apples
Column: The Apple Tree
|
Sheri Barker on growing relationships with fruit trees and land spirits.
Paganism
Gifting may benefit the gifter even more
|
New research shows that, in addition to positive effects on communities as a whole, “prosocial behavior” – activities like volunteering, donating to charity, and even giving Yuletide presents – has significant personal benefits as well.
Asia
Recycling industry fails the spiritual practice of reciprocity
|
TWH examines the qualities of reciprocity and how the lack of it impacted and contributed to the failures of the recycling industry.
Asia
Recycling markets breaking down because of pandemic
|
The impact of China no longer accepting plastics for recycling has far-reaching effects and left wealthier countries with no easy solutions for recycling plastics.
Living
Column: Ásatrú Ritual and Climate Change Ethics, Part One
|
The Ásatrú religion can offer new perspectives on climate change ethics via examination of the modern practice of historically grounded ritual known as blót – a rite that foregrounds reciprocity with the earth, inherent value in the natural world, transtemporal human relationships, global connectedness, and the consequences of human action. In addition to discussing Ásatrú textual sources and examples of ritual, this column offers a new ethical model for responding to issues of climate change. Ásatrú is a religion with a life that already relates to reality in a way that addresses major issues raised by climate change ethicists. Practitioners are both certain and competent in a life-practice that directly engages relationships within the transtemporal human community and with the wider world. Through study of lore and celebration of ritual, the practice of Ásatrú reinforces understanding of reciprocal relationships with the natural world, inherent value of living things, connections to past and future peoples, interrelatedness of all human actors, and consequences of human actions.