Guides for the Urban Pagan
This exploration of totem spirits in the city environment began as a guest presentation for the Urban Pagan Study Group in 1996. Since then it has grown in length and complexity. It speaks to a burgeoning branch of Paganism, that of the city witches.
Pagans often find it difficult to fit into city life. Some of us take to it naturally, but most feel as if we lose a part of ourselves, a vital connection to the cycles of life. Yet Nature holds as much power over the urban world as the wilds – remember earthquakes in San Francisco, heat waves in Los Angeles, hurricanes in Tampa. Even the cement and metal of the “concrete jungle” come from the Earth.
No matter how challenging the situation, life figures out how to colonize every available niche. Tree roots buckle the sidewalks. Scavengers scamper through the alleys. Green leaves and hungry bellies find ways to survive even the urban environment. Adaptability is a virtue. Persistence pays off. Consider what these inhabitants of the concrete jungle can teach us.
Plant Guides
Bluegrass: “Just look at what you can accomplish when you stick together.” You never see just one grass plant. Grass is gregarious. Teamwork creates a plush green lawn on which to rest your weary feet – and walking on this plant won’t kill it. Grass teaches us the value of cooperation and resilience.
Dandelion: "You can't get all of us." Dandelion's power is persistence. If you rip off the leaves, the roots remain. If you dig out the roots, the seeds remain. Dandelion's resourcefulness reminds us to dig in, hunker down, hang on. Our words and actions spread out like seeds, taking root in far places.
Forsythia: “Don’t be afraid to start over.” One of the few plants to grow equally well as a hedge or as an individual shrub, Forsythia cuts through the muddy grays of late winter with its display of brilliant yellow blossoms. It readily spreads by shoot or seed, and regrows even if pruned back to the ground. Look here for regeneration.
Ginkgo: "Think before you act! Plan ahead. Consider the consequences." This ancient tree gives magnificent shade – but if you plant a female, she drops vile-smelling fruit all over the place come fall. Ginkgo's power comes from great age and experience, a warning to make all decisions with care.
Privet Hedge: “Good fences make good neighbors.” This ubiquitous landscaping plant appears as a tidy wall of greenery. Privet persists in mediocre soil and withstands the onslaught of smog. It excels at setting boundaries. If you need help with shielding, look here.
Tree of Heaven: "What a mess! No problem, I can fix it." Urban developers hate this tree; nursery owners often refuse to sell it; yet still it crops up in planting programs time and again, quickly making a perceived nuisance of itself. Tree of Heaven only grows in disturbed, damaged soil: it's a patch plant. It also acts like a canary in a mine, warning of trouble. Tree of Heaven's power is transformation; it thrives in poor conditions, improving them and then making way for other species.
Animal Guides
Ant: "It's all alike down here." Ant's power is insignificance. She is too small to notice, so she doesn't get bothered much. Her world centers on such a tiny scale that the differences a city imposes don't affect her much; she doesn't notice them either. Ant can point you towards the levels that civilization doesn't alter; if you fall through the cracks, she can show you how to make yourself at home there.
Peregrine Falcon: “Never give up.” Threatened with extinction just a few decades ago, this fierce and beautiful bird of prey has made an amazing recovery. It has overcome habitat loss, pesticides, and other major changes. When you feel helpless against the forces arrayed against you, remember that you too can soar above them.
Pigeon: "An artificial cliff – what a great place for a nest!" Pigeon, on the other hand, welcomes the changes. A difference that makes no difference is no difference to Pigeon. If you're a techno-Pagan, look here for inspiration. Pigeon's power is finding artificial niches that fit better than the natural originals.
Rat: "What do you mean, garbage? Give me that." This industrious glutton reminds us to look for hidden uses instead of throwing things away. Like Tree of Heaven, Rat transforms trash into treasure. Rat's power is resourcefulness: he can live anywhere, eat anything, use everything. If you want to break a wasteful consumerist habit like buying disposable goods, turn here for inspiration.
Sparrow: “No crumb is too small.” Darting and dodging among the crowd, Sparrow grabs the scraps that others leave behind. This little bird can make use of nesting sites too tight for other birds, and hide in the densest brush or clutter to escape predators. Sparrow teaches thriftiness and the ability to evade danger by remaining inconspicuous.
Squirrel: “Save a little something for a rainy day.” Frisky and irrepressible, this mammal is a fixture of parks and city yards – anywhere there’s a tree and a patch of ground. Here we get the slang term “squirrel away” for savings. Watch Squirrel burying nuts for winter, and you’ll see why. Need help building your own hoard? Ask Squirrel!
Honoring Urban Guides
You can work with urban totems directly or indirectly. The indirect method is easier and more discreet. Set up an altar in your bedroom, and decorate it with symbols of your animal or plant guides. Photos or artwork depicting the totem are always appropriate. You might also include a physical representation, such as a leaf from a plant or a spoonful of earth from an anthill. Use your altar as a focus when you meditate on your guide.
The direct method involves doing something to improve the urban habitat. If you have a yard – or even just a balcony – to call your own, you can create a “pocket garden” to attract wildlife. Put out a birdfeeder. Grow guardian plants or ones that appeal to your animal guides. At minimum, offer water; that alone attracts wildlife, because fresh water is hard to find. Then see who shows up.
If you don’t have space of your own, look for public resources. You can feed birds or squirrels, and enjoy the plants, in a nearby park. Ask about volunteer opportunities; sometimes you can help plant trees or maintain flowerbeds. Some cities even have a “community garden” program where you can plant things in a small plot shared with other urban gardeners.
Conclusion
No, these plants and animals aren't particularly glamorous. Yes, they have rotten reputations in some places. But look at Eagle and Bear and Redwood Tree, then compare their current situation with the urbanites. Dandelion, Ant, and crew have all learned to adapt. These survivors thrive in the urban environment, often reaching far beyond their accomplishments in any natural setting. They may seem insignificant, but their power touches every city on Earth. The next time you feel out of place in the urban world, reach out to one of them. They each have something to teach you.
* * *
Recommended Websites
"Animal Totems and List" -- Alphabetical listing of animals and their powers.
"Create a Bird Haven in Your Own Yard" -- Birdfeeding tips for all areas.
“Creating the Urban Forest” – A planting guide for city dwellers.
“Discover Your Animal Totem” – Helpful questions to identify which it is.
“Plant Allies” – Discussion and brief list of plant guides.
“Recommended Urban Trees” – Explains how to choose the right tree for each location.
“Urban Habitat” – A comprehensive guide to city environments, plants and animals.
* * *
Recommended Reading
Animals of the Soul: Sacred Animals of the Oglala Sioux by Joseph Epes Brown. Element Books, 1992. A look at Native American totems from the animal realm.
The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens by Robert Burton and others. Thunder Bay Press, 1999. Explains how to attract birds.
The No-Garden Gardener: Creating Gardens on Patios, Balconies, Terraces, and in Other Small Spaces by Jane Courtier. Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., 1999. Making the best of container gardening.
Peterson First Guide to Urban Wildlife by Sarah Landry, illustrated by Roger Tory Peterson. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. An introduction to city plants and animals.
Plant Spirit Medicine by Eliot Cowan. Swan-Raven & Company, 1995. Spirit guides from the vegetable realm.
Urban Sanctuaries: Peaceful Havens for the City Gardener by Stephen Anderton. Timber Press, 2000. Instructions on gardening in small spaces.
* * *
This presentation was turned into a class for Witch School ("The Dandelion and the Ant: Plant and Animal Guides for the Urban Pagan") and the Grey School of Wizardry ("The Dandelion and the Ant: Plant and Animal Guides for the Urban Wizard") in 2004. It was revised for reprint on the Greenhaven site 7/16/11.
Pagans often find it difficult to fit into city life. Some of us take to it naturally, but most feel as if we lose a part of ourselves, a vital connection to the cycles of life. Yet Nature holds as much power over the urban world as the wilds – remember earthquakes in San Francisco, heat waves in Los Angeles, hurricanes in Tampa. Even the cement and metal of the “concrete jungle” come from the Earth.
No matter how challenging the situation, life figures out how to colonize every available niche. Tree roots buckle the sidewalks. Scavengers scamper through the alleys. Green leaves and hungry bellies find ways to survive even the urban environment. Adaptability is a virtue. Persistence pays off. Consider what these inhabitants of the concrete jungle can teach us.
Plant Guides
Bluegrass: “Just look at what you can accomplish when you stick together.” You never see just one grass plant. Grass is gregarious. Teamwork creates a plush green lawn on which to rest your weary feet – and walking on this plant won’t kill it. Grass teaches us the value of cooperation and resilience.
Dandelion: "You can't get all of us." Dandelion's power is persistence. If you rip off the leaves, the roots remain. If you dig out the roots, the seeds remain. Dandelion's resourcefulness reminds us to dig in, hunker down, hang on. Our words and actions spread out like seeds, taking root in far places.
Forsythia: “Don’t be afraid to start over.” One of the few plants to grow equally well as a hedge or as an individual shrub, Forsythia cuts through the muddy grays of late winter with its display of brilliant yellow blossoms. It readily spreads by shoot or seed, and regrows even if pruned back to the ground. Look here for regeneration.
Ginkgo: "Think before you act! Plan ahead. Consider the consequences." This ancient tree gives magnificent shade – but if you plant a female, she drops vile-smelling fruit all over the place come fall. Ginkgo's power comes from great age and experience, a warning to make all decisions with care.
Privet Hedge: “Good fences make good neighbors.” This ubiquitous landscaping plant appears as a tidy wall of greenery. Privet persists in mediocre soil and withstands the onslaught of smog. It excels at setting boundaries. If you need help with shielding, look here.
Tree of Heaven: "What a mess! No problem, I can fix it." Urban developers hate this tree; nursery owners often refuse to sell it; yet still it crops up in planting programs time and again, quickly making a perceived nuisance of itself. Tree of Heaven only grows in disturbed, damaged soil: it's a patch plant. It also acts like a canary in a mine, warning of trouble. Tree of Heaven's power is transformation; it thrives in poor conditions, improving them and then making way for other species.
Animal Guides
Ant: "It's all alike down here." Ant's power is insignificance. She is too small to notice, so she doesn't get bothered much. Her world centers on such a tiny scale that the differences a city imposes don't affect her much; she doesn't notice them either. Ant can point you towards the levels that civilization doesn't alter; if you fall through the cracks, she can show you how to make yourself at home there.
Peregrine Falcon: “Never give up.” Threatened with extinction just a few decades ago, this fierce and beautiful bird of prey has made an amazing recovery. It has overcome habitat loss, pesticides, and other major changes. When you feel helpless against the forces arrayed against you, remember that you too can soar above them.
Pigeon: "An artificial cliff – what a great place for a nest!" Pigeon, on the other hand, welcomes the changes. A difference that makes no difference is no difference to Pigeon. If you're a techno-Pagan, look here for inspiration. Pigeon's power is finding artificial niches that fit better than the natural originals.
Rat: "What do you mean, garbage? Give me that." This industrious glutton reminds us to look for hidden uses instead of throwing things away. Like Tree of Heaven, Rat transforms trash into treasure. Rat's power is resourcefulness: he can live anywhere, eat anything, use everything. If you want to break a wasteful consumerist habit like buying disposable goods, turn here for inspiration.
Sparrow: “No crumb is too small.” Darting and dodging among the crowd, Sparrow grabs the scraps that others leave behind. This little bird can make use of nesting sites too tight for other birds, and hide in the densest brush or clutter to escape predators. Sparrow teaches thriftiness and the ability to evade danger by remaining inconspicuous.
Squirrel: “Save a little something for a rainy day.” Frisky and irrepressible, this mammal is a fixture of parks and city yards – anywhere there’s a tree and a patch of ground. Here we get the slang term “squirrel away” for savings. Watch Squirrel burying nuts for winter, and you’ll see why. Need help building your own hoard? Ask Squirrel!
Honoring Urban Guides
You can work with urban totems directly or indirectly. The indirect method is easier and more discreet. Set up an altar in your bedroom, and decorate it with symbols of your animal or plant guides. Photos or artwork depicting the totem are always appropriate. You might also include a physical representation, such as a leaf from a plant or a spoonful of earth from an anthill. Use your altar as a focus when you meditate on your guide.
The direct method involves doing something to improve the urban habitat. If you have a yard – or even just a balcony – to call your own, you can create a “pocket garden” to attract wildlife. Put out a birdfeeder. Grow guardian plants or ones that appeal to your animal guides. At minimum, offer water; that alone attracts wildlife, because fresh water is hard to find. Then see who shows up.
If you don’t have space of your own, look for public resources. You can feed birds or squirrels, and enjoy the plants, in a nearby park. Ask about volunteer opportunities; sometimes you can help plant trees or maintain flowerbeds. Some cities even have a “community garden” program where you can plant things in a small plot shared with other urban gardeners.
Conclusion
No, these plants and animals aren't particularly glamorous. Yes, they have rotten reputations in some places. But look at Eagle and Bear and Redwood Tree, then compare their current situation with the urbanites. Dandelion, Ant, and crew have all learned to adapt. These survivors thrive in the urban environment, often reaching far beyond their accomplishments in any natural setting. They may seem insignificant, but their power touches every city on Earth. The next time you feel out of place in the urban world, reach out to one of them. They each have something to teach you.
* * *
Recommended Websites
"Animal Totems and List" -- Alphabetical listing of animals and their powers.
"Create a Bird Haven in Your Own Yard" -- Birdfeeding tips for all areas.
“Creating the Urban Forest” – A planting guide for city dwellers.
“Discover Your Animal Totem” – Helpful questions to identify which it is.
“Plant Allies” – Discussion and brief list of plant guides.
“Recommended Urban Trees” – Explains how to choose the right tree for each location.
“Urban Habitat” – A comprehensive guide to city environments, plants and animals.
* * *
Recommended Reading
Animals of the Soul: Sacred Animals of the Oglala Sioux by Joseph Epes Brown. Element Books, 1992. A look at Native American totems from the animal realm.
The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens by Robert Burton and others. Thunder Bay Press, 1999. Explains how to attract birds.
The No-Garden Gardener: Creating Gardens on Patios, Balconies, Terraces, and in Other Small Spaces by Jane Courtier. Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., 1999. Making the best of container gardening.
Peterson First Guide to Urban Wildlife by Sarah Landry, illustrated by Roger Tory Peterson. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. An introduction to city plants and animals.
Plant Spirit Medicine by Eliot Cowan. Swan-Raven & Company, 1995. Spirit guides from the vegetable realm.
Urban Sanctuaries: Peaceful Havens for the City Gardener by Stephen Anderton. Timber Press, 2000. Instructions on gardening in small spaces.
* * *
This presentation was turned into a class for Witch School ("The Dandelion and the Ant: Plant and Animal Guides for the Urban Pagan") and the Grey School of Wizardry ("The Dandelion and the Ant: Plant and Animal Guides for the Urban Wizard") in 2004. It was revised for reprint on the Greenhaven site 7/16/11.
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