Myakka River and Payne's Creek State Parks
As I dive deeper into my practice of bioregional animism, I look to parks for sacred space and places to connect with spirits of all kinds. In Florida we live in cities divided by nature preserves and swamps, and we are also incredibly blessed to have an amazing State Parks system. These parks offer us peaks into ecology and history of the Land that reveal to us some of Its Mysteries. Here are a few things I’ve learned as a Folk Witch.
Make an offering when entering. For ancestral reasons, I use tobacco. Use what you're guided to. Introduce yourself, your intentions, etc. Also, pick up trash and be respectful. Don't wander in places you don't know, or take things you don't have knowledge on. It’s usually best to practice Leave No Trace but when have Witches been known to follow rules… Do as ye will. But always ask and give something in return.
There are different spirits!
Trees, plants, rivers, hills and even entire forests and parks can have their own spirits. At parks like Myakka and Payne’s Creek, there are platforms you can climb for an aerial view of the park. This is a great place to connect with the Genus Loci of a place! (For more on Genus Loci, I recommend Folk Witchcraft by Roger J Horne) Some spirits will want to talk to you, some won’t. Respect their choices and don’t expect anyone to talk for free.
Protection is Key!
Protection is important for witches and animists. Many spirits and natural places are dangerous, for example some Rivers are known for drowning and can be seen as having a harsh and dangerous spirit. When protecting myself day to day I wear spiritual jewelry from my Cuban traditions. Shark and gator teeth serve as great protection from water spirits and in general. My spiral shell ring is protective and I often use it in ritual. Bodies of water are also great places to bless things and hold rituals of cleansing and power! Not only spiritual protection, but physical protection is needed as well. In these swamps, we have gators, sharks, panthers, bobcats, bears, snakes, PEOPLE and even more things that would gladly expedite your role in the food chain. I’m not saying be afraid of animals, rather have respect and recognize you are in their domain. Carry bear spray, don’t wander too far off known trails, and be careful of other people.
I once heard a saying, the Swamp knows everything about death, and doesn’t consider it a tragedy.
Enjoy the Scenery, and Learn!
Take it all in and take your time! If you need to escape heat and mosquitos check out the visitor centers and gift shops! I justify spending a bit too much here on considering it an offering to the Land. Try talking to the people who work here or making friends! This is a great way to learn Folklore and secret places to explore.
On Remembering Ancestors of the Land
In working with the Land, you must honor the Ancestors of the Land. These are the spirits of all the people who lived on the Land before you. For me, this begins with my Ancestors and the other Indigenous groups of the area. In Florida, the tribes who remain today are the Seminole and Mikasuki. We should look to Indigenous tribes for wisdom on how to approach and respect the Land, but that doesn’t mean read online about it and go appropriate it. It means go and actually talk to real life people. You can and certainly should also honor other people, including any folk saints or historical figures who may serve as tutelary spirits or otherwise.
A Much Needed Animist Addendum
It was only after making this post and talking to some family about my trip to Myakka that I learned something that is tragic but unfortunately very common to find in Florida history. It would be a disservice to the Ancestors of the Land to not share it.
This area of Florida, specifically Myakka City, was the site of a violent expulsion and lynching by the KKK during the Great Depression. It has had racist incidents up into the 2000s. Many consider it a Sundown Town.
According to one source:
“Myakka City was a bustling, booming little beneficiary of the Florida land boom of the 1920s. Black Americans built the railroads and fueled the lumber & turpentine industries. Then came the economic devastation of the Great Depression and hooded Klansmen returned Myakka City to its ethnic ‘purity.'”
You can read more here:
This is dark and sad, and important to acknowledge. These people were the pioneers who allowed this city to even exist in the first place. Many of them or their ancestors are buried there, they are the Ancestors of the Land there. As the people living in the Americas, and Witches and Practitioners, we need to do what we can to honor these Ancestors. Yes, we need ritual, song, smoke, etc. but mundane things are just as important in building a relationship with the Land. Research the history of the Land you live on, visit the local Native Reservations if they welcome it and bring money! Also, visiting your local history museums, courthouses, parks and historic societies can help teach you how you can make choices to support and bring these spirits relief through retribution and reparations.
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