Gaia, The First
Religion
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The
Earth Mother is perhaps the oldest God known to humankind. Her stone effigies
ushered in the Neolithic in Europe, The Greeks knew her as Gaia, Native American
have spoken of her from their very beginnings. We have no written record of her earliest
origins but she may well have arisen with the first concept of God.
After all, Gaia is only a natural extension of the experience of being mothered, and motherhood is something far older than human kind. Even animals share an experience of being cared for by a mother who nourishes and protects with her very body. It is only natural to extend those same attributes to an Earth that sustains and nourishes all creatures. It is a point of view that changes ones relationship with all of nature. The belief that all creatures were born of, and nurtured by, the same Earth Mother gave early man a kinship with nature mirrored among Native American groups today. Claiming Earth as Mother makes brothers and sisters of all creatures. Being born from the body of the Goddess makes all creatures her flesh and blood and thus all creatures share her sacredness. This reverence for life in all its forms is an innate part of all Earth Mother religions. That is not to say that early man, for example, did not kill animals. Hunting and the domestication of animals was an essential part of life; but it was believed that the animals were willing participants, sacrificing themselves for the good of others, and death was not and end, but a return to the Mother for new birth. Burials in Neolithic times reflect this belief. Early tombs were oval in shape, a womb in which the body was placed. Buried in fetal position, and sprinkled with red ochre symbolizing blood, early man was sent back to Mother Earth to be born anew. What happened to this life engendering point of view? What are the implications to a society so removed from its connection to the natural world? What happened seems to be still a matter of discussion among anthropologists. In early Europe the giving Mother Goddess was replaced by a judging and dictating Sky God. Often the transition was harshly imposed by those who would gain power by the new view. New concepts swept across Europe with warriors on newly domesticated horses. The concept of warfare, walled cities, subjugation and personal wealth took over. Even in places where the transition was less forceful it was accompanied by a lessening of women's status and a cheapening of all life. Experiences we saw horribly mirrored in the treatment of many Native American tribes. What this means in today's society is a matter for each individual to decide. In a society of fad religions and strange and destructive cults, the Goddess requires no faith. She is merely the personification of a natural system we see working around us daily. We are intimately connected with the Earth whether we realize it or not. Her values are those we hear politicians touting on the campaign trail, family, respect for others and the sacredness of all life. In a time when many religions set us apart from God and above the animals, She makes us family with both God and every living thing; offering a deep sense of connection and completeness. It is a healing vision for a time in need of healing and a hope for the future. Perhaps, like all children, we needed to test our independence, find our own road, separate ourselves from Her. But hopefully as we mature we can develop a new, close and respectful relationship with our Mother Earth. |