At the Marae

Last updated on: January 21, 2016 at 10:33 am By Lori Erickson

Some of you have perhaps seen the beautifully carved Maori marae, or meeting house, in the Field Museum in Chicago. Until traveling to New Zealand, I didn’t understand the full significance of what it represents. Even more than a church is for Christians, a marae (pronounced ma-rye) is the heart of Maori society, a place for communal gatherings and a storehouse for tribal traditions. The elaborate carvings that often adorn their exteriors and interiors tell stories and trace genealogies. The... Read more

Welcome, Maori Style

Last updated on: January 22, 2016 at 11:08 pm By Lori Erickson

Let me show you a little video illustrating the warm, understated welcome that is traditionally given visitors to a Maori marae (meeting house): This dance—called the haka—is part of an elaborate welcome ceremony that may last for more than half an hour. The fierce ritual dates back to the days when the Maori were divided into warring tribes who needed to prove their strength to strangers. It also explains why, when the English explorer Captain Cook first came to... Read more

Maori Renaissance

Last updated on: December 1, 2011 at 10:28 am By Lori Erickson

I traveled to New Zealand to attend a meeting of the Society of American Travel Writers (my husband got to tag along, and later he’ll be contributing some blog posts as well). New Zealand Tourism put together a wide array of tours that allowed us to focus on our particular specialties. The adventure-travel writers went off to do bungee jumping and deep sea diving, the foodies made a beeline for restaurants and culinary schools, the film aficionados went to Lord... Read more

The Land of the Long White Cloud

Last updated on: November 30, 2011 at 10:41 am By Lori Erickson

You probably think it’s easy being a travel writer—the trips, the food, the adventures, the beautiful sights. But pity me, please, for having to write about New Zealand. It’s been awful. I’ve combed through a thesaurus and found that there are only a small number of synonyms for “gorgeous.” I’ve sorted through more than a thousand pictures and have had to make agonizing decisions over which images I will feature online and with my articles. I’ve re-read my notes and... Read more

The Mother of All Virtues

Last updated on: November 25, 2011 at 12:37 pm By Lori Erickson

When I’ve recommended a book on this blog, it’s always been one that I’ve personally read and enjoyed. The recommendation for today is a bit different. This is a book I plan to read beginning in January, and I invite you to read it along with me. Living in Gratitude: A Journey That Will Change Your Life is written by Angeles Arrien, a cultural anthropologist and teacher who explores the concept of gratitude through a wide range of stories, teachings,... Read more

Giving Thanks, Then and Now

Last updated on: November 22, 2011 at 11:30 am By Lori Erickson

The Holy Rover has been largely silent for the past month, thanks to a trip I took to New Zealand. I’ll be writing more about my experiences there soon, but in the meantime, let me say this: all the superlatives you’ve heard about New Zealand are true. While there I focused particularly on Maori spiritual traditions, which are complex and fascinating. I have a few things to write about, to be sure. In the meantime, let me share with you... Read more

El Dia de Muertos

Last updated on: November 1, 2011 at 1:02 am By Lori Erickson

Today is All Saints Day in the Christian liturgical calendar. In the Episcopal Church, the day is marked with a stately and solemn eucharist and the lighting of candles for those who have died. I like this annual service, finding it a contemplative and beautiful way to remember loved ones. That said, I’ve decided that if I had to choose, I’d rather have people drinking beer, feasting, and playing music at my grave. I’m referring, as you may have guessed,... Read more

Of Humpback Whales and Empty Nests

Last updated on: October 20, 2011 at 3:44 pm By Lori Erickson

I remember vividly the first day I spent alone with my oldest son. My husband was heading back to work after having taken some time off for our son’s birth, and that morning when he left I stood at the doorway feeling lost. I remember thinking, “Now what? What do I do with this baby for eight solid hours, especially since he’s terrible at carrying on a conversation?” We managed to get through that first day, and all the subsequent ones... Read more

Why We Need To Slow Down

Last updated on: October 14, 2011 at 1:52 pm By Lori Erickson

We have to slow down, because we do not have much time. Zen saying Read more

Learning from Mortality

Last updated on: October 13, 2011 at 1:27 pm By Lori Erickson

Amid the deluge of news coverage after Steve Jobs’ death, most interesting to me were the clips played from a commencement speech he delivered at Stanford University in 2005. Jobs describes how the experience of facing death changed him. He talks eloquently about following one’s heart and not living someone else’s life. I heard one commentator describe the speech as the “Gettysburg Address of commencement speakers,” and I don’t think that’s much of an overstatement (to listen to the full... Read more