I have been reading much of late…in particular, two books by James Lovelock, setting out the case for Gaia and the ensuing extreme weather generated by a change in our climate, among other things, some would argue!
This is not a blog about Climate Change or, even, extreme weather…enduring it is quite enough!
This is about an extraordinary human being, who, 400 years before James Lovelock, set out the case for our Earth being alive…as I know her to be today!
For this and other beliefs, Giordano was burned at the stake in the year 1600.
Giordano Bruno, born Filippo Bruno, was an Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, mathematician, poet, and astrologer.
He is remembered for his cosmological theories, which conceptually extended the then novel Copernican model.
He proposed that the stars were just distant suns surrounded by their own exoplanets and raised the possibility that these planets could even foster life of their own (a philosophical position known as cosmic pluralism).
He also insisted that the universe is in fact infinite and could have no celestial body at its “centre”.
Beginning in 1593, Bruno was tried for heresy by the Roman Inquisition on charges including denial of several core Catholic doctrines (including Eternal Damnation, the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the virginity of Mary, and Transubstantiation).
So, you can begin to see why I have warmed to this rather extraordinary and brave human being!
Not, as some would imagine, for having strong views…but for daring to question!
Bruno’s pantheism was also a matter of grave concern.
The Inquisition found him guilty, and he was burned at the stake in Rome’s Campo de’ Fiori in 1600.
In short, Giordano Bruno was burnt at the stake just over 400 years ago for maintaining that the Earth was alive!
After many years of isolation in the science community, James Lovelock was acknowledged as the bearer of truth, sometimes a painful burden to carry in a society fixated with staying well inside the box!
I know from my intimate work with Mother Earth, that she is indeed alive.
I open myself to her communication.
Her voice grows louder with each passing day…indeed, many of you hear or feel her communication.
The change in acceptance of James Lovelock’s Gaia theory was summed up in a declaration published by scientists from the four international research programmes in 2001 which said…
“The Earth system behaves as a single, self-regulating system,comprised of physical, chemical, biological and human components. The interactions and feedbacks between the component parts are complex and exhibit multi-scale temporal and spatial variability.” 
We need to make peace with Her…and to do that we need to listen!
Thank you for supporting Bealtaine Cottage…there is a link at the top of this page where you may choose to purchase a book, calendar or map. Blessings X Colette
Bit of a late reply and in fact in the 5 years light with have traveled a light year beyond Proxima Centarui from Earth!have you been to the Giordano Bruno statue in Rome?I don’t think that he ever got to Ireland and Oxford was the nearest although I had read reports of him showing up in Edinburgh.there’s some ongoing debate about if he was a Pantheist,a Panentheist or a Pandeist? probably, like me and many others,a combination of the three?he seems to have held that there as an external state infusing the universe which would err towards Panentheism and I myself hold this to be the most spiritually satisfying view.as to life on other planets he does seem to have realized that other stars where suns and our sun is just a star seen up close.hard to say if others at the time held with this belief as they would have kept quiet about it but once you realize the the Earth orbits the Sun it’s only another step to realize that the universe has become a whole lot bigger!
I have not yet seen the statue…something to look forward too perhaps?
Blessings of Imbolc to you X
Lovely post …thank you..keep well 🙂
And you Penny X
I am in awe of her divine beauty
It seems to grow each day!
Well of course the Earth is alive? It is surreal that any other conclusion could ever have been drawn by either science or religion. God bless our the beautiful miraculous Earth.
Something I do find sad about James Lovelock is that he has decided we have to go down the Nuclear Power route, basically because he sees that Humanity generally will keep demanding more power, and nuclear is the ‘cleanest’ way to get that power (in his view). Bruno sounds amazing.
Thank you for your beautiful words, photos and wonderful inspiration, Colette xx
I have issues with many of James Lovelock’s personal opinions, but the Gaia hypothesis is his life’s work and very substantial and convincing it is. I cannot fault it.
I agree with your words entirely. I greatly appreciate Lovelocks words and the ridicule he must have initially suffered from his colleagues in the scientific community. His advocacy for nuclear is disturbing, but like George Monbiot, I *think* his reasoning is more to do with how we can provide electricity in the same volume as we do now, but with lower CO2 emissions – however, in my opinion, we cannot continue with ‘business as usual’ and we need to address consumption of so many things, electricity included. Nuclear for me, is a no go, because of the inherent problems with ‘waste’ which, after 60 years, are still not addressed is satisfactory manner.
I fear his message is being drawn down into smaller issues and, as you say, we need to address our over consumption of utilities like electricity and power down to a more realistic consumerism. The issue is too important to be side-stepped by nuclear…it is not really accepted as far as i can see. I am regarded as an oddity in my quest to live a more simple and frugal existence, yet that is the issue really…to live as lightly as possible on every level as a way to begin to deal with climate change.
You are absolutely right that we must not divert from his core message because of some of his views. I very much like and agree with 90% of the stuff George Monbiot writes, but because I disagree with 10% does not negate the 90% I agree with!
How strange a world it is, that someone like you Colette, who understands the limits of nature and wants to live a frugal (but intensely connected and fulfilling) existence, is seen as an oddity! We have become an absurd culture that seemingly wishes to destroy our future for the sake of short term pleasure, ego and gain. Hopefully, more and more people will connect with the good work you do and take on board the message! x
It’s a slow journey for many…reluctance to change, interwoven with fear of impoverishment…that’s why I work hard to keep Bealtaine Cottage looking good, as it is encouraging for others to see that a frugal life can be as desirable as one of over-consumption.
Hi Colette, as you say adopting nuclear is addressing the symptom (need for more and more power) not the cause (consumerism, extractive cultures etc). Perhaps Monibot and Lovelock are trying to appease the masses by implying that things can stay the same. Maybe they feel nuclear could buy us time to make other changes to our lifestyles?
I am now reading the second book, (albeit written earlier in 2006) by Lovelock and that is the implication that I am picking up too…appeasement! However, having admitted that I have got to say that his arguments are very powerful and he is a very gentle force in what he has to say! Those of us unafraid to stand on the front line are aware that we address the reality of what consumerism has and is doing to Mother Earth and therefore our own habitat, so strive to power down, live frugally and plant with as much speed as we can muster…spreading out plants far and wide to others. Despite this, or even because of this stance, life is sweeter than most would ever imagine possible! And…thank Goddess, there are more Earth Defenders stepping up to that front line.