About Maiden Star* and Moon Song

The Maiden Star* program was born in 2011 when Delia Aaron and Raina Gardner realized that a girl's coming of age was not being supported or celebrated in our culture. Nicole Carere brought her own daughters to Maiden Star* programs and has been a supporter and then mentor ever since. Moon Song Teen Circles were created in 2025 out of a passion to support young women to deepen their connection with their bodies and their inner knowing.

A girl's Menarche, or first menstruation, is such a critical window in her life, and much of her self-confidence, body image, and personal strength is actualized through the way she is encouraged to flourish during this transformational time. And as a young woman starts cycling, she expands her wisdom month by month through her lived experience.

In traditional cultures, a girl's transition to young womanhood is honoured with ceremony, as well as new rights and responsibilities in the community. A girl will remember her first period, or "moontime", for her entire life, and we hope to provide each girl and her mother with the tools, knowledge, and safe space to ensure that her Maiden years are celebrated as a beautiful, empowering rite of passage.

Delia Aaron
     Delia co-founded Maiden Star* with Raina Gardner.  Delia is a Women's Counselor, Certified Yoga Teacher, and Registered Childbirth Educator & Birth Doula pursuing her practice in integrative women's wellness. 
    She is skilled at guiding women and girls in connecting with the power & wisdom in their bodies, and exploring their inner and outer worlds.  She has created personal development courses and workshops over the last decade, offering nurturing environments for experiential process for her clients.     
     Delia is also the founder of The Sistering Tree women's health network, and catalyzed the West Kootenay Rites of Passage Group (WKRP) in Nelson, BC, where she honed her skills in group facilitation. When Delia is not actively inspiring social change, she continues to do her own healing work so she can be more present. 
     A homeschooling mother of 7 years, she's also passionate about conscious nutrition, educating both youth & adults on the power of food as medicine. You can view her work at her (Un)Schooling and Nutrition blog: The Cultured Kitchen.

Raina Gardner
     Raina has been actively involved in learning and sharing women’s wisdom since 2003, when she first started attending births as a doula. Since then, her personal journey as a woman, wife, and mother has led her to explore the importance of self-care, positive body image, healthy boundaries, and the gifts of authentic communication.
     Supporting women through the transformational experience of the Motherhood rite of passage inspired her to immerse into healing her own Menarche (first menstruation) rite of passage. Her passion to share the wisdom of these experiences led her to co-found the Maiden Star* Coming of Age Program in 2011 with Delia Aaron. She is overjoyed to listen to, teach, and have fun with all the girls and young women she supports.
​     Raina has completed the Mentoring Girls Training Program through Journey of Young Women, and she completed facilitator training in Inner Maiden Red Tent Retreats with DeAnna L’am. Raina certified as a birth educator through Sacred Pregnancy and Dancing for Birth. She completed four years of a herbal apprenticeship with Emery Herbals and has trained with Dianne Whapio at The Matrona in Advanced Birth Doula Support. She has created and taught numerous health & sexuality programs for girls and women. 
     A BC Certified Teacher, Raina has a deep belief in the inner wisdom inherent in each person. 
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Nicole Carere
     Nicole has been working with children and teaching students for over 25 years and is passionate about alternative education and exploring how to learn.
    Nicole is the Owner/Director and one of the instructors at the Pharatree Learning Centre in Winlaw, BC.
    Nicole was a faculty member for 3 years at the Nelson Waldorf School as a TOC and Practical Arts & Woodworking Teacher. Nicole holds a current Independent School Teacher Certification from the BC Ministry of Education.
    Nicole holds a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from York University as well as a courses from the Kootenay School of Arts Fibre program.
She teaches, practical arts, outdoor education, movement education, social sciences, steam as well as provides resources and support for homeschooling families and beyond.
    Nicole is passionate about bringing fresh ideas and learning to the community.