I have been reading quite a bit about animism lately... and I can see how animals and trees could have a "soul", but I am having a hard time with things such as grass or rocks. I am just curious what the animist viewpoint is on these seemingly lifeless or spiritless objects.
Get to know some rocks. Collect a few stones of different kinds, and spend some time focusing on them. They are all different. Each type of rock or crystal has a different feel to it - a different 'is-ness' which makes it unique and different from other minerals. That's one way to begin to undestand how the spirit is in rocks. It's something like an energy signature.... Also stone circles and so on are usually places with a special atmosphere.
Stones and Trees are alive in a different way, imo. It's difficult to explain, in that Trees are actually alive, but Rocks still have a Life Signature..
i can imagine this hippy shit in my head- concentrating on a rock to get to know it's diferent-isness
Thanks for the responses. I agree that a rock circle / formation can be a spiritual place, however, I am still not sold on an individual rock possessing a spirit. I'll have to gather a few like BlackBillBlake suggested.
Hi, this is an interesting topic. We know that both living things and nonliving things are made up of atoms and molecules, but the structure of the atoms is different resulting in a different apparent structure of the object on a larger scale. For example, when you have a certain element that will create a crystal under the right conditions, it forms the crystalline structure that comes from the quality of the building block. The matter behaves according to the nature of the fundamental building block it came from. A seed or roots of grass will make grass and the structure of the grass is as such. Similarly, human beings get their consciousness and ability to have such consciousness through the structure and activities of their body. So the spirit that's on the crystal or stone is apparent as appearing through its structure. This may help you to understand what it's like. Paul.
Well grass definitely has some sort of spiritual energy in it, just like other plants and trees. Rocks do have spiritual energy as well. I know it's hard to imagine rocks with spirits like humans, but imagine different types of rocks, like crystals and gems that definitely have energies associated with them. I think that some rocks have more spiritual properties in them than others.
I have no doubts that trees, rocks, grass or whatever plants or minerals have souls. They are another level of consciousness, experiencing reality in a different way than we do and growing from those experiences to go to the next level of consciousness and so on. Now I won't pretend I know about what kind of experiences rocks or grass may go through though, I really have no clue and it's something way beyond all that I could imagine. For someone who believes in reincarnation it makes more sense than for someone who doesn't. I don't think souls that are now reincarnated as grass will stay grass forever, it just doesn't make any sense for me. What a waste of time to remain on the same level for eternity! Life is made to learn, grow and evoluate and each state of consciousness (from mineral to vegetal to animal to human to ??) has precise things to teach us.
Try Inipi ceremonies. You REALLY get to experience all parts of nature and Her spirit. Especially rocks.
I definitly think rocks have spirits, they hold such energy and knowledge and have been around forever. Rocks are like our history or like a library. Lots of rocks have been here forever and hold ancient knowledge. If you are unsure , to study and learn more about them might give you greater undertanding. On the topic of grass i also think yes just like you would think yes to any type of plant, peace.love.light
me too and also when i touch a stone it gets warm after one minute even if my hand is cold from touching snow. i cant explain it i just feel it.
its not so much about individual souls, though these might exist also, but in addition there is are species spirits or souls. it is these that are referred to in indigenous cultures, (where nouns often default to plural rather then singular and require some sort of suffix to make single), that stories are told about, that one meets as guides and so on.
just sit quietly and stop thinking it feels silly, be in the space with a individual stone or a plant and soon you will feel their energy and will begin to question them as a being. Then you will hear their answers as you hear the feeling of a gentle breeze. Dow crystals speak voluntarily as do small wild saplings. shhhh,listen
I think grass is alive in the sense that it is made of energy, just like all things are made of energy and are therefore "alive" in a way. I hope that made sense. :]
Also, I think that all things have an energy of their own but there is also a "genius loci" or protective spirit of any place you go (especially in nature-though some may say JUST in nature does this "spirit" exist). I know a woman who's soul form of spirituality is trying to get in touch with various genius loci in her area. Pretty interesting.
these i have "met", and while they may not be as big and powerful as others, their love is just as good a faith as any. when i think of faith in more generalized terms, as i often do, it is actually spirits of placeness, that first come to mind. by which i don't mean pretending to give them names or anything like that, just their being there, and the idea of being nice to them. not out of any sort of expectation, but just because it feels right and good to do so.
