AnimismAnimism is the belief that there are spirits that can be seperated from physical form that inhabit all things, thus showing that all things are sacred, in a way saying that all things are alive. The term animism comes from the latin word for soul "Anima". This is, for Druidry, an important principle as it reminds us that all things deserve to be treated with respect. Our ancestors gave thanks and offerings for each stone they used to build their stone circles, for each tree they cut for their houses, for each animal they killed for food and each plant and herb that they used for healing etc. This is because they recognised the spirit within each of them. Today, there is such a gross lack of concern for the environment, animals, plants etc that it's becoming more obvious and in fact dangerous, this is born of the dispelling of the belief in and practice of Animism by the often forceful introduction of Dogmatic, Monotheisms that preach that there is only one god, that humanity is the only creature with a soul, that the beast and birds are for us to use as slaves and that the earth is here for us to use, dominate and thus abuse. If we are to survive the almost inevitable destruction of the environment, we have to stop our abuse of it and treat it with the respect it is due. Even if you don't believe in spirits beyond the human spirit, it MUST be obvious that the earth is a living thing that needs tenderness, care and respect in order to keep her alive. if it's not blatantly obvious to you, then take a long hard look around you. If you are by any chance stuck in the incredibly un-civilized thought that plants are not really "alive" as all they do is grow, watch a sunflower over the course of a day, watch how it turns it's face to follw the path of the sun across the sky, touch a senstive plant and watch it recoil, tease the hairs on a venus fly trap and watch it close. Spirits are everywhere, in everything and the whole world is alive. Click here are some definitions of Animism from different sites |