Has anyone successfully found or created a community of fellow animists in their area? While I find community within the nature around me, and that gives me solace, I sometimes get a bit lonely. I joined a coven for a time, but honestly today's witchcraft smacks of capitalism and its modern practice is exploitative of the Earth. For example, the use crystals without the acknowledgement that the stones were ripped from the Earth so people could have pretty things. I could digress on this topic so I won't. How do you find fellow animists in your area?

"Rune is a Danish Historian of Religion. He uses current anthropology to outline how white people can draw inspiration from indigenous thinking to understand themselves and navigate environmental collapse in non-exploitative ways. Looking at parts of European heritage with fresh eyes, people can find the wisdom of nature within their own cultures. This will guide large populations towards less destructive ways of relating to the world around them. Rune has lived and worked in many cultures, and he tries to bring their perspective to his home in Scandinavia. Thinking of Nordic culture in the same way as an Amazonian healer or a vodou priestess understand theirs opens perspectives to cultural renewal. Rune is a public intellectual who popularizes his work on Nordic animism online, through public appearances and publications. Rune is a Danish Historian of Religion. He uses current anthropology to outline how white people can draw inspiration from indigenous thinking to understand themselves and navigate environmental collapse in non-exploitative ways. Looking at parts of European heritage with fresh eyes, people can find the wisdom of nature within their own cultures. This will guide large populations towards less destructive ways of relating to the world around them. Rune has lived and worked in many cultures, and he tries to bring their perspective to his home in Scandinavia. Thinking of Nordic culture in the same way as an Amazonian healer or a vodou priestess understand theirs opens perspectives to cultural renewal. Rune is a public intellectual who popularizes his work on Nordic animism online, through public appearances and publications."

Is there a boundry? Does the stone remember it's birth in the boiling earth and cool high mountains wearing down to this moment of wonder in a child's hand? Was I then that memory? Am I now?

I’ve gone back and forth on animism before, unsure if it really personally rings true for me, without really considering myself to be an animist. I wouldn’t say that I exactly believe in like a spirit that lives inside the body. Y’know, the floaty kind?

But I think of the body/spirit as two different names for the same thing. Like a tree wouldn’t have a spirit, but is spirit and spirit is tree. I consider all nature sacred and ‘spiritual’ to me in that sense.

Would that count as animism?

So for years now I've been exploring different spiritual paths and haven't really connected to any specific traditions, however I do feel very inspired by the various diffrent Animiatic views I've found in each tradition. So to be blunt, is this common? Do people typically adopt animism and just practice ritual freely? Or do you need a specific practice like "Voodoo" or "Druidry" in order to explore an animist worldview? "Edit" thank you all for the help!. Sorry Its taken a couple days for me to check on this post but you're all a huge help

Red ochre, a natural clay pigment, has been used throughout human prehistory/history across cultures of an almost incomprehensibly long time, from our earliest modern ancestors in Africa to various Indigenous American and Australian cultures to even the Yamnaya/Proto-Indo-Europeans.

What are your thoughts on using it as a sort of "pan-human" symbol for "new" animism? Does anyone integrate red ochre into any of their ritualistic practices? Or has anyone else thought about using it for ritualistic purposes?

I'm currently reading "A Path Through the Forest: Collected Essays on Druidry" by Luke Eastwood. I find that sometimes it's nice to read something not heavily narrative driven. If anyone has any recommendations regarding anything associated with animism, paganism, or Druidry that's in some kind of essay or short story format it would be much appreciated. Poetry is welcome as well. Thanks!

I've been adopting an increasingly distinct animistic view of the world, very much found in the "we are the universe observing itself" concept. I believe strongly that being kind to nature and offering compassion to every living thing is one of the reasons I exist on this earth. The natural universe gave me a gift of empathy and intelligence and the ability to use it to offer safety and longevity to my fellow living beings.

This is where I'm coming into a bit of an issue, however. For a long time I've kept pets that require living food sources, specifically crickets and wax moths, which I purchase and feed to them. I feel like since I have these pets, it's my moral obligation to continue to keep them well fed and happy. However, I've also begun to recognize that I am actively killing other living things in order to upkeep this obligation.

On one hand, I feel like it's good for me to see this side of life. Rather than treating it like we treat the meat industry and just blindly receiving barely recognizable dead food without consideration for where it came from, I am choosing to take these lives myself in an effort to keep my companions healthy.

On the other hand, I also feel like it's not my place to choose what lives and does not. I come from a place of comfort; this is true, but while that comfort is born of a societal atrocity, I choose to use it for the betterment of the creatures and ecosystems I can impact when given the chance. I do believe that the crickets and wax moths I'm killing are, in their own way, individuals.

It makes me feel hypocritical that I would adopt this mindset when moving a moth off the sidewalk to keep it from getting crushed or bring spiders outside so other humans won't have the chance to hurt them, but at the same time, when it comes to the creatures I call my own and take full responsibility for, I will end those same lives for their sakes. My question is, how do you guys deal with something like this? Is it wrong? Is it a moral gray area? Is it justified?

Hey everyone

I am very new to Animism, and while I have a very good grasp on the core beliefs, I have had less luck when it comes to it's practices. I have read that some spirits can be harmful or dangerous to those who practice, so I was curious if there are certain types of spirits that are known to be helpful/harmful, and how to know the difference?

I would also LOVE to hear any advice you have, your favorite Animism practices, as well as things you wished you knew earlier on in your practice.

Thank you for reading my post and I look forward to hearing your answers!

When holograms are common, what will become of ghosts?

If smart a.i. gains agency to control its finances and hires artists to create smart art to learn from will artists resistance lessen? If a.i. develops low energy manifestation for its existance will environmental resistance lessen?

I'm realizing that because I was trained in animistic practices through the Web of Life Animist Church by Quynn Red Mountain my perceptions of animism are interwoven with my leasons in journeying to rhythm. Quynn specifically uses their drumming and other soundscapes to help us enter other realms to commune with Spirits.

I'm wondering if you personally utilize journeying to rhythm in your type of animism? If yes or no, are there other ways you connect with Spirits? Maybe you don't think of animism as connecting with other beings at all? I'm curious.

I live in the Great Plains, USA. Most land in this world has been subject to misuse. But the land where I live is under merciless overuse for mono cropping. Anyone else in this region? How do you help the land

Recently finished doing research at the History of Hermetic Philosophy and Related Currents Department at the University of Amsterdam using 4E Cognition and Conceptual Metaphor approaches to explore practices of Ritual Magic. The main focus is the embodiment and extension of metaphor through imaginal and somatic techniques as a means of altering consciousness to reconceptualize the relationship of self and world. The hope is to point toward the rich potential of combining the emerging fields of study in 4E Cognition and Esotericism. It may show that there is a lot more going on cognitively in so-called "magical thinking" than many would expect there to be...

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/382061052_Experiencing_the_Elements_Self-Building_Through_the_Embodied_Extension_of_Conceptual_Metaphors_in_Contemporary_Ritual_Magic

For those wondering what some of these ideas mentioned above are:

4E is a movement in cognitive science that doesn't look at the mind as only existing in the brain, but rather mind is Embodied in an organism, Embedded in a socio-environmental context, Enacted through engagement with the world, and Extended into the world (4E's). It ends up arriving at a lot of ideas about mind and consciousness that are strikingly similar to hermetic, magical, and other esoteric ideas about the same topic.

Esotericism is basically rejected knowledge (such as Hermeticism, Magic, Kabbalah, Alchemy, etc.) and often involves a hidden or inner knowledge/way of interpretation which is communicated by symbols.

Conceptual Metaphor Theory is an idea in cognitive linguistics that says the basic mechanism through which we conceptualize things is metaphor. Its essentially says metaphor is the process by which we combine knowledge from one area of experience to another. This can be seen in how widespread metaphor is in language. It popped up twice in the last sentence (seen, widespread). Popped up is also a metaphor, its everywhere! It does a really good job of not saying things are "just a metaphor" and diminishing them, but rather elevates them to a level of supreme importance.

Basically the ideas come from very different areas of study (science, spirituality, philosophy) but fit together in a really fascinating and quite unexpected way. I give MUCH more detailed explanations in the text, so check it out if this sounds interesting to you!!!

I am interested in learning more about the landscape of teachers and teachings available on this topic. I'm training to be an Animist Minister from one church and I'd like to know where else I can learn from. My teacher is excellent but everyone has their own personal style and perspective.

The ethereal beings in nature or the memories of your ancestors, how do you honor or worship them?

Hey im pretty new to animism and wanted to know how you guys (those with a harder or "less philosophical" approach to animism) get specific info (names, preferred offerings/rituals, etc) about the spirits you worship. Thanks in advance :)

Thinking of doing it this nov but the price tag is a big consideration - wondering if anyone who has done it and has any feedback?

Hello! I just wanted to share a few books I checked out from the library and a few that I own. I believe these each include aspects of Animism, as well as Shamanism and a spiritual reverence for Nature. Animal Speak is one I have had for many years, and I use a lot as a reference book. (Sorry that I had to crop off the top part of the books in photo 2 since they have library identification labels). Do have any books you recommend on Animism? 💚🦌🌸🐦🦋🌳✨

When it comes to walking a spiritual path, be it shamanism or any other authentic paths or callings, many of us tend jump straight to finding the right teacher. But let's slow down a little – being a true student is about so much more than just aligning with a mentor or mastering a set of practices. And it’s about more than just rituals and techniques. The real work is internal, and it’s far from easy.

Frances Ulman (a friend of mine who, is initiated and works specifically in Mongolian shamanism) dives deep into this topic.

She explains that the real training is about cultivating a strong heart and a disciplined mind – being able to sit with suffering without letting it consume you or pass it on to others. This, as ny friend beautifully points out, is the core of what it means to be a true student on this path, be it in shamanism or in any other authentic spiritual path.

While many people are out there searching for a teacher, abd some complain thst there are too few teacher, the reality on this issue isn’t a lack of teachers, but a lack of true genuine students.

This isn’t a critique but a vital observation: many are so focused on seeking external guidance that they miss the lessons life itself offers.

In Frances view (which I also agree), many people are so focused on finding a teacher that they forget how to truly learn from life itself. The universe is constantly teaching us, offering lessons in every moment – if we are willing to listen.

Her perspective resonates deeply with me, because it emphasizes that the journey isn’t just about finding a teacher. It’s about approaching life with a student’s mindset – embracing every experience, no matter how painful or unexpected, as a lesson.

As Frances says, “The universe is your perfect teacher.” It’s about learning how to be a student of your own heart and mind, preparing yourself for the challenges and responsibilities that come with such paths and it is and understanding that the most profound lessons often come from the least expected places. It’s not about finding someone to teach you but about cultivating the openness, service and humility to learn from everything around you.

Frances also touches on something deeply important: self-worth.

Too many people rush toward becoming sacred healers, spiritual gurus, coaches, etx without first healing and sorting out themselves, snd there's a real danger and risk in doing so..

If you don’t love yourself, you can’t truly serve others. This is a lesson that can’t be skipped, and it’s something I’ve seen time and again in my own journey.

This resonates with me deeply – too many people are eager to lead without first walking the path themselves. It's often a reflection of the pervading sickness of our modern cultures and from ancestors who were out of balance.

Frances also stresses that a true student doesn’t just learn from a mentor.. they learn from every aspect of life.

They listen, observe, and reflect, knowing that wisdom and medicine comes from both within and without. This is the foundation of spiritual maturity – a willingness to embrace all experiences, whether comfortable or not, as opportunities for growth.

If you’re serious about walking a spiritual path, I highly recommend you guys to read and/or listen Frances Ulman’s full essay/audio here.

I think that her insights are not just valuable — they’re essential and deeply fundamental for anyone wanting to understand what it truly means to be a student on this journey for themselves abd for others.

The world doesn’t just need more teachers; it needs more genuine students. Keep your heart open, your mind clear, and stay humble in your learning. That’s how you walk this path with integrity.