Circle of Stones
Reviews of CIRCLE OF STONES
A book of healing …
“This is a book about women helping women, about mentoring and bonding, and about the sacredness of women ‘being there’ for each other at all stages of life. [It] deals directly and gently with women’s pain, depression, sorrow, and tears, re-consecrating them as valid. [It is a] book that touches women’s souls and helps to heal.”—Pilgrimage
A book for the heart …
“A gentle, wise little book that speaks to the heart—and hits home. A book to be given to mothers and sisters and girlfriends for birthdays and Christmas and no reason at all.”—The Sunday Oregonian
A personal journey to the Feminine …
“Judith Duerk takes us on a personal yet universal journey to the essence of the Feminine. In an intimate and richly woven style, she weaves a tapestry that reaches far back in time, yet grounds us in the lives of women today and in the future. As the stories, dreams, and visions of women unfold, we are called to honor the Feminine in ourselves, in each other, and in the world.”—Lucia Capacchione, Author of The Power of Your Other Hand and The Creative Journal
A ‘gem’ that makes a difference …
“Circle of Stones is one of those book gems that enters a person’s life and makes a difference. Its impact is powerful. The one-page scenarios, which begin and end with ‘How might your life have been different if …’ are so moving, I found myself crying in response to them.”—Owner of Stiles for Relaxation (Portland, OR)
A welcoming guide to inner wisdom …
“Circle of Stones draws us gently into a meditative experience of the lost feminine. Judith Duerk’s discussion of depression and illness as gifts that force women to listen to their inner voice reminds me as a therapist to respect the nurturance and fertility in these processes. A welcoming, loving guide for women seeking to find a path to their own inner wisdom.”—Anne M. Berlin, Ph.D., Psychologist in Private Practice
A compelling call to personal discovery …
“A book of compelling integrity … the central axis around which this book evolves is that woman’s spirit-self is found in solitude, in recognizing the validity and truth of her own feeling values, and that one’s personhood is not found in safe conformity to outer values but in the darkness of personal discovery.”—Christella Carbaugh, SLW, Coordinator of Spiritual Life, Sisters of the Living Word
A book of surprising truths …
“Circle of Stones flows easily, ceaselessly cushioning us with delightful and surprising truths. Judith’s lovely book for women is a rewarding journey. Highly recommended.”—Spiritual Studies Center Booknews
An invitation to the inward journey …
“Circle of Stones is more than a call to reflection … it is a beckoning to go forward, for each woman to make the journey to herself. It causes [us] to acknowledge [our] deep indebtedness to those women who are present to [us] on this journey, and challenges [us] to be open and present to others. An excellent book; recommended reading for all women.” —Catholic Library World
The best gift …
“If there were only one gift I could give to all of my women friends, this book would be it. It speaks powerfully to many emotions, issues, and lifeways common to women … and brings home the important reality of ‘Woman’s time’ as different, slower, more in tune with natural cycles … a part of the deeper, more sacred center.”—Intuitive Explorations
A voice for the lost Feminine …
“Circle of Stones speaks to the part of us that mourns silently for what has been lost to the world since patriarchy became the order of the day. It jogs our ancient memory, that deep part of us that somehow knows that there were ancient lands where the Feminine was revered. Circle of Stones is a book I devoured. Several of my friends say that this is one of the most important books of their lives.”—Chinaberry Catalog
A book of empowering …
“I am recommending this book to all women. I started to pick out parts to quote to women and realized I could settle for nothing but the whole. It’s a short book, but every page is accepting, healing, empowering.”—Kay Bradway, Ph.D., Founding Member of the C. G. Jung Institute of San Francisco; Author of Villa of Mysteries and co-author of Sandplay: Silent Workshop of the Psyche
An essential book for women …
“Circle of Stones continues to serve as a threshold for thousands of women waking up to the essential questions of consciousness.”—Christina Baldwin, Author of Calling the Circle: The First and Future Culture and Co-founder of Peer Spirit Circling
A touching, transformative read …
“I could not put Circle of Stones down. I wondered if this book itself is particularly magnetizing or if it came at the ‘right’ time. In picking it up a second time, I realized that the book speaks to me on many different levels and would, I’m certain, touch a chord in (almost) every reader at any time. I give this review in hopes that others will pick it up and find their lives becoming transformative, powerful, different.” —Booknotes from the Center for Women and Religion
A meditative experience …
“I am recommending Circle of Stones to every woman who walks into the store. This marvelous book is the story of a woman’s journey to herself. Duerk draws us gently into a meditative experience of the lost Feminine. She creates the female space for us to consider our present lives from the eyes of women’s ancient culture and ritual. Read this book!”—Lucia’s Garden Newsletter (Houston, TX)
CIRCLE OF STONES SERIES
BY JUDITH DUERK
CIRCLE OF STONES:
Woman’s Journey To Herself
I SIT LISTENING TO THE WIND:
Woman’s Encounter Within Herself
THE CIRCLE CONTINUES:
Women Respond to Circle of Stones
Copyright © by Judith Duerk
All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronics, mechanical, or without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Duerk, Judith.
Circle of stones : woman’s journey to herself / Judith Duerk. — 15th anniversary ed.
p. cm.
ISBN 978-1-880913-63-5
1. Women—Psychology. 2. Women—Identity. 3. Femininity. 4. Identity (Psychology) 5. Sex role. I. Title
HQ1206 .D84 2004
155.6/33—dc22
0408
10 9 8 7 6 5
Acknowledgements
My thanks to the women who have allowed the use of their dreams and writings, and to the women of the original circle for whom this writing was begun.
My acknowledgment to Susan Stark and Elizabeth