Environmental Sciences

If you spend much time on Pagan-oriented e-mail lists or chats you will observe a discussion of the frequently raised question: Are all Pagan belief systems nature-centered or Earth-based?  I've observed enough of those debates to say the answer is apparently "no" -- although I have also observed that many Pagans have an extensive knowledge-base and passion for environmental issues.  No matter where you choose to start in your spiritual studies, I would like to encourage you to learn more about your natural environment.

Your Home Environment

One of the best places to begin your study of environmental sciences is right at home.  Consider these questions raised by Chas Clifton in the book Witchcraft Today:

• Do you know where your garbage goes?

• Can you trace the water you drink from precipitation to tap?

• Can you name five edible plants in your region and their seasons of availability?

• How long is the growing season where you live?

• What is the history of the land in your area?

These questions are great idea-starters, which prompted me to add a few questions of my own:

• What birds are in your area year round? Only in summer? Only in winter?

• What mammals, reptiles, and insects are common in your area?

• What are the typical sunrise and sunset times at the solstices in your area?

• When is the next full moon?

• What is the geological history of your area?

In your search for the answers to these questions you may find some distressing trends as well as some issues that need attention. I find it is difficult to think of environmental sciences without also thinking environmental activism.

In addition to learning more about your area you might consider is living in a simpler fashion.  I've read that most people use about 10% of what they own.  I notice it most with my clothes.  I wear the same clothes over and over (about 10%) while the others hang in the closet.  I've also noticed the same situation with kitchen items.  I use the same few dishes and utensils over and over, while the rest just sit there collecting dust.  If you care to try living a simpler life you may want to explore the Simple Living Network and Alternatives for Simple Living sites.

Would you like to do more?  Get involved in local community efforts.  What are the environmental issues in your area?  It may take some searching in your local phone book and some 'asking around' but you may find that there are established groups working hard to improve the life of the land and the animals in your area.  For example, there may be a chapter of the Sierra Club in your area (or you might consider starting one).

Choosing an Issue

Environmental issues touch almost all other sciences.  One way to begin your studies is to find a topic of interest.  There are a few websites I'd like to point out specifically:

The Encyclopedia Smithsonian entry for Ecology/Environmental Studies

The About.com page for Environmental Issues

Environmental News Network

United Nations Environmental Network

Union of Concerned Scientists

Harvard University Center for the Environment

The Yahoo! Directory for Earth Sciences and the Directory for Ecology

The Google Directory for Environmental Issues and the Directory for Ecology

Don't be overwhelmed -- you have a lifetime of study ahead of you!  If you can pick even one of these areas to study and take action to improve then the world will truly be a better place.  You may decide to choose one area a year for intensive study, or perhaps pick one area to study in preparation for a holiday ritual.  This list is not exhaustive, but it will give you some topics to start with.  

Choosing a Discipline

Another way to approach your studies is to find a more traditional area of study -- such as biology, chemistry, geology, or geography.  Here are two of the more popular areas:

Ocean Sciences
Spending my childhood on the Gulf of Mexico certainly influenced my love of the ocean.  As you can tell from the graphics in this website, I still find spiritual comfort in the constantly changing tides and moods of the ocean.  One of the best sites I've come across for Oceanography that is Pagan-friendly is the Remarkable Ocean World, put together by Dr. Chamberlin of Fullerton College. (I also recommend his page on the Gaia Hypothesis.)  Other sites worth checking can be found in the Yahoo Directory for Oceans and Seas or the Google Directory for Oceanography.

Astronomy
Many Pagans feel drawn to incorporate some type of divination in their normal routine.  In reading Pagan material you will continually run across references to astronomical or astrological events.  A good understanding of basic astronomy will help your comprehension in these areas.  If you feel drawn towards astrology, then it is even more important that you understand the science of astronomy as well.  The search engines listed in the Research Tools have sections on Astronomy listed under Science.  One of my favorite sites is links section of the Astronomy Students' Association website at the University of Texas.

Quantum Physics
It will not take long in your reading to come across the premise that quantum physics provides a scientific basis for many mystical teachings and other phenomena, such as soul travel, out-of-body experiences, and many paranormal events.  Many people find the concepts forming this new physics difficult to grasp.  I encourage you to at least learn enough about it to evaluate the things you read in your studies.  In addition to using the Research Tools you might consider reading one of the classics in this area, The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav and David Finkelstein. 

Ken Wilber, a well-known transpersonal psychologist and author, has taken a different view of the merging of quantum physics and mysticism.  In the Preface to the 2001 edition of his book Quantum Questions, Wilber writes, "The common tendency, when faced with the truly ultimate issues of existence, is to assume--or at least hope--that physics and mysticism would somehow converge on a similar set of answers, that physics would somehow support or even prove a mystical worldview. ... That simple conclusion, however, was not believed by any of the great physicists. ... They rejected the notion that physics proves or even supports mysticism, and yet every one of them was an avowed mystic!"  (Preface, ix).  I would encourage to take a look at the essays Wilber has collected in this volume.  They provide a colorful and inspirational view of the relationship between religion and science.

A Brief Footnote...

While I hope you are inspired to give your time and resources to help the environment, I also hope you are wise in your giving.  Charity Navigator provides a wealth of information on the fiscal responsibility of many charitable organizations.  Another resource is  Give.org, a service of the Better Business Bureau.  The site lists popular charities with sound financial reporting and some worthy of caution.  You might want to check there before you donate money to a popular organization.