Do we worship the earth? Not necessarily, but we believe that any
sustainable spiritual philosophy must include respect for life. It
must encourage us to develop practices that enable us to live in a
respectful relationship with the world that sustains us.
Our approach to our spiritual work and to ritual is earth-based rather
than humanistic. We look at the elements — air, fire, water
and earth — as if their primary gift is to invite us to be aware
of the world around us, rather than to provide us with metaphorical
keys to the world within us.
Yes, the elements give us clues to our "elemental" nature,
they are associated with aspects of our humanness. In astrology, tarot,
and Jungian psychology, they provide us with insights into the nature
of mind, spirit, emotion and body. Yes, the world around us does give
us clues to the world within us, but with the blessing of sacred land
and abundant nature, we focus on the world of nature as a way to understand
the nature of the world. The elements invite us to deepen our connection
with nature. They might even be invoking us, calling us forth into
their Circle of Life.
Rituals lay patterns in our souls. They form our instinctual responses.
With that in mind, we honor the elements rather than summon them.
We open to the sacred rather presume to invoke it. We believe that
life is sacred and that one of the purposes of ritual is to enable
us to get out of our own way. When we do that, we can connect more
fully with the power and beauty of life. Ritual doesn't create or
invoke wonder but it can, if we want it to, enable us to open to the
wonder that is ever present in the world. If we reach, if we stretch,
we can touch the fingertips of mystery.
Touch the fingertips of mystery, experience wonder, connect with the
divine; magic requires us to live fully and listen deeply.