Earth: Reclaim Your Connection to Gaia thru Ritual & Reverence

A Shift to Mechanistic Thinking: Separation from Animus Mundi

Unlike eastern traditions, the western world pulled away from the ancients ideas of animus mundi, animism, and harmonious communion with nature. As Christianity vaulted over Paganism many of the environmental beliefs and practices were lost. This shift in religious practice, along with the scientific revolution, had a huge impact on human’s relationship to the natural environment. Some even believe that this was the beginning of today’s environmental crises.

The scientific revolution of the 15th and 16th centuries shifted the western worldview from one of spiritual unification to a mechanistic philosophy. Philosopher Thomas Hobbes, at the forefront of mechanistic thinking, attempted to show that everything about humanity could be explained materialistically; with no connection to a soul of higher intelligence. Descartes, a well ascribed philosopher of the time, disagreed with Hobbes’ idea that the mind could be ascribed mechanistically and argued that reality was composed of two radically different types of substance; extended matter, which was mechanistic in nature, and immaterial mind, which was not mechanistic. He is famous for saying “I think therefore I am”. Intelligence came to be seen as a higher level of existence, separate from the mechanistic natural world and existing only in human beings and the detached theoretical God of deism. Isaac Newton’s scientific revelations further validated the mechanistic qualities of nature. He seemingly proved that the natural world could be described through quantification, reductionism, and systematic experimentation. However, the assumption that matter was inert, foundational to Newton’s work, would later be disproven.

Human’s relationship with nature was deeply altered by the mechanistic worldview. This new hierarchy, putting humans above nature, made the natural world something to be dominated. Utilitarian theories gained momentum and nature became a means to an ends; it’s value was only in it’s usability for future human advancement. The spiritual and material world were now seen as separate entities by the majority and thus, humanity found itself isolated from the natural world.

Integration: From Ancient Wisdom to Scientific Evolution

The scientific revolution catapulted our knowledge of the universe into new territory. The ideas of Descartes’ mind-body separation, mechanistic philosophy, and even the assumptions of “matter” have now been dismantled. Matter, broken down into quantum form is energy and space. In essence, there is no “matter” at all. Biology and psychology have shown that the body and mind are unequivocally linked; the body affects the mind and the mind affects the body. For example, thoughts impact neurotransmitters which in turn affect body function, feeling states, hormone secretion, and the stress response. The body also affects the mind, as demonstrated by social psychologist Amy Cuddy. She proved that the way we hold our bodies can significantly affect our capacity and confidence in the world.

As science progressed many scientists became inspired by ancient teachings. Today, we find that several scientific theories correlate with ancient spiritual beliefs. For example, Erin Schrödinger, the co-inventor of quantum theory, obtained his inspiration for his theory from the Vedas, ancient Indian texts. Quantum particles demonstrate a form of existence that was once thought impossible; attributes it shares with Brahman, the Vedic term for God. Quantum particles show up as both a particle and wave simultaneously and, as demonstrated in Bell’s theorem, will exhibit correlated properties even at distances of billions of miles. Brahman, as described by the Upanishads (Vedic texts), is both far and near; moving and unmoving; within this and outside of this. Many theorize that the Vedic concept of Brahman is exemplified in the Quantum field.

Earth Connection

It has also been scientifically proven that connecting with the natural environment has positive effects on the mental, physiological, and spiritual aspects of an individual. Communion with nature is equally effective for regulating body rhythms and physical vitality as is exercise and healthy eating. Mental health is positively impacted by the natural environment and “green spaces” have been shown to promote social cohesion, group-based activities, and increased individual well-being. Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, is a practice of connecting to the forest through all the senses. As one breathes the forest air they inhale terpenes, bioactive substances released by the plants and trees. These terpenes have anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, and cortisol lowering properties which support the vitality of the individual.

As we respond to the natural environment, so too does the environment respond to us. Science has shown that plants react to the sensorial world, from touch to sound. A recording of a caterpillar chewing leaves will cause the plant to shift into defence mode and produce chemical substances to deter the caterpillar from eating it’s leaves. Plants are also sensitive to the type of the touch they receive and can communicate with each other via a subterranean ‘internet’ of fungus. The plant world is in a sense ‘conscious’ to it’s environment, though this consciousness may present differently then our own.

The Gaia hypothesis, formulated by chemist James Lovelock, proposes that living organisms interact with the inorganic surroundings on Earth to create a synergistic, self regulating, and complex system that assists in the perpetuation of life on this planet. The Gaia hypothesis, though controversial, brings necessary attention to the synergistic and holistic properties of the planet. The planet itself works as a living organism with each system and subsystem connected through a complex array of relationships. From the oceanic algae that feeds the rainclouds to the earthworms regenerating the soil for new growth, the earth is endowed with an intelligence that inevitably restores balance and harmony, at least when it is left to its own unfolding.