The Soul of the Family Tree: Ancestors, Stories, and the Spirits We Inherit

Product Description
"Readers may find themselves ordering their own DNA testing kit upon finishing this." —Publishers Weekly "The Soul of the Family Tree posits that a spiritual grounding in one's family history can combat 'historical amnesia' and nurture a sense of belonging." —Foreword Reviews
Growing up in a passionately Norwegian-American Iowa town, Lori Erickson rolled her eyes at traditions like Nordic Fest and steaming pots of rømmegrøt. But like many Americans, she eventually felt drawn to genealogy, the "quintessential hobby of middle age." Her quest to know more about the Vikings and immigrants who perch in her family tree led her to visit Norse settlements and reenactments, medieval villages and modern museums, her picturesque hometown and her ancestor's farm on the fjords.
Along the way, Erickson discovers how her soul has been shaped by her ancestors and finds unexpected spiritual guides among the seafaring Vikings and her hardscrabble immigrant forebears. Erickson’s far-ranging journeys and spiritual musings show us how researching family history can be a powerful tool for inner growth. Travel with Erickson in The Soul of the Family Tree to learn how the spirits of your ancestral past can guide you today.
Review
"In this shrewd memoir, Erickson (Holy Rover) details how researching her Norwegian American heritage led to deep personal reflection. The modern ability to investigate one's ancestry using DNA, she argues, can be more than just biology… Readers may find themselves ordering their own DNA testing kit upon finishing this." —Publishers Weekly
"Erickson traces the 'spiritual DNA' of her Norwegian ancestors, investigating how their heritage influenced their cultural practices and religious beliefs, especially in the Midwestern United States…. The Soul of the Family Tree posits that a spiritual grounding in one's family history can combat 'historical amnesia’ and nurture a sense of belonging." —Foreword Reviews
"[Erickson] brings a light heart, an old soul and a deep understanding to her subject of how tracing our genealogy can deepen our spiritual lives." —The Gazette
"The Soul of the Family Tree will appeal to readers of Erickson's previous books specializing in spiritual journeys, anyone interested in genealogy and Norse or Viking culture and history, and to those who have enjoyed similar titles like The Lost Family Tree by Libby Copeland and The Nordic Theory of Everything by Anu Partanen." —The Norwegian American Genealogical Center
"Can a middle-aged American born in Iowa be a Viking? Yes, if she's as plucky and persistent as Lori Erickson. Starting with her Nordic name, a DNA test, and her strange dislike of lefse bread, Erickson takes us on a time-traveling pilgrimage to Newfoundland, Norway, Iceland, and even Istanbul in search of her spiritual DNA. Guided by her Viking foremother Gudrid the Far Traveler, Erickson discovers the well of wisdom by the roots of every family tree—those stories that influence our inner lives—and celebrates the explorer in all of us."
—Nancy Marie Brown, author of The Far Traveler and The Real Valkyrie
"The Soul of the Family Tree is a terrific new kind of travel book. Lori Erickson takes us on a journey back in time to meet the Vikings, her ancestors (and the ancestors of way too many of us, because, uh, they got around, those Vikings). Enthusiastic, intelligent, and willing to put on a funny Viking skirt and laugh at herself, Lori is the perfect guide for this kind of journey. She asks the questions we would be asking, and then she trots off to the next destination filled with boundless energy. This truly entertaining book should be on the shelf of everyone who is interested in family history, genealogy, or who has ever wondered, 'Where do I come from, really?'"
—June Melby, author of My Family and Other Hazards
"Lori Erickson has not only the adventurous spirit of her Viking ancestors but a sparkling sense of humor not generally associated with Olaf