General/Non-Specific: American Paganism

[Starlight]

Part of what brought this up for me was thinking that I wanted to respect the spirit of an Oak tree locally. I realized I was thinking about it from a Druidic perspective, but maybe that would not necessarily be the best approach for a tree or nature spirit native to Upstate New York. So, I wondered to myself if a Celtic spiritual view was most effective in this context. That said, it occurs to me that an Oak tree is an Oak tree, whether it is in America or Britain.

I am not entirely sure where I am going with this topic, but I was just wondering how to be reverent to nature in America as someone who identifies as a Celt and a Pagan. I appreciate your comments and perspectives.

I wonder if the best approach is to come to the relationships from the perspective of who YOU are. I don't think there's any need to go investigating the Native American traditions. I'm not sure what your approach to building a relationship with a tree or nature spirit looks like, but I imagine that they'll let you know how best to interact with them, what is acceptable and what is not.

I went googling and found a couple of articles that might be helpful:

https://www.ladyalthaea.com/every-day-is-magickal/working-with-spirits-making-friends-with-the-genus-loci
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/awaywiththewitch/2019/03/finding-and-working-with-a-genius-loci/

This is a book about working with the genius loci:
http://www.capallbann.co.uk/the-art-of-conversation-with-the-genius-loci-by-barry-patterson/p234 (I haven't read this but from one Amazon review it seems to start with the basics.)

[Donal2018]

I wonder if the best approach is to come to the relationships from the perspective of who YOU are. I don't think there's any need to go investigating the Native American traditions. I'm not sure what your approach to building a relationship with a tree or nature spirit looks like, but I imagine that they'll let you know how best to interact with them, what is acceptable and what is not.

I went googling and found a couple of articles that might be helpful:

https://www.ladyalthaea.com/every-day-is-magickal/working-with-spirits-making-friends-with-the-genus-loci
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/awaywiththewitch/2019/03/finding-and-working-with-a-genius-loci/

This is a book about working with the genius loci:
http://www.capallbann.co.uk/the-art-of-conversation-with-the-genius-loci-by-barry-patterson/p234 (I haven't read this but from one Amazon review it seems to start with the basics.)

That was a good post with good links. The more I think about this topic, the more I think that I was fretting over nothing. Thanks for the links on the genius loci.

[Starlight]

That was a good post with good links. The more I think about this topic, the more I think that I was fretting over nothing. Thanks for the links on the genius loci.

You're welcome.

I understand your wanting to do the right thing and be respectful, but in this case, given the tragic history, perhaps it's best not to encroach on Native American traditions and to approach the land simply as yourself, an Irish-American with ancestry connections to the land that goes back three centuries.

[Donal2018]

You're welcome.

I understand your wanting to do the right thing and be respectful, but in this case, given the tragic history, perhaps it's best not to encroach on Native American traditions and to approach the land simply as yourself, an Irish-American with ancestry connections to the land that goes back three centuries.

Sounds like good advice. I will follow it, I think.