cosmology

9 Jul 2022

A Personal Definition and Incomplete History of Gaianism

by Bart Everson | posted in: Gaian Beliefs and Purpose, Guest Contributor, Understanding Gaia | 4

This week’s essay, by Bart Everson, explores the history, and perhaps the future, of Gaianism.

17 Jan 2021

Stargazing and Riddlemaking

by Erik Assadourian | posted in: Gaian Parables, Understanding Gaia | 2

Two new Gaian Kōans help us explore the universe and the nature of Gaia.

17 May 2020

Encountering an Essential Lesson in the Church Forests of Ethiopia

by Erik Assadourian | posted in: Gaian Beliefs and Purpose, Growing the Gaian Community, Learning from Other Traditions | 2

How a religious system has played a key role in preventing total deforestation of Ethiopia and what we, Gaians, can learn from this.

2 Mar 2020

Distilling Meaning from Meaninglessness

by Erik Assadourian | posted in: Gaian Beliefs and Purpose | 2

Is the universe and human life truly without meaning? If so, can we live our lives in ways that extract meaning from that meaninglessness?

10 Feb 2020

Lesssons from Serpentor

by Erik Assadourian | posted in: Gaian Beliefs and Purpose, Learning from Other Traditions | 7

If we were to take our CRISPR (Clipper of Religion Inspired Systems Producing eco-Renaissance) to snip the best bits of religions to build a new philosophical system, what elements would we harvest?

12 Jan 2020

Gaia is not Omniscient, Omnipotent, nor Omnibenevolent

by Erik Assadourian | posted in: Understanding Gaia | 0

Unlike the western concept of God, Gaia is not all-knowing, all-powerful, or all good. Instead Gaia is limited in power, in sentience, and is abenevolent. In other words, unlike God, Gaia is vulnerable. And we are in direct relationship with Her. How does that shape this philosophy? And our understanding of suffering?

21 Dec 2019

Celebrating Yuletide in a Christmas Culture

by Erik Assadourian | posted in: Gaian Practices and Rituals, Learning from Other Traditions | 3

Today (December 21st) is Solstice—the shortest day of the year (or longest if you’re in the southern hemisphere). Tomorrow, in the north, days will start to lengthen and the sun will start its rebirth, bringing with it warmth, spring, and new life. Yule—meaning wheel—celebrates this annual solar cycle and passing the darkest point of the year.

26 Jun 2019

Occam’s Flint Knife

by Erik Assadourian | posted in: Gaian Beliefs and Purpose, Understanding Gaia | 2

Is it Gaia or God we should feel in awe of when we hear a roaring waterfall or see lightning flash across the sky?

The Gaian Creed

“We believe that the Earth, Gaia, is a living being. That Gaia is at the same time composed of the vast diversity of life and is alive in Her own right. We understand that we depend completely and utterly on Gaia and are part of Gaia. We recognize that current human actions are fundamentally altering Gaia and that if pushed too far, Gaia will shift from Her current state to one inhospitable to humans and millions of other species. Therefore, we commit to living radically sustainable lives—even to an extent that it may alienate us from our kin, our communities, our cultures. We commit to sharing our philosophy and bringing others to understand and embrace their relationship with Gaia and help heal Gaia—and in the process, themselves, their families, and their communities.”