Why are environmentalism and the Craft so often mutually exclusive? Those of Wiccan and other pagan faiths are professed to be "closer to the Earth," and yet one rarely hears of pagan environmentalists. On any number of occasions, I have seen festival-goers strewing garbage. Talk to any of your friends in the community, and you'll hear, "Sure, we recycle bottles and cans, but don't expect us to sort through our plastic."
My intent is not to berate the members of my community but to express my concern for the direction many in that community choose, specifically regarding products' "T" factor. T stands for trouble, as in "It's too much trouble to seek out products that have a recycled material content," for example. It is a change and it is an occasional inconvenience to practice environmentally responsible living. The trick is to minimize the T factor in the mundane world and maximize the energy we give back to the Mother in our spiritual lives.
In the mundane world, manufacturers of goods depend upon ignorance and ennui to sell goods that are made or packaged in a manner damaging to the Earth. We have the option of not buying those products, but how do we find alternatives? We look, we ask questions, we demand changes. Nearly every product on a market shelf has an 800 number for the manufacturer. Call them! Each call represents 6000 consumers. If you want change, this is a good place to start.
When you hear of some horrible butchery of our planet, call or e-mail a politician. The act of doing so is power! Whether a Dow or a "Slayed" Gorton will change on account of your call is secondary. Remember the law of three-fold return. Your will is going to have impact on the system.
How many of your Craft supplies are manufactured in an environmentally conscientious manner? Do you use candles that are made of petroleum? Does your Craft store do anything to promote recycling or other enviro-issues? Why not?
We are all the children of God and Goddess; we revel in their gifts, and yet so little of our energies go into the maintenance of that greatest expression of their power, our planet. We as members of a presumably earth-based religion need to think perhaps a little more about that earth. Those of our faith who recognize the similarities of this spiritual path with that of the First Peoples of this country will acknowledge the need for the children to be the receptacles of the elders' wisdom.
Doesn't it seem empowering to think that as the Earth's children we should do more to protect and to listen more to Mother Gaia? When you are in sacred space, define a local focus for healing energy or purifying magic. Specifically, if you have a favorite natural place, send it protective energy. Healing the Earth is a concept that is too big to grasp, but healing a small part that is special to you has a greater chance of being successful in a way you can see.
If your totem animal is an endangered species (and unless that totem is a rat or cockroach it probably is), send protective or fertility magic that way. Since we do seasonal rituals, think about the seasonal needs of your local environment. Spring takes a lot of energy to burst forth. Winter is a time to send energies for survival of your favorite local trees, for example.
I mentioned local focus, because it is too easy to give up on an overwhelming task. We as pagans have the responsibility, as people who draw and use magick, to give back what we take. And while we ground after directing energies, we might consider a focus of that grounding to heal our home.
This article is intended to present some food for thought regarding these issues. Many of you are probably doing some of what I suggested already. All of us can do a little more on behalf of our planet.
There is a lot of information out there to help minimize the T factor involved in doing that little bit more. If you would like to pursue more information regarding becoming more environmentally active, here are some addresses and phone numbers to start you on your way:
or feel free to ask me!
Write Eric the "Green Man" care of Widdershins.
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