PLATTSBURGH -- Since early April, a group of diverse women have sat in a circle in the Emmaus Room at St. Peter's Church on Friday evenings.

They have shared laughter, tears, triumphs and tribulations as they have bonded through a workshop based on "Traveling with the Turtle: A Small Group Process in Women's Spirituality and Peacemaking," by Cindy Preston-Pile and Irene Woodward.

The goals of this shared journey are "to explore the values and practices of women's spirituality" and "to see how these values and practices help you heal and make peace with yourself, in your relationships, in your communities and in society."

"Engage: Exploring Nonviolent Living," a program of Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, was the catalyst for "Traveling with the Turtle," designed specifically for women.

WISDOM, STRENGTH

In the book, the authors write: "The turtle symbolizes women's wisdom and strength. For Native Americans, the turtle was associated with the lunar cycle, menstruation and the power of the female energies. Some turtles have a total of thirteen markings or sections on their shells. These thirteen markings were thought to represent the thirteen full moons or thirteen new moons that alternated each year in the lunar calendar. Many believe this is where the association with the female energies originated -- the turtle's shell revealed both the natural cycle of the planet and the fertility period of females.

Women's ability, her power to create new life, was intimately connected to the rhythm of nature itself. Thus, the turtle symbolizes Mother Earth, the primal, mother, Womb of All."

St. Peter's Church parishioner Sheila Harrison learned about the book from the National Catholic Reporter Web site. Priest/activist John Deer wrote an article in which he described women as the peacekeepers of the world.

"He was encouraging women to continue on that journey," Harrison said."

Deer's book list included "Traveling with the Turtle"; Harrison found it interesting enough to approach the Rev. John R. Yonkovig. He put her in touch with Trish Dosiek, who leads the Women's Ministry at St. Peter's.

"Someone had given her the book a year before," Harrison said. "That was kind of strange. We got together and brought women into the organizing -- people we thought would be interested in pursuing a journey like that."

Harrison noticed, regardless of age, women were feeling the same things.

"It was a pull to unify women together. It started to evolve. The more women you speak to about peacemaking and finding inner peace for themselves, they said that's exactly what I need."

UNITY, RESPECT

In the 13 sessions, women examine spirituality, empowering images of the divine, power within power, with community power and sisterhood.