Pagans and Environment

A large part of Paganism tends to emphisize environmental cohesion and the impact that it has on our lives. Of course, I see this manifested in a common statement that Pagans have made in books, on websites, or in person. That statement could be summed up as something along the lines of "Pagans respect Mother Nature."

The environment is something that we need to take care of as it provides us with what we need to survive. We need to learn to use what we need in a way that is not going to harm the environment by upsetting the natural balance of all kinds of life. What is going on in the environment effects how we live, icluding air and water quality, natural resources, etc. I found an article on Yahoo! that gives an example of this concept, which is the inspiration for writting this entry.

Great Lakes Region Works to Save Water.

This article is specifically about a company that manufactures office furniture and their way of complying with environmental regulations. What I found interesting is that it also mentioned how environmental groups have worked towards a great understanding of quality, but have not address the quantity of water in the past , which is also important. I think they make a good point.

We usually think of the environment in terms of the Ozone, atmosphere, global warming, protection of endangered spieces, and the like, but that's not all in the talk of environment. What about our own personal environments - our homes, workplaces, or schools? Everyday our individual environments, or spaces, have an effect on us as well.

Personally, my home is a welcome thought after a long day at work or school. It is a place to relax and let go of the stressers of the day. But if I come home to a messy place with lots of clutter, I go crazy. So for that reason, I tend to keep it clean. That's an aspect of how my environment works on me.

While at school, I also have noticed that I have a tendency to relax in certain areas. One of these areas happens to be at the end of the hall in the psychology department. In this corner, which was previously unused, there are two comfortable chairs with a small table between them with two trees and several plants around them. The environment just happens to be a very relaxing place for that helps me to lower my level of stress. It seems to be a favorite among many students as well, as it never empty.

But there are also some areas that I tend to avoid, such as walking through certain doors. I have noticed that smokers tend to congragate at certain doors and the smoke screen is so bad, that if I were to walk through it, I would be going immediately to the hospital due to my asthma. I have had to alter my patterns due to how others use their environment. (In Minnesota, smokers are supposed to move 50 feet from the doors, but they usually don't. I'm not sure what the laws are in other states.)

All of us, not just Pagans, need to be aware not only our world's environment but also our personal environments and how they effect us as well as the others around us. As I see most statements being made about the world's environment, I am wondering if Pagans consider their personal environment in a similar manner. Anybody?