These little snippets of information were often added as fillers to the FSA newsletter, as a community service.
The connection between Wicca, and the larger Neo-Pagan movement, with environmentalism began sometime in the 1970's. The Gaia hypothesis was advanced by climatologist James Lovelock in the mid-1970's. Lovelock published a 1979 book, Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth. Lovelock's theory was named after the Greek Goddess of the earth, Gaia.
The Gaia hypothesis proposed that the biosphere of the planet Earth could be understood as a single entity that preserves the temperature and atmosphere and chemical composition of the oceans by complex ecological feedback systems. These systems are similar to those that maintain temperature and blook chemistry in a living organism.
Interestingly, long before Lovelock's first publication on this subject, Neo-Pagan writer Tim Zell, also known as Otter G'Zell and now known as Raven G'Zell, had already proposed in 1970 a "thealogy" linking the Great Goddess, or Mother Earth of Neo-Paganism, with the ecology of our planet. Zell was hoping for the development of a telepathic connection between humans and all of Earth's lifeforms in the indwelling soul or spirit of Mother Earth. Zell, however, originally drew on the Latin name of the earth mother, Tellus Mater or Terra, but later adopted the more widely used name, Gaia.
Critics have said these ideas involved modern concepts of the earth as a planet, with intricate ecological systems, which must be prserved through conservationism, plus a "fluffy" idea of the anima mundi as the animating soul of Nature. Therefore, they do not encapsulate any ancient Pagan concept. Responses to these critics usually revolve around pointing out that those recognizing Gaia as the Great Goddess or Mother Nature are practicing NEO-Paganism.
Just One More Reason Why Pagans Should
be Willing to Stop Developersthe following is an excert from
Chesapeake Citizen ReportUncontrolled growth can easily negate all our [polution control] efforts.... More growth is coming: another 2.6 million residents are expected in the region by the year 2020, a 20% increase. Each of those people will add to the pollution load. these urban and suburban dwellers--unlike their agricultural counterparts who are trained or regulated on the use of pesticides--buy their poisons off the shelf and use them as recklessly as they wish.
--Free Spirit Rising, Volume 5, Number 2, Spring 1990, page 3.
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This little ad promoted CRIS (Chesapeake Regional Information Service). This 800 number was run by The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay from the 1980's to the mid 90's to provide public information. 800 numbers were often used by orgnanizations in this manner prior to widespread use of websites. According to representatives at the Annapolis office, it was phased out and such information is now kept on The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay website. https://allianceforthebay.org/
The creators of "Yet Another Wicca Site," Myth and Thoron Woodling, urge those who have questiona about the Chesapeake Bay to contact The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay or visit their website. (Do not call the 800. It will take you to a company selling "free" cruises.)