The Geography of Heaven
· coffee
The Pursuit of Thin Places: A Grief That Knows No Borders
Rory MacLean’s Geography of Heaven is a travelogue that doubles as a grief memoir. After losing his wife to cancer five years ago, MacLean embarked on a journey across the world in search of “thin places” – locations where the veil between worlds is said to be porous. His quest took him to sacred sites in Jerusalem, an ashram in India, a Native American community in South Dakota, and an ayahuasca ceremony in Peru.
MacLean’s travels are not just about seeking meaning in the aftermath of loss; they’re also a critique of modern society. He laments the way we’ve lost touch with our spiritual selves, relegating the mystical to the fringes of acceptable discourse. His writing is a passionate plea for us to reengage with the mysteries of life and death.
MacLean’s search for transcendence echoes that of the Beats, who sought to escape the mundane through travel and exploration. Jack Kerouac’s On the Road and Allen Ginsberg’s Howl come to mind as influences on MacLean’s approach. However, his writing is decidedly more new-agey, waxing lyrical about the potential of “thin places” to reveal hidden truths and heal deep wounds.
Despite a tendency towards grandiloquence – as when he opines that “none of us are created for naught” – MacLean’s writing is engaging and moving. His ability to convey the depth of his grief and loss is genuinely affecting.
What’s striking about Geography of Heaven is its universality. MacLean’s search for meaning transcends borders, cultures, and belief systems. He finds kinship with fellow travelers from diverse backgrounds, all united in their quest for transcendence. This is not a book about the specificities of one culture or another; it’s a meditation on the human condition.
In recent years, several books have explored the intersection of travel and spirituality, including Alex Tizon’s Small Great Things and Lauren Elkin’s Flaneuse. MacLean’s book fits within this genre but is also something more – a deeply personal exploration of grief, loss, and the search for meaning.
As we navigate our own thin places – whether literal or metaphorical – MacLean’s book serves as a reminder that we’re not alone in our struggles. His writing testifies to the power of travel to transform us, helping us find new perspectives on life and death. In an age where so much of our experience is curated and controlled, Geography of Heaven offers a refreshing respite – a journey into the unknown, led by a writer who’s unafraid to confront his own demons.
MacLean’s travels have brought him closer to himself, reminding us that the search for meaning is never truly over – it’s a lifelong journey, full of twists and turns.
Reader Views
- TCThe Cafe Desk · editorial
While MacLean's quest for thin places is undeniably compelling, one can't help but wonder about the potential drawbacks of spiritual tourism. As the travel industry co-opts sacred sites and traditional practices, the very essence of these experiences is being commercialized. One wonders if the search for transcendence has become just another commodity to be bought and sold.
- BOBeth O. · barista trainer
What's striking about MacLean's concept of thin places is that it glosses over the complexities of cultural appropriation. He freely absorbs and adapts indigenous rituals without acknowledging the power dynamics at play. The ayahuasca ceremony in Peru, for instance, is presented as a transcendent experience rather than a potentially fraught encounter between two cultures. This omission undermines MacLean's otherwise nuanced exploration of grief and spirituality.
- RVRohan V. · home roaster
While Rory MacLean's Geography of Heaven is a poignant exploration of grief and spirituality, I worry that his emphasis on the mystical might overshadow the very real human experience of loss. In our postmodern era, we risk losing sight of the ways in which different cultures and traditions approach death and the afterlife – and how those differences can inform our own understanding of what it means to be human. MacLean's search for thin places is compelling, but I'd like to see more attention paid to the local cultures that actually inhabit these sites, rather than simply appropriating their spiritual practices as a personal journey.