The Spirit of Wildness

From the March 2011 newsletter

One of my favourite reads during the past year has been Trevor Herriot's poetically written book: "Jacob's Wound: A Search for the Spirit of Wildness", so much so, that I have placed a copy of this wonderful book into our Church Library. I believe many who love spirituality and nature will enjoy reading it. I do hope to be able to be able to also acquire a copy of Trevor Herriot's first book, the multiple-award winning "River in a Dry Land: A Prairie Passage", for the library, as the book is clearly the forerunner to "Jacob's Wound."

Trevor Herriot's first book about the Qu'Appelle River Valley, "River in a Dry Land," was highly acclaimed by reviewers when it was first published in 2000 and went on to win four awards: the Writers' Trust Drainie-Taylor Biography Prize, the Libris Award for Best First-Time Author, the Saskatchewan Book of the Year Award, and the Regina Book Award. It was also shortlisted for the Governor General's Award for Non-fiction.

Here is a short book review from Publishers Weekly on "Jacob's Wound" -
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-55591-616-9
In a series of meditations on nature and wildness, religion and spirituality, sojourning and home, Trevor Herriot demonstrates both the contemplative mysticism that returned him to his Catholic roots and the sharp eye of a naturalist distinctly aware of his physical surroundings. In the first half of the book, “Ascending Hakkarmel,” Herriot describes the intimate practice of living occasionally in a tipi on “the Land,” his family's retreat, in chapters alternating with meditations on the Bible, such as the conflict between Jacob and Esau, and religious or spiritual teachings and experiences, such as Teilhard de Chardin's.

In the book's second half, titled “From Mount Carmel,” the author continues, in writing that is lush and evocative, to toggle between personal anecdote and thoughts on scripture and religious tradition. The chapter titles of this half, such as “Wild Grace,” “Scapular 1” and “Into the Presence of God—1. Descend,” belie the author's poetic style. Herriot provides, rather than a sustained ecological or theological argument, an engaged reflection on nature and God.

"Jacob's Wound is an extended posture of supplication, a benediction voiced into the wind. Trevor Herriot stands, extends his arms toward heaven and earth, and draws the spirit toward its home in the heart." ~Ross A. Laird, "Globe & Mail, October 30, 2004"