Panel Talks On Spirit Of Nature, Wilderness

Three spiritual environmentalists described their views about communion with the Earth and its inhabitants during a panel discussion at the Divinity School yesterday.

The event, titled "Nature and Spirit," was sponsored by the Unitarian Universal student group.

Nanepashemet, a member of the Wampanoag tribe and a Native American historian, said the Wampanoags believe that people are "formed from the land and go back to the land."

"We don't see ourselves as separate from nature," he said.

"It's a very sacred bond when we walk on the land. It's our ancestors," Nanepeshemet said. "That's why it's disturbing when we see bulldozers going over it."

John Hansen Mitchell, a writer for the Massachusetts Audobon Society, said he realized during a walk in the woods that New England's wilderness had a spiritual past.

Mitchell said he used to experience "a feelingof emptiness in the land of New England."

But one day, when observing a deer in thewoods, the Algonquin word chimanatu--meaning"great spirit"--came to him.

"I realized that this land is not empty. I hadjust been looking at the wrong gods," he said.

He said Native Americans lived in that regionfor more than 10,000 years before the Pilgrimsarrived.

"The land has just been written over by ourWestern culture," Mitchell said.

He said Native American tribes perceive timedifferently than most contemporary people.

"We see time as a river, but the Mohawks see itas a pond," Mitchell said. "In there are the past,the present and the future."

Circle Sanctuary

Selena Fox, a nature priestess and director ofa Wisconsin animist group called the CircleSanctuary, began her talk with a prayer for theplanet Earth.

"May the era of planetary sickness end," Foxsaid. "May the era of planetary healing begin."

Fox said her ministry is a "spiritual communionwith the Earth."

"All things have a spirit within them," shesaid. "There is life in lightning, in rocks, inthe sun, in all aspects of nature."

"We see ourselves as being a part of this cycleof life," Fox said.

Fox spoke of communion with her"ancestors"--the "Native Americans, animals, andcreatures" who once lived on the land encompassedby the Circle Sanctuary.

"I feel a physical connection with nature'sspirits and those that have gone before me," shesaid

Mitchell said he used to experience "a feelingof emptiness in the land of New England."

But one day, when observing a deer in thewoods, the Algonquin word chimanatu--meaning"great spirit"--came to him.

"I realized that this land is not empty. I hadjust been looking at the wrong gods," he said.

He said Native Americans lived in that regionfor more than 10,000 years before the Pilgrimsarrived.

"The land has just been written over by ourWestern culture," Mitchell said.

He said Native American tribes perceive timedifferently than most contemporary people.

"We see time as a river, but the Mohawks see itas a pond," Mitchell said. "In there are the past,the present and the future."

Circle Sanctuary

Selena Fox, a nature priestess and director ofa Wisconsin animist group called the CircleSanctuary, began her talk with a prayer for theplanet Earth.

"May the era of planetary sickness end," Foxsaid. "May the era of planetary healing begin."

Fox said her ministry is a "spiritual communionwith the Earth."

"All things have a spirit within them," shesaid. "There is life in lightning, in rocks, inthe sun, in all aspects of nature."

"We see ourselves as being a part of this cycleof life," Fox said.

Fox spoke of communion with her"ancestors"--the "Native Americans, animals, andcreatures" who once lived on the land encompassedby the Circle Sanctuary.

"I feel a physical connection with nature'sspirits and those that have gone before me," shesaid