IN-PERSON: Prague – Section B

Abstract

Throughout time people have shaped their environments according to their first-hand experiences and instinctive understandings of natural phenomena; cultural heritage was informed by the concept of genius loci, or “spirit of place.” Recognizing and honoring the genius loci is the first step in preserving the socio-ecological integrity of place. Our research presents a survey of global myths, legends and folklore that are based on a deep understanding of the genius, or spirit, of the land, and presents a new framework for their application and interpretation. For millennia, earth spirits were venerated and worshiped as peoples across the globe altered the landscape in accord with what they believed to be the sacred qualities of place. Over time, as respect for the earth’s unseen forces faded from modern consciousness, our rampant destruction of the environment intensified. Early peoples believed that the boundary between the physical world and the spiritual realm was not fixed. People came to know the essence of the deserts, mountains, seacoasts, plains, and forests where they lived, and developed narratives based on their awareness of the environment and their knowledge of its definitive patterns and processes. Cultural values were embodied in myths and folklore informed by everyday experiences of the natural world. In this age of profound climate disruption and ecological upheaval, the time is ripe to reconsider and honor the sanctity of the land, to reimagine the role of the earth spirits in bringing forth a new era of environmental consciousness and care.