Agnostic Animism and My Journey into Peace 🪶🌸

Hello deer, this is Seri 🌸

I am agnostic. That means I don't claim to know whether there is a god or not and I don’t feel the need to decide. I walk gently between questions and wonder, not looking for absolute truths, but for meaning, connection, and peace.

But over time, something began to bloom in me. A pull toward the spirits of nature. A desire to honor the sun, the trees, the ocean not because I "believe" in them as deities, but because I feel their presence in my life. This path became my own quiet way: a blend of agnosticism and animism, rooted especially in Shinto and Ryukyuan traditions.

1) What Does It Mean to Be Agnostic?

To be agnostic is to admit that we don't know everything and may never know. It’s not the same as atheism (which denies gods), or theism (which affirms them). It’s more like sitting peacefully in the in-between space, without needing certainty.

For me, agnosticism is not empty or lost. It’s humble, and open-hearted. It means I can be curious, spiritual, and still hold space for mystery.

2) Why I Blend Agnosticism with Animism

My animism isn’t about “truth”, it’s about peace.

I feel deeply connected to nature. The sun lifts my mood. The rain matches my tears. Trees comfort me like old friends. When I say a prayer to the moon, I don’t need her to answer. I just need to say thank you.

Animism is one of the oldest spiritual worldviews. It is found in many Indigenous traditions across the world. At its heart, animism is the belief that all things — not just humans — are alive in their own way. Rivers, stones, animals, stars, even wind and feelings, all are seen as having spirit or consciousness.

Animism doesn’t always have gods. It doesn’t require temples or dogma. It is about relationship. It’s about treating the world with respect, as if everything around you has a soul. And for many, that’s not a metaphor, it’s a real experience of living in a world full of presences.

For me, I may not fully know whether spirits exist, but living as if they do brings me gentleness, humility, and a deep sense of belonging.

3) Shinto and the Kami I Feel Close To

Shinto is the spiritual tradition of Japan. It honors kami — divine presences that can be in nature, ancestors, or even emotions. Kami aren't always big gods. Sometimes, they are the spirit of a mountain, a waterfall, or even a feeling.

Shinto doesn’t have strict rules or sacred texts. It flows with the seasons and daily life. People visit shrines to offer thanks, purify themselves, and connect with the unseen world.

🌸 The kami I feel closest to are:

Amaterasu: the sun goddess. I honor her when I feel warmth and light. ☀️

Tsukuyomi: the moon god. I think of him when I need quiet and reflection. 🌕

Konohanasakuya-hime: the blossom princess, linked to flowers, femininity, and volcanoes. 🌸

Toyouke: the goddess of food and daily needs. 🍲

These kami aren't far away to me, they feel close, like gentle presences I can whisper to.

4) Ryukyuan Animism and the Goddesses of the Islands

Ryukyuan belief is native to the Ryukyu Islands (like Okinawa). It’s animistic, ancestral, and often matriarchal.

Women played an important spiritual role : priestesses called noro and family shamans called yuta. Ancestors and nature spirits were honored in sacred spaces called utaki, often in groves or caves. Many Ryukyuan practices were centered on the home, the land, and the sea, daily life itself was spiritual.

The goddesses I feel drawn to include:

Amamikyu: the creator goddess who shaped the Ryukyus and gave birth to its first people.

Kiyanmō: a protective ancestral spirit, tied to home and lineage.

Ryukyuan belief focuses more on harmony, respect, and emotional honesty than strict rules or punishments. The spirits are not separate from life, they are life, woven into the waves and winds.

5) Blending Shinto and Ryukyuan Animism — My Peaceful Path

I don’t follow these traditions in a strict way. I blend them in a soft, personal form that brings me calm and closeness:

I create a small altar with natural things: shells, feathers, flowers, stones. 🌸🐚🪶🪨

I say gentle prayers of gratitude to the sun, moon, rain, and trees.

I light use aromatherapy as an offering, especially scents like cherry blossom or Petit grain.

I honor my ancestors in my thoughts and heart.

I speak to the spirits — not asking, but thanking.

This path isn’t about rules. It’s about remembering that I am part of something vast and alive. That I am not separate from nature, but woven into it.

Conclusion 🌸

In this world, I often feel overwhelmed, lost, or too soft. But nature never asks me to be different. She accepts me.

Through agnostic Animism, my gentle blend of wonder, gratitude, Shinto, and Ryukyuan spirit, I find peace.

Not a peace from answers, but from belonging.

Maybe that’s enough.

🌿 Gentle Advice for Those Exploring Animism

1. 🌸 Start with listening.

Animism isn’t about “believing” in spirits as a rule, it’s about relating to the world. Go outside. Be still. Listen to the wind, feel the earth, watch the trees. Let nature speak in its own way. You don’t need to do anything grand. Just being present is already sacred.

2. 💧Treat nature as a friend, not a thing.

Whether it’s a stream, a stone, or a bird : consider that they have a kind of spirit. A presence. Maybe not human, but real. Speak softly to them if you feel moved. Show care, like picking up trash, watering plants, or walking mindfully.

3. 🌞 Let your feelings guide your connections.

You might feel drawn to the moon, to flowers, to water, or to the forest. Trust that instinct. There’s no single right way to practice Animism, it's personal, intimate. If something brings you peace, it matters.

4. 🕊️ Create a tiny sacred space.

This can be an altar, a shelf, or even just a little tray with natural objects you love : feathers, shells, leaves, candles, soft light. Let it be a place where you offer gratitude, sit quietly, or leave small symbolic gifts.

5. 🫧 You don't need to believe in spirits like facts.

Being an agnostic animist means you don’t need “proof.” You can honor the mystery. You can treat the world as sacred without needing to explain how. It’s more about your relationship than explanations.

6. 🍃 Gratitude is a beautiful beginning.

You don’t need to ask for anything. Just thank the rain for watering the plants. Thank the trees for shade and breath. Gratitude opens a gentle door.

7. 🌀 Explore your cultural roots or others respectfully.

Whether it's Shinto, Ryukyuan belief, or other animist paths, it’s okay to learn slowly. Honor traditions with curiosity, and add your own feelings. Let your practice be living, like nature itself.

8. 🌈 There is no perfection.

Animism isn’t about rules or being pure. It’s about connection. You can forget for days, feel lost, feel angry at nature and still return with honesty. The spirits aren’t judging you. They’re just there.