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Millions of Americans prepare to look skyward on April 8, when the moon will pass between the sun and Earth. As daylight turns to darkness, the rare cosmic spectacle will capture widespread national attention. But there’s more than an astronomical event at play, according to University of Florida religion professor Bron Taylor, and it points to a growing movement at the nexus of nature and spirituality.

“People are on their own pilgrimages, and they’re trying to work out their meaning systems,” Taylor said. “This widespread fascination with the eclipse is a prime example of a turn toward the re-sacralization of nature.”

Taylor, an esteemed environmental scholar and leading expert on religion and nature, has tracked global environmental trends over decades, identifying overarching patterns and changes. There’s a seismic shift sweeping across the American religious landscape, he says. Nature-based spiritual practices are on the rise.

The movement is evident all around us in the form of surging interest in astrology, tarot cards, veganism, crystals, and shamanism. Many express an emotional yearning to commune with and retreat into nature. Collectively, according to Taylor’s research, we are increasingly seeking deeper meaning, purpose, and values within the natural world.

“This helps to explain increasing interest in celebrating eclipses, equinoxes, and solstices,” Taylor said. “When people engage in these experiences, they often feel a sense of awe or astonishment.”

Taylor attributes the trend to a broader societal transition toward ecological consciousness, as humanity grapples with the challenges of climate change. This shift reflects a cultural movement arising from the aftermath of Darwin’s revelations in “On the Origin of Species,” published in 1859, which fundamentally altered perspectives on evolution.

“If we think long-term, the kind of cosmic vision and worldview that emerges from evolutionary and ecological understandings is becoming a very large part of the human story,” Taylor said. “Increasing proportions of the human community have that kind of worldview, and that’s a huge change over the last 160 years.”

The renaissance of nature-based spirituality may be giving religious institutions a run for their money. Twenty-seven percent of Americans say they are religiously unaffiliated, according to the polling firm PRRI. This is up from 16% in 2006. This demographic now constitutes the largest segment of the population, surpassing any single faith group.

For a number of people across the nation, then, the eclipse becomes more than a celestial event. Viewed through a lens of spirituality, it’s an awakening.

Taylor is renowned for coining the term ‘dark green religion,’ a fusion of ecological awareness with spiritual beliefs. He introduced the term in his 2010 book “Dark Green Religion: Nature Spirituality and the Planetary Future,” which unpacks the evolution of these emergent worldwide spiritual practices. Grassroots environmental movements, Taylor posits, have nurtured beliefs treating nature as sacred and non-human organisms as kin.

“It’s the idea that we owe these life systems reverent care, a sense that we ought not to fear death because death is the wellspring of new life,” Taylor said.

This is not a new phenomenon. Dark green religion traces back to ancient pagan roots, Taylor notes, but modern iterations of such eco-spirituality are increasingly grounded in scientific understandings and the interconnectedness of life.

“Humans have long crafted meaning in nature’s rhythms,” he said. “Today, some people are doing that much more self-consciously in forms of ritual. Others do it subconsciously by gravitating to experiences like eclipse viewings.”

Dark green religion has permeated the mainstream, with popular science figures such as Carl Sagan and Neill deGrasse Tyson contributing to the spiritual discourse. These influential figures offer narratives about the grandeur of simply existing as a complex multicellular organism on this planet and the experience of cherishing our connections as ‘star stuff’ within the broader story of cosmic forces and evolution.

“They craft scientific stories into sacred stories, evoking the same emotions — joy, ecstasy, reverence — that religions typically provide,” Taylor said.

In this context, bestselling books such as Richard Powers’ “The Overstory” play a crucial role. Powers presents an interconnected web of life, anchoring our lived experiences in the natural world and encouraging readers to take action to preserve nature for future generations. According to Taylor’s analysis, the foremost question posed by Powers is: What does life want from us?

Ultimately, in this convergence of nature and spirit, a sense of cosmic belonging emerges, says Taylor. Interest in the eclipse underscores the unifying power of spirituality, fostering a connection with the vast cosmos. Taylor suggests these experiences can elevate us.

“These experiences, which give us a proper sense of humility by reminding us that we are just a speck in the universe, can be ennobling, and can help overturn anthropocentric hubris,” Taylor said.

As spiritual seekers turn toward Mother Earth to fill the spiritual void, the solar eclipse offers a moment for reflection and renewed reverence for life. Taylor explains that even scientists, in their deep understanding of the eclipse, may find themselves moved by spiritual insights during the event.

“The wild world has something to say to us,” Taylor said, “and we should be listening.”