From their anatomy and physiology to trees as archetypal and sacred symbols, Bolen expertly explores the dynamics of ecological activism, spiritual activism, and sacred feminism. In Like a Tree she invites us to join the movement to save our rooted friends.

Introduction 1. Standing Like a Tree 2. Giving Like a Tree 3. Surviving Like a Tree 4. Sacred Like a Tree 5. Symbolic Like a Tree 6. Soulful Like a Tree 7. Wise Like a Tree: Tree People Discussion/Reflection Questions Resources Index

“In Like a Tree, Jean Bolen lovingly and simply explains to the reader why trees are our essential partners in life on Mother Earth. The book helps to unravel and integrate some of the scientific facts and spiritual values which have nurtured the development of plentiful ecosystems on our planet for many thousands of years. She also underscores the importance of today's children (especially girls) and future generations in reversing this trend, which I agree is absolutely essential.” —Donna Goodman, founder and president of Earth Child Institute “In this book Jean Bolen expresses the essence of our deep connection to and inseparability from trees. Trees have stood by us humans always; it is the least we can do to protect and save and honour them now. Bolen's thoughts and suggestions for moving forward will, as always, help us see and feel how this might be done. This is a conversation with the Tree tribe not to be missed or dismissed.” —Alice Walker “Like a Tree is a terrific book. It's not only a very readable compendium of facts about various kinds of trees, but a treasury of wisdom about why we love them, how we love them, and how this love is part and parcel of life on earth. While alerting us to the pending disaster of climate change and other collective mistakes we have made through moving personal testimony, this book also gives us a good starting point for change.” —Susan Griffin, author of Woman and Nature: The Roaring Inside Her “Once again, Bolen inspires us with her wisdom, passion, and activism. Like a Tree is an invitation for all to see our interconnectedness and our oneness. It is simply brilliant!” —Zainab Salbi, author of Between Two Worlds and founder of Women for Women International “Jean Shinoda Bolen ... has come out with a most igniting, inspiring, and compassionate book that is bound to motivate thousands upon thousands of people into action in regards to the dire plight of girls, women, and trees in the world today.” —Jerry Jampolsky, MD, founder, Attitudinal Healing, and Diane Cirincione, PhD, executive director, Attitudinal Healing International “Once again, Jean takes us to a higher level of collective activism with a timely and metaphoric message for global survival. I applaud her call to action to save the planet with a new coalition of trees, women, and ‘tree people’. Count me in.” —Marilyn Fowler, president & CEO of Women's Intercultural Network (WIN), vice president, US Women Connect “In Like a Tree, Bolen provides an original and provocative look at the relationship between trees and ourselves; and their capacity to foster not only healing, but show us the power of interdependence internally and externally. This book is a call to social and environmental action that will truly make a difference.” —Angeles Arrien, PhD, cultural anthropologist and author of The Second Half of Life: Opening the Eight Gates of Wisdom “In Like a Tree, Jean Shinoda Bolen writes that ‘not enough trees, too many people’ is simple arithmetic that is a prescription for disaster. She notes that what is best for the individual woman—education, contraceptives, equality, and reproductive choice—will also be best for the planet. A genuine commitment to empower women is central to a healthier, kinder, more equitable culture and one that will sustain the quality of human life.” —Gloria Feldt, author of No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power and past president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America “I'll always remember the sadness I felt several years ago when I drove my little girl to her first day of the new school year and saw that the huge tree that had always welcomed us as we entered the driveway in front of the school was gone. Upon inquiring about what had happened, I was told that the tree had been removed to make way for a new sports field. I couldn't believe how sad I was, or how little my sadness seemed to be shared by other people at the school. It was then that I realized what a profound shift in worldview is necessary in order for us to save the planet. I applaud everyone—including the brilliant and glorious Jean Shinoda Bolen—for helping us make the shift. Bravo, Jean. You make us feel it.” —Marianne Williamson “Like a Tree is masterful—a many-branched, mystical manifesto possessing the potential to nourish the taproots of life-enhancing cultures. Reading it will quicken the seed of your own most fulfilling and potent participation in our more-than-human world during this urgent time of immense dangers and evolutionary opportunities.” —Bill Plotkin, author of Soulcraft and Nature and the Human Soul “As someone who has spent over a quarter of a century working in and out of a cathedral, I was deeply moved by this book's parallel between a redwood forest and a cathedral. Jean Shinoda Bolen touches the sacred mission of trees, women, and all life on this planet. She rings a bell that calls us to an expanded awareness and to positive action.” —The Rt. Rev. William E. Swing, 7th bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California and founder and president of the United Religions Initiative “Read Jean Shinoda Bolen's Like a Tree, and you will never again see one without knowing it has a novel inside, it's supporting your life, and it's more spiritual than any church, temple, or mosque. Like a Tree is the rare book that not only informs, but offers a larger consciousness of life itself.” —Gloria Steinem “Like a Tree serves as a deep and abundant well of useful facts, role models, metaphors, connections, resources, and above all, inspiring stories about trees and women that can be drawn on to validate and bolster one's own confidence. Like a tree, this book can sustain its reader for the long haul and mightily show us the way.” —Andy Lipkis, founder and president of TreePeople “Like a Tree is for anyone who has ever admired, felt soothed by, or loved being in a tree, under trees, or in the woods. Bolen helps us to understand that trees are our life support system. A great read for anyone who cares about the future of people and planet!” —Nina Simons, cofounder and co-CEO, Bioneers “We shouldn't simply be alarmed by what's happening to our forests and our other fellow creatures. We should feel sick to our soul. And in this, as Jean Bolen says, women are taking the lead and showing, all over the world, that ‘ordinary people’ can make a difference—and that if they don't, nobody else will. Altogether, an excellent and timely book.” —Colin Tudge, biologist and author of The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter

The Tree Sitter and the PasserbyOn Vancouver Island, in June 2010, Hilary Huntley, a young Canadian artist, suddenly became a tree activist when she learned that three majestic Garry oaks (Quercus garryana) were to be cut down for a sports field and took immediate personal action. She climbed into one of them, determined to thwart the tree cutters, and became the center of a spontaneous community effort to save them. A day after Hilary climbed into her perch, Clare Peterson was taking a morning walk on a trail nearby when she heard a loud voice calling “Hello!” Clare looked around, didn't see anyone, but responded with a hello right back. The voice said, “Over here!” which took her to the foot of the giant Garry oak and to Hilary, who said, “Did you know that they are planning to cut down this tree on Tuesday morning? They will have to take me with it. I'm staying right here and am not moving.” Clare told me that as she walked away, she asked herself, “Why would I get involved? What could I do?” And as she wondered, “What would I sit up in a tree for?” she suddenly heard herself say, “I must support any woman who will sit in a tree for what she believes.” Energized now, she tapped into her organizing abilities, and networks that were already in place went into action. A tree vigil formed. Everyone did her bit, from phoning powers that be and the baseball clubs, to bombarding city council members with emails and phone calls, to alerting local media that covered the story. A ten-year-old girl was told by her mother to skip school to be with the tree people and learn something. Four days later, the trees were saved. Hilary stayed in the tree until the mayor called her on her cell phone saying the trees would be preserved. “Great!” she said. “Once I have it in writing, I will get down.” The official document was delivered within an hour. And, since a phone tree had been organized, “The trees are saved!” went out all over the valley, very quickly. After it was over and Hilary came down from the tree, Clare, who is a Millionth Circle convener who with Anne Caldwell and others organized Gather the Women–Canada, wrote, “One of the most valuable things I saw was that everyone who gets involved and is present to the actual event notices how each person holds a piece of the solution. Passion brings people out and that passion ensures that each particular skill contributes to the resolution . . . rather like Circle Principles!” Once the people in the town of Duncan became informed about plans to cut down these Garry oaks—which they did because of Hilary, Clare, and many others—people who learned and cared about saving the trees swung into action; this was an intergenerational effort. As a consequence, there is more community awareness about trees with the hope of a tree-preservation bylaw becoming adopted. In Canada, Garry oaks grow only in southeastern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, with some isolated trees elsewhere. The Garry oak was named by botanist and explorer David Douglas for Nicholas Garry of the Hudson's Bay Company, who helped him during his travels. Tree preservation consciousness is needed to save trees, especially when new owners purchase property with the intent to clear and build, with no regard for the old and beautiful trees that are there. Soon after I heard from Clare, for example, I learned from Patricia Damery, a Jungian analyst in Napa Valley, California, that new owners might clear a hilltop area with a ring of huge valley oaks in a large circle and other landmarks to plant vineyards. This land has been used for rituals and is sacred space for her and quite possibly was used as such when indigenous tribes lived there. The challenge is to approach owners in the same spirit as did the tree people in Canada, without rage or blame, and mobilize the concern of the community for its special trees, possibly with the added American incentive that if land and trees such as these are donated to a land trust, there can be tax benefits. Intergenerational activism may be required to protect the trees while agreements to save them can be worked out. Tree sitting and consequent media attention are done by young adult activists who are aware that once trees are cut down, the conversation is over, while mature, established citizen-taxpayer tree people are the ones that have political influence, especially locally, which is where tree issues are settled.