Animism is the belief that all objects, places, creatures, and natural phenomena possess a distinct spiritual essence or soul. This worldview attributes sentience, agency, and life force not only to humans but also to animals, plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, and sometimes even words or human-made objects

. It is a foundational spiritual perspective common among many Indigenous peoples worldwide and is considered one of the earliest concepts in anthropology, originally defined by Edward Tylor in the 19th century

. Animism does not equate to organized religion but rather a relational way of engaging with the world, where humans are part of an interconnected web of life rather than superior beings

. In animism, spiritual beings or forces inhabit natural elements like trees, mountains, and waterfalls, and these spirits can influence human affairs, either helping or harming people

. The belief system often involves rituals and practices to honor or appease these spirits. Overall, animism is a metaphysical belief system emphasizing the spiritual interconnectedness of all things in the natural world