Growing in Circles is about salvation — how I discovered it within myself, then found a way to nurture it in others. It's the story of how
I ended up middle-aged, single again, adrift from the cultural and religious moorings that had grounded me for most of my life, and out of touch
with my own inner longings and truths—my authentic self. At the turn of the new century, I knew that if I didn't make the painful effort to sort
through the rubble of my shattered life, I would have no reason to go on.
Growing in Circles is an account of how I became such a mental and spiritual mess, and my agonizing and sometimes hilarious attempts to
remake my outer life into a better expression of my inner truth.
But Growing in Circles is much more than an autobiography, for interwoven with my personal journey is an account of a remarkable group of women I am privileged to call "sisters." In 2001 we stepped outside our comfort zones and formed a Sacred Circle to support each other in our search for meaning and connection with the Divine. We are still meeting regularly after ten years, sustaining each other through life's seasons and passages, nurturing the wisdom and joy that is our natural inheritance.
To those of you who have already read Growing in Circles I proffer my sincerest thanks. If you have shared your copy with friends — please don't do that anymore! Consider my meager royalties and urge your friends to get their own copies. Or purchase a few more yourself and give them as gifts to anyone who has ever struggled with childhood trauma, broken relationships, or the deep questions of life. Growing in Circles is available online from Amazon.com.
You can read a review of Growing in Circles on the Speed Of Light blog.
Praise for Growing in Circles
Psychological research tells us that we all need the security of a safe base for exploration. The most fortunate of us receive this as babies and internalize it. But for most of us, our base was far from perfect, and as we grow up we sell out to some extent in order to please others or even to displease them. As adults, then, we still need that safe place to explore our own truth, free from the imposition of other people's prepackaged answers. Bonnie Casey was able to create such a safe haven with several other women who shared her longing for authenticity and meaning. The engaging story of her personal journey will inspire you to create such a place in your life. - Nancy K. Montagna, Ph.D., clinical psychologist and cofounder of Pathways to Happiness—Learning, Not Luck teleseminars.
Bonnie Casey writes powerfully, candidly, and eloquently about the spiritual journey of authenticity. She and a group of stalwart companions were willing to ask questions, share doubts, and profess deep knowing that, in their tradition and our male-dominated culture, are frankly heretical. This book will strengthen the heart of any woman (or man) whose hunger for spiritual sustenance is stronger than their need for compliance and approval. This book is an act of courage. Read it, and be willing to risk more than you even know. - Robin Deen Carnes, MBA, coauthor of Sacred Circles for Women: How to Create Your Own Women's Spirituality Group and cofounder of Pathways to Happiness—Learning, Not Luck teleseminars.
Bonnie Casey weaves her story around several excruciating aspects of her life—parents, marriage, child, religion, her body. Her pains make us wince, yet her colorful and delicious language leave us no choice but to smile and keep rooting her on. You may not have had Casey's rejections in your life, but you probably have had her dilemma—how to grow beyond your past and change your unacceptable present. The question is, “Can you get out of yourself and grow?” Casey's answer is “Yes.” Growing pains hurt, but growing in circles sure beats going in circles. - Karen Gail Lewis, Ed.D., psychotherapist and author of Why Don't You Understand? The World's First Gender Relationship Dictionary and With or Without a Man.