Customer Reviews

Tree of Dreams

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4 star:		(2)
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Lynn's newest book is a beautiful topper to the previous set, continuing her story with Agnes, Ruby, Red Dog, July and the Sisterhood of the Shields. It takes us deeper into the real magic of womanhood, mostly of relationships, struggles for power, the use of sorcery, and most importantly how we view our reality and maintain our own power center and balance point through our heart and intention. Beautifully written, easy reading, and grabs you into it immediately, as all of Lynn's books do. Can't wait for the next book, Lynn!

TREE OF DREAMS is not my favorite Lynn Andrews book -- and I've read and loved most of them. That's not to say I didn't like it! Any time spent with Agnes and Ruby is time well spent. And Lynn is a GREAT storyteller. It's just that there isn't as much adventure in this one (until the end) and there's a lot of talk. But very valuable talk it is! She's much more philosophical in this book -- reminds me of Ecclesiastes: We get older, our friends die, we think about the circle of life and death, the transitions, the fact that we are one, that our loved ones never really leave us. Be open. Believe. Move with the flow. It's all about love. Her closing words are golden: "There is magic in the world if you want the world to be magical. If you want life to be special, it will be. ... What matters is your ability to love. ..."

Once again, Lynn Andrews brings the insights and wisdom she has gained in the journey of her life to the rest of the world. Her teachers, the Sisterhood of the Shields, have guided Andrews through her own challenges and tests, which has been documented in her previous books. Now Andrews brings all of this knowledge together, as if she is surrounding it with a circle or a hoop, in her book, the Tree of Dreams. Andrews does not pretend to have all of the answers, nor does she try and represent a particular native culture. She simply shares the teachings she has received from an ancient group of wise women, and she recounts her own examples of how she has had to learn and grow. I am glad she has chosen to bring this to the world.

As I've followed Lynn's growth and teachings over the many years that she's written (I have an older copy of Medicine Women with the native women and crow on the front........pages have fallen apart, the cover taped back on, etc.), I was pleased when I came across this newer addition to her volume of work. In this book she descibes her feelings on what it's like to have an ailing parent and the process of death. She describes her on going search for answers which also proves that even for all she's learned, she still does not profess to have "the truth". Quite the contrary, she wonders about good and evil, duality, etc.. Her on-going relationship with Red Dog is put in a somewhat different light. It's almost a love hate relationship. A good read and very down to earth. What is interesting also is the process that was involved to write her first, Medicine Women.

Tree Of Dreams: A Spirit Woman's Vision Of Transition And Change by Lynn Andrews is a deeply moving narrative of her quest for growth, spiritual fulfillment, and better understanding of sacred things. Embracing the power of healing and coping with "little deaths" such as divorce or the sudden loss of a job, as well as the great losses of loved ones to "Time's Eternal March", Lynn Andrews' Tree Of Dreams is a powerful and moving metaphysical reflection. Also very highly recommended are Lyn Andrews' previous books: Medicine Woman and Jaguar Woman.

For about 25 years Lynn Andrews has written memoir after memoir of life as an urban shaman living between both worlds. Tree of Dreams examines getting older and balancing her two lives. This book is less fantastical and the passage of time has lessened the melodrama of her earlier work. I still don't get The Red Dog rival and wonder still if he is some imaginary antagonist to make this Native American like. Overall, an interesting perspective on getting older and holding the medicine wheel in Andrews' world. I just wonder if this belongs in the non-fiction section and whether the Cree tribe in Manitoba, Canada are getting royalties. Having known a Native woman who lived on a reserve in New York State, one thing seems to be common - they don't rejoice at Andrews or her work.

Shamanic wisdom, mystical spirits, Native American culture--if these are your heart topics, and you love the way Lynn Andrews writes, you will love this book.

Lynn Andrews returns to the familiar magical storytelling mixed with the idea that we can all be mystics if we only follow her shamanic wisdom. I'll admit a love-hate relationship to her books. "Jaguar Woman" moved me from my cynical, career-driven bent, but as my own path developed before me, I followed Andrew's less. Possibly because I could not match her shamanic travels, uber-human experiences and amazing way of life.

This paperback is another of the Sisterhood of the Shields series. Here, Andrews explores the inevitability of aging and death. She examines the many "little deaths" that occur in life--getting let go or fired from a job, a death in the family, divorce, the long-term illness of a loved one.

The book is an introduction to 'elderhood' with a recognition of another transition--one in which we accept what is, even as we see our friends begin to age and die. We learn to withstand these times and to grow from them.

As Americans, we generally hide from death or simply defy it. This is a good book to grasp the reality of elderhood.

I really enjoyed this book. Lynn Andrews holds me captive through each and every one that she writes!

this was an excellent book about a journey to the innerself and womanhood
i would recommend this book to anyone

Story-telling is a time-honored way of teaching in all cultures. In this tradition, Andrews is One of The Great Teachers.
It is encouraging to note that the Wisdom of Native Americans continues to guide us through our transitions and growth. The same Wisdom that helped form the American Constitution.
In our sometimes adolescent society, teachings about conflict and transitions included in this and earlier books by Andrews, can truly benefit our development. Tree of Dreams addresses becoming an Elder.