Today is Earth Day, a time when we reflect on our intricate connection with the planet we call home, and ideally, reassess our obligations toward nurturing the delicate ecosystems that sustain life. Earth Day made its debut on April 22, 1970, marking its 50th anniversary this year, with the current theme focusing on climate action.
In the years leading up to the inaugural Earth Day, Americans were consuming immense quantities of leaded gasoline due to the prevalence of large, inefficient automobiles. Industries discharged smoke and waste with minimal regard for legal repercussions or public perception. Air pollution was widely perceived as a sign of economic prosperity. Until then, mainstream America largely remained unaware of environmental issues and the detrimental impact of a polluted environment on human health.
However, the landscape was poised for transformation following the publication of Rachel Carson’s groundbreaking book, “Silent Spring,” in 1962. This literary work marked a pivotal moment, selling over 500,000 copies in 24 countries and significantly raising public awareness and concern regarding the interconnectedness of living organisms, the environment, and the profound implications of pollution on public health.
The first Earth Day in 1970 saw 20 million Americans rallying in the streets, catalyzing the implementation of several environmental safeguards in the United States. These measures included the enactment of laws such as the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, alongside the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in July 1970.
Image credit: NASA – public domain]
Earth Day also serves as a reminder, a day a year offering a moment of realization, that the resources vital for our existence are finite and vulnerable. Originating as an educational event on environmental concerns, Earth Day has evolved into a global platform addressing environmentalism, ecology, and the conservation of our natural resources. Given the escalating urgency of climate change, the question remains whether we can transcend political barriers and earnestly strive to alleviate its most devastating impacts while there’s still time.
While many modern Pagans today deeply resonate with environmental issues, to the extent that many now identify with an “Earth Religion,” this wasn’t always the norm. Despite the marks of hedonism and avoidance of organized religious practices, the early Pagan religious movements of the 1950s and 1960s predominantly emphasized a reverence for the immanent manifestations of nature.
It’s worth mentioning that within the broader Pagan community, certain individuals and factions have, in recent times, distanced themselves from terms like “earth religion” or “nature religion,” deeming them inaccurate representations of their beliefs and practices. Nonetheless, there remains widespread support for environmental causes, a readiness to acknowledge contemporary scientific findings on matters such as climate change, and a prevailing conviction that safeguarding natural resources is essential across our interconnected communities.
As we peer into the future, one of the significant hurdles facing the Pagan community appears to be aligning our actions with our principles. Central to numerous, though not all, Pagan spiritual traditions lies a profound and reverential affection for the Earth, its diverse life forms, and its intrinsic processes. Despite our diverse backgrounds, we often find common ground in seeking solace and tranquility within the natural world. Even as many of us reside in urban settings, our hearts ache witnessing the unchecked devastation wrought by fossil fuels worldwide and the scientifically confirmed, dire consequences of human actions on our shared home.
Earth Day is a secular reminder of our collective obligation to manifest a healthy planet.
As Pagan elder Gus DiZerega pointed out over a decade ago, our Paganisms that center themselves upon a the cycles of nature and a relationship with the land have a distinct role to play on elevating Earth Day as a call to action,
I think only spiritualities of sacred immanence are capable of doing earth justice, and I think that we, as Pagans, have a responsibility to act and speak in defense of this planet that has blessed us into existence. If anyone can it is we who can argue for and sometimes introduce others to a direct experience of the sacrality of the earth. […] Far from being anti-human, we need only enlarge that part of us which may be most unique, our hearts, to embrace what [Aldo Leopold] terms a “land ethic.” Such an ethic: ‘simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soils, waters, plants, and animals, or collectively: the land.’
The opportunities to engage our world more deeply are boundless. There are events the world over and a simple search on social media reveals them all.
There are opportunities to build community, learn about the challenges, create magickal actions, and cement practical outcomes. Every action, regardless of its scale, holds significance—whether it’s planting a tree, minimizing waste, conserving water and energy, or actively participating in every conservation effort. Let’s collectively take responsibility for nurturing our planet, and fostering a cooler and healthier future.
Most importantly, Earth Day is an opportunity for optimism. The news is consistently bleak but we can remind ourselves today that hope is something we can create. We marvel at the world and find the simplest ways to help.
If you are in the United States, this is National Parks Week. Entrance fees will be waived for the week starting on April 20, 2024, to kick off the celebration and to encourage everyone to enjoy their national parks in person.
It is an opportunity to marvel at nature. As is the Pink Moon tonight, the Lyrid meteor shower, or even a walk in your backyard, garden, or park. Each represents a moment to reconnect with nature and re-double our efforts, practical, spiritual, and magickal on behalf of our home.
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