Bioregional animism

[mummabare]

Animism is the recognition that "things", even inanimate, have spirit. Spirit exists independently of the "thing"....many indigenous cultures are animist in nature, including the indigenous people of australia. Animism involves having relationships (including totemic) with "things". I write "things" because I know many animist people who prefer to say other then human persons...or to use a specific name for the "thing" they are having a relationship with.

Bioregionalism is being rooted, or as we say "living in place"...the indigenous equivelent I use is "living on country". It is being aware of the ecology and culture of the place in which you live. Bioregions are places that can be self sufficent , the borders are not rigid, but shaped by land features...they are sometimes watersheds..the ideal is the have a sustainable existance.

Bioregional animism for me, is knowing the birds, animals, trees and plants, as well as knowing the weather patterns... and having a relationship with these. Its about knowing where everything is and everything goes, from the turtle down the creek to where you garbage ends up. Its about having a direct connection and relationship with the land and working with it...not on it or against it.

Im convinced that bioregional animism is a way of developing intimate relationships with the land around you, especially for those who are not of an indigenous background and are seeking a deeper way of connection with land.

You can read more about bioregional animism here http://bioregionalanimism.blogspot.com/

this website is run by a good friend (little lightning bolt) of cascadia and there are contributions by my brother tyson yunkaporta and jason (velvetsiren) who are both living in australian bioregions.

Im currently writing a piece about my bioregion, the kenwick wetlands, I have lived in this bioregion since I was 11 and while my writing is coming from an indigenous view point Im trying to write it in a way that non indigenous people may learn how to develop and maintain a relationship and understanding with their immediate land......the land that your feet touch every morning

Hope someone gets something out my ramble

xx

[battlecrumpet]

Thanks so much for that!

Just to be a pain I have a couple of questions.
1. What do you mean the "culture" of a place?
2. Is bioregional animism something that people basically follow on an individual basis? Or does it sometimes involve groups of people e.g. via celebrations / rituals?

Will have a closer look at that web link too - found it just 15 minutes ago as it came up when I googled the topic.

Thanks again

[mummabare]

By culture I was referring to the human cultures that have existed in a place previous to the dominant culture, I always like to encourage people here where I am to visit the local indigenous centres and to support indigenous enterprises that revolve around eco-tourism and arts/music. We can make choices that support the culture that has existed for thousands of years on the land which we live without appropriating it. People who have occupied lands for thousands of years have developed special relationships with the land, I think people can learn alot through observing the way of relating to the land.

Some bioregional animists are starting to hook up in other places like the US, we all celebrate changes in seasons, not always in a festival sort of atmosphere, but by recognizing and aknowledging changes in our landscapes. I do know a few animists that use mesas to make offerings to various animals and plants that they have developed relationships with. Any reading by Jayson (Velvetsiren) who is over east will give you a good insight into his practices.

I didnt set out to be "bioregional animist" but the nature of my own heritage and culture is animist, and I am very bioregional in that I have a very strong link with the land that I am on. I make offerings to my totem, I have developed a good understanding of the wetlands which I have lived on and I am involved in landcare to ensure that the wetlands are protected. I am also really wanting to get more into local politics because I have strong lessons that I learnt from the wetlands about water "management" and I would like to be able to find an outlet for that...although I have no idea when it comes to politics !

My bioregion starts at the top of the darling scarp and ends where the swan river enters the ocean . I live on the wetland plains (long neck turtle country).

Apparently there are some really good books written by grahem harvey (US) though I have not read any as I would have to get it from amazon and I hate using planes to fly books over So I am relying on what I learn from conversations and most importantly, what the land teaches me