Genius Loci

Riding the jeepney from Q.C. (Quezon City) to D.C. (Washington D.C.) - Picture by Sienna

Genius loci is the Roman term for the “spirit of place,” and has to do with the “invisible, the tangible and the interpersonal.”

Wikipedia defines it as the “unique, distinctive and cherished aspects of a place; often those celebrated by artists and writers, but also those cherished in folk tales, festivals and celebrations. It is thus as much in the invisible weave of culture (stories, art, memories, beliefs, histories, etc) as it is the tangible physical aspects of a place (monuments, boundaries, rivers, woods, architectural style, rural crafts styles, pathways, views, etc) or its interpersonal aspects (the presence of relatives, friends and kindred spirits, etc).”

Historically spirit of place literally pertained to a spirit, animal, fairy or ghost.

I like its use for my purposes because things that lie beneath the surface interest me the most. Even the term itself has many different layers of meanings, a metaphor for the the landscape of memory, feeling, relationships, everyday life.

I have been here almost three years. People still ask me how I like it. I tell people I like it well enough. Inside I used to think, “I’ve lost my sense of place.” I felt detached, I knew I’d left it in Manila, with all my friends, my books, my former life. Then I found my spirit of place, which I realized I carry with me everywhere. I just have to unpack it wherever I go.