Thoughts from the Dean's Desk

In a world increasingly dominated by screens, schedules, and stress, many are seeking ways to feel more rooted, calm, and connected. For some, the answer lies in a spiritual path that honors the rhythms of the Earth: Wicca. 

Wicca, a modern pagan religion with deep reverence for nature, offers a rich tapestry of practices that help individuals reconnect with the natural world. Through rituals, seasonal celebrations, and mindful interaction with the elements, Wiccans cultivate a sense of calm that can be profoundly healing in chaotic times. 

Walking with Intention 

One of the simplest yet most powerful ways that Wiccans reconnect to nature is a nature walk. While any walk outside, casual or otherwise is calming and good for us, a focused walk with the intent to really see and experience nature has even more benefits. It is an opportunity to observe, listen, and attune to the subtle energies of the Earth.  Particularly the earth where we reside.  Spiritual connection to the earth doesn’t require a trip to Thailand or some exotic place.  Wiccans connect where we are with the land that we live on. Practitioners may pause to acknowledge a tree, collect a fallen leaf, or simply breathe in the scent of the forest. These walks are not just exercise; they are acts of communion. 

When I was growing up, I used to hear the phrase, “stop and smell the roses”.  A walk done with intention helps to place you in the present moment.  Smelling and experiencing what is happening to you in this moment.  Much of our stress comes from worrying about the past and the future.  Those are moments which are gone or have not yet come.  The present moment is the moment we are in and the one we have the most power to effect change in. Connecting with the land and environment around us connects us to the present moment, where clarity can be found and where we receive the most healing. 

Celebrating the Wheel of the Year 

Central to Wiccan spirituality is the Wheel of the Year, a cycle of eight seasonal festivals known as Sabbats. These include the solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter days like Beltane and Samhain. Each Sabbat marks a turning point in the Earth’s journey around the sun and invites reflection on themes such as growth, harvest, rest, and renewal. 



By aligning with these natural cycles, Wiccans find a rhythm that contrasts sharply with the relentless pace of modern life. Seasonal rituals, whether lighting candles at Yule or dancing around a Maypole at Beltane, offer moments of stillness, celebration, and connection. 

Celebrating the sabbats helps to keep you connected to the world around you.  Are the trees shedding their leaves?  Is the air growing hotter or colder?  What flowers and plants are in bloom?  Is it time to gather the vegetables from the garden or go to the store and get seasonal items you can only get then? 

Just as nature walks place you in the present moment, celebrating the sabbats also brings you to this time and this place.  It allows you to find the cyclical rhythm of the world.  The seasons happen over and over again, just a bit differently each year. Last year spring was later and hotter, this year spring is lovely and rainy.  It’s still spring but it’s just a bit different.  Much like our lives and our own progress, things come around over and over again, but just a bit differently.  It’s those differences that show us the many facets of our journey here on planet earth.  How we’ve grown and learned or how we haven’t. 

Honoring the Elements 

Wicca also emphasizes the sacredness of the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These elements are not just symbolic—they are experienced as living forces. Earth represents stability and the resources of this world; Air, intellect and inspiration; Fire, transformation and passion; and Water, emotion and intuition. 

In ritual, Wiccans call upon these elements to create sacred space, using tools like crystals, incense, candles, and bowls of water. This elemental awareness fosters a deeper appreciation for the natural world and reminds practitioners of their place within it. 

Wiccan rituals bring the spiritual into the physical for connection.  Rituals calm us and give us a space to relax out of the busy rush of activity around us.  They allow us to reconnect with the divine and who we are and strive to be as we journey on the planet.  Bringing nature into ritual space is an important part of Wiccan ritual.  Those same elements used in ritual, then bring comfort and calmness outside of that space, serving as a reminder of the time and feeling of connection that is found within ritual.

Balance in Chaotic Times 

In times of personal or collective upheaval, Wiccan techniques such as visualizing roots growing into the Earth or holding a stone during meditation can provide a sense of calm and clarity. These practices are a return to what is real, tangible, and enduring. They are reminders of our connection to the whole planet and the other people who reside here with us.  These techniques also allow us to recenter ourselves to who and what we want to be and remind us of what we believe when the world around us calls for us to forget that and just react. 

As climate anxiety, digital overload, and social fragmentation continue to rise, Wicca’s earth-centered spirituality offers a path back to balance. It teaches that healing begins not in isolation, but in relationships. Relationship with the land, the seasons, and the sacredness of life itself.  Our worship and connection reside in nature, which the divine created, and which we are intricately a part of. 

Blessed Be!