Published in Crossroads, Catholic Campus Ministry Association publication, March 2006
By Sharon Casey, OP
If I could select only one book to carry with me, I would take Traveling with the Turtle. The book is a compendium of multi-media resources which can be used in single sessions or adapted for a specific audience. Small group meetings can be scheduled weekly, monthly or structured to meet the needs of a particular group.
The book provides for 13 sessions of two hours each; structured around four themes: power within, power with, community power, and sisterhood.
“Each session uses a variety of learning styles and methods to explore women’s spirituality and peacemaking: ritual, story-telling role-plays, small and large group discussions, meditation, creative imagination exercises, movement, singing, and action. Throughout the process, you are encouraged to express yourselves in a variety of ways using images, movement, song as well as written or spoken words.” (p. 4)
The sessions may be facilitated by a seasoned or a beginning campus minister, Each session, provides a list of the materials needed as well as the facilitator’s notes and an agenda. The sessions flow easily and move through the agenda in a clear and direct manner. At the end of each session, there is a section looking ahead which includes a life practice piece and journaling opportunities. The readings for the next session are also provided. This allows for ongoing work between sessions especially if the sessions are spaced monthly.
The readings for each session are taken from contemporary writers such as Jean Shinoda Bolen, Sue Monk Kidd, Audre Lorde, and Thich Nhat Hanh. These readings and other parts of the process can be used as a single piece.
In addition to the works cited, the authors provide a list of basic supplemental resources.
Traveling with the Turtle can be used for a women’s group in the campus ministry meeting room or for a retreat off campus. The book is intended for an interfaith and/or ecumenical group, but it can be used with a group of Catholics students. While the book is designed for women, I believe the sessions can be adapted for a mixed gender group. Using this book on a university campus would generally allow for mixed generational group of women. The wisdom and experience of older adults would greatly enrich the experiences of the traditional age student.
A word of caution — Traveling with the Turtle contains everything needed for a successful group process. This book could be used “when time is running short” on planning, and that would be a grave mistake. The richness of the sessions depends on the facilitator “making the work his/her own.” Personally, I have found the book a source for meditation and contemplation, and am indebted to the authors for writing Traveling with the Turtle not only because their rich spirituality runs through the book, but because some of my favorite readings are included in one text.
