In the tradition of the historical fiction of Kathleen O'Neal Gear and W. Michael Gear, USA Today bestselling author Roseanne Bittner tells a story of Native America sure to capture you and carry you on an adventure of love and hate, good and evil, life and death in Mystic Dancers, first in a series. In 1833, Star Dancer, a Sichangu (Brulé Sioux), is promised in marriage to Stalking Wolf, an Oglala warrior whom she has never met. What begins as a loveless union develops into a moving story of a man and a woman led by powers beyond their control. Dreams, visions, and mystic experiences fill this provocative love story that launches a saga about the Lakota and their first meeting with the White Man. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

ISBN: 0312865120 TITLE: Mystic Visions AUTHOR: Bittner, RosanneEXCERPT: Chapter OneEmerging from swirling clouds, the warriors rode out of the sky toward Buffalo Dreamer. Their bodies glimmered a ghostly white. Coup feathers and quilled ornaments decorated their hair. Colorful quills adorned lance covers, quivers, leggings, moccasins, and armbands. Each man wore a bone hairpipe breastplate tied to his otherwise naked chest. Some wore a bearclaw necklace. Their faces were painted black, making the whites of their eyes seem to glow.Buffalo Dreamer watched them, astounded and forward in thundering glory, their long black hair trailed in the wind. Eagles circled above them like sentinels. The hooves of galloping warhorses rumbled like thunder, but even though the riders'' mouths were open as though shouting war cries, there was no sound.Buffalo Dreamer tried to run, but she couldn''t move. Sod sprayed in all directions as panting steeds charged past her, determination on the faces of the warriors, who stared straight ahead as though unaware of her. Now she could see they were Lakota, but men of another nation rode with them-Shihenna, those the white man called Cheyenne. Suddenly the terrain changed, and Buffalo Dreamer found herself standing on a ridge, looking down at many white men wearing blue coats. More Lakota and Cheyenne rode out of the sky, until they numbered in the thousands. The fierce warriors surrounded the men in blue coats, circling, killing, until the white men were pounded into the earth and disappeared in a pool of blood. The warriors rode back into the clouds, carrying scalps and sabers, their eyes gleaming with victory.The clouds swirled around and engulfed them, then fell to the ground and took the form of a white buffalo. The sacred beast stared at Buffalo Dreamer, its eyes bright red. Crimson tears of blood trickled down the white hairs of its face. "It is the beginning of the end," it spoke. "When next I appear to you, I will die. Eat of my heart, and keep my robe with you always, for protection. And beware of the men in blue coats."Buffalo Dreamer awoke wiraid. War shields of buffalo hide hung at the sides of their painted horses, the shields decorated with hand-drawn pictures of personal spirit guides: eagles, horses, wolves, bears, birds, beavers, suns, stars, lightning bolts. As the warriors charged seemed too quiet, and Buffalo Dreamer found it difficult to remove herself from the very real dream she had just experienced. She shivered, for her dreams carried great significance. Though only nineteen summers in age, she was considered a holy woman by the Lakota. In her medicine bag she carried the hairs of her spirit guide, the white buffalo. Among all living Lakota, she alone had seen and touched the sacred beast.She pulled a wolfskin shawl around her naked body and looked at her husband, who slept soundly beside her. Because Rising Eagle was a man of vision and possessed great spiritual power, she knew she must tell him about her dream. She watched him quietly for a moment longer, reluctant to disturb him. In sleep, he appeared just a common man: peaceful, calm. Awake, no man could match him in strength and bravery, in hunting or in raiding. He had even fought the great hump back bear to win her hand in marriage, for her father had demanded the hide of a grizzly as part of her marriage price. Rising Eagle still bore scars on his throat, chest, and back from his struggle with the fearsome beast. Other markings spoke further of Rising Eagle''s prowess: a deep scar on his left calf from a battle with Crow warriors; a narrow white scar ran from above his left eye over his nose and across his right cheek, making him appear fierce and intimidating. He had sacrificed his flesh more than once at the annual Sun Dance. And twice Wakan-Tanka''s messenger, the Feathered One, had spoken to Rising Eagle in a vision, making Rising Eagle a highly honored man among the Lakota, one whose prayers were heard beyond the farthe

Thrice upon a time, three worlds were in peril... New York Times bestselling author Tracy Hickman and Dragonlance cocreator Laura Hickman present the continuing story of their monumental, enthralling epic fantasy Thrice upon a time, three champions will find one destiny... In the course of more than two decades, Galen Arvad's tiny band of outlaw Mystics has grown into a nation of secret clans, despite fierce persecution by the Pir theocracy and the dragons that have enslaved humanity. On another world, the faery Dwynwyn saved her people by raising an army of the dead, but now none of the corpses can rest...and the sheer number of their tormented legions threatens the faery kingdoms. While on the third world, the tyrannical King Mimic's domination is threatened by a warrior maiden whose thirst for conquest exceeds his own. Yet through the magic of the dreams that link their worlds, a new wind blows, beckoning each of them into unknown lands with the promise of salvation, sanctuary, and power. For Galen's war-weary son, Caelith, the slender hope takes the form of a stranger's vow to lead him and his people to the sanctuary of a lost empire-the legendary ancestral home of the Mystics. Dwynwyn seeks salvation of her people through a small fellowship of Fae who must journey to a distant land of unquenchable horror-where their truth can bring peace to the living and the dead. As for the wizard-goblin Thux, newly and unwillingly appointed Technomancer to King Mimic, his journey to the Ogre citadel may bring him to the height of power and danger-if his own allies do not kill him first. Now three bands of heroes embark on odysseys beset by outer tragedy and inner betrayal. For each to survive, all must succeed-for all three worlds face the same cunning evil...

This remarkable tarot emerges directly from the mystical realms of dream and vision, manifesting completely fresh imagery. Pregnant with possibilities that shine light upon the hidden and reveal new pathways of understanding, each image--direct from the author's own dream experiences--is an original offering rich with powerful insights designed to awaken that which is essential for moving forward on our journey of self-discovery. The stunning deck and accompanying guidebook invite you to discover the wisdom and truth that lie beyond the limited view of waking reality and to draw upon the power of your unconscious--the insight of your psyche--to meet life's challenges and achieve your goals.

Psychological and mystical meanings of symbols in dreams.

The white buffalo is a sacred and holy creature to the Lakota. Buffalo Dreamer, a holy woman, and her husband, Rising Eagle, have not only been blessed to see the white buffalo, they have eaten of its heart and have been told by the sacred beast that as long as the Lakota have the white buffalo hide, all will be well. But all is not well. White hunters have stolen the sacred white robe and great misfortune has befallen the Lakota. Settlers continue to invade Lakota territory, backed by vicious cavalry forces that massacre women and children. The Lakota are starving and their anger is growing. Led by Rising Eagle, a great force of Lakota and other tribes wage war upon the white man. Together they battle to regain the land stolen from them, to protect the precious buffalo the white man wantonly destroys, and to search for the sacred white robe.