Urban Animism

What is animism? No it's not the worship of superpowered, , 2-dimenional, vaguely oriental huge-eyed people. Animism is the belief that every non-human thing is a supernatural being or at least possesses a spirit or soul. It is a belief that is prevalent in most indigenous and folk religions including Shinto, and some forms of Hinduism, Buddhism, Pantheism, Christianity and Neopaganism.

I've always had animistic tendencies. In fact, most humans have animistic tendencies. I'm pretty sure that there's at least one instance like when you treat your toys like best buddies back when you were a child or when you name your own car in a later stage of life. Me? I have a laptop named Johnny 5 and I feed him by rubbing rhum on the cover. I think he likes the rhum.

I think humans have animistic tendencies due to genetic memory. It could be a throwback to prehistoric tribal culture. Back then, everyone believe that anything that is awe-inspiring (such as a magnificent mountain or a tremendous tree) surely must have a fraction of a great supernatural force residing in them. However, especially these days, any object (be it a child's favorite toy, an endearing automobile or a respectable laptop) tend to be alive to us. Perhaps intuitively or instinctively, we recognize these powers.

Then again, I'm probably just a sentimental weirdo with unusual attachment to things. Then again, absurdity is one of my source of power. This animistic paradigm I've adopted may be quite useful. I don't know why but it just felt right with me. Deep down inside, I honestly believe that everything has a spirit.