animism (noun) defined
American Heritage & The Free Dictionary:
1. The belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/animism
Wikipedia:
Animism […] is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Potentially, animism perceives all things—animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and perhaps even words—as animated and alive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animism
Musing on my experiences with animism
I genuinely think of soft friends, cars, the tools I rely upon... each as a kind of person. It's what my dad did, too- so it's ingrained pretty deeply.
Beyond woo, it has practical applications. Most of my tools are friends- and I'm gentle with my friends. I like to treat them in the way they wish to be treated. I like to make sure they get cleaned up and then get to see their other friends after the job is done. I want them happy so they treat me well.
re: Musing on my experiences with animism
@mawr i feel like animism is closest to how our spirituality works too. it might not extend to everything, but everything living, natural, and/or durable for sure--by durable i mean stuff not made to be disposed of, so tools, equipment, books, buildings, plushes, but not napkins, drink bottles, or laundry detergent
-F
