Anthropomorphism or Agency?
When my horse Shiloh was alive, I would always give the ‘Shiloh whistle’ as I entered the barn and he would respond by sticking his head out of his stall and nickering a return greeting. I would go up to him and he would immediately hold his nose against my ear, breathing welcoming sighs into my ear. After our greeting, I would get to work putting together his feed and meds for the upcoming week. Often I would sing as I was working, and I would soon be accompanied by a flapping sound. It was Shiloh, flapping his lips together in concert to my singing.
After his feed was prepared, I would bring him out of his stall for a grooming and massage session. As I massaged his forehead, he would toss and move his head, always managing to position my hand where he wanted it.
None of these behaviors were out of the ordinary for Shiloh ~ that was our life together.
So the question becomes — was Shiloh acting in his own agency or was I anthropomorphizing his actions?
When we are in right relationship with animals, we are not validating their agency through our human perspective. We are not denying the animal the option of following their own wisdom or their innate ways of expression. When we accept this we are moving from a position of ownership to true kinship. In other words, we are beginning to develop an animistic relationship with those whom we share this physical reality.
Recognizing Shiloh’s agency (authority) to be who he was and his need to express himself authentically was not me projecting human thoughts and emotions on him, but rather me witnessing and honoring Shiloh and the expression of his own agency. When humans recognize the agency of an animal, we lower the risk of anthropomorphism.
Janet Roper is an animist, elder and communicator and for 20+ years has helped people restructure their relationship with animals. Two of her most popular resources are her monthly newsletter and her 5 email introductory series to her signature program Deepen.
