Spiritual Places

by Sarah Baxter, Zanna Goldhawk (Illustrator), Harry Goldhawk (Illustrator)

From the manmade splendour of the Easter Island Statues in the Pacific Ocean, to the medieval pilgrimage of Camino de Santiago that stretches to Spain, discover places that will be a balm to the mind and a tonic to the soul. 

Travel journalist Sarah Baxter has carefully curated a selection of the 25 most spiritual destinations from around the world – places that hold the promise of rare and profound experiences, whether areas of natural beauty imbued with spiritual significance or sites constructed for worship. From breathtaking scenery to religious capitals, Sarah's enlightening text reveals the full story of each place, combined with evocative tales of previous visitors that will both delight and inspire. 

Accompanied by beautiful hand-drawn illustrations that convey the unique tranquillity of each place, Inspired Traveller’s Guide: Spiritual Places takes readers closer to these sacred locations than ever before.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Reference, Art, Religion

144 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2018

About the author

Sarah Baxter is a writer, book author and editor specialising in travel, adventure, history and the great outdoors. In the name of exploration, she's climbed Kilimanjaro, snorkelled with killer whales, eaten sheep's brain, walked on the wings of a bi-plane, descended into an Icelandic volcano, learned to salsa in Barcelona and much, much more. Formerly deputy editor at Wanderlust travel magazine, she now writes for a range of outlets including The Telegraph, The Independent, iPaper, Wanderlust, Sunday Times Travel magazine, Country Walking and others. She has also authored many books, including A History of the World in 500 Walks, The Inspired Traveller's Guide to Spiritual Places and Lonely Planet's Where to Go When.

Reviews

[Kirsty ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the concept of this book. There are 25 trips to places of spiritual significance around the world. For me, who can't afford to travel at the minute I found it be a lovely getaway from the stresses of the modern world just by imagining what it would be like to actually be at these places. Lots to go on my to do list for when i do have the travel funds.

The photography is beautiful and adds to the information given. A very inspiring read

Free arc from netgalley

[Lisa J Shultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about the 5 of the 25 places listed that I have already visited. I looked at the other suggestions to see if I wanted to add them to my travel wish list. It seemed that there were places I expected to see included such as Sedona that were not there. But perhaps there will be a future new edition with more locations. It is a fun book to learn about special places that might be worth considering for those who like adventures that might have a spiritual component.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to travel but mostly I am a armchair tourist. I would love to visit everyone of the 25 places listed in this book. The 25 places listed in this book are from all over the world. They are all very spiritual places to visit. These are Spiritual not Religious. They open your spirit to the past. Some of the places are Crater Lake, Easter Island, and The Devil's Tower. There are amazing pictures of each site as well as a description and some history.

This is a short book but packed full of beauty and information. hopefully some day I will be able to see at least some of these places in person.

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

[AlenGarou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Da brava amante degli atlanti e delle guide, non potevo non cogliere la palla al balzo con questa splendida edizione. Ammetto che ero un po’ scettica all’inizio, perché temevo che si concentrasse troppo sui luoghi di culto cristiani (sappiamo che tutto ruota intorno al cristianesimo, universo compreso), ma sono stata contenta di sbagliarmi. Sebbene siano comunque predominanti, l’autrice ha fatto un buon lavoro nel scegliere location varie e significative per molteplice culture, comprese quelle più lontane da noi. Il risultato è quindi vario, originale e suggestivo.
Questa piccola guida è molto semplice, ma evocativa. Lo stile della Baxter è capace di trasportare il lettore nei luoghi lontani che descrive e, grazie alle vivaci illustrazioni, il tutto assume un’aura quasi tangibile. Inutile dire che voglio già partire per alcuni dei luoghi citati.
Data l’edizione e la cura della grafica, può essere sia un buon regalo, sia una colorata aggiunta alla propria libreria.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid! This is the second travel book I’ve read from Sarah Baxter’s traveller’s series and it was another wild ride, or should I say, spiritual ride! Many of these sites are holy and brings you to a state of awe and peace. While some of the places featured are churches and ancient sites, many of them are also places of nature that have a sacred meaning. Some of the places that grabbed my attention are:

1) Camino de Santiago (Galicia, Spain)
2) La Mezquita (Cordoba, Spain)
3) Isle of Iona (Inner Hebrides, Scotland)
4) Mont St. Michel (Normandy, France)
5) Cape Reinga (North Island, New Zealand)
6) Mauna Kea (Big Island, Hawaii, USA)
7) Devil’s Tower (Wyoming, USA)
8) S’Gang Gwaay (Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada)
9) Teotihuacan (Mexico)
10) Saut-d’Eau (Haiti)
11) Easter Island (Chile)

These places are also going to be added to my bucket list for future travels 🛫🛶🌲🪨🗿🏜🌋⛪️

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are travels that are part of a spiritual path or are the beginning of a spiritual path.
This book is an interesting and useful guide to spiritual place. Very interesting.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha dado muchos lugares interesantes que desconocía, ilustraciones bonitas e infinitas ganas de viajar.

[Ricardo Sousa · Rating 3 out of 5]

6/10

Good texts and lovely illustrations - i guess i was just not that much into ‘spiritual’ places after all

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deseret News review here: https://www.deseretnews.com/article/9...

[Libri_di_Tania_e_Momi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Il nostro pianeta Terra da sempre ci ha donato luoghi unici e straordinari, che con il tempo sono diventati mete di pellegrinaggio e di rinascita spirituale nella mente e nel corpo.

Da sempre associato all’idea di vacanza, il viaggio è però qualcosa di più. Ha un valore simbolico ed allegorico, e molto spesso è intimo e personale. Si può viaggiare anche stando fermi alla ricerca di un cambiamento interiore. Oppure si può decidere di raggiungere luoghi dove ritrovare se stessi, intraprendendo viaggi spirituali nel mondo, completamente da soli. Grazie a questi itinerari non soltanto si possono trovare soluzioni alternative per affrontare i problemi della quotidianità, ma si può anche avere la possibilità di porsi nuove domande.

In questa guida, Sarah Baxter ci svela le migliori destinazioni e strutture nate espressamente per il culto, per vivere esperienze intense e immergersi in luoghi di straordinaria bellezza, ricchi di significato. Ogni pagina racconta la storia di questi posti sacri e di grande valore spirituale che rivestono da millenni, dove i nostri antenati hanno lasciato le loro preghiere che ancora oggi riecheggiano nell'aria. L'obbiettivo di questa guida è proprio quella di accompagnare il lettore in queste 25 località più conosciute tra le mete ludiche. Ogni luogo è diverso dall'altro, ma ognuno di essi ha una cosa in comune: la magia e quel velo di mistero simbolico che affascinano ed emozionano le persone da

secoli, che ancora oggi cercano di dare una risposta a queste storie sacre. Un volume che arricchirà la nostra libreria, ma soprattutto la nostra anima ispirandola attraverso un viaggio intorno al mondo. Illustrazioni straordinarie che faranno percepire il grande significato e la spiritualità di questa guida unica nel suo genere.

[Claudia · Rating 3 out of 5]

An overview of twenty-five of the most spiritual locales in the world - from Uluru in Australia and the Devil's Tower in the United States to the Camino de Santiago from France through northern Spain and S'Gang Gwaay on an island of British Columbia. Places originally built as a spiritual destination to ancient locales that the surrounding people revered and travelled miles to present themselves.

Extensively illustrated by Harry and Zanna Goldhawk, the artwork is colorful with a couple map-like pieces. Leaning toward the interpretive rather than the photographic, each displays the artifact itself along with some connections to the legends surrounding the locale. Like the bear that attempted to claw it's way up Devil's Tower to grab the young women who fled into the sky (local legend regarding the Pleiades). A winter aerial view of the crystal blue Crater Lake. Walking up the stairs through bright red torii toward the Fushimi Inari Shrine overlooking the ancient capital of Kyoto.

It does not include every site across the world that each religion would consider of spiritual import. Just a double handful to give readers a sample to explore and add to prospective travel plans.

2021-077

[Rebecca Elson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet's website on 03/12/18.

I just read the most beautiful book, “Spiritual Places” by Sarah Baxter. Baxter is a travel journalist that has compiled an impressive list of spiritual places to visit. Some are seen as spiritual by their very nature, and other locations are spiritual because of the places of worship built there. 25 places are discussed, ranging from Easter Island to Wittenberg Castle Church. Baxter discusses the location’s history, interesting facts about, suggestions for when visiting and more!

This alone would make “Spiritual Places” a great read, but instead of stock photos for these locations someone (author, publisher, not sure who) decided to have illustrations by Harry and Zanna Goldhawk used in their place. The art is wonderful. It takes an interesting, but potentially stale, book and transports it to another level. Suddenly it feels like you’re reading a whimsical storybook or fairy tale, except the stories are true!

The writing, the art, and the hardcover format makes “Spiritual Places” an excellent gift idea for just about anyone, including yourself.

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was the design of this book that first caught my eye, its gold lettered title 'Spiritual Places', textured hardcover and lots of colorful illustrations. Most of my reading recently has been digital or audio so this made for cosy armchair and bedtime reading. The book is organised into 25 chapters covering 25 places, with about 2 pages of text for each place plus a full page illustration or spread. The text usually starts with a sensory description of the place, a taster of what one would experience as a visitor, pilgrim or a worshipper. It's a good starting point, but while the language is descriptive and evocative it still feels like the language of an outsider. I wonder how much more a local's perspective could have revealed at this point. The text then follows with the location's origin stories. These are usually through different creation myths for natural formations or a summary of the different architectural inputs and invasions for buildings.
Overall I'd call this a cosy window to excite further exploration.

[Diane B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short descriptions of some of the most profoundly spiritual places on the planet, to whet your appetite. If you are looking for detail you will only find fleeting glimpses.

Some of these destinatios might not readily come to mind, such as Haida G'wai. Other places that are named, like Kyoto, will cite multiple sites in a geographical area.

Accompanying each place is a watercolour sketch. When I was reading this I didn't have a great internet connection on hand, that would've helped as I wanted to explore each place in a lot more detail.

[Dominika Stará · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a really cute lil book with truly amazing illustrations and I kind of enjoyed all the dreaming about the places. However, somehow I was rather dissapointed by descriptions of each sacred place. There was kind of no information at all, nor the book was able to make me feel interested as most of the stories were a bit funny legends and myths. As a high level inspirational book quickly to read - fine. Other than that - not that special.

[Claudia García · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un viaje por el mundo y algunos de sus sitios más espectaculares. Las descripciones dan muchos datos curiosos e ilustran de forma poética las sensaciones que transmite cada lugar, haciéndolo muy entretenido de leer. Las ilustraciones son preciosas, dentro de su sencillo estilo artístico.

[leayah · Rating 4 out of 5]

"you've never seen such an array of stars, pimpling the inky-black like celestial acne"

beautiful descriptions, the illustrations along with the intriguing stories behind each location is mesmerizing.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[Marie Ange · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, I love the idea of a book all about spiritual places even if I wanted more and the illustrations are beautiful.

[Zdenko Somorovsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veľmi príjemná cestovateľská knižka. Oddychovka. Sú to také krátke eseje, miestami reportáže o zaujímavých a posvätných miestach sveta. Celkom inšpiratívne čítanie.

[Ann Deraedt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leuk boek omdat het telkens aparte verhalen zijn.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, having been to 16 of these places mentioned it really was a beautiful trip down memory lane!

[Klára Březinová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ach bože, ty ilustrace!!! Nádherná knížka!

[Bernard Chan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't really resonate with me.

[Silvia Vergel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Gemma Searle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book lovely read a great starting place for more in-depth research

[Ana Laura Puentes Ferrín · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un relajante paseo por el mundo.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's such a pretty book; great cover, nice paper, pretty illustrations.

[Gemma Armarego · Rating 3 out of 5]

The featured locations were interesting and the illustrations are beautiful but I found the text to be a bit rudimentary.

[Amy Doeun · Rating 5 out of 5]

A completely beautiful and inspiring book!