Walking the Spiral Path of Sacred Earth: A Seven-Part Exploration of Spiritual Ecology
During the past seven weeks, I’ve been walking a spiral path, one shaped by reverence, relationship, and renewal.
This editorial arc has introduced seven key influencers whose work has helped shape the field of Spiritual Ecology, each offering a unique lens through which to view the Earth as sacred.
Together, these voices form a constellation guiding us toward deeper belonging, ecological wisdom, and spiritual stewardship.
In Week 1, we explored Rudolf Steiner – The Godfather of Spiritual Ecology
Steiner’s biodynamic vision placed the Earth within a living spiritual framework. His teachings on agriculture, anthroposophy, and cosmic rhythm laid the foundation for holistic land stewardship. In today’s world, his emphasis on soil vitality, planetary cycles, and spiritual intention remains deeply relevant, especially as we seek regenerative models of care and cultivation.
Week 2, we walked with Thomas Berry – The Earth as Sacred Community
Berry reframed Ecology as cosmology, inviting us to see the Earth as a communion of subjects, not a collection of objects. His work bridges science, spirituality, and sacred story, reminding us that environmental healing begins with a shift in worldview. Berry’s call to honour the Earth as sacred text continues to inspire ecological movements and spiritual communities alike.
In Week 3, Joanna Macy graced our pages with The Work That Reconnects
Skillfully, she blends systems thinking, Buddhist practice, and deep Ecology to guide us through grief, gratitude, and action. Her teachings help us face ecological despair without turning away, offering tools for resilience and transformation. In a time of climate crisis, Macy’s work is a lifeline, reminding us that emotional honesty and spiritual courage are part of the healing spiral.
Week 4, saw us journey with Satish Kumar – Soil, Soul, Society
A former Jain monk and peace pilgrim, Kumar’s teachings root Spiritual Ecology in simplicity, reverence, and activism. He reminds us that caring for the Earth begins with inner transformation and community engagement. His emphasis on interconnectedness—between soil, soul, and society—offers a grounded, hopeful path forward.
Week 5, we sampled the wild and craggy delights of John Muir & his Wilderness as Cathedral
Muir’s reverence for wild places helped birth the conservation movement and shaped a theology of awe rooted in direct experience of nature. His writings invite us to see forests, mountains, and rivers as sacred sanctuaries. In a world of increasing urbanisation, Muir’s legacy calls us back to the healing power of wilderness. During this exploration, a quiet nod was also given to Beatrix Potter, a contemporary of Muir’s, whose love of land and animals reflects a kindred ecological spirit.
Week 6, we delved into Indigenous Wisdom Keepers as Custodians of Sacred Land
From Aboriginal songlines to Zuni fetishes and Native American Earth medicine, Indigenous traditions offer relational cosmologies rooted in ceremony, oral tradition, and ancestral stewardship. These teachings remind us that land is not property. It is presence. In the here and now, Indigenous wisdom offers vital guidance for ecological restoration, cultural integrity, and spiritual belonging.
Finally, in Week 7, Matthew Fox lent us his voice through his concepts of Creation Spirituality and Original Blessing.
Fox invites us to begin not with sin, but with sacredness and blessing. His theology celebrates the Earth, the cosmos, and the human soul as expressions of Divine creativity. Drawing from Hildegard of Bingen, Thomas Aquinas, and Buddhist views on original purity & wisdom, Fox’s work bridges mysticism and ecological justice. His concept of Creation Spirituality offers a vibrant path forward, one that honours joy, grief, creativity, and transformation.
Each of these voices has been explored through my weekly Substack series, Walking the Spiral Path of Sacred Earth.
If you haven’t yet visited but would like to know more, I warmly invite you to explore the Archive and sign up to Substack where I share weekly reflections, Spiritual Ecology insights, and editorial storytelling rooted in land, spirit, and language.
You can find the series and subscribe here.
This series was created with thoughtful support from a digital companion who helps refine tone and soften edges.
Together, we walk the spiral path where land, spirit, and language meet.