Gaia Eros: Reconnecting to the Magic and Spirit of Nature

by Jesse Wolf Hardin

Book Overview

Gaia Eros is a collection of essays and instructions for anyone interested in finding a way to reconnect to Gaia, the living Earth. Somewhere as you read this, a Pagan-affinity group is hard at work preparing the next Beltane ritual in their area. A circle of bearded priests is gathered to revitalize the nearly lost sensibilities of ancient Druidry. And a man contacts his soul and planet more deeply through his artful preparation of wild foods and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1564147290
• ISBN13: 9781564147295
• Release Date: June 2004
• Publisher: New Page Books
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Very interesting read

As I began to read this book, I was puzzled by the title. Gaia Eros? What does that mean? I looked at the chapter titles, and discovered that each of them stands alone very nicely; there's no need to read doggedly from front to back. This is not a textbook, where each chapter builds on the instructions from the one before. Then it hit me, after I began to reread Wolf's words. This is no mere compilation of essays. Perhaps this volume could best be described as a collection of love letters; some serious, some whimsical, some practical, some esoteric, but always spiritual. To the Great Mystery that is Mother Earth, the author passionately, eloquently, and tirelessly conveys his love, commitment, and reverence. As Wolf invites us to develop our sense of belonging to Gaia, to honor and care for the earth, he explains in inspired and picturesque language the how and why of New Nature Spirituality. Calling upon his two decades of experience care taking and "rewilding" a stretch of river canyon in New Mexico, Wolf gives us lessons from Nature through the eyes of the bobcats and the roots of the red willows. He builds an indelible image upon the mind's eye of his Sweet Medicine Sanctuary. In "Lessons of the Furry Buddhas" he writes: "To be wild is to be "willed:" true to our authentic needs and nature. Never pretend to be anything but what you are." In "The Sacred Ground," Wolf writes of our "holy Gaian beings." He elaborates on the substance that forms us, feeds us, shelters and then ultimately reclaims us, then gently chides us for our foolish obsession with washing off any evidence of its existence. Gaia Eros calls each of us to new levels of awareness and activism, to become teachers and healers. To recognize and honor the eternal Earth Mother for her gifts and blessings, and to seek to reverse the harm that mankind has wrought. This book belongs on every bookshelf, not just those of us Pagans and Earth-centered Spirituality types. It is for everyone who is aware of, or wants to be, --or even is just willing to entertain the possibility of-the ultimate sacred interconnectedness of all things on the living goddess planet we call Gaia. It should be read over and over, until we get it. This book is not an easy read. I would have found a dictionary close by to be a big help. Wolf uses words like loci, indigenous, inspirited, sentience. Nor is this some "fluffy bunny" New Age eco-philosophy guide. (reviewed by Windweaver)

I really enjoyed his book

I found it to be a beautifully written book that was also very educational. I would recommend it highly to other people interested in nature/the natural world/sustainability.

Gaia Eros:Reconnecting to the Magic of Spirit and Nature

Gaia Eros: Reconnecting to the Magic of Spirit and Nature by Amelia Raymond July 28, 2004 As a child, perhaps you felt that every tree was a living being, and that the wind brushed against your skin like a living wing. You might have been sure that fairies lived beneath a certain rock, or caused the flowers to open in the morning so they could arise from their bed of petals. You may have grown up to lament the destruction of forests, or of your favorite romps as developers transformed windswept oceans of grass into walled off tracts of exclusive homes. As you matured and your days were spent trying to make a living you began to accept these things as necessary. As the separation between you and the natural world deepened, you may have even have come to regard environmentalism as a youthful indulgence, abandoned now that you're out in the "real world." Or, perhaps you wondered whether you were the only person on the planet who knew that the Earth was a living being. Maybe the only way you could relieve that incredible loneliness was by going out to be alone with the Earth, far from highway noise and the chatter of those who seemed to not notice the miracle of madrone trees climbing the canyon cliffs above emerald-green waters. Perhaps you live in a city and your last truly spiritual experience was to honor the brave dandelion that found its way to bloom through a crack in the seemingly endless concrete. If so, you're not alone. Jesse Wolf Hardin's latest work, Gaia Eros: Reconnecting to the Magic of Spirit and Nature is all about reconnecting. As emissary of the enchanted, ambassador of Gaia, the living Earth, Wolf brings us back to the essential truth we knew as children: that we are but one of myriad life forms that comprise this vital and fragile organism we call Earth. Reminiscent of Kahlil Gibran's sage classic The Prophet, the 210-page collection of beautiful and devotional essays is a Song of Solomon for the Earth. Written with unyielding commitment to the truth, these essays tell us that to fully experience this love, one must emerge from the illusion that we are somehow excused from attending life as a creature of the Earth. Topics include eco-activism, the nature and essence of art, and the definition of being rich. Chapter 26, "Gaia River", is the story of the Sweet Medicine River, named after the indigenous people who last inhabited the land that is now home to Wolf, Loba and other entities that chirp, swoop, howl and prowl the canyon country. The author acquaints the reader with the realities of taking care of the beloved Earth by documenting the damage done by "more than a century of overgrazing by immigrant Texas cattle. Elder cottonwoods lost to the occasional flood were no longer being replaced, as the sprouts of alamo and willow alike were gobbled up by the voracious cows. The river no longer channelized, but wandered from one side of the canyon to the other, as if trying to avoid its torment

Spirituality at a Wilderness Retreat

Jesse Wolf Hardin and Loba own and operate a 'wilderness retreat' called "The Earthen Spirituality Project and Sweet Medicine Women's Center' in New Mexico. This center forms the basis for this book, in their connection with their land, their very strong feelings for the earth and earth based spirituality, the sacredness of all things and the sacredness of self.What connects all pagans is their love and respect for the earth. Mr. Hardin can be considered a very 'extreme' pagan in his dedication to the protection of the environment and his teachings of respect for all things. This book outlines the retreats they hold at their New Mexico center, and combines their practices with their teachings and presents us with a path that is as inviting as it is intriguing.This is not just about the land. Respect is for all things. The retreats focus on self in relation to your inner being, your connection with all things natural and taking the time to stop and smell the sage. Exercises in self indulgence, respecting and appreciating your food, proper and natural diet, and pursuit of your own personal spirituality are the focus of these retreats. Each step is a magical journey in reconnecting yourself to the land.Mr. Hardin includes questions to explore your own personal beliefs and life style, discusses his ideas and teachings regarding personal growth, sexuality, and of course, our responsibility to the earth and his ideas of maintaining Gaia.Mr. Hardin has a way with words, and it enables us to experience not only the taste of his center, but also his ideas, his teachings and his personal path. He is very eloquent in his descriptions of his concepts, from his ideas on sexuality to the smell of fresh baked bread. The book is very well written. Like his excellent pen and ink drawings which grace some of the pages, verbal details awaken the senses as you read through the material.Mr. Hardin includes many diverse topics for discussion, from his own personal ideas on sexuality to war and its effects on the planet and ourselves. Some of this can be disturbing, we may not agree with all the thoughts presented by Mr. Hardin, and some will seem extreme. These are his teachings, and are meant to provoke thought on the topics.But do not let that stop you from savoring the ideas and rolling them around in your mind. Extremes can be a wake up call. Do we respect ourselves, our own personal piece of the earth, or our own spirituality? Can we adjust our daily lives a little at a time so we can enhance our own personal experience? And do we respect Gaia enough that when we refer to ourselves as 'pagan' we mean it?Though provoking, intelligent, subtle and sexual, this book covers all that Mr. Hardin and Lobo consider 'Gaia Eros' and their form of natural magic and spirituality. boudica