A tree is a beautiful expression of mother earth's creativity. It has shakti . It restores balance in the environment by its positive force. A tree doesn't have a mind of its own, only the cosmic heart of the universe. It responds to human sentiments.

The pipal tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists - the Buddha attained nirvana under this tree. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna said: "I am as strong as the pipal is among trees." Pipal and tulsi play significant roles in Hindu rituals. The neem tree is the favourite of Durga, and it is grown to ward off evil spirits. The Avdhumra tree is believed to be the abode of Lord Dattatreya, so it is never cut down

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Our love and concern for animals emerge out of two basic postulates of Indian philosophy. One, that like us, every plant and living being is the ansha or part of the one Param Brahma, the Omnipotent One, and two, that born of the one earth mother all of them have equal right on all resources. So they are like our own siblings. All life forms have a symbiotic relationship - we are all linked together and our actions are bound to have an effect on our environment and other living beings.

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Man is no longer to be the measure of all things, the centre of the universe. He has been measured and found to be an undistinguished bit of matter, different in no essential way from bacteria, stones and trees. His goals and purposes, his egocentric notions of past, present and future; his faith in his power to predict and through prediction to control his destiny - all these are called into question, considered irrelevant, or deemed trivial.

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Ancient scriptures say we have five sheaths: physical environment, physical body, mind, intuitive sheath or subtle environment, and the Self.

Indian tradition believes in the sanctity of nature. Our rishis perceived the mountains, rivers, Sun, Moon and trees to be sacred. That which is sacred is honoured. Environmental consciousness has been built into our way of life, to become our second nature. But when we start moving away from our nature we begin polluting the environment. Unfortunately, we pollute our rivers and mountains in the name of sacred rituals.

(See also: Spirituality and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

What makes a place sacred? A place where meditation is practised over many years automatically acquires certain powers. The place gets charged with the energy and vibrations from peaceful thoughts. Depending on the intensity of meditators, the sanctity and power of a particular place can thus remain charged, exuding powerful vibrations, for thousands of years.

The Parshvanath Hills is one such place. Twenty-two of the 24 Jain Tirthankaras attained nirvana on this hill, and these enlightened persons were separated by thousands of years.

(See also: Sacred places in India, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddhism sees humans neither as a special creation of God, nor does it see them as having been given dominion over 'lesser' species. It says that like all sentient beings, humans also wander in the limited, conditioned realm of samsara, the cycle of rebirths.

It believes that man influences the environment not only through his actions but also through the moral and immoral qualities of his actions - karmic effects catch up with people via their environment.

(See also: Buddhism and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

At the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992, environmental issues were hotly debated and an attempt was made to arrive at a blueprint for future conservation efforts. A document, known as Agenda 21, was issued, which provided 27 guiding principles for sustainable development.

Interestingly, several of the 'Rio principles' for environmental conservation were taught and practised in ancient India. The modern holistic approach for ecological balance is reflected in the most ancient of Indian scriptures, the Vedas.

(See also: Hinduism and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Today, there is a worldwide movement to protect the environment. But this concern has been part of the Indian ethos since ages.

The five basic elements - kshit i (soil), jal (water), panak (fire), gagan (sky or ether) and sameer (air) from which life has emerged - have all been objects of worship, forming an integral part of Indian tradition. The elements are deified, as they are believed to be protectors of jeevan tatva (life). But they can protect and bless us only if we give them due respect.

(See also: Hinduism and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

 Modern pantheism is often misunderstood. It has nothing to do with "pantheon" or "polytheism" (belief in many Gods). It is neither theism nor atheism, but transcends both. Its central tenet is that the universe is the ultimate reality, the ultimate object of reverence, while nature is a sacred part of the totality.

Read more here: » Pantheism: Natural Or Scientific Pantheism - A Religious Approach To Nature and the Cosmos

The tradition of sanctifying various trees and plants dates back to the Vedic period. Though wood as a fuel was a basic need and trees in general were treated with care and respect, some trees such as the Peepal, Banyan and Neem, commanded more respect than others.

The Tulsi (Basil) plant was grown in every household in the centre of the courtyard and ritually watered. The rituals served an important purpose - they made people aware of the environment and its importance and so indirectly helped preserve and nurture it.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

 While quantum physics may be a modern development, pantheism is in fact an ancient spiritual path that holds everything in the Universe to be sacred. Eastern philosophies, Native American, pagan and Hawaiian beliefs that view all of nature as divine and interconnected can be said to be pantheistic. "God" here is not a bearded white man in the clouds, but more like "the Force" in Star Wars; the sum of all that is, and every aspect of existence at the same time. To pantheists, God is holographically everywhere at once.

Read more here: » Pantheism: Personal Responsibility, Religious Tolerance and Reverence for all Life

Since prehistoric times sacred places have exerted a mysterious attraction on billions of people around the world. Ancient legends and modern day reports tell of extraordinary things that have happened to people while visiting these places. Different sacred sites have the power to heal the body, enlighten the mind, increase creativity, develop psychic abilities, and awaken the soul to a knowing of its true purpose in life.

Normally, when one thinks of such places, the mind imagines terrestrial locations, fixed and unmoving, such as mountains, lands and caves. But the planet is a water place too with more than 70% of the surface of the earth covered with water. Many sacred sites are connected to water.

Read more here: » Sacred Sites: Sacred waters around the World.

Astrolocality is a specialized branch of astrology that in essence, takes one's natal chart and superimposes it on a map of the earth, revealing individualized places of planetary archetypal energies. The author, Maya White, is one of only 84 people world wide trained and certified by the late Jim Lewis.

Read more here: » Astrology: Astrolocality, locational astrology, Part I

For many thousands of years our ancestors have been visiting and venerating the power places of Europe. One culture after another has often frequented the same power sites and the story of how these magical places were discovered and used is filled with fairies and nature spirits, sages and astronomers, and enigmatic myths of world destroying cataclysms.

Read more here: » Sacred Sites: Pilgrimage in Ancient Europe - Megalithic and Celtic Sacred Space

Mayan Calendar Researcher Ian Xel Lungold explains the connection between the Mayan Calendar and Sacred Geometry. One essential point is the pattern displayed by the Mayan calendar. It is built upon a particular ratio, 13 : 20. These proportions are the true basis of all sacred geometry. In his study of sacred geometry, he found that all forms and understandings boil down to one ratio: one-third to two-thirds. This is in no way an exact number system, but a general pattern that Creation naturally follows. Our consciousness is based on this ratio.

Read more here: » Sacred Geometry and the Mayan Calendar

Seven cities in India correspond to seven centres or chakras in our body: ÒAyodhya, Mathura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avantika, Puri drawaravati chaiva, Saptaide moksha dayikaÓ. The seven cities are companioned  with seven sacred rivers; Ganga, Yamuna, Saraswati, Godavari, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri

The microcosm and the macrocosm are interlinked. Planet earth, home to many organisms, is itself a large organism. It is not just a place for living beings; it is a living organism as a whole. This is what the Gaia theory says. Materialism considers everything as objects. Spirituality, on the other hand, discovers life in everything.

Read more here: » Gaia Theory: Chakras and the Seven Sacred Cities

Sacred Geometry: YANTRAS - What is a Yantra?

All ancient cultures had sacred geometric designs representative of their Gods, which had a mantra (or sacred sound vibration) that corresponded to it. The Indians, Egyptians, Jews, Chinese, and Mayans all had systems of "planetary yantras" used to combat malefic influences. Yantra is the ultimate "symbology". In the Vedic culture we find much power and energy said to be held within sacred geometric symbols. They are to be found throughout sacred scriptures, carved in stone, hidden within paintings and in temples.

Read more here: » Sacred Geometry: YANTRAS - What is a Yantra?

Astrolocality Part II. Astrolocality is a specialized branch of astrology that in essence, takes one's natal chart and superimposes it on a map of the earth, revealing individualized places of planetary archetypal energies. The author, Maya White, is one of only 84 people world wide trained and certified by the late Jim Lewis.

Read more here: » Astrology: Astrolocality, locational astrology, Part II

Feng Shui began when people had a very different way of explaining the world. They regarded the heaven, the earth and themselves as part of one system. This holistic view of life has persisted in many cultures, especially where health, medicine, food and life styles are all connected.

The modern city dweller may never actually see food growing or for that matter the night sky with twinkling stars due to the high pollution levels. The modern world has problems that did not exist in the ancient world. However, today we must take these into consideration when studying Feng Shui. In the West, scientific development created different disciplines that advanced in isolation from each other while providing explanations for the goings-on in the natural world.

(See also: Feng Shui, Vaastu Shastra, Sacred Geometry, Sacred Space)

It is that on this occasion we wish to speak to you of the children. It is that for many years of your earth time, your children have been arriving with the gifts as it was in the Beginning. These children inherently carry that which is the crystalline energies. Not only are these energetics crystalline in nature, they are also carrying the harmonics of the pyramids, those which are tetrahedronal in form. These pyramids carrying an entirety of the spectrum of light. The Sacred Spiral. This meaning a fullness of the spectrum of light and frequencies. A complete set of energies. Perfection in existence.

(See also: Indigo Children, What is Indigo Children, Parenting Indigo Children, Adult Indigo, Indigo Children Channeling)