How does this web site connect with Environmental Issues? I would like to emphasize that throughout this great neighborhood there are pages that offer information on what you can do to assist in the future of this planet.  Many have specific information regarding endangered species and offer many ideas for activism in the campaigns to protect our environment.  I encourage you to cruise the neighborhood.

This site is clearly not that, although there are some links related to action, this site isn't about changing politicians mind.  This site is a testimony on how through Nature I was healed.  It is about Earth Wisdom and Spirituality.  It is about how working spiritually to heal one's self and healing the land works.

In order to do this explanation I have to tell you alittle about myself and the spiritual path I follow and continue to follow. You will find that more specifically in the Wind that Speaks through the trees. For now I am going to give you the nuts and bolts of Nature Spirituality.

What a Witch or Pagan is or isn't

Nature spirituality covers the Native American and the Pagan paths.  The Pagans of Old based their faith on their Environment by treating it with sacred reverence.  Ancient Pagans made offerings and prayer to various deities that protected the Environment.  I practice the Celtic Way.  The Celts based their calendar year on the movement of the sun and the Earth.  In a sub-category of Pagan I call myself Witch because I practice Wiccan.

To call yourself Witch or a Pagan does not mean Satanism.  Satan does not exist in our beliefs because Satan is primarily a Christian belief.  We existed before Christian times.  Like the Native Americans we work with the Elements of the Seven Directions of North, East, South, West, Above, Below and then Center.  I do not cast spells nor do I believe in them.  The Wiccan Rede is very clear on not harming anyone.  The secret to my magic is the personal transformation I do through my work with the Earth.  Another myth I would like to dispel I do not offer any sacrifices to the Deities.  It is my belief to honor all living and dead people and things.  In a way the Pagans and the Native Americans were kinda the first Environmentalists.

The key to our spirituality is BALANCE.  We honor both the God and the Goddess for that balance.  Gender discrimination is non-existent in our faith.  It is my "New Age" belief (just to make some Pagans cough) that we must first seek the balance within ourselves before working in balance with Nature.
Some may remember the tale of King Arthur where when the King laid wasted and incapacitated the Land no longer produced the bounty as it did before.  This is analogous to what my belief is.  We mirror the Land and the Land mirrors us. 

The Celtic Way for myself

There are three worlds in the Celtic Way.  First, there is the OverWorld which incorporates the Sky and Stars and Sun, then there is the MiddleWorld which is our Earthly realm and Environment and finally there is the UnderWorld which incorporates Midnight Sun, the UnderWorld Tree, the Dark Goddess and the Faery Realm as well as OUR ancestors.  It is through the UnderWorld I have received most of my inner work. 

In Conclusion.....

I have given you an overview on what my Intent is for this web site.  I am also including in this portion examples of rituals that I perform and you can also do without being a Pagan unless of course it goes against your True Faith.  Pagan is an umbrella term that covers many walks and practices of Faith.  It includes Gardnerian, Alexandrian, Druidism, etc.  These are more formal groups that have quite an organized structure.  But basically, there is no book telling a Pagan what to be.  It is an individual faith.  I practice alone and have develop my own ritual according to my heart and not my head.

Ritual and Reverence of the Earth
The next time you take a walk in the outdoors give pause to what you hear and see.  Notice the color of the leaves, the texture of the trunk of a tree, the wind and how it smells, sounds, and feels.  Feel the terrain under your feet with each step you take. Breathe slowly and walk slowly.  When you find a comfortable spot to relax, sit there.

Now start emptying your mind of everyday worries and concerns.  Breathe deeply and rhythmically.  When you feel you have reach stillness in your mind think and visualize the North.  North represents Winter, Midnight, it is Earth.  Imagine the touch of the cold wintery Earth.  Invite the North with any words you feel comfortable with.  The North is our Physical Realm.  Then move onto the East in your mind.  The East represents Dawn, Spring, and the element of Air.  Imagine the smell of Spring and hear the birds chirping, visualize a glorious sunrise.  Invite the East.  The East is our Mental Realm.  Next move onto the South.  The South is Summer, NoonDay, and the element of Fire.  Imagine the sound of a crackling fire, the smell of that fire, visualize the smoke that bellows upward to the sky toward the stars, feel the connection of the smoke with yourself.  Invite the South. The South is our Spiritual Realm.  Then move onto the West.  The West represents Dusk, Autumn and the element of Water.  Imagine the sound of waves pelting rocks on the shore line, visualize a clean clear lake, smell the freshness of the wind as it pours over that lake, take in the refreshment after feeling the heat of the South.  Invite the West.  The West is our Emotional Realm.  Still in meditation, turn you eyes upward to the Sun, the Sky, the Stars, the Moon.  Visualize the magnitude of the night's sky, look at the patterns of the stars, do you hear any sound? Invite the Above. Above is one part of three in the Center called Spirit.  Now turn you eyes downward to the bowels of the Earth, travel down the roots of a tree, What do you See, what do you Hear, Who do you see, What is the smell.  Most important how do you feel? Invite the below. This is the most important realm for receiving messages from our land on the healing it needs.  If you give something to someone while you are there it is important to take that object in the physical realm and either give it to someone or return it to the Earth. You may also receive something from some being or someone.  This object is to assist in your personal healing.  Take it back with you in the Physical Realm.
Now focus on the Center.  The Center is where all directions pass through to the other direction.  The Center represents your True Self because we are made up all the elements and the directions.  Visualize stepping into the center.

What this process is called is creating Sacred Space.  Continue your visualization and see what you can see--use all your senses.  Contrary to popular opinion you do not have to posses any major Psychic powers to do this.  The key is willingness to listen, smell, touch, see and to be.  Once you feel satisfied with the knowledge you have gained again visualize the North and thank the North for being there, then the East give gratitude to, the South give thanks to and the West, Above, Below and Center.  This closes the sacred space.  If you like, keep a journal of all symbols and visual things you saw. You will find that they will come up in your everyday life. Thus validating the connection between the Land and yourself.  We call this Synchronicity. 

The Vision The Earth is a living organism in my belief.  When you take time to respect it through political activism or honoring spiritually as described above it is a step in bringing into form a clean Environment for the future.  The most important fact is never wish ill on any corporation or individual because that kind of thought form comes back threefold.  What you intent must be is for the community as a whole, and that includes the Corporate Bosses.  What you can do is ask that their Heart opens to Land.

My vision for the future is Simple.  We will have to return to the basics that our ancestors enjoyed and worked.  The Land will become our ally once again and no longer be taken for granted.  There will be a World Community.  I will no longer be a "those who have the gold make the rules" world.  City dwellers and Corporate world people will have to be reskilled to live off the land for their survival.  It will be indeed  a gift to be Simple.  Those of us right now who are working to protect the environment will be watching our children's children grow to a more simple and less complicated world with breathing space for all living organisms.  There will be Peace.  There won't be any more Religious Wars.  Endangered species no longer exist as a fear. No more discrimination just a celebration of life.

"You may call me a dreamer but I'm not the only one...."

All material is copyrighted by the author, Jacquelyn Framstad Archer, use of any portion for personal use or public use must have written permission of the Author. c.1997-2000. Translated this means do not link to this page or quote portions of this page without my permission.  Do not reprint this on your website without permission.
 
Bright Blessings to All,
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Terra Mir Bookstore of diversity. I am its proprietor and selector. I am an associate of Amazon.com. Many of the references of books made throughout the Hearth can be found at: WICCAN section and the PAGAN SITE . Also there is a TAROT area. Take some time to browse, Amazon offers many books at least 15% below the normal bookstore prices. Many of the reviews our original. All titles are owned in our personal library. This satisfies the ex-librarian in me. Thank you in advance.
Also please visit http://www.imagik.net IMAGIK ARTS EMPORIUM

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