This is exactly the kind of thinking and action we need to embrace in the environmental movement. Animistic beliefs (assigning agency to non-human beings or systems) can help to effect positive environmental change. We would be much less likely to harm or pollute a river if we were able to think of it as a living being - especially if that living being was considered one of their direct ancestors. I don't think westerners will be able to fully embrace these types of animistic beliefs as it is very counter to our dominant materialistic-scientific mindset (maybe less difficult for people that grew up in AU or NZ and were exposed to Maori or Aboriginal thinking and beliefs at a young age) but I believe it's a good exercise to at least start thinking about natural systems in this way.