As someone who’s spent the majority of her adult life on a healing path, I’ve found my most powerful restoration of energy and alignment through remembering that I am nature. Not just being in nature, as a visitor, but remembering my soul and body are also manifestations of the beauty and wisdom of land, sea and sky, and all creatures within the web of life.
As I walk through the transition of perimenopause, a challenging, sacred initiation process of body, mind and soul, I find solace coming back to remembering this truth.
Having a female body in this world is a tough thing, so often I practice seeing myself as Goddess manifest, as a sacred expression of the Earth- I think of all the beautiful ancient carvings and clay female figures that have survived thousands of years and remember in my soul when female bodies and earth were revered as sacred life-giving manifestations of the Divine. Our bodies are not static products for consumption or objectification but a wild living being that ebbs and flows, ages and changes through seasons, like the trees, flowers, soil and rock. They are resilient, they tell stories of our history and lineage, they are adaptable, miraculous and vibrant.
On a spiritual level, I feel we are made of light, aka energy- and this is what connects us to everything. On a physical level, we are also flesh and blood. Bridging these worlds is something I’ve been learning on my spiritual path and I find peace in the awareness of how energy flows through the land and its beings, just like through our bodies, and we’re part of this earth family because of this.
Nature Offers Us Belonging:
When we ‘spend time in nature’, why do we feel such peace and belonging?
Nature heals us because dis-ease, stress, and many other forms of suffering are due to feeling separate or disconnected from the energetic web of life. Nature reminds us that we belong and are part of everything, and we matter. We are here in a form that is matter, therefore, we matter. The word ‘matter’ is derived from ‘mother’, reinforcing the ancient belief and understanding that we are nature and the Earth is our Mother.
Having lived most of my life in a large city, I understand the feeling of separateness. The ways of industry, capitalism, patriarchy, and big tech are loud and dominant in this environment. As a sensitive soul, intuitive and empath, my forays into large parks, Lake Ontario and rural environments have made living here bearable.
As culture increasingly tries to pull us towards screens and dissociation from our true belonging, we run the risk of damaging our physical, mental and emotional health.
Amidst all the noise, pollution and chaos, I look for peace in the Earth Mother and find her again and again. In the city we can appreciate it all much more. Each sighting of wildlife, each tree in the park, all sacred beings reminding us who we really are and that we belong to the earth, no matter what nonsense culture is trying to feed us. And ultimately, the millions of humans we share this city with are also nature, as we are too.
I often come back to my favorite poem, Wild Geese as a reminder of our belonging to nature as kin:
What is Animism?
Animism is the ancient belief of all of our ancestors globally that we are nature and it is us. That the land, animals, elements and rocks are all living beings and we are all kin. It is a belief system and lifestyle that acknowledges this kin relationship by interacting with the natural world as a living being worthy of respect, connection, relationship and love.
Shamanism is a form of animism, and many pagans, druids and witches are animistic, though not all. Animistic practices include talking to herbs, plants, animals and giving offerings, or shapeshifting into different animals or plant beings, spending time deeply getting to know a plant and its medicine, such as on a plant medicine dieta, or simply spending lots of time in nature and interacting with it in various ways such as through gardening or farming or animal care, with the understanding that we are all connected.
Simple Animistic Practices to Bring into your Life:
- Begin a relationship with a plant being, tree, or animal spirit:
If you feel particularly drawn to a plant, tree or animal, get to know them. They may have a healing energy for you that you need to connect with.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can do one of my guided meditation journeys- A Grounding Tree Meditation or Connect with an Animal Ally.
If you wish to connect with a plant being in person, go to a nearby park, garden, or anywhere you feel called to connect with a plant, tree or even a body of water. You can bring an offering and ask if they’d like to connect with you. When you feel a ‘yes’ from the being, just be with them and receive their energy. Open your heart to them. Ask them to show you (this may be through sensing, an image, words, or impression) who they are. You can ask them about concerns you have, and ask for advice. You can show them gratitude with a hug, loving words, a poem or song, a creation, a crystal, an offering of herbs, water, or animal-safe food. It’s all about just being in relationship with another living being- something we all can do naturally!
Visit with them as regularly as you can and build a relationship that becomes more real and deep and meaningful with time. Trust the process. It may feel awkward at first, but the more you do it, the more natural it feels. Eventually, or perhaps immediately, you may feel how this being is a part of you, and as you access this poart of yourself, you feel better, stronger, and happier. For instance, a body of water may help you feel more connected to your emotions, help you cleanse the past, or help you ‘go with the flow’ more in your life.
A strong old oak tree might help you feel more connected to your inner backbone, ancient wisdom, or help you strengthen your boundaries. Each ally will have it’s own medicine and personality to share with you, and will teach you so much about yourself!
If you are connecting with an animal ally, it may not be accessible to spend time with them in person, however, you can learn about them and their habits through research, visit them in meditation, have representations of them in your home, on your altar or on your person, like jewelry. Just like with a tree or plant ally, the more you connect with them and their energy, the deeper and more meaningful your connection becomes. You begin to remember the part of yourself the animal energy holds. You remember your fierceness, resilience, grace, freedom, strength, wisdom, and your kinship with all things.
- Merging & Moving with an Ally:
Merging is like shapeshifting. It’s where we merge our energy with the ally and become them for a time. It’s a lot like we do as kids when we play pretend. Kids aren’t attached to a rigid identity, because they are closer to their whole nature as spiritual beings and can easily become a princess, a cat, a witch, a dragon, a tree or a warrior just using their imagination. Adults can too!
This isn’t to say merging is something ‘pretend’, or silly- it is a powerful tool for healing. Imagination and play are underestimated in their depth and ability to restore wellness. And that spark of playfulness can help clear a lot of mental/emotional heaviness or stagnation.
When we merge with a plant, tree, element or animal energy, we awaken that energy within ourselves and by doing so bring embodied healing, balance and wholeness. It’s also lots of fun!
How to Merge:
To merge with an ally, it is recommended you have already begun a relationship. (see step above!). However, it is not always necessary. We may find it quite natural to step into the skin of another being that resonates with us. For example, whenever I dance or move, I feel a natural affinity with the water element and water beings are particularly easy for me to tap into. You may find something similar.
But when you are merging with the intent for healing, it is good to have done some introductions and felt a good connection as a foundation- just like if you were to date someone you’d ideally want to spend time with them to know if it’s a good fit before ‘merging’ your energy with them!
When you’ve connected with a being you’d like to embody and merge with, simply take a few deep breaths to relax, ground and come into the present moment. Then call upon the energy of your ally- for example a hawk- and ask if they can come and merge with you. See them in your mind’s eye, feel them in your heart center, soften your sense of ‘self’ and invite them to come and merge with you. Let their energy come into your whole body. Feel what it’s like to be them. Know you can stop at any time and decide how much feels right for you.
Breathe in their essence and let it fill you up. Then let their energy take over and notice how it feels in your body.
How do you feel called to change position or move as this ally? What feels different from your usual energy? Where does your attention go as this ally? Does this being make a sound? If yes, how does it feel to make it? If not, what kind of sound would they make?
- Dancing Your Ally:
Dancing is a natural outgrowth of the merging practice. You can put on some music that matches the energy/rhythm of your ally. Merge with their energy, as above and let the music and ally move your body more. This gives more opportunity for the ally to reach areas of your body you may not normally breath them into to. You may express more dimension of the ally’s energy this way too, and discover more about them. You can incorporate sound, costuming, makeup, instruments, any other additions of reverence and expression of this ally’s energy. They love it when we bring them to life through our bodies! It’s a true reflection of our kinship and oneness.
- Coming back to self after connection:
It’s important to come back to your own energy after merging, dancing or any type of shapeshifting for healthy boundaries. Your energy will be different than before merging, as the healing energy stays with us, expanding us into more of ourselves. But we don’t want to stay merged completely.
So, begin to come back by thanking your ally for their energy and medicine. Then ask that you come back to your ‘self’ energy now, and slowly imagine them coming out and away from you as a separate being again. Feel the separation of energy bodies. Yet, there remains a memory of their energy within yours. As you separate, imagine your own energy field extending out and your ally just outside of it. You can ask them if they wish to stay nearby, or tell them what distance you feel you need to keep for now. Thank them again and say whatever form of ‘see you later’ you wish!
- Maintaining a Relationship:
The most challenging thing in an animistic relationship, like in our human relationships, can be maintaining it. We get busy, we forget!
Often animals and plants will call us to get our attention in dreams, symbols we see, a snippet of a conversation, or song we hear, or by showing up literally, in our environment. It can be helpful to keep images or representations of your ally around the house as a reminder that they are there for you, and waiting for you to call them!
If you are feeling down, or anxious, or unwell, ask them for help. Take a few moments to reconnect, merge, or pray. They will answer.
Nourish Your Spirit 1 on 1 Program:
If you wish to explore animistic practices and connect with your healing allies, I invite you to check out my one-on-one 6 session program: Nourish Your Spirit. In this program I help you connect to 5 different allies- a plant, animal, crystal, element and tree. You gain a ‘healing team’ of support for your journey- whether you are going through a transitional time, or feel the need for healing support. We also discuss energetic cleansing, grounding, and protection practices, and it also includes a Tarot Reading! Sessions can be online or in-person.
If this interests you, please contact me for a free 20 min consult to see if it’s a good fit for you!
May you be blessed with the healing of our kin of land, sea and sky,
Serena
