If you're new to animism and need a little help understanding the wheel of the year, don't fret. This animist wheel of the year cheat sheet will help things to click so that you can get into the groove of the seasons. You will be...
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When we created Pan Society, we gave mindful discussion to the name. Names are important. We chose "Pan" because pan means "all." Animism is the belief that all life is sacred, connected, and One. It doesn't end with the lifeforms that you don't like, aren't...
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A listener wants to know why we don't videotape or photograph rituals. There are some exceptions to this rule, like weddings, but it holds true in most situations. Here's why. You're a Participant, Not a Spectator If you are a part of the ritual, you need to...
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We get a lot of requests for rituals. I get it. Lots of people want step-by-step directions and outward signs that they are practicing animists. The night vigil is a very flexible, common ritual that can be used for many purposes. Keep reading and I'll...
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Look at that kitty. What can you say about this picture that will make me feel something? Whatever you conjure, that's poetry. It's communication from your soul that bypasses your intellect and go straight to your truth. THAT is why poetry is an amazing tool to...
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Okay, so house warming gifts aren't something that "belong" strictly to animists. But there are a lot of animist values that are demonstrated in this practice, so I wanted to talk about it. What values? Generosity, hospitality, reciprocity, and caretaking to name a few. The animist world is...
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A friend of mine lost her mother this week. Her passing left a gigantic hole in the family. My friend is facing the prospect of becoming the family matriarch with a lot of intimidation. I get it. Most families have a "Big Mama." She's the glue...
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I had an interesting conversation with someone recently about the problem with indigenous animism. It was illuminating because it highlighted some misconceptions that are easily cleared up. Let's take a look. It's a Utopia Some people have this romantic point of view that indigenous people were living...
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Someone recently came to me with a story about how he was planning to battle the Darkness. That story told me it was time that we shared some thoughts about respecting the Darkness. What's the Darkness? But first, a definition. What do I mean by "Darkness?" Do...
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Doorways. The horizon. Midnight. The water's edge. Stairwells. Elevators. Living in the covid pandemic. Cliffs. The mouth of a cave. New Year's Eve. Equinoxes. Solstices. Rites of passage. Separation. Birth. Death. These are all liminal spaces, or places of in between this and that. They...
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