Podcast notes: Animism is normative consciousness

I have listened to the inspiring podcast about “Animism is normative consciousness“, which resounds in my heart, as I too feel the world is alive in a way that we can connect and commune with, and that modern education in science and geography couldn’t explain or convey.

I learnt that animism is actually the default experience of the way things are, which the modern European colonialist mind cannot comprehend, and is a feeling so fundamental, familiar and foundational that we often wander like lost children in this postmodern world whenever we lose touch with that profound feeling.

The good news is that as we awaken to our connection with the animate and inanimate beings around us, Nature ceases to be a backdrop, where we find ourselves interacting with the world directly instead of through abstract ideas.

Such awakenings may come about when we hear the sound of a bell or drums or chants etc in tribal or indigenous rituals and ceremonies.

I also learnt that modern science mistakenly assumes that all things are nothing more than atoms, molecules and chemicals, aka dead in a way, and this ideological view is contrary to 99 percent of the human cultures and generations throughout history.

It is also interesting to know that the word “belief” isn’t found or isn’t necessary in indigenous cultures, as our ancestors in animistic cultures have always treated unseen forces as tangible reality, where they feel, know and experience Nature and treat the environment respectfully.

It is also encouraging to know that animism can still be found and experienced in our modern world today, such as in children’s cartoons, fairy tales, stories and folklore, such as “Alice in Wonderland”, as well as Irish traditions, where trees can talk, saucers have eyes, stones are alive, rivers have voices, etc.

In addition, we can learn from hunters and gatherers to perceive the world not as separate but as one and interconnected with us, in which we are not alone, and to live in the immediacy where we experience the aliveness of the present moment, where we recover and reconnect with our animistic vision, regardless of whether we live in the East or West, for we are inherently and truly animistic ourselves.

Further notes on the podcast

• Animism is the normative consciousness for the majority of human history and across various cultures
  • 98% of human history was characterized by animism
• Animism was not a theory, philosophy, or idea; it was a felt experience lived in bones, blood, and everyday interactions
• Postmodern culture often interprets animism through the lens of abstract belief systems rather than as a somatic experience
• How to return to animistic experiences:
  • Moments of being lost in nature or encounters with unfamiliar environments 
  • Temples, rituals, and stories also facilitate reconnection to animistic consciousness
  • Being in the natural world without modern distractions
• The modern world is steeped in animism:
  • Children’s cartoons imbue non-human entities with eyes, voices, and consciousness (Hello Kitty)
  • Animate elements in technology ads and internet memes (cat videos, lolcats, cats that lure us in with their witty banter)
  • Anime characters with big, expressive eyes
  • Indie rock bands with animal-themed names ( Grizzly Bear, Panda Bear, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, etc.)
  • Interest in fairy stories during the Enlightenment
• The Oxford English Dictionary defines animism as attributing a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena
  • This definition reveals an inherent bias toward assuming these elements lack inherent life
• The term “animism” is a modern construct
• Modern science encountered animism everywhere, but they assumed animism was about people’s beliefs
  • The 99% who held animistic views were normative, and their perspective was inherent, unlike the modern Western worldview
  • The assumption that unseen forces are beliefs stems from a separation between humans and the natural world (product of abstract thought)
• Nymphs transition from beings to ideas: as societies grow and interactions with nature diminish, nymphs become abstract concepts rather than living presences
  • Animism is about actual relationships, not mere beliefs or abstractions (Graham Harvey)
• Loss of animate vision: written language, modern civilization, wars, and societal changes
  • We can restore animate vision by reshaping lives and communities to prioritize presence, relationality, and ritual reconnection

Intro

• With an influx of new listeners, Josh Schrei (@the_emerald_podcast) revisits a classic episode titled “Animism is Normative Consciousness.” Originally recorded a couple of years ago, before using music as a storytelling tool within the podcast, Josh has now remixed the episode with new music
  • In this episode, Josh discusses the ancient animistic worldview that shaped human perception for over 10,000 generations—an understanding of a vibrant, interconnected world. He explores the transition from animate vision to abstraction, animism in contemporary culture, and the importance of restoring a vibrant connection to the world
• Host- Josh Schrei (T: @emerald_podcast, and IG: @the_emerald_podcast)

Animism: Humanity’s Innate Connection to a Living World

• Animism is the normative consciousness for the majority of human history and across various cultures
  • 98% of human history was characterized by animism
  • The world was perceived as animate, imbued with life force, and inhabited by various forces
• Animism was not a theory, philosophy, or idea; it was a felt experience lived in bones, blood, and everyday interactions
• The transition to the era of dismantling the animate happened around 3000 BCE and lasted until around 500 years ago
  • It’s characterized by viewing the world as dead matter and coinciding with global destruction
• Animism persists in human experience through various mediums like children’s cartoons, folklore, religion, and cultural practices
• Animism is not limited to a specific geographic area; it is pervasive across cultures globally
  • Animism was so ingrained that there wasn’t a word for it until the 1800s; it was simply the natural way of experiencing the world
• Postmodern culture often interprets animism through the lens of abstract belief systems rather than as a somatic experience
• The animistic worldview emphasizes a direct, intimate, and alive connection between humans and the world around them
• How to return to animistic experiences:
  • Moments of being lost in nature or encounters with unfamiliar environments 
  • Temples, rituals, and stories also facilitate reconnection to animistic consciousness
  • Being in the natural world without modern distractions

Josh’s Personal Experiences, Animism in Contemporary Culture

• Josh’s personal experiences and encounters with animism:
  • He grew up in a Zen Buddhist tradition (koans, stories, and chants)
  • A trip to India at age 13 exposed him to a cosmos teeming with gods, goddesses, and worship of natural elements
  • Studying Tibetan Buddhism introduced him to skies populated with dancing beings and darkness
• Animism persists in monotheistic traditions:
  • Christian artwork depicts luminous beings with human bodies and bird wings
  • Hebraic traditions involve angelic forces
  • Islamic world features fiery spirits known as jinn, depicted in films like Aladdin
  • In Iceland, over 50% of people believe in elves, considered a part of their nation’s beliefs
• The modern world is steeped in animism:
  • Children’s cartoons imbue non-human entities with eyes, voices, and consciousness (Hello Kitty)
  • Animate elements in technology ads and internet memes (cat videos, lolcats, cats that lure us in with their witty banter)
  • Anime characters with big, expressive eyes
  • Indie rock bands with animal-themed names ( Grizzly Bear, Panda Bear, Band of Horses, Fleet Foxes, etc.)
  • Interest in fairy stories during the Enlightenment
• Despite attempts to move away from animism, it continues to be present
  • Josh’s repeated question: “Why?” points to the inherent nature of animism
• Animism is normative consciousness and is deeply ingrained in human perception and culture

Inherent Bias and Cultural Perspectives

• The Oxford English Dictionary defines animism as attributing a soul to plants, inanimate objects, and natural phenomena
  • This definition reveals an inherent bias toward assuming these elements lack inherent life
• The term “animism” is a modern construct and not used by animist cultures themselves; they lack a word for animism or religion
• Edward Tyler introduced the anthropological construct of animism, who saw it as a mistake about the nature of the world
• Animism is a mythic, poetic discourse that explains life and events in a different way than rationalist science
• Modern science encountered animism everywhere, but they assumed animism was about people’s beliefs
  • The 99% who held animistic views were normative, and their perspective was inherent, unlike the modern Western worldview
  • The assumption that unseen forces are beliefs stems from a separation between humans and the natural world (product of abstract thought)
• Indigenous cultures directly experience unseen forces, not as beliefs but as felt and heightened states of awareness
• Animism is about experience, not abstract belief; it’s felt in interactions with nature, trance states, and heightened awareness
  • Animism is the direct experience of the world’s aliveness, from the humming waters to the convulsions of trance dancers
  • Tim Ingold highlights that hunter-gatherers see the world as a seamless continuum and don’t separate mind and nature
• The abstraction of belief arises when one extracts themselves from the world of relationships into the realm of abstract principles

From Nymphs to Abstractions, Restoring Animate Vision

• The shift from animate vision to an abstract worldview: the Greeks witnessed their nymphs turning to stone, marking the shift from an animated world to one reliant on abstract ideas
• The journey to a local spring: a journey through nature to reach a spring, accompanied by a rhythmic walk and natural surroundings
  • The spring as a source of life: the spring provides water, food, and songs; a place of heightened perception and experiences, contributing to a state of animacy
• Nymphs are beings representing the flow and life of the spring, existing in the confluence of individual consciousness and nature
• Nymphs transition from beings to ideas: as societies grow and interactions with nature diminish, nymphs become abstract concepts rather than living presences
  • Animism is about actual relationships, not mere beliefs or abstractions (Graham Harvey)
• Loss of animate vision: written language, modern civilization, wars, and societal changes led to the loss of animate vision and connection to the natural world
• Restoring animate vision is essential for reconnecting with the world’s vitality
  • We can restore animate vision by reshaping lives and communities to prioritize presence, relationality, and ritual reconnection
  • If the world is seen as dead, there’s no motivation to save it.