Forest and spirits

Hello, I was just a little confused about one thing...

When I visit a forest, I can feel how the forest is feeling or what it feels about me. Y'know, I can tell when the forest wants me to go away, when it welcomes me as an old friend or when it's giving me protection while I'm roaming in the forest. I was just wondering, if it's the forest himself, or other spirits in the forests, like fairies or elves or ghosts... (there's an ancient cemetery in the forest, so I believe there is some sorts of spirits...). And then there's this: Sometimes, when I come into the forest, and it gives me this feeling, I really shouldn't be there, I sometimes run to a giant rock, near to the old cemetery, where I get this really nice and secured feeling... I think there's some sort of a merry spirit in that rock or the trees near to it, because it is never trying to make me leave. What do you think? I dunno if a forest itself can have a spirit, but I know there can be some other spirits in the forest... I'm just a little confused, that's all! Thank you, if you can little bit cleare my mind on what I'm working with :) And it would be cool if someone else can feel the forest like I do!

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Forests do often have an "atmosphere" that can be peaceful, or frightening. Remember that there is a lot of Oxygen in a forest! It can "play tricks" with the emotions.

I can see where you going with that Brysing, it also makes a bit of sense. But some forests are like that especially forests like Aokigahara forest in Japan (Based at the bottom of Mt Fuji.) The reason why I use this as an example is because it is often called "Japan's Demon Forest" where over 500 people have committed suicide over just one year. So a lot of forests may have that unwanted feeling in some areas.

Depends on your beliefs, I would say. Some people, including myself, believe in animism.Animism, as one of my favorite quotes says, is the belief that "the universe is alive" and it is "the experience of living in such a conscious, communicative universe". Specifically, what that means is that animism is "the belief that natural objects, phenomena, and the universe itself each possess a soul or spirit". Instead of focusing on larger spirits (deities) animism tends to focus on smaller, sometimes "lesser", spirits.

Normally, those who incorporate animism into their practice believe that rocks, trees, rivers, bodies of land, etc become spirits that are tangible and can be worked with. They also tend to believe that the physical world, where we are currently, is deeply intertwined with the spiritual one. Within animism, the whole forest could be one spirit. And the trees, rocks, rivers, leaves of the forest could be other spirits.

For instance, in my practice I often honor the landvaettir (which are known as the land wights). These are spirits that inhabit the land, just as I mentioned above. It's traditional, and the belief stretches back all the way to my ancestors. Other practices have similar beliefs as well.

I am so glad that i ound this comment to such a good post.
I coudn't quite figure out what I believed in exactly and this pretty much summed it up :)
thank you!
Many blessings.

Well, I'm not really sure what to believe yet, so that's why I wanted your opinions. I'm still kind of finding myself in my path and - well, at this point I really believe in quite many things. And I think that the nature of magic and spiritual creatures change in other parts of the world. Like, here in Finland things are different than what they are in Africa or America. Ancient Finns believed in spirits like elves and Hiisis (little bit like goblins or demons... though, hiisi could also be a sacred place. I think the rock near to the cemetery is a hiisi that is watched over by a merryful elf, for it contains so much positive magick in it). So, I think that it's elves and Hiisis, but I would still like to hear your opinions about this! I'm always eager to learn more :3

So many spirits inhabit forests, and different ones ingabit different kinds of forests. Everything from Dryads to Elves to Kodama to Dragons and many spirits can make their homes there. If you feel like the forest is trying to tell you something, it usually is.

My post was about reality. Not beliefs. Yes, there have been many suicides in The Fuji Forest; but the 500 were not in one year, but over many years. Also, Japan has the highest suicide rate in the world; and they didn't all hang themselves from a tree!
What I said was that forests do have "an atmosphere"; so do wild moors, old churches, and many other places. By far the most suicides are by jumping from bridges, or high buildings.

You should do some research on suicides or murders in or around said forest. If someone died a violent death in or around there then their spirits may be still there and making you have these bad feelings. I get a bad feeling sometimes when I am in the woods at my grandpa's. Weird thing is the Trail of Tears went right through his property and a lot of the native died on that forced march. So maybe it's spirits. Maybe it's just you imagination. Just my opinion.

I would say to trust your feelings. Search out what it means for you. If you feel safe at that rock, then by all means feel safe. Forests are, and contain, so much life. But, it too has its death and life cycles. Trees die and fall over. The sun peaks through and what happens? All this new life can see and feel the sun, and reach up to get the energy to live. They are very much alive. Whether spirits are roaming, or tricks of sounds and movement are there, just enjoy it. It is Mother Earth; nature to fill your heart and mind. Feel Her energy, and do grounding there, as an exchange of energy can lift your spirit.