My Notes: Living Ethically Through Animistic Principles

I've recently started taking a few courses on Druidry and I thought I would start posting my notes on the blog.

Animism fosters ethical and sustainable living by shifting the human perspective from one of dominance to one of honourable relationship within a vast community of sentient beings.Tthis worldview provides a framework for making more conscious choices by recognizing the inherent value and spirit in all things

Living Ethically Through Animistic Principles

Animism changes the definition of ethics from a human-centered code to a relationship-based practice.

• Rejecting Hierarchies: Animism rejects the "cult of the individual" and the idea that humans are superior to nature. By viewing all entities—animals, plants, stones, and rivers—as "persons" with their own consciousness, you are encouraged to treat them with the same respect and honesty you would offer a human neighbor.
• Assessing "Essential Essence": Ethical living involves looking at the "spirit" or "essence" of modern challenges, such as technological shifts or the climate crisis. By assessing these "spirits of our time," you can learn to re-act and pro-act to them properly and proportionately, refining your own soul’s response to the world.
• Acting with Honour: In the sources, living as an animist means "walking our talk" and adjusting behaviors to align with "honour"—a concept that involves life-long growth in understanding one's impact on the world.

Sustainability and the "Earth Community"

Sustainability in an animistic context is rooted in the understanding that humans are merely "one strand woven into the complex systems of Earth Community".

• Need vs. Want: A core tenet of this worldview is that a person should never take what they want, but only what they need—that which is strictly essential for life.
• Reciprocity and Mutual Benefit: Animism promotes a "give more than you take" policy. This is practiced through the guidelines of gathering, where you must ask permission from a plant nation before harvesting and offer a gift in return, such as water, fertilizer, or even your own breath.
• Caretaking and Responsibility: Sustainability is viewed as a "sacred, thoughtful, and kind action". It involves being aware of your ecological footprint and accepting the responsibility to caretake the specific place where you live. This includes simple acts like repurposing, recycling, and being considerate of all life during "weeding" or land management.

Heightened Awareness and Conscious Choice

Animism encourages a "new way of seeing" that directly impacts sustainable habits. By practicing "Sits in Nature" and orienting yourself to your local environment—knowing where your water comes from or which plants are local neighbors—you become more sensitive to the interdependency of life. This awareness makes it harder to act in ways that harm the "delicate web of existence".

Living animistically is like being a guest in a home where every object and inhabitant is alive and watching; you naturally become more careful with how you step, more grateful for what you consume, and more eager to leave the room better than you found it.