Heart of a Shapeshifter

by Coyote Park

"Heart of a Shapeshifter: 2Spirit Love Medicine" is a collection of poems, short essays, and prose by Coyote Park. It explores transformation, non-linear transitions, ancestor worship, diaspora, T4T romance, non-monogamy, queer awakenings, and various intersections of Park's lived experiences. Woven throughout the collection are 8 Vessels, taking shape as themed chapters and representing lifetimes. Throughout these vessels, Coyote reflects on extensions of themself, their lovers, and what love medicine means to them. "Heart of a Shapeshifter" is born out of the passion of Brown leather dykes, Trans Deities, and the fierce and overflowing protection of Spirit. A collection of writing to all of those yearning to love and shapeshift freely.

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Transgender

124 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2022

Reviews

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description of t4t relationships really hits hard. It's being able to love and be loved outside of gender, being able to explore oneself without feeling the weight of what is expected. It's why I love queer people and genderqueer people most. I also think the exploration of non-monogamy here is super important--it was interesting to read while starting to be with someone who is poly. It gives me a new perspective on friendships and relationships in general. Love comes in many forms and I love that.

[bahi'chi · Rating 5 out of 5]

i have never felt so seen, so held, & so understood by writing before. this book is magic.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read The Samurai's Garden by Gail Tsukiyama at exactly the right time.

I read The Black Unicorn: Poems by Audre Lorde at exactly the right time.

I read Femme in Public by Alok Vaid-Menon at exactly the right time.

I read Heart of a Shapeshifter: 2Spirit Love Medicine by Coyote Park at exactly the right time.

You read it here first: If I publish a book then it exists only because of this book.

This medicine healed a broken soul.

2025 read:
I'm letting a fellow they borrow this book so I had to have a dose before letting it out of my sphere.

[Ceci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coyote Park speaks of forms of love and thriving within transness, their Indigeneity, as well as non-monogamous & platonic relationship structures. I highly recommend this short but impactful book for all my fellow trans & gender non-conforming loved ones. A text that I will revisit as a form of affirmation & validity in who I am & how I exist in this world, as well as a reminder of how I can continue to thrive while doing so.

[kaitlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book holds you in its magic - it takes you, word by word, into a love that fills you, meets you where you are, tells you it's okay to be more shore than sure. A love letter to love itself and the many forms it takes when you are queer and trans and searching your ancestry for answers.

So true.

[Tricia Crimmins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw Park’s photo series “I love you like mirrors do” at the Leslie Lohman museum last year and was an immediate fan of their work. “Heart of a Shapeshifter” didn’t disappoint! It’s so resonant, so raw. Thought Park and I don’t share all the same identities, I felt seen and held in their writing. Couldn’t recommend this more, especially for queer and/or non-monogamous readers.

[Sonia Preisler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most beautiful collection of poems and short essays about trans and two-spirit love, queer love, non-monogamous love.

[pili gaudiello · Rating 5 out of 5]

The foreword of this book couldn't describe it better. This is a collection of love, to Coyote, to the reader, and to the QTBIPOC community. Share this with someone you love.

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

should be required reading for every trans/nb person (and queer person in general)

[reyla · Rating 4 out of 5]

so beautiful. fighting back tears at work.
thanks to my coworker who left their book for others to read.

[ira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a special book, will be rereading this for years to come, thank you

[Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a poc nonbinary person, this book gave me hope

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book by accident, but looking back I don’t think it was… This is beautiful and affirming.