The mission of the Earth-Based Traditions Team is:
- Encourage and support individual spiritual growth
- Open to all who are looking to celebrate spirit through Earth-centered practices
- Each member’s care and effort enlivens our community’s spiritual experience
- We are a close spiritual family, supporting each other with warmth, trustworthiness and acceptance.
When does the Earth-Based Traditions Team meet? Meetings are held as needed. Celebrations and discussions are held monthly and always followed by a potluck dinner. Please check the uucqc.org calendar for more information.
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Nature with a Capital “N
Interview with Rev. Selena Fox from Circle Sanctuary
By Jane VanVooren Rogers UUCQC Congregational Administrator UUCQC is proud to have hosted Rev. Selena Fox of Circle Sanctuary near Barneveld, Wis., for a Nature Spirituality Ceremony on May 14 and for “Pagans, the Pentacle and the 7th Principle” on Sunday, May 15. UUCQC recently talked with Selena about nature spirituality and paganism. UUCQC: I’ve read about your background, but tell me more about yourself. Selena: I’ve been speaking at various UU organizations since the 1980s. I’m the senior minister of Circle Sanctuary. We’ve been a church since 1974 … What I endeavor to do is help people learn ways to connect with each other and with nature on a spiritual basis and be part of the solution, not part of the problem. |
UUCQC: Do you see an increase in interest in environmental issues?
Selena: Yes, both with UUs and with society as a whole. I think many people are recognizing that being in touch with nature is important for them personally and for humankind as a whole. Climate change is debated by some people, but science says that human-generated carbon emissions are affecting the environment. Working together to solve environmental issues is important.
UUCQC: How would you describe nature spirituality?
Selena: Spending time in the natural environment is important to understand the web of existence of which we are all a part (the 7th principle of Unitarian Universalism). We need to deepen our understanding beyond beautiful scenery, to see nature as a living, vibrant community.
I talk about Nature with a capital “N”. Most experiences of nature spirituality are earth-centered, but also recognizes that earth itself is part of a much larger natural system. We strive to have awareness, be in harmony and celebrate our connection with planet Earth and our connection with larger cosmos of which we’re part. It’s important not only to “green” our way of life but also our spirituality, our religion.
UUCQC: What do you mean by “green” our spirituality?
Selena: I’ve done counseling and psychotherapy for clients for many years. In this digital age, it’s important to unplug/unwire and spend time in nature. There’s a field of ecopsychology, which is a new, growing field of psychology. Ecopsychology encourages people to go into natural spaces with awareness of being part of that larger environment, and spend time outside. If people did more of that, we’d have healthier psyches and ecosystems.
UUCQC: It reminds me of something I read that if you stand barefoot in the grass, it lowers your blood pressure, just by being in touch with the earth.
Selena: Yes! In the Denver, Colo. area, there’s a wonderful church that did an addition and added a natural area right outside for presentations and healing with nature. It’s just wonderful. Be barefoot outside, take a walk, make those connections … When we’re on mobile devices, looking at TV or computer screens, movie screens, we have a connection with information and learning. But when humans spend most of their time in human-created environments and most of their time staring at screens, some of our basic needs (for clean air and water, for example) are not being met. It’s very important for having a happy, healthy life.
UUCQC: How did you get here? What has been your journey? From studying psychology to Circle Sanctuary?
Selena: Since I was very young, I’ve had a strong interest in consciousness and how it works and a deep love of nature. I did my undergraduate work at the College of William and Mary, founded in 1693. There I completed studies in classical philosophy, learning Latin, looking at mythology.
The pagan world view has a strong influence from ancient Greece and Rome. The Hippocratic Oath (“first do no harm”) traces back to pagan Greece. The classical architecture in the U.S. is an example. Our nation’s founders studied Latin, Greek and the classics. They understood stories of nature that have been taught to many generations. Principles including democracy have come from those classical studies.
UUCQC: Can you talk more about paganism and the U.S.?
Selena: Most people don’t recognize that many secular celebrations and symbols of our country are rooted in pagan customs. The Declaration of Independence happened at midsummer (June 21), and the Statue of Liberty is the classic icon of American freedom. A woman in long flowing robes holding a torch comes from pagan Rome, and Libertas was her name.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. It was often celebrated with bonfires and lots of lights. Our country was born during the summer solstice, and if you look at how we celebrate that holiday, we watch fireworks outside in the evening, camping, bonfires and the like. Those midsummer celebrations were happening hundreds of years before the U.S. came into being. If more people understood those roots, there would be a greater celebration of our pagan heritage.
UUCQC: Sure, those are interesting connections that show how much a part those symbols are inherent in our culture.
What would you say to someone who might be new to exploring paganism, someone whose family might be traditionally religious and have some concerns?
Selena: If all of us go back in our family trees far enough, we all have pagan roots. Being in good relationship not only with other humans but also with nature and plants is the basis of what pagans believe. There are many misconceptions about nature religion, often because practitioners of paganism were persecuted. We’ve had 1600 years of bad P.R.! [Laughs]
UUCQC: Great phrase! Absolutely!
Selena: Nature spirituality is rooted in studies of the past (the old) and ecology and ecopsychology (the new). Religion has roots in nature, in the paganism of the past. Pagans do not proselytize any more than a Native American person would with their spirituality. We seek to build bridges of understanding.
UUCQC: How can we alleviate fears about paganism?
Selena: Part of how persecution happened is through lies, distortions and misperceptions. If you look at the Wiccan creed, it’s similar to the Hippocratic Oath: “Harm none.” We’re not into devil worship. We don’t embody malevolence.
The 6th source [spiritual teachings of Earth-based traditions] and 7th principle [respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part] from UU are part of our foundation. Nature spirituality that has its roots in the ancient paganism of old Europe and Mediterranean in the past and is now practiced in 200 countries around the world.
It’s about celebrations, being in touch with cycles of the seasons, cycles of the moon and life cycles. Rites of passage such as birth, death, remembrance, union, coming of age … other traditions often look to nature traditions for customs. There are “croning” celebrations for women and “saging” for men or “senioring” ceremonies. With so much focus on youth in the 21st century of America, older people also need so be appreciated and celebrated, instead of becoming invisible and going into decline. Pagans celebrate all stages of life.
Misconceptions could be cleared up if people recognized too that far enough in their family tree, they’d find relatives that celebrated solstice, the rising of the sun, beyond written records. We as humans have ancestors who spent a lot of time outside.
Given environmental challenges, the need for more understanding of nature and to be in good relationship with nature is greater than ever before. People feel a call to reconnect the sacred with nature. We need to all come together to build bridges and find ways to connect with each other, and nature religion can be part of the conversation.
UUCQC: Thanks so much for talking with us, Selena!
Selena: Yes, both with UUs and with society as a whole. I think many people are recognizing that being in touch with nature is important for them personally and for humankind as a whole. Climate change is debated by some people, but science says that human-generated carbon emissions are affecting the environment. Working together to solve environmental issues is important.
UUCQC: How would you describe nature spirituality?
Selena: Spending time in the natural environment is important to understand the web of existence of which we are all a part (the 7th principle of Unitarian Universalism). We need to deepen our understanding beyond beautiful scenery, to see nature as a living, vibrant community.
I talk about Nature with a capital “N”. Most experiences of nature spirituality are earth-centered, but also recognizes that earth itself is part of a much larger natural system. We strive to have awareness, be in harmony and celebrate our connection with planet Earth and our connection with larger cosmos of which we’re part. It’s important not only to “green” our way of life but also our spirituality, our religion.
UUCQC: What do you mean by “green” our spirituality?
Selena: I’ve done counseling and psychotherapy for clients for many years. In this digital age, it’s important to unplug/unwire and spend time in nature. There’s a field of ecopsychology, which is a new, growing field of psychology. Ecopsychology encourages people to go into natural spaces with awareness of being part of that larger environment, and spend time outside. If people did more of that, we’d have healthier psyches and ecosystems.
UUCQC: It reminds me of something I read that if you stand barefoot in the grass, it lowers your blood pressure, just by being in touch with the earth.
Selena: Yes! In the Denver, Colo. area, there’s a wonderful church that did an addition and added a natural area right outside for presentations and healing with nature. It’s just wonderful. Be barefoot outside, take a walk, make those connections … When we’re on mobile devices, looking at TV or computer screens, movie screens, we have a connection with information and learning. But when humans spend most of their time in human-created environments and most of their time staring at screens, some of our basic needs (for clean air and water, for example) are not being met. It’s very important for having a happy, healthy life.
UUCQC: How did you get here? What has been your journey? From studying psychology to Circle Sanctuary?
Selena: Since I was very young, I’ve had a strong interest in consciousness and how it works and a deep love of nature. I did my undergraduate work at the College of William and Mary, founded in 1693. There I completed studies in classical philosophy, learning Latin, looking at mythology.
The pagan world view has a strong influence from ancient Greece and Rome. The Hippocratic Oath (“first do no harm”) traces back to pagan Greece. The classical architecture in the U.S. is an example. Our nation’s founders studied Latin, Greek and the classics. They understood stories of nature that have been taught to many generations. Principles including democracy have come from those classical studies.
UUCQC: Can you talk more about paganism and the U.S.?
Selena: Most people don’t recognize that many secular celebrations and symbols of our country are rooted in pagan customs. The Declaration of Independence happened at midsummer (June 21), and the Statue of Liberty is the classic icon of American freedom. A woman in long flowing robes holding a torch comes from pagan Rome, and Libertas was her name.
The summer solstice is the longest day of the year. It was often celebrated with bonfires and lots of lights. Our country was born during the summer solstice, and if you look at how we celebrate that holiday, we watch fireworks outside in the evening, camping, bonfires and the like. Those midsummer celebrations were happening hundreds of years before the U.S. came into being. If more people understood those roots, there would be a greater celebration of our pagan heritage.
UUCQC: Sure, those are interesting connections that show how much a part those symbols are inherent in our culture.
What would you say to someone who might be new to exploring paganism, someone whose family might be traditionally religious and have some concerns?
Selena: If all of us go back in our family trees far enough, we all have pagan roots. Being in good relationship not only with other humans but also with nature and plants is the basis of what pagans believe. There are many misconceptions about nature religion, often because practitioners of paganism were persecuted. We’ve had 1600 years of bad P.R.! [Laughs]
UUCQC: Great phrase! Absolutely!
Selena: Nature spirituality is rooted in studies of the past (the old) and ecology and ecopsychology (the new). Religion has roots in nature, in the paganism of the past. Pagans do not proselytize any more than a Native American person would with their spirituality. We seek to build bridges of understanding.
UUCQC: How can we alleviate fears about paganism?
Selena: Part of how persecution happened is through lies, distortions and misperceptions. If you look at the Wiccan creed, it’s similar to the Hippocratic Oath: “Harm none.” We’re not into devil worship. We don’t embody malevolence.
The 6th source [spiritual teachings of Earth-based traditions] and 7th principle [respect for the interdependent web of existence of which we are a part] from UU are part of our foundation. Nature spirituality that has its roots in the ancient paganism of old Europe and Mediterranean in the past and is now practiced in 200 countries around the world.
It’s about celebrations, being in touch with cycles of the seasons, cycles of the moon and life cycles. Rites of passage such as birth, death, remembrance, union, coming of age … other traditions often look to nature traditions for customs. There are “croning” celebrations for women and “saging” for men or “senioring” ceremonies. With so much focus on youth in the 21st century of America, older people also need so be appreciated and celebrated, instead of becoming invisible and going into decline. Pagans celebrate all stages of life.
Misconceptions could be cleared up if people recognized too that far enough in their family tree, they’d find relatives that celebrated solstice, the rising of the sun, beyond written records. We as humans have ancestors who spent a lot of time outside.
Given environmental challenges, the need for more understanding of nature and to be in good relationship with nature is greater than ever before. People feel a call to reconnect the sacred with nature. We need to all come together to build bridges and find ways to connect with each other, and nature religion can be part of the conversation.
UUCQC: Thanks so much for talking with us, Selena!