Last issue I began a series of articles on the "creation spirituality" movement that is coming to the forefront in many of the world’s religions. As described by post-denominational theologian Matthew Fox, Creation Spirituality has ancient roots in the wisdom teachings of the great faith traditions. Meister Eckhart (ca. 1260-1329) in his treatises and sermons delineated a "four-fold path" through which humans get in touch with all of Creation and with Spirit. The first path is the via positiva ("the positive way") in which we intentionally look around and appreciate the universe with which Spirit has gifted us; our response to this taking-stock of nature is reverence, awe, and amazement for the power greater than ourselves who has set our cosmos in motion. Deity in this path is the great Preserver who loves everything S/He has created. The second path is the via negativa ("the negative way") in which we empty ourselves of all that does not bring goodness or joy; on this path we mourn our losses and grieve what has been denied us. Deity in this path is the Destroyer who reduces or alters Her/His creation in order to bring forth more goodness. The third path is the via creativa ("the creative way"), in which we, along with Spirit, give birth to new wonders through imagination, creativity, art, and beauty. Because we have emptied ourselves of our negative baggage, we are able to become co-creators with Deity, who on this path is the quintessential Creator. These three paths culminate in the fourth path, the via transformativa ("the transformative way"), by which we transform our world through the creativity we have birthed. All of creation, according to Eckhart and other mystics from the world religions, is yearning and growing toward completion and transformation. As human beings who are not yet fully divine but nevertheless possess the divine spark, we are capable of great good or great harm; we can choose to befriend Creator’s work or destroy it, but it will always be changed by us in some way simply because we—and all creation—are alive. Creation Spirituality aims to empower us to choose life and all of its fullness by working with determination to better our environment; thus, along this path Deity is the great Transformer. Yet, even after the four-fold path has proceeded through these four arcs, it is able to begin again because Creation is an unending spiral; it is not linear, for once we arrive at transformation we then begin to once again take stock, appreciate, weed out, give birth anew, and transform what has been.

According to mystical spirituality, it is never too late to begin to co-create with God/ess. It is never too late to befriend the world and its creatures. But we will be severely hampered in our quest to birth a better world if our religions remain opposed or if people of faith continue to view one another as adversaries instead of fellow travelers on a common path toward fulfillment. Therefore, the Indian mystic Kabir is able to proclaim, "Neither a Hindu nor a Muslim am I!" Divinity cannot be locked up in any faith, he says, for "the god of the Hindus resides in a temple; the god of the Muslims resides in a mosque; but who resides in the place where there are no temples and no mosques?" Likewise, Jesus cautioned his disciples not to look for God’s domain "here" or "there" because "God’s domain is among you." In similar fashion, the Sufi mystic Rumi notes, "All religions, all this singing, is one song. The sun’s light looks a little different on this wall than it does on that wall, but it’s still one light." Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh concurs when he muses that "all people of wisdom have one religion; they all behold the face of the One!"

Creation Spirituality provides a path whereby all people can come together and reclaim the ancient traditions of wisdom, love, equanimity, and passion for creation. Each of us is on a journey to the Source of All; yet we have been placed in this world for a purpose, alongside other people with ideas and talents to complement our own. I believe that Spirit wants us to turn away from selfishness and individualism and to turn toward community, sharing, and co-creation with God/ess and our sisters and brothers, both human and non-human. Working, praying, serving, and playing together we can return the universe to the hospitable place it was created to be. Next issue we will look at "10 C’s" through which the creation might be fully realized one day at a time.