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Accepted Paper
Spirits in the Landscape: Nature and Ancestors in Neo-shamanic and Wiccan Circles in Slovakia
Tatiana Bužeková
(Faculty of Arts, Comenius University in Bratislava)
The paper explores the connection between nature and the spirits of the dead in narratives of people practicing neo-shamanism and Wicca – spiritual currents that adapt old ancestral traditions. It pays attention to a reciprocal relationship between the living, the dead, and the natural world.
Paper long abstract
The paper explores the connection between nature and the spirits of the dead or ancestors in narratives of people practicing neo-shamanism and Wicca – spiritual currents that reconstruct and adapt old traditions, fostering a holistic worldview where ancestors continue to influence the lives of the living. It examines how natural elements such as forests, mountains, rivers, and animals are reflected in these narratives as conduits or sacred spaces for communication with ancestors, paying attention to ideas that emphasize a reciprocal relationship between the living, the dead, and the natural world. In neo-shamanism, power places – sacred sites in nature – serve as energetic nodes in which communication between the dead and the living becomes the most potent; and power animals function as spiritual allies embodying strength, protection, and intuitive knowledge. In Wicca, a neo-pagan movement, worship of nature is a central idea, which is reflected in narratives, collective rituals and daily practices. The paper argues that reconstruction of old traditions in neo-shamanism and neo-paganism is linked to a reaffirmation of nature’s sacredness and a renewed cultural engagement with lineage, memory, and identity.