Buffalo Dreamer: A Lifetime of Wilderness Vigils

“Annie has written a beautiful and intimate book sharing how nature-based ceremony can so fully support the deepening of our own inherent human nature. In today’s Western world, we are given a cultural message that we are “better than” nature. Annie dropped beneath these cultural messages to reconnect with an intimate relationship with all of life and her own natural magic.”—Meredith Little, founder of the School of Lost Borders, author of A Love Story

“I found Annie’s voice to be honest, like a friend, from the start. Her stories inspire me to trust in the wisdom of dreams, to create meaningful ceremony, to fast, and to listen to the earth. I have more faith in the expansiveness of our human being and that we share in a world beyond; a great dreaming lodge of spirits and images that can guide us through this life.” —Connor Robert Williams, Waldorf teacher

“Annie Bloom’s Buffalo Dreamer is a delightful and transparent chronicle of her fascinating life. I could not put this book down. It is superbly written, heartwarming, and needed during a difficult time on our planet. The illustrations included for each chapter are utterly charming, and the icing on the cake of a remarkable book.”  —Barbara Hand Clow, author of Alchemy of Nine Dimensions: Activating the Full Spectrum of Consciousness

“What a life Annie has had, that she tells in a lyrical prose that is viscerally emotional and exceptionally accessible. She shows how radical attention to her intimate encounters with buffalo, fasting alone in wild landscapes, and dream tending, moved her throughout her life. Annie’s response to our contemporary moment is to be more present with herself, others, and the world—in practices that promote more meaningful connections and interconnections, regardless of how catastrophic either personal life or social conditions might become. It is about being in more complex relationship with both internal and external events, and being as fully alive and ‘of life’ as we can be.” —Leslie Emery, PhD Mythic Studies

“This memoir is a precious gift of a true nature mystic. I was on the edge of my seat as I read, awaiting the next lyrical, beauty-drenched and authentic stepping stone in each story of a life lived in devotion to this flowering earth and her complicated human denizens. Annie Bloom's courageous account is blessed encouragement for anyone seeking deeper understanding of themselves and what it means to be fully human. In a time of divisiveness and disconnection from nature, Buffalo Dreamer inspires readers by example to live fully, face our fears, and give our love to the world. Deep gratitude to her for the honesty with which she lives, the love she sows in the world, and for sharing her stories from across the threshold with us all. Hers is a story of wonder, beauty, and the power of giving one’s life over to a larger calling.” —Dave Talamo, founder of Wilderness Reflections, MFT, CHT

“Buffalo Dreamer drew me into another realm, into the deep wanderings of a woman on a journey to find her Self and calling in the world. Annie invites us into the most intimate, mysterious explorations, told in the mythic language of poetry, visions, and dreams. This deeply personal account leads us through the ‘arched earthen doorway’ of each wilderness vigil she enacts, as she listens deeply to the voices in the “dreaming lodge of Earth,” saying yes to the invitations to live into her true vocation. Buffalo Dreamer is a book to read slowly, savoring.” —Wendy Sarno, writer and spiritual guide

“Annie’s book is extraordinary in many ways - it’s remarkable to witness a life guided by wilderness vigils, and to see how each one of Annie’s personal quests led to a new turn on the winding road of her life. She shares her deepest feelings and revelations, and the wild and mysterious natural world respond to her presence, communicating unmistakably. At times, when the going gets tough, you are on the edge of your seat wondering what’s going to happen next.”—Heidi Mitchell, editor