What is Animism? | Religion and Spirituality

Animism Etymology

The term Animism comes from the Latin word Anima. Which means soul, breath, and life. Animism and Vitalism are opposite ideologies.

What is Animism?

Animism is the belief that all things have a sacred soul, spirit, or life force. An Anthropologist named Edward Taylor first coined the term Animism in 1819.

He derived the term from earlier writings on Vitalism or “Vital Principle“. Which is an Ideology opposite of Animism. Vital Principle is a belief that most people hold, that living things and non-living things have different energetic, non-physical structures. And that “non-living, inanimate” objects do not contain, “Animismus,” or a soul.

New World Animism VS. Old World Animism

Old World views on Animism were heavily colonized and disrespectful. The Old World view was that Indigenous people were primitive, and not able to understand the difference between something alive and something dead or not alive. Anthropologists in the 1800’s saw Indigenous people as barbaric and unintelligent because they didn’t subscribe to the theory of “Vital Principle”.

New World Animism honors the rich tapestry of beliefs that Indigenous people from all around the world hold. The ideologies behind New World Animism emerged in the mid-twentieth century by an anthropologist named Irving Hallowell, who studied with Native Ojibwe Peoples from Canada. In detail, through his anthropological work, Hallowell uncovered the idea of Personhood in an Indigenous sense. And to the Ojibwe people, personhood did not require a thing to be like a human. All in all, everything Rock, Bear, Tree, and River was considered a person. To clarify, personhood was instead defined as a thing possessing a Sacred Spirit, that you could interact with and build a relationship with.

Harvey, Graham (2005). Animism: Respecting the Living World. London: Hurst & Co. ISBN 978-0-231-13701-0. pg 18.

Animism is NOT

In truth, Animism is NOT about worshiping the Earth, or Nature as a God or a Divine Power. Instead, it’s about taking personal accountability and drawing from your experiences, ancestry, heritage, and community to develop a respectful practice that honors your healing journey.

In fact, many modern-day Animists are Indigenous people who are still alive and well. They are still practicing culture, medicine, and ritual according to their beliefs. However, if you ask them, most people do not identify as Animists.

Surprisingly, most people with Animist beliefs identify as part of a larger structure of religious beliefs, such as New Age Paganism, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, or some other religious group.

Native American spirituality and belief systems are rooted in Animism, respect for the land, and all living things. Many of these Native traditions honor people, rocks, land, water, and animals as sacred. Meaning all things are treated with respect. In essence, an animistic worldview does not see humans as superior to other beings. With this in mind, humans are instead seen as stewards and protectors of the natural world.

Animism is for Everyone

To clarify, a belief in Animism is not exclusive to Native Americans. Without a doubt as modern-day people, we must understand that the belief and spiritual practice of animism is not an excuse to misappropriate and steal culture, ceremonies, and practices from Indigenous Peoples. On the contrary, as modern spiritual people, we MUST acknowledge the Indigenous loss in this world.

That being said we are ALL descended from people who had Animist practices. With this in mind, and for this purpose, as a guide and healer in the Ceremony and Animism Healing Space, we strongly recommend that you look into your own ancestry, culture, and heritage so that you can meaningfully draw on the healing traditions of your people.

Given that, we are writing from America, where all of our Indigenous people have been colonized, brutalized, harmed, and stolen from consistently and systemically from the government and other institutions.

Why Should You Practice Animism?

All in all, for many modern pagans and spiritual seekers, finding Animism feels like a journey of coming home. All of our souls long for a time when we were living in harmony with the Earth.

Additionally, all of our Ancestors were tribal people who gathered together around the fire to get through the darkness of night. They honored their relationship with the Earth, the Moon, and the changing of the seasons. Afterall, our Ancestors held rituals and ceremonies to honor major transitions in life like Birth, Death, Adulthood, and Elderhood. The old ones practiced traditional healing and medicine. Indeed they had drums, music, songs, and ecstasy in a spiritual sense, which are all components of an animist life.

At Four Wind, we seek to honor these ancient traditions and to help people reclaim the practices of their ancestors and their own Indigenous wisdom.

Practicing Animism in your daily life is a call to remember that all things are Sacred. And that the Sacred is alive and well in every moment, thing, and interaction.

Animism teaches respect and stewardship by promoting the idea that the Earth and all things on it are Alive. Naturally, all living things must be treated with care and respect. Instead of seeing the Earth and its beings as resources to be harnessed and harvested, however, Animism encourages us to live as our ancestors did—in harmony and connection with the Earth.

The practice of Animism helps you feel more grounded and alive. And can help you with the common, modern-world feelings of loneliness and general disconnection.

How Do You Practice Animism? 9 Ways to Add Animism to Your Spiritual Practice

1. Connection to the Land and Listening to Nature

Nature is our greatest teacher. Take time to observe and learn from nature. Learn to watch it with reverence and respect.

Do this by spending time in nature and with animals. See how nature works and how it grows, heals, and sustains. And learn to integrate these lessons into your life.

2. Connection to the Elements

Likewise, just as nature is a teacher, so are the Elements. Wind, Water, Land, and Fire all carry deep spiritual teachings of Change, Healing, Grounding, and Transformation. Sitting with these elements in meditation, ritual, and understanding helps you to know and embody their wisdom.

3. Honoring the Cycles and Seasons

Our Ancestors observed Moon Cycles for planting and rituals and ceremonies. Additionally, they also observed and honored the seasons of the Earth. We can do this in our own way by bringing awareness and honor to the shifting of the cycles.

Watch how the plants and animals change their moods and rituals throughout the year.

4. Reciprocity and Gratitude

In contrast to more mindful practices, much of our modern life revolves around consumption and taking. Moreover, we rarely give much, if any, thought to where all of our goods, food, and clothing actually come from. Instead, we simply consume, take, and buy without consideration or awareness.

Work to be more simple and gracious in your consumption. Take only what you need, and source goods ethically.

For instance, consider a small prayer or moment of gratitude every morning when you wake up, before eating a meal, and before you go to sleep at night.

Take time to leave offerings to the Earth spirits. (Food, Water, Tobacco, Flowers, or whatever your intuition or ancestors lead you to offer.) This is a small spiritual gesture of gratitude with a big spiritual meaning.

5. Acknowledging the Sacred Spirit in All Things

Animism encourages us to put acknowledgment and care into every little thing. Greet the birds in the morning. Say “Hello” and “Goodbye” to your house, and thank it for keeping your family safe. Honor your physical and spiritual tools by caring for them, maintaining them, and giving them their own special places in your home to live.

6. Cultivate Mindfulness, and Honor your Dreams and Sacred Symbols

You are a Sacred part of this Earth as well. Being a good animist also requires you to take care of, bless, and maintain yourself. Practice mindfulness and integration work. Honor yourself, your desires, and your dreams.

Remember that your dreams are a doorway to your subconscious mind and the spiritual world. So record them, and think about how the symbols and messages in your dreams might be messages from your Ancestors, Plant Spirits, Animal Spirits, or the Earth.

7. Spiritual Hygiene

Honor yourself by taking care of your sacred spirit. Smoke cleanse yourself often, take cleansing baths, and be mindful of what you consume in a physical and spiritual sense.

8. Building Altars and Cultivating Sacred Spaces

An altar is a physical reminder of the spiritual nature of reality. By building an altar in your home or garden you are honoring the spiritual side of life. Maintaining an altar helps you to be more intentional in your spiritual practice.

Spirit is something that exists, but it is invisible. So our practices help us to keep our sacred connection and to give a home to that invisible connection.

9. Ceremony and Ritual

Engage in your community by gathering with like-minded folks and attending ceremonies and rituals. Group rituals honor your healing journey and the cycles and seasons of the Earth. Practices like Storytelling and gathering are ancient medicine practices that all of our ancestors participated in.

Crafting your own ceremonies and rituals is another way to connect with the Divine.

Animist Elements of Life

Non-Human Animals (Animal Spirits)

Animists believe that all things have a Sacred Spirit, including animals. non-human animals are thought to live in harmony and perfect mindfulness with the Earth. Where people need to cultivate their sense of mindfulness and stewardship of the Earth. Because of this, animals can be great teachers of natural and Earth-based wisdom.

You can cultivate animal wisdom by observing nature, meditating with and about animals, and giving back to the land by protecting and restoring natural habitats. As humans and consumers, we also need to work to hold companies accountable for their destruction and pollution of land. And put pressure on corporations to make their businesses sustainable and regenerative.

Many Animists and Shamanic Healing practitioners draw on non-human animal spirits as a source of power and wisdom. Many New-Age spiritualists jokingly use the term “Spirit Animal” to signify something that they like or that they draw power from. This is a disrespect of a sacred term that is used by some Native American tribes to speak on their own closed practices, rituals, and intense cultural initiations. Modern spiritual seekers should not use this term unless they belong to the culture from which that term originates.

Power Animal is the more appropriate term to use when discussing the spirits of animals used in the context of personal animism practice, ceremony, and wisdom. This is a general and respectful term that is not a part of a closed practice.

Plant Spirits

When we mention that all things have a Sacred Spirit, we are referring to a unique source of consciousness with its own thoughts, feelings, wisdom, and teachings.

We must continue to bring mindful awareness to our consumption of things, especially plant spirits. We mention this both in the context of the consumption of plants for goods, fibers, building materials, and food. But also in the context of Sacred Plant Medicines, and Plant Medicine Ceremonies.

Plants sacrifice their very existence so that we might be nourished and provided for. So we must remember the sacred universal rule of reciprocity. Never take more than we need, working to restore the land and natural habitats, not supporting practices like overharvesting and disrespectful use of plants- especially disrespectful use of Sacred Plant Medicines.

Plant Medicines are still used today by many Native American Churches, and Indigenous groups. If you desire to explore a relationship with Plant Medicine, keep in mind that these powerful plant allies are sacred Elders, teachers, and wisdom keepers. They are not to be used ignorantly for recreation. You should not facilitate Plant Medicine Ceremonies for friends and community members without extensive training and practice.

Because each plant has its own consciousness, a skilled practitioner should be able to call on that plant medicine consciousness and facilitate the feeling of that medicine without actually consuming the medicine. This type of ability and practice usually only surfaces after at least a decade of serious work and dedication to the medicine. Look to your elders, and to Indigenous people for more information on building respectful relationships with the Plant Spirit Kingdom.

Elements

There are many Sacred Directions and Elements, and the practice of knowing them and honoring them is dictated by your Elders, tradition, and personal spiritual experience.

THE WIND: is generally seen as a force that is able to inspire and shift us. It is also the breath inside of us which is the breath of our ancestors. Every time we take a breath we are connected to the element of the spirit and the wind, as we are breathing for the ancestors who are no longer here in a physical sense. Every breath is a sacred prayer.

THE WATER: is often seen as a representation of our emotions. Water can nourish, heal, purify, and help things flourish. It can also erode massive, seemingly unmovable forces like rock and land. We have the element of water inside of us in our fascia, blood, tears, sweat, and amniotic fluid.

THE LAND: is a force of grounding and guardianship. The Land helps protect us by providing materials for us to build our houses, and plants and animals for us to nourish our bodies with. The element of land is inside of us in the salts and minerals of our bones.

THE FIRE: is a sacred grandfather that has kept humans safe, and given us the ability to cook food and keep watch over each other. The Fire can transform, destroy, and even purify. The element of Fire lives inside of us as a symbol of our sacred spirit and aliveness.

The Forces of the Earth, and Land Spirits

Many forces of Earth have spirits of their own. Storms, Rivers, Lakes, Mountains, and Oceans are all examples of Land Spirits. Every piece of land has unique land spirits that live on it. These are sacred protectors of the land. And may even be ancestors who used to live on the land. They may also be the force of elemental spirits that helped to create the Earth long before the influence of human beings.

Many animist traditions leave offerings for the land spirits, to show spiritual respect and humility. It is advised that you make offerings to the land when you visit new places, and regularly on the land that you live. This is done to build a sacred relationship with the many unseen forces of our world. (To gain protection, understanding, and wisdom from these forces.)

Other Unseen Forces and Spirits

There are many unseen forces in this reality. Some of those are Ancestor Spirits. Some of those may be inorganic or otherwise unknown spirits. Many Animist and Naturalist Spiritual traditions accept the existence of things outside of ordinary reality and understanding. As humans, we need to learn to walk carefully and respectfully and to honor all things, not just things that we perceive as human.

Are There Any Surviving Modern Cultures Who Still Practice Animism?

Today, many surviving Animist Cultures and practices still exist, including: Shamanism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Shinto, Shendao, Taoism, and Muism to name a few.

There is a substantial push in many New Age Spiritual circles for people to take a more respectful Earth-Based Animistic approach to spirituality. This push is an effort to get humans back to their natural roots. Adding Animism to your spiritual practice can help safeguard indigenous cultures against cultural appropriation so that we can engage in respectful personal spiritual practices. Growing as spiritual people will help us evolve and uplift consciousness while restoring the land so that we can live in harmony with nature once again.

Animism in Christianity

Animism is not a religion. And it’s teaching and wisdom do not contradict the teachings of Christianity. It is a practice like meditation, prayer, or daily exercise that anyone can bring into their life. There are many Biblical examples of Animism within the practice of Christianity.