Paganism has often looked to forest groves or mountain tops for inspiration and spiritual transformation. Deep Blue plunges deep into sacred waters through thirteen essays by leading writers in the expanding academic field of nature religion. Amongst others, the book will be of interest to nature religion academics, environmental researchers and activists, as well as practitioners and students of paganism and religion, faith and spirituality studies and those involved in the intersection between religion and ecology. From anthropologic and mythological understandings of archetypal mind structure, through to sociological and psychological levels of analysis, academic theory and inquiry are blended with grounded accounts of experience and understanding from writers spiritually connected with water. The book aims to explore dimensions of the human spiritual relationship with river, sea and pool with a view to developing further understandings of the interrelationships between spiritual practice, academic nature religion discourse and environmental concern. Ancestral cultures invest watery places with spiritual power. With this deep connection comes respect, understanding and sustainable relationship. Deep Blue reconnects contemporary Western culture to these roots, exposing the vital significance of salt and fresh waters to humankind and making a call to arms for the development of holistic, sustainable relationships with waterways.

Nature religions look to rivers, lakes and oceans for inspiration and spiritual transformation. 'Deep Blue' brings together the work of influential scholars in the field of nature religion, ranging across anthropology, mythology, sociology and psychology. The essays examine the interrelationship between spiritual practice, critical thinking, and environmental concern. Tracing the ancient history of humanity's close relationship with both salt and fresh water, the book calls for a sustainable relationship with water in contemporary western culture. 'Deep Blue' will be of interest to students of paganism and religion, environmental researchers and activists, and all those involved in the intersection between religion and ecology.