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The Ten principles of Creation Spirituality

The elements of Creation spirituality are truly ecumenical. They are found in Eastern Christian mysticism. They are found in medieval mystical theologians such as Hildegard of Bingen, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Meister Eckhart, Julian of Norwich and Nicolas of Cusa. While exemplified in one line of Christianity, Creation Spirituality is truly as old as creation. It is found in all the great mystical traditions of Hasidic Judaism, Sufism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. It is even more fully expressed in the nature religions of the spirituality of ancient Celts, Africans, Australian Aborigines, and Native Americans. Creation Spirituality calls for a "deep ecumenism" which brings together these traditions of Creation Spirituality from every culture.

Creation Spirituality as developed in Phil Dyer’s book The Four Paths is based upon ten principles. The wording varies but the following is a general outline:

1. The universe is good and something we basically experience as a blessing.

2. We are part of this universe so naturally affect and are affected by the universe as a whole.

3. Everyone is born capable of experiencing awe and wonder (a mystic) and everyone is capable of recovering this ability at any age.

4. Everyone is a prophet and called to "interfere" with what interrupts "authentic" life.

5. We have to dig and work at finding our deep, true and spirit self. The alternative is to live superficially controlled by fear, greed, addiction, and/or the expectations of others.

6. The process that marks this digging is a four-fold journey that identifies what matters and addresses the question of where the divine will be found.

In Path One, Via Positiva, awe and delight matter and the divine is found in the awe, wonder, and mystery of nature and of all beings, each of whom is a "word of God".

In Path Two, Via Negativa, darkness, suffering, and letting go matter and the divine is found in darkness and nothingness, in silence and emptiness, in letting go and letting be, and in the pain and suffering that constitute an equally real part of the spiritual journey.

In Path Three, Via Creativa, creativity and imagination matter, and the divine is found in our imagination and creativity we co-create with God.

In Path Four, Via Transformativa, justice, celebration, and compassion matter and the divine is found in the relief of suffering, in the combating of injustice, in the struggle for balance in society, and in the celebration that happens when people struggling for justice try to live in mutuality and celebrate the gift of life and being together.

7. Everyone is capable of creative expression (an artist) which is a primary way for releasing our images, and empowering both the community and ourselves.

8. We are all daughters and sons of God; therefore, we carry the divine image and have divine blood in our veins and divine breath in our lungs.

9. Divinity is as much mother as father, child as parent, Godhead (mystery) as God (history), and as much beyond all beings as in all beings (Panentheism).

10. The primary work of God is compassion.