Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Pagan
Celebrating Earth

Celebrating Earth

Last updated on: April 20, 2017 at 4:04 am by Liz Fisher

Celebrating Earth 2017-04-20T04:04:24+00:00 Liz Fisher

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

April is the month when our attention is drawn to Earth, both the element and the diverse organic system which inspires numerous spiritual practices. Wildflowers sprout each year of their own accord, reaffirming the power of renewal is still vibrant in nature. Trees re-leaf and evergreens bud new growth, announcing a promising future.

Establishing Earth Day

The holiday Earth Day is in its forty-seventh year. In 1970, the first Earth Day celebrations took place in hundreds of communities across the United States.

The idea for a national day to focus on the environment came to Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after he took a trip to Santa Barbara following a devastating oil spill off the coast of California. Nelson later introduced a bill designating April 22 as a national day to celebrate the Earth. The date was chosen to help commemorate the birth of California naturalist and conservationist John Muir, born April 21, 1838. This movement was responsible for the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of environmental laws that make our earth a more livable place.

We have come far since the Santa Barbara oil spill. Today, more than one billion people worldwide participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance. A combination of education, public policy, and consumer campaigns compliment direct cleanup efforts. There are local activities listed on-line that invite participation. I have found gathering with others who feel passionate about the Earth is both fun and enriching.

Environmentalism as a Value

I remember that first Earth Day which called me, as young person, to add an ethical perspective toward the Earth to my core spiritual tenets. When I became a Unitarian Universalist in the early 1980s the principles of the UUA were quite different than they are today.

Through a participatory process in the mid-1980s, the current principles were crafted and adopted. But it wasn’t until the early 1990s that this Sixth Source was added to the Sources of our Principles: It reads; “Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.”

CUUPS had a lot to do with this change. I took part in these conversations and remember how important they were to the future direction of our community spiritual life at all levels. Earth Day, though a secular outpouring, highlights the importance of exploring what is encapsulated in our Sixth Source.

Sacred Qualities of Earth

What does the element Earth teach us? The magic of creativity springs from soil. The combination of seed and water fed by nutrients that make up the element Earth has birthed overwhelming biological diversity and interconnection. Trees and plants are the living outcomes of this process; and they support our very existence by producing the oxygen that we breathe.

Trees that are associated with the element Earth are the Yew, Elder, Oak and Elm. The Yew tree is able to live for thousands of years. The yew spirit is a witness to the passage of our immortal souls through many lifetimes. It offers a glimpse of eternity, a reminder of our direct contact with the past, present and future.

Being mindful of our individual well-being is also a time honored spiritual principle pagans share with Zen Buddhists. Taking care of ourselves as we advocate for the entire interconnected web enhances our ability to stay with this work for the long haul. Here are some interesting personal qualities attributed to the element Earth.

Trees can act as doorways to the wisdom of the elemental powers and renew our faith in the value of our life’s work. These tree spirits help us with generosity, valuing mutual aid, artistic creation, caring and sharing. Other qualities these trees bring are: strength, endurance, courage, and inner nourishment.

Earth in its older form also contains sacred crystalline geometry in gems and semi-precious stones. The healing nature of these is explored by many of us. Appreciating the colors, shapes and fascinating veins of these is a powerful focusing meditation.

Wildflower Show

The Earth gives us many gifts which I had a chance to experience recently at a stunning wildflower show. Organized by the California Native Plant Society and the Pacific Grove Natural History Museum, this annual show is the largest in the northern and western hemispheres. It takes place each April, and is a veritable feast of natural miracles.

In 1965, a group of native plant enthusiasts banded together to save a native plant botanic garden from being sacrificed to development. Their victory taught them that a few people armed with knowledge and commitment could save natural areas from destruction.

For me this is where the sacred and secular blend even if this is not formally acknowledged. Thanks to the awareness and dedication of so many volunteers, we can experience these delicate creatures. Look for similar groups in your area. They exist all over the country.

Sacred Rituals of Action

Public demonstrations have practical implications, making them a major centerpiece of my spiritual practice. This year we have a second chance in April to express our love of nature and our understanding that the health of the ecosystem is vital to our own welfare. On April 29th the Peoples Climate March in Washington D.C. will be the boldest climate mobilization in U.S. history. Related marches and actions around the country and the world are planned.

In the current era of threatened environmental protections it is doubly important to fight cynicism. The call to speak out has never been so urgent. Our country’s climate-denying president and EPA chief are rolling back key environmental safeguards and prioritizing profits over Americans’ health.

For the many of us who cannot attend a march in person, we can still pay attention. Petitioning the government on behalf of the Earth can make a major impact. Legislators tell us it is really important for citizens to set goals, not the fossil fuel industries. If the people set the goals we often meet them and can even exceed them.

Our sacred duty, then, as expressed in our seventh principle “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part” beckons us to find our voices and honor the elements, with the element Earth being one of the four keystones.

Art Credits:

All wildflower photos by Bob Fisher. Used by permission.

Earth Day Marin 2000, poster from the author’s collection.

Elemental Blessings, image by Denise Ostler. Used by Permission.

RISE UP poster and #RESIST! poster are organizing resources courtesy of People’s Climate Movement, Natural Resources Defense Council.

Unitarian Universalism

Previous Post

April 19, 2017

River Pirates

Next Post

April 21, 2017 The Well-being of Gardening

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Current Events CUUPS Press Release Interfaith liturgy Media Review podcast Religious Education Seasonal Reflection Spiritual Practice Summary Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2026 June 2026 April 2026 January 2026 December 2025 October 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz