This really had the full range of Pagan writing - from "wow that's so abstract I have no idea what's going on" to "wow that's so academic I have no idea what's going on." There was a lot of good stuff in the middle, though: discussions about what our relationship to the Earth is and what it means, what it could be and how it's damaged. There was definitely a strong thread of the kind of ecology writing I particularly dislike, which talks about all the things people could do with no particular attention to what they're likely to do or what it would take hundreds of people doing at once to do. But then, there was also a lot of discussion about how to live in the world as it actually exists rather than how we'd like it to be. I'll be coming back to this book, I'm sure. ( )

An interesting book of essays, focusing on questions relating to Paganism, animism, environmental concerns/causes, and a response to anthropocentrism. While I did not find a lot to relate to in most of the essays, there were a few stellar standouts for me:

"The Ethics of Paganism: The Value and Power of Sacred Relationship" by Emma Restall Orr
"Of Worms, Snakes, and Dragons: Can Magic Lead to an Ecological Worldview?" by Dr. Susan Greenwood
"I am the Mountain Walking: Wombats in the Greenwood" by Dr. Douglas Ezzy
"Wild Spirit, Active Love" by Dr. Sylvie Shaw

Each of these essays provide not only a perspective on ecology, ethics, animism, and Paganism that I had not considered - each also sculpted even deeper questions that I generated as follow-ons for myself to answer, while I was reading them. For me, these four essays were the meat of the entire book for me.

A word or two of caution for the reader though... The material presented here is in written (for the most part) in academic style, thus the readability can be some really rough terrain to pick through at times. Also, if you are looking for a Paganism 101 or Ecology 101 or Animism 101 book - this ain't it. The writers make some really large assumptions as to the knowledge base of the reader - and thus another rake edge to potentially step on while traversing this territory.

Recommend? Highly so. This is a book that you need to take your time with - much like a strong conversation on topics concerning ethical perspectives...its worth your time to read it. Just set aside the time to do so, where you are not trying to race through the material. ( )

Review located at http://lupabitch.wordpress.com/2007/12/31/pagan-visions-for-a-sustainable-future... ( )

Edited by Ly de Angeles, Emma Restall Orr and Thom van Dooren