Wheel of Wonder May 23, 2010

Gaia Theory: Where science and magic meets. This week on Wheel of Wonder Gaia is exactly what we'll be speaking of. What is gaia, in that place where science and belief meet? According James Lovelock, the scientist who first proposed the Gaia Hypothesis, now often referred to as the Gaia Theory "Most of us sense that the Earth is more than a sphere of rock with a thin layer of air, ocean and life covering the surface. We feel that we belong here as if this planet were indeed our home. Long ago the Greeks, thinking this way, gave to the Earth the name Gaia or, for short, Ge. In those days, science and theology were one and science, although less precise, had soul. As time passed this warm relationship faded and the life sciences, no longer concerned with life, fell to classifying dead things and even to vivisection. Now at last there are signs of a change. Science becomes holistic again and rediscovers soul, and theology, begins to realise that Gaia is not to be subdivided for academic convenience and that Ge is much more than just a prefix for Geology and Geography." (from the writings on his website; see the entire statement here) All scientific theorem begin with a hypothesis which when proven through observable facts becomes a theory. This theory is based on the idea that the biomass self-regulates the conditions on the planet to make its physical environment (in particular temperature and chemistry of the atmosphere) on the planet more hospitable to the species that constitute its "life." Life supporting life, so much like a function of spirit. Indeed what other function does spirituality (not dogma) serve? Though of course, even though I'll be speaking of Gaia Theory and quoting some of the work of James Lovelock and others, as you would expect we will still have much music this week on Wheel of Wonder!

The picture above is one of the amazing creations of British artist Josephine Wall. Please visit her gallery its worth it.