Holy Rover

Journeys in Search of Mystery, Miracles, and God

By: Lori Erickson

Narrated by: Beth Chaplin

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

"Whether describing mystical visions or the rhythms of everyday life, Erickson turns the spiritual journey into a series of exciting transformations." - Publishers Weekly (starred review). 

From her childhood on an Iowa farm, Lori Erickson grew up to travel the world as a writer specializing in holy sites - journeys that led her on an ever-deepening spiritual quest. In Holy Rover, she weaves her personal narrative with descriptions of a dozen pilgrimages. 

Her trips give Erickson the chance to reflect on her Lutheran upbringing, her flirtation with Wicca, and her admiration for Tibetan Buddhism. A trip to the healing shrine of Lourdes is intertwined with the story of her son's serious illness as a baby, while visiting Thoreau's Walden Pond, blends with ruminations on being a writer. 

Along the way, Erickson encounters spiritual leaders, including the chief priest of the Icelandic pagan religion of Asatru, a Trappist monk at Thomas Merton's Gethsemani Abbey, and a Lakota retreat director at South Dakota's Bear Butte. 

Travel writer, Episcopal deacon, and author of the Holy Rover blog at Patheos, Erickson is an engaging guide for pilgrims eager to take a spiritual journey. Her audiobook describes travels that changed her life and can change yours, too. 

©2017 Lori Erickson (P)2017 Lori Erickson

Thoughtful, thought-Provoking and profound...with a side-dish of self-depreciating humor

I came across this book when I was searching online for information about some religious historical sites in the eastern United States. Lori Erickson‘s reviews of these places were so thoughtful and descriptive that I was immediately taken in and had to know more about her. I’ve visited her website and spent several hours reading the reviews of the many places she and Bob have visited.When I saw that Holy Rover was on Audible, I was eager to listen to it, and I was not disappointed. A perfect combination of spirituality, religion and religious history, with a healthy dose of travel, discovery and wanderlust, I kept thinking over and over again “I want to take Lori everywhere I go!”

Beth Chaplain’s narration is superb, and I feel like she caught the nuance of Lori‘s deep felt spiritual discoveries and in turn her sense of humor, including her occasional bouts of sarcasm and self depreciation. I am so happy that I discovered Holy Rover, and feel that it would be a worthwhile read for anyone with any type of belief, (or even non-belief!), background. Lori is very honest, and discloses not only her feelings of faith, but also feelings of doubt. What I love best about her musings and her writings, is her deep desire to find the connectedness between different religions and faith-traditions, no matter who or what the belief is. Although a Christian, I am grateful for what I learned about several non-Christian traditions, and how much we all really have in common.

I only wish that it were longer. Knowing that I will most likely never make it to many of the places Lori explores and shares, I only wish that I could take more spiritual pilgrimages with her, even if it is only through the printed word.

Awesome Story of Spiritual Journey!

The title tells is all... Holy Rover! Feels just like Lori is visiting over tea, telling her stepping stones of life that gets her through life's tough stuff, marriage, career, & travel and thereby helps one realize their own spiritual path is normal. From Lutheran, to Wiccan, to Episcopalian... and then after 20 years, another change... normalizes & affirms it is good to follow the nudges of the heart, whether a pilgrimage around the world or local travels. She goes to places we've heard about, reads the history in the museums, and gives us the Cliff Notes version, with her personal touch and humor, that connects the human spirits around the globe. Thank you for taking the time to read, write, and share this marvelous journey! Looking forward to her next book, Near the Exit!