*This article is an excerpt from "Aschenputtel: Animism and Ancestor Veneration in Grimms' Cinderella," European Fairy Tales Series Vol V.
"Spirit of the Night" by John Atkinson Grimshaw
Understanding our lost native beliefs can be difficult for modern minds to wrap their heads around. We are so cut off from our deep roots that, today, our own indigenous belief system feels foreign to those who are unfamiliar with it.
Furthermore, both Abrahamic religion and science based rationalism (which tends to be atheistic) view the world in a linear and literal way that is incompatible with the flexible and more free flow understandings of organic ethnic-spirituality (which was the native spirituality of all indigenous peoples in the world before adopting “revealed religions”).
Furthermore, both Abrahamic religion and science based rationalism (which tends to be atheistic) view the world in a linear and literal way that is incompatible with the flexible and more free flow understandings of organic ethnic-spirituality (which was the native spirituality of all indigenous peoples in the world before adopting “revealed religions”).
Westerners Respect Foreign Cultures but Deride Their Own
Animistic belief in Shintoism is respected by the same Westerners who deride, disparage, and mock native European animism.
Something that is quite disconcerting is that while ethnic-Europeans today will often look to indigenous animistic belief systems of other ethnicities in the world with a mixture of interest and respect, often the very same people look at the indigenous beliefs of their own ancestors with mockery and derision.
| There is no real difference, in broad terms, between Japanese Shintoism, Polynesian animism, Native American spirituality, Indian Hinduism, and indigenous European belief. Referring to the former groups' beliefs as “primitive superstition” with mockery is no longer socially acceptable. The situation is actually quite the opposite. Laughing at Native American spirituality in today's political climate will render one labeled a bigot. Yet, the West was first mired in Christian theological domination which slandered European gods as “false” and local land wights as “demons,” before switching to the new religion of science, the adherents of which often openly laugh at both paganism and Christianity. |  Native American indigenous belief is respected. Why do Westerners mock European paganism with such hostility? |
Clearly, there is a wide disconnect in the thinking of the contemporary Westerner and their understanding of their own cultural heritage, to the degree that they often treat their own heritage with open hostility.
"Will-o-the-wisp and Snake" by Hermann Hendrich 1823
Newsflash: Europeans had Animism, Too, Dude
I recently viewed a wonderful “TED Talk” video exploring animism as practiced by native Australians. It was called “The Power of Animism” by John Reid. His discussion was illuminating, but disconcerting at the same time.
His interest and understanding of an animist paradigm was spot on, and he gave a lucid discussion on the importance of an animistic worldview in nurturing a healthy societal respect for nature and environment; of being at one with nature instead of at odds with it.
His interest and understanding of an animist paradigm was spot on, and he gave a lucid discussion on the importance of an animistic worldview in nurturing a healthy societal respect for nature and environment; of being at one with nature instead of at odds with it.
| However, he opened his talk by asserting that we have no such concept and, thus, no such vocabulary to describe these thoughts cogently in English. This is something that breaks my heart, because it is demonstrative of a yearning for an ancient and organic spirituality but a simultaneous complete lack of understanding that we, too, had this. | |
Our Ancient Beliefs Did Not Die
Mermaid by Harold Glaze, 1939
The folk and fairy tale tradition demonstrates that we are not as removed from our ancient beliefs as we think. While particulars evolved, the crux of the beliefs, their important root core, carried on right up through to our current epoch. It's really a matter of breaking the thought process that had been imposed upon us in order to see with new eyes.
| Returning to the first point, overcoming the hostility to paganism is only the first hurdle to understanding. The beliefs of our ancestors cannot be understood if we are thinking literally, with a linear viewpoint that looks for rational order, and which views the world in the duality of black and white. One point that I have long understood, but was especially driven home during my research for this piece, was the fluidity within the lexicon of indigenous European belief. So, when we're speaking of animism, it is important to recognize that there is a stark overlap between the standard view of “animism” (i.e. all things in nature have a spirit) and ancestor veneration. In fact, overlaps and confluences in mythology and folk belief is the norm. |  Fairy tale illustration by H. J. Ford |
Organic Spirituality is Fluid, Not Linear
Ironically, whether one comes from a Christian mindset or a science based rationalist mindset, both groups are trained to think in absolutes. A thing is this way “because the Bible says so,” or “because the laws of physics say so.”
"The Fairy Dance" by Robert Alexander Hillingford
| Under indigenous animism, irrespective of which culture you find it in, beliefs flow freely into one another. You will find variations and divergences by region and time period, maybe even by individual person. But, there will almost always be a thread of familiarity and continuity that binds the variations together. Fittingly, while this is true for folk beliefs in general, it is also true for the stories and tales in which they are preserved. So, we might find slightly differing views of concepts told in a tale that itself has numerous variations. Therefore it is crucial that one breaks their thought training in literal dogmatism if they wish to understand the rich spirituality that the European, or indeed any other culture's, folk tradition has to offer. |  Illustration by Kay Nielsen |
Animism and Ancestor Veneration in Grimms' Cinderella
| This piece has been excerpted from Volume V in the European Fairy Tales Series, "Aschenputtel: Animism and Ancestor Veneration in Grimm's Cinderella." Each volume explores some of the deeper cultural elements found within the tale followed by a re-telling of the story. Explore the series and download Volume I for FREE here! |  |
 | My name is Carolyn Emerick, and I write on the history, myth, and folklore of Northwestern Europe. Explore this website for more on European history, mythology, and folk tradition. Please check out the section for my books! And, please follow me on Facebook! |
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