We are all Earth based

Whenever anyone tells me that they follow an “Earth” based pathway my response is always; “Don’t we all?” Everyone I know lives here on this planet, and is made up of the same elements as the Earth. We are extensions of the Earth as are the animal and plant kingdoms. We don’t own the Earth. The Earth owns us.

In our quest for technology, most of us have forgotten to observe the natural cycles of our lives, which in turn are reflections of the natural cycles of the Earth. How many of us are aware of what phase the moon might be in, or what day a solstice or equinox falls upon? How many of us, bereft of life’s luxuries, such as electricity and heat could survive for a month or even a week in the wilderness? What plants are edible? How do we make a fire? What water is safe to drink?

Our ancestors depended on what the Earth provided for their survival. From this dependence sprang a symbiotic relationship which was beneficial to all living things. This relationship blossomed into the understanding that all of creation was sacred. It is in this understanding that we discover the root of true spirituality.

The equinoxes and solstices were important days for the ancients. The Earth transformed and changed at these times, as did their lives. We still celebrate those times, although many of us have forgotten why.

Christmas, Yule, Hanukah, no matter what you call it, it is the winter solstice. The sun is at the furthest point of the Earth, and to our ancestors watching the sun retreat; it was a time of fear. Would the sun ever return? So, they lit bonfires in the hope that sun would see the light and feel the warmth and return to the Earth. We still follow that custom today with electric light displays instead of bonfires. Decking the halls with boughs of holly still is part of our fascination with plants that remain green and vibrantly alive all year long. The Druids saw Mistletoe as a sacred plant because of its parasitic relationship with the Oak tree. We added the Son God to the Sun God.

Easter traditions like rabbits and eggs still harbor the theme of fertility. In fact, Easter is named for Eostarte the hare-headed Goddess. Mayday brings the maypole dances with the pole and ribbons as another sign of Earth’s abundance and fertility.

Halloween or Samhain is the Celtic New Year, a time of death and dying for the Earth. But it also brings the promise of rebirth in the springtime.

No matter what title or belief system we may choose the fact remains that we are all children of the Earth. We all share our humanness in common, and we all rely upon the web of life we create to allow all of us to survive.

Whatever the source of life may be, and we have many ideas about that one, we all come from the same place and to that place we all shall return. And, the great cycle of life and rebirth continues.