~Eco-Spirituality~        Those spiritual paths and religions with a strong environmental element share many central themes. That this common ground is held in by both modern and ancient traditions across the world suggests that they reveal some central human intuition. This notion is supported by archaeological evidence that spirituality was originally earth-based and centered on our experience of a oneness with nature.      It is arguable that while the exoteric form of religions differ widely, on an esoteric level they are all similar. I believe that the exoteric expression, which often refers to an existing ideology, has generally been formulated for mass appeal, and provides a simplified version of the inner truth revealed at the esoteric level.      We might say that (exoteric) religion is an ideology, and (exoteric) spirituality is a process.      Religions and spiritual beliefs that see the sacred as immanent are generally more environmentally sound.      With the current focus on environmental issues, many mainstream religions have been keen to emphasizes their eco-credentials. But historically most Western religions have paid little attention to the notion of a sacred Earth.      Many mainstream religions portray God as a transcendent being, somehow beyond this world. This is taken by many as the key to their lack of ecological awareness. A theology with a transcendent deity tends to be dualistic, making a sharp division between spirit and matter, with the material world seen as inferior. (See Eco-feminism on Patriarchal dualism).    ~Sacred Ecology~       My own environmental philosophy, sometimes called Sacred Ecology, aims to shows how embodied (or somatic) knowledge often drives the eco-activism of eco-spirituality, and can bring a revolutionary shift in our awareness.      Most Green thinkers seem stuck in the intellectual mind set typical of our culture. They create systems that live in the head, in the rational, analytical world of argument & counter-argument.      This is the conventional mode of thought in the West, and though it is a powerful and valuable technique it is not the only path to understanding. To move to a more profound level of awareness requires another way of knowing that moves beyond the cerebral. This embodied way of knowing may lead us to a direct experience of a wholeness rooted in the body that can be profoundly healing.      In my paper 'Sacred Ecology'. I outline this mode of understanding, which I called 'Somatic Knowing':      "Besides the cerebral knowledge we all possess, the words & ideas stored in our heads, there is a deeper knowledge held within the tissue of our bodies. It is a somatic, physical knowing which comes from direct experience. This is the knowledge of faith, of emotion, of the gut feeling."  ~ Adrian Harris ~ The Green Fuse ~      Environmental philosophy is a complex subject, but clear debate around deep ecology, social ecology, eco-feminism, earth-centered spirituality, ethics and similar topics are crucial for our global future.      The green fuse aims to make environmental philosophy accessible to a wider audience than ever before, with clear briefings on key topics, a glossary and a resource section.      In addition,the green fuse aims to facilitate local discussion groups where people can share, learn and debate.                                         This article has been reprinted with permission from the author ~ Adrian Harris     After navigating the site I highly recommend The Green Fuse and the links found therein. For further exploration ~ http://www.thegreenfuse.org/ http://www.dragonnetwork.org/   Harris, 'Sacred Ecology' published in 'Paganism Today'. The full text is available online.