Plant Trees, Carry Sheep: A Woman's Spiritual Journey Among the Sufis of Scotland: A Memoir

It kept my attention and I learned a little about Scotland, various spiritual practices and farm-forestry management. Overall a good read, not great but good. I would recommend it to others.

Bought another copy to mail as gift.

Do you need more stress and fear in your life? Then don't read this book. in each chapter, you'll feel like you are walking by Sarah's side into the crazy unknown (a Scottish Sufi retreat? heck yeah! far from home in an unknown land? let's go!), but around each corner you'll find her steps perfectly laid out by God to find peace, kindness, and love instead of the fears that we awfulize about. I love her honesty and transparency on her own spiritual development and maturity, something we can all learn from these days. Her writing style is perfect to guide you though the estate and its charming surroundings, and beware because you get attached to everyone. I read this book out loud to my husband every night while he drifts off to sleep because he says it gives him sweet dreams. And it does.

I LOVED this book! The author did an excellent job of transporting me to Scotland! Her descriptions were spot on and I felt like I was there myself. Her ability to balance humor with seriousness was refreshing. I found myself giggling as she described her challenges with life at a Scottish retreat...two-legged and 4-legged alike. Her quest for spiritual enlightenment encompassed so much and I found myself reflecting on my own quest. I savoured the pages and didn't want it to end. I am looking forward to Snyder's next book. I bought 2 more copies of this book as gifts because I want to share her story with like minded readers. I highly recommend "Plant Trees, Carry Sheep"!

Pretty good. Worth the read I’d say.

Just love S.A. Snyder's writing! Her candid vulnerability and sense of humor about it are a delight. Her excellent skill in telling a good story brings you with her on this particular episode of her life journey, interspersed with wonderful details of the beautiful and wild landscape of Scotland and the loving, quirky, maddening, generous, frustrating, joyful nature of humanity. The insight she gains and shares with us are golden nuggets to ponder and remind that..."Enlightenment is the realization that life does not change, only our thoughts about it." What a gift!

What a fun read! Beautifully written, part memoir, part travel log, part love story, part spiritual awakening, there is truly something for everyone here. I found this such an enjoyable book – Sarah’s prose effortlessly carries the reader along with her on this adventure story of self-discovery. Best of all, it’s so funny! Extremely insightful and well-written, with just enough humor and pithy comments to keep the armchair traveler chuckling throughout. The perfect read for anyone interested in exploring that unique time in life when openness and adventure is possible, and truly life changing.

This book made me laugh out loud in public places, cry cheer and want to be a better me!! Thank you❤️

Like so many other readers, I adored this book for so many reasons. I'm a traveller, looking for something/answers perhaps which are not obvious. Putting yourself out there in trying conditions and gauging the responses. The interactions with people, religions and animals were all, funny, illuminating and poignant. Hanging in there and not giving up shows great character and determination. Beautifully written with some nice twists, this charming bedside companion needs a broader readership.

This is a wonderful story - the story of one person's inner development that is told on so many different levels. It is about the ups and downs of love and romance; about the joys and challenges of working on the land and also the inspiring and frustrating aspects of living together with other people in community. There are glimpses into the lives and characters of some of the 'Braemar' people; insights into Sufi spirituality and also into the 'Braemar Order' - the particular ways of doing things that reflect the expectations and values of the Sufi community. It is also a story of pilgrimage - both literal and metaphorical. In her time at Braemar, Sarah walks a path of increasing self-awareness and then, as she is about to leave, she walks the pilgrimage of St Cuthbert's Way - from Melrose Abbey in Scotland to Lindisfarne in England. This is a book that is both insightful and uplifting.

I am always delighted when a book contains a map in its opening pages. This one does and the adventure begins there.Such a beautifully written and researched account by the author of when she landed into a new life, supposedly just to plant trees, but which took her in unexpected directions amongst a fascinating, seemingly eccentric community.Sarah writes so vividly that you share with her the mud, rain, wind and splendour of the Scottish Borders and Northumberland. You become intimately acquainted with the people, places and animals, especially the pesky Soay sheep, and experience Sarah's anguish, dilemmas and delights as they unfold.Inspirational and engaging, I could not put it down.

I've really enjoyed reading this book. It was a pleasure. I've loved following the journey of her stay and how reflective the whole experience was for her. I liked how you could see her outer troubles all becoming lessons for her and being able to see and feel her personal and spiritual growth and learning throughout the book. It was a really lovely experience to read it and hope to see more from this author in the future!