Plant and Animal Guides for the Urban Pagan

Guest Presentation for Urban Pagan Study Group

We as Pagans often find it difficult to fit ourselves 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, tree roots buckling sidewalks everywhere. Green leaves and hungry bellies find ways to survive even the urban environment. Adaptability is a virtue. Consider what these inhabitants of the concrete jungle can teach us:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, Pigeon, 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.

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Art on this page is from the "Whiteflower" set, at Winter's Pages

The URL for this page is http://www.worthlink.net/~ysabet/spirit/urbanguide.html and it was last updated on September 12, 1998.