Tree Spirited Woman

by Colleen Baldrica

Embark on a personal journey of spiritual awakening and life enrichment as you discover Tree Spirited Woman's unique perspective on lessons for life. Written as a narrative, Tree Spirited Woman takes you through one woman's intimate transformation from the death of her maternal grandmother to the establishment of a new and guiding friendship with a wise and mystical woman. With Tree Spirited Woman as her guide, she learns to "let go and trust" in love, personal relationships, and, ultimately, death. Tree Spirited Woman will provide each reader with an abundant opportunity to grow alongside the book's main character. Simple philosophies for living flow through each of the chapters. This is a book that can be read and reread, with deeper understanding and personal awakening culled from each visit to its pages.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Inspirational, Book Club, Self Help, Nature

91 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Colleen Baldrica began her spiritual journey as a child. Inspired by the teachings of her Native American grandmother, she carried that wisdom forth into her career as an adult. With a Masters degree in Counseling and a PhD in the Philosophy of Education, she worked in public education for 28 years. As the author of "Tree Spirited Woman" (Beavers Pond Press 2006, ISBN: 1-59298-144-5) she has begun a new quest - to share with others simple truths she has learned through life."

Reviews

[Beth Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful little book filled with big thoughts about life. The final message of the book from Tree Spirited Woman: "In your life find and experience joy each day; that will be your gift to others."

[Julie Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooo good!! It’s a very short read that every woman should read. It will give you goosebumps, make you cry and make you feel refreshed in many areas of your life! It’s a feel good book! Loved it!

[Laura (booksnob) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good. It's a self-published book and a lot of people wrongly dismiss self-published books as not being good enough to read and this book defies that with every page. It's a delightful, short read of 13 chapters about life topics. It's inspirational and a type of book that once you read it, you will want to share with all of your friends.

[Wendy Hawkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a short read. It has 13 topics that women deal with in life. Pretty simplistic. Mostly things you would already think or know. Just reaffirming. Told in a story form. An Native American woman talks to a younger woman that is "chosen" to share her thoughts with on these 13 subjects.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful gift from my friend, this little book is filled with thought provoking lessons and perspectives for life. It is a simple and gentle reminder to "find and experience joy each day".

[Leah Fagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/4.5

[Quinn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoiler Free Review: 1/5 Stars

I felt a calling to pick this book up when I saw it... but I just have to say it wasn't for me. Each chapter was a "lesson" and I can see if someone did not know these things it would be helpful...But going into this: every lesson seemed like you could look up a video on mindfulness and get a better-worded idea on each. It probably didn't hit me the way it could have for others since I already discovered these ideas already.

I expected the main character to be more relatable, but the more and more I learned about her, the more I felt distant. The old woman was a joy to read about, and I know her only job of this book was to be a knowledge source, but I wish I knew more about her. Also, I knew this was a spiritual book, but I didn't expect there to be references to a "God" since you can be spiritual without any God or Deity. The writing was a little choppy too, just not for me.

[Theresa Gienapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read, but one that makes you exhale, sit quietly and reflect. Found this in my moms stack of books and would love to know how it came to be there.

[Ann Aubitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely

I read tree Spirited Woman years ago and liked it, truthfully I rushed through it the first time to say I had completed reading it. This time when reading it I really savored the words and stories. It is a wonderful reminder of how to quiet ones mind and experience life and joy.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spiritual read that will leave you considering how you could look at life's challenging moments with a bit more grace and a lot less negativity, stress and bias. The author's encounters with the Tree-Spirited Woman were delightfully peaceful and respectful. It was a joy to read each differently themed conversation. I have to admit disappointment with the author's journal entries after each meeting with the Tree Spirited Woman. I just didn't find many of those entries very thoughtful or with the kind of depth that I would have expected after her rich experiences. She was kind of a dumb bunny, shallow. I guess I was hoping for deeper insight and perspective from the author.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I liked some of the ideas in this, the mindfulness and listening as a gift, for example. But I didn't love the way it was written. The dialogue between the two women didn't sound natural, and that's a big chunk of the book.

[Shannon D'Arpino · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for my Mom, sister and I to do a book study with and it was wonderful! I wish I had been able to meet the author that was selling her book at a boutique that I was also involved in. Once I picked the book up, I knew I had to read it and share it with those I love.
I love that the lessons were ones actually learned and then shared through this book. I loved how it encompassed different people's experiences based on a life lived and one that was beginning to live the teachings. As a therapist, I felt that it touched on items that many women have questions about, as we get older and find our place in this world, but just don't know who or where to ask.
I would recommend this book to women that are coming into an age of wanting to truly live and understand their worlds that they are living in; whether it be to face the world they have created and want to change it or are working on making the world they do live in better.

[Mary Jo Wiseman]

I remember a line from a movie I enjoyed that said “you had me at hello.” The author of Tree Spirited Woman had me at the Prologue as she reminisced about her grandmother. Her story tugged at my heartstrings and I found myself at once hooked and wanting to read more.
Tree Spirited Woman is a delightful short, inspirational read with thought-provoking perspectives about life lived and lessons learned and can be read in a quick burst if you’d like (and which I did on first read), but you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the author’s key messages if you take the time and immerse yourself chapter by chapter (which I did the second and third times through). It’s a book you can come back to again and again as you traverse life’s journey to find your joy.

[Visionary Impart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tree Spirited Woman is a beautifully written and deeply moving journey of healing, growth, and spiritual awakening. Colleen Baldrica weaves a tender and insightful story that feels both timeless and profoundly personal. Through the narrator’s transformation guided by the wisdom of Tree Spirited Woman readers are invited to reflect on their own lives, relationships, and connection to the natural and spiritual world. With gentle lessons about love, trust, loss, and letting go, this book offers comfort and inspiration for anyone seeking clarity or renewal in their own spiritual journey. A national award winner for good reason, it’s a heartfelt and uplifting read that lingers in your soul long after the final page.

[Janene Martens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a very spiritual person but this book came highly recommended from a friend. It was less than 100 pages so it was a quick physical read. It hit on lots of key aspects of life and broke them down. Topics included children, marriage, trust, joy, menopause, death etc. It was meant to be female focused but it would be beneficial for anyone to read. Reminders about not taking our lives for granted. I was a little disappointed a specific organized religion was mentioned but otherwise the book was inclusive especially when it comes to medicine and healing (homeopathic and Western medicine). Bottom line... be a kind person and appreciate what this life has to offer.

[Miz Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young divorced mother meets a woman who goes by the name of Tree Spirited Woman every month on the 28th for a year of wisdom and life advice.

Though easy to read in one sitting, this is a book best savored in short bursts when comfort or inspiration are needed or as a guide for meditation or prayer.

Book Pairings:
Tosha Silver's Change Me Prayers and Outrageous Openness present some similar spiritual advice about letting go.

Terry Tempest Williams's When Women Were Birds explores some similar ground in terms of the cycles of a woman's life.

[Susan Aguirre · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend gifted me this book but I resisted reading it because it is so small. I know that is weird, but that's how I roll. In an effort to clean and arrange all the things in my house, I picked it up and knew I needed to make the time to read it, and trusted that it had come back into my life at the perfect moment. It is a nice little bit of knowledge. Nothing hard. My only discomfort was in the section about children. There are a lot of folks out there without - either their choice or not. Otherwise the perfect book to gift to a young person to give them some basic life rules. Peace

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and enjoyable read, with simple but profound bits of wisdom with a Native American influence. These words of wisdom weren’t necessarily new ideas to me, but always good reminders. The writing was different, and the dialogue didn’t necessarily flow naturally, but that didn’t bother me as much as it normally would. I enjoyed this. :)

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

For being under 100 pages, it sure helps you do a little deep diving on yourself. I got this as a Christmas present a long time ago and never planned to pick it up; I’m awfully glad I did. I originally picked it up as a palate cleanser but that obviously changed. It’s short, sweet, and direct and is exactly the reason I’m a mood reader.

[Makena Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is to the point and a quick read for those looking for slight guidance or a bit of hope in their lives. The story is sweet and the messages are short and understandable. It really allows for reflection on your own life from simple answers and quick responses.

[Tania Mishra · Rating 3 out of 5]

“People see situations differently and often argue about what is true. What people do not understand is that what they see or believe is their truth…When people disagree, they fail to understand that both can be right. For every truth, there is an opposite truth. That is the way it is in life.”

[Nancy Gerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought-provoking

[Tracy Steger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short little inspirational read. Loved how I reflected about my own life.

[jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

a quick, 30 minute read. given to me by my sweet coworker tim. it was simple and sweet.

[Torey Ivanic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read with plenty of wisdom. We all need Tree Spirited Woman.

[Brenda Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely telling of the wisdom often imparted by elders.

[Amanda Papenfus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: The Goodreads count is off. It’s 101 pages.

This book grabbed me in the store as I flipped through it. It’s the story of a woman whose deceased grandmother has left her a journal which she begins to use as she meets with a woman she only knows as Tree Spirited Woman. Each month TSW shares a little of her wisdom, a lot of which wasn’t anything I hadn’t heard before but was a pleasant read. The way it’s set up felt like I was tagging along for the visits.

At first I wondered if TSW was physical or more of a spirit guide but there were indications she was real. And then I got to the author’s note where the author reveals that, in fact, she herself was called TSW. Part of the character TSW’s experience is discovering her name did happened, but the name was given to her by a friend. She said the part about her grandmother was true at the time. I felt kind of tricked as I had gotten the impression from the beginning this was the author’s account of a true experience vs a fictional story with true parts.

Editing note: There were several typos throughout, but mostly in the journals so I brushed them off as having been copied as they’d originally been written.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Colleen Baldrica has provided readers with the narrative
of a guiding friendship with a wise and mystical woman
and a universal message about the value of letting go,
trusting in love, valuing personal relationships, and
accepting the inevitable phenomena of death within
the living world around us—and inside us. This warmly
recommended compendium of spiritual insights, experiences
and observations is inspired and inspiring reading.”

FIVE STARS Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA)

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This quick read is the winner of an "Independent Publishing Book Award," an award recognizing excellence in independent publishing. Beginning with journal she discovers after the death of her Native American grandmother, the author takes a journey of self-discovery with her mentor, Tree Spirited Woman, through the various phases of life. Spirituality and learning to "let go and trust" are key themes.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It wasn't what I was expecting, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It has 14 different topics women (and men) deal with on a daily basis. granted somethings I have heard/read before but the words Colleen chose helped drive the idea home. There are definitely things that made me think and want to re-read the book. It is a smaller book and cam be read in a few hours. Glad I picked it up.