I'm with you B - mad props to the transcendentalists. Along with them I was also inspired by enlightenment deism - though no singular book really defines my path spiritually. the living world itself has been the most influential in my life and path, and what I would call my personal BioRegional Animism. Recently I have found the writings of Native American novelist inspiring, such as Simon Ortiz, or Leslie Silco. Oh, and Walt Witman's Leaves of Grass has been a loved volume since my early teens.

THE SPELL OF THE SENSUOUS by David Abram.

THE TRACKER by Tom Brown Jr.

THE SECRET TEACHINGS OF PLANTS is on my list.

SPIRITWALKER by Hank Wesselman.

DANCE OF THE FOUR WINDS by Alberto Villoldo.

Only the first book is a book about animism per se, but I think all the ones mentioned are excellent books to read AS an animist.

Books! Oh, boy!
The Secret Life of Plants (1973) by Tompkins and Bird, tries to support with scientific experimental evidence our first-hand knowledge of plant sentience. Never heard of Secret Teachings, but I will check it out!

The one author who has inspired me more than any other is Vine Deloria. Native American lawyer, activist and theologian, Deloria lays it on the line in sharing the animist point of view. He does not mince words, he does not try to "prove" his beliefs. He questions dominator culture in all its forms, even as institutional science and academia. Red Earth, White Lies. God is Red. Evolution, Creationism and Other Modern Myths. And also collections of his shorter works. All wonderful books. He died a couple of years ago, a terrible loss to us all. Meanwhile, he also made me conscious of my status as a pink-skinned animist (my term, not his) and from that time on, I have been seeking our own contemporary animist expression instead of trying to follow the traditions of others.

Great topic. Looking forward to following up everyone's reading suggestions!
Best to all,
Puny
www.thenewanimist.blogspot.com

Tosspot, i really liked the Mushishi stories, just read the first in the "Mushishi" series and its got great feel and depth to it, looking forward to the next book... thanks!

PS.

Carlos Castaneda's books (yes, I know about the controversy, but they are great for helping to see in a new way), especially for me, Journey to Ixtlan and Tales of Power (this reminds me I want to read these two again...)

Elves, Wights, and Trolls: Studies Towards the Practice of Germanic Heathenry: Vol. I (v. 1) (Paperback)
by Kveldulf Gundarsson

AND DEFINITELY you should read some ethnographies for the indigenous peoples who were original to the place you live, and their particular myths and legends....you should not copy what they did, but it gives you and idea of "who" is out there in the land where you are

Neko Case

www.youtube.com/watch

Nuf Said

To go deeper into that Van Morisson tune (a favorite of mine that Panic plays often), each verse changes, it's a progression. First oh the water, I hope it don't rain all day. Then, let it run all over me. And then finally, get it myself from the mountain stream. It goes from being a deterrent to the fun (of fishing) to being the fun itself, to being a sacred thing gathered from the mountain.....pretty cool......


Uuuuh, anyone know any books in spanish by any chance?

Damn.

:)

"I had heard that the local Pueblo people see these clouds as ancestors, so I find myself spending allot of time sensing these great beings."

thats very beautiful....
where in NM?

Spell Of The Sensuous: Yes! I just finished the first read and know I will be revisiting it as there is so much there to wrap your head around. It made me dig out Joe Plum and I have been replaying his bardic poetry CD, "Confluent", and finding all sorts of kindred lines. I just ordered his newest work, a DVD, "Relics", accompanied by a book of same. I'm still very much into reading so I see this as the best of both worlds.

thats the nice thing about animism, it brings it out of specific ethnic groups and shows it as a perceptual system that is all over the world and can be learned and taught and practiced by any one.