The Gaia Hypothesis
Believing the Earth is alive may be scientific as well as spiritual
It's not exactly a new idea, or even one that has been taken seriously by most of the scientific community, but I still find it interesting, especially when taken from a Pagan point of view.
This idea was originally put forth by James Lovelock in the 1960s, and he published a book on the theory titled, "Gaia - A New Look at Life on Earth".
He suggested that the Earth is alive, as a single organism. The flowing water, shifting land masses, and even the myriad of smaller living creatures (including us humans) are actually all parts of a larger living body. Much like how our own cells are part of our bodies, yet they are alive in their own right as well.
Pshaw, you say. The Earth is made up mostly of rock and other inanimate material. How could it possibly be alive?
But think of a tree. Much of what you see in a tree is actually dead. The outer bark and the inner wood of the trunk is all dead material. Only the new wood just under the bark is alive, and the leaves of course. You wouldn't think twice that a tree is a living being, would you?
I'll admit that the geological, biological concepts that make up this theory are complex, and beyond my complete understanding. But the general hypothesis seems simple enough. The central fact of the Gaia Hypothesis is that the planet regulates itself. The temperature and concentration of various gasses are constantly adjusting to keep levels at optimum for the sustaining of life. This form of homeostasis is a key feature when defining life.
Whether the Gaia Hypothesis is good science or just a wild idea, I really couldn't say. But I feel that it blends nicely with my own spiritual beliefs about the sacredness of our Mother Earth.
~ Terri Paajanen
