions behind the objects we share without claiming those cultural or spiritual lineages as our own. Any practices we offer are invitations, and we encourage you to engage with each item in ways that honor your own traditions, lineage, and knowing.

Are all parts of the membership paid, and exclusive to members only?

Some elements are exclusive to members, and some are not. The Eros, Blood, and Body call centers and features our Resident Guides. These are Women of color running spiritual businesses and we want as many people to experience their work, voice and platform as possible so these calls will remain free to the public.

Additionally, the Writing and Creativity Studio is a space shared with HOPE authors, with the intention that cool people will get to meet one another and create together!

Exclusive elements include, the Integration Box, the Black Madonna Leadership Gathering, and the Collaboration and Referral Directory and group calls.

Is the Meeting Place collaborative in its creation?

YES! We deeply desire this to be a co-creative space where your community and leadership needs are deeply served. I'm very aware that every space needs a leader to make the final decision, and I hold that title and role with care. I welcome all ideas, and if the group agrees and we have capacity, we will build it in! Additionally, we may remove some offerings if they just don't serve.

Are there any bonuses related to the Black Madonna Pilgrimage? How do I find out more?

The Meeting Place was created in part because of a vision Melisa has held for over 5 years: to be sitting in the caves of the south of France among women from all different backgrounds and relationships to the Sacred Feminine, united around Mary Magdalene and Black Madonna. That vision is finally becoming a reality, and you are invited! Anyone attending the retreat gets a YEAR OF THE MEETING PLACE MEMBERSHIP FREE; that means, if you decide a few months into the Meeting Place that you want to register for the retreat, whatever you've paid toward your membership will be discounted from your overall retreat registration price. To find out more about the Pilgrimage, please head over to https://orionretreats.com/magdalene-codes to read more.