Does the Observer Effect Prove Animism, and By Extension the Spiritual Validity of Paganism?

When Seeing is Much More than Believing

Does every object, from an atom to a galaxy, come into existence solely as a result of human observations? In the 1990s, a series of articles and letters in New Scientist explored a hypothesis suggesting that the universe is expanding only because humans have developed increasingly powerful telescopes and technology. This idea particularly applies to deep space probes, from the Voyager missions to Pioneer and New Horizons. Planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, and Pluto seem to come to life as our technology offers clearer images of them. Recent images of these planets have taken on a quality which feels more than merely high definition and visual accuracy. They have almost come to life.

This notion inspired my concept of Space Paganism, which I proposed a few years ago. It suggests that, at some level, Animism and the Observer Effect converge through human consciousness, causing this phenomenon—a kind of interplanetary transubstantiation. It also ties in with mysterious genetic anomolies in certain animals such as the octopus and so on.

Consider this: When Jupiter was first observed through rudimentary telescopes, did we see it as an infant? Now, with the latest space probes, are we witnessing its development into adulthood due to our improved technology? Were the early telescopes recording the behavior of Jupiter’s moons akin to spellbooks?

Going further, could these telescopes be seen as optical wands? They didn’t call it the Secret College for no reason. It also raises questions about why the Vatican has invested serious resources into observatories and cosmological research. To this day, some of the most lucrative research grants are provided by the Holy See.

Is this enhanced technology a form of gestation or possibly apotheosis?

Now let us really knock the ball out of the park and consider that; what if the Dogon Pagans of Western Africa created Sirus as a binary star system by means of ritual? They didn’t just know about it. But made it happen? By means of ceremonial and shamanic engagement?

*The Observer Effect
In quantum physics, particles (such as electrons and photons) do not always behave like solid objects. Instead, they can act like waves, existing in a superposition—a blend of multiple possible states, positions, or momenta at once. The most famous demonstration of this is the double-slit experiment: When electrons (or photons) are fired at a barrier with two slits, and there is no method to detect which path they take, an interference pattern appears on the screen, indicating wave-like behavior—as if each particle traveled through both slits simultaneously. However, if detectors are placed to determine which slit each particle passes through, the interference pattern disappears, resulting in two distinct clumps that show particle-like behavior. The moment the system is measured to gather information about “which path” the particles took, the superposition collapses, and the wave-like interference vanishes.

*Animism
Animism is the worldview or belief system that all things—both living and non-living—possess a spiritual essence, soul, or agency. This includes animals, plants, rocks, rivers, mountains, weather phenomena, and even human-made objects. Everything in the world is “animated” or alive in a spiritual sense. Spirits or souls inhabit natural elements and can interact with humans, influencing daily life, health, fortune, or misfortune.

Alternative folklorist Thomas Sheridan is an author, artist, and the host of the unKnown Machine broadcasts on YouTube.