We spent Thanksgiving with our parents this year. Weretoad's mother visited us and we all went down to my parents'. Weretoad and I brought the tofurky. I cooked it in a crock pot surrounded by sweet potatoes and carrots. Oh my Gods, it was delicious! We don't eat many processed faux meats. We tend to stick with straight beans or homemade bean patties. When I'm feeling a bit lazy, or when Thanksgiving rolls around, Tofurky is relatively guilt free. While it's still a processed product, it's not made from genetically modified or non-organic soy. I feel pretty good about eating it.
I've been learning more about Buddhism recently. I don't know why, but my interest in it has increased. There are obvious differences between it and modern Druidism, but there are also similarities. It fascinates me, especially in regards to compassion. There is a story about The Buddha attending a planting festival. Instead of watching the dancers, he focused on the bugs and their eggs. He thought about how the people digging into the soil had to disturb them, possibly kill them, in order to grow their crops. This event is said to have helped inspire his philosophy on compassion. This, in turn, inspired many Buddhists to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle. I've been thinking a lot about this recently. No matter how hard I try to be compassionate towards the natural world, I can only do so much without killing myself. Even the most dedicated fruititarian will inevitably harm one creature, if only through the cultivation of vegetable matter to consume. Some may look at this and say, "Well then why give up meat? You cannot escape the circle of life entirely. You might as well embrace it." The thing is, I'm not trying to escape the cycles of nature - I am still a part of them but in a different why than a meat eater. I experience the cycles differently now that I try not to consume the flesh of my fellow brother and sister animals. I do what I can - I seek a balance. There must be a balance of compassion for the Nature Spirits and ourselves. That balance will be different for each of us depending on the lessons we need to learn and the diet our bodies need. We should not punish our bodies. Even The Buddha recognized that killing our bodies for spiritual goals was not healthy. Everything must be balanced.
We have entered to season of death. Our ancestors culled the herds and this tradition continues to this day with hunting season. Since moving to the North Country, I have seen more deer hanging from trees in front of homes. Every time I see one, I think of Odin hanging from the World Tree, starring down at the roots, seeking wisdom. I wonder where the deers' souls have ventured as the blood drains from their bodies. I marvel that the corvid family is not there to taste their flesh. As the nights grow colder and hunters work to stock their freezers, I've seen them peel the flesh from the deer. I've seen the gleaming muscles and tendons revealed. Weretoad looks away. He has his reasons and I respect them. I stare. I find myself fascinated with the process. I feel for the deer, but there is something fundamentally more sacred about the relationship between the hunter and the hunted than the shopper and the package of meat. I think of that as I stare. That is not to say that I don't respect the people buying locally farmed and butchered animals - that is also better than buying factory farmed meat. But one must admit - when it is you hunting/raising, killing, and then skinning the animal... you enter an intimate dance with the forces of life and death. It is more than simply being in touch with the land and the agricultural cycles - you are getting in touch with the real essence of mortality. Some of this may be my romanticized, Paganized, outsider perspective, but have talked to people who hunt or raise their own food - some of whom are very close friends and family - I am not alone in thinking these things.
It seems obvious, but there is a difference between killing a plant and an animal. The only difference is that we can relate more to the animal because of its similarities to us. I stop and stare at the gutted, dripping, shimmering corpses. They are like me. That could be me. I am reminded of Ricky Fitts from "American Beauty" and his facination with dead people and animals. When asked why he films them, he says, "It's like God's looking right at you, just for a second, and if you're careful... you can look right back." He admits to seeing beauty in what is otherwise uncomfortable and grotesque. I still feel uncomfortable, but I look anyway and try to feel what the hunter might have felt (if he was the respectful sort like my soon to be brother-in-law).
I read a blog entry recently about what is arguably the most humane way to kill a turkey. The author described the event, how the animal's brain died before its body. The convulsions made a woman who had never seen this cry and feel for the animal. Even the author admitted to always feeling something of pity for the creature. He explained that being there to witness the death of the animal is the price a human should pay for eating it. To eat the fruit of death, a human must pay the price of being reminded of his or her own mortality. It was a fascinating perspective, and one perfectly in-line with Druidism' belief in a gift calls for a gift or sacrifice.
I think that is why I stare. I don't experience that exchange as vividly in my garden. If I kill anything as I till or dig, I do not see it. I move anything large enough to see. I experience the death of flesh distantly, but I still feel I must somehow experience it and whisper soft prayers for the departed. I must be reminded of my own mortality - not through animal activist videos - but through the vivid dance of the hunter and the deer.
In some ways, I suppose I stare for the same reason I stare in awe at the multitudes of stars at night. I like to be reminded of how small I really am. For some reason, that feeling is like a hug.
Gods bless the deer and other game who have fed the multitudes this season. May you run wild in the Other World!
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Showing posts with label vegetarianism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vegetarianism. Show all posts
Friday, November 26, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Birth, Death, and the Afterlife/lives - My Take
Flame in Bloom wrote about her take on birth, death, and what comes after. It was a beautiful post and it inspired me to write about it myself. Where did I come from? How have my experiences shaped my beliefs about our most basic and universal experiences?
Birth
I was born in December. My mum still refers to me as a snow baby and, to this day, although I dislike the danger associated with driving in the snow, I look forward to and enjoy winter every year! I was born roughly a week before Christmas. My sister was born around Easter. Our birthdays and their celebrations have always occurred around major festivals of rebirth. I believe that life is magical and that we come from somewhere else, or some other life.
Pregnancy and birth are magical. Although I've never been pregnant myself, I've known enough women to experience it that I've witnessed the awesomeness that is creation. Birth seems like an extreme form of magic. I've seen some pregnancies that were unexpected and through strange or even sad circumstances, but they have always been accepted as fate and cherished. That said, I believe in a woman's choice to abort. It is none of my business what a woman does with her own body and I can think of a few circumstances where I would take such control. I'm very much a novice at magic and magical philosophy, but I know enough that some forms of magic are taking control of the forces of nature, with or without the permission of the Gods or spirits, depending on the tradition. Sometimes, it's okay to take that control as long as it is done with respect and foresight. At the same time, I believe that people must be more responsible. I believe that women have a right to abortions, but I wish there weren't a need for them ever.
We live in a crowded world that is quickly becoming depleted of its resources. This bothers me when I think about having any children of my own. When I got engaged, and felt very secure with my mate, I suddenly recognized what scores of women call their biological clock - in other words, I started to feel that real drive to have a child. It's uniquely different from my sex drive. I feel my body and heart want a child, but my mind firmly says no. This is mostly a matter of finances. Weretoad and I are in a good place. We are pretty comfortable now but I'm not sure how a child would fit into that equation. We also want to have more fun. We want to travel, attend theaters, take more college classes... A child would dramatically complicate all of that. I'm not above admitting my own selfishness here. I recognize that I am too selfish and couple-involved to allow the admittance of another into our home yet. We're just not ready. The environmental concerns that come with a child also weigh on my mind when I think about it. If we ever have children, I think one would be the ideal number. We would rather pump less of a progeny into an already burdened world than more or equal.
Death
I've experienced a lot of death in my life. The first was my goldfish at the age of five. I was very distraught. My father made her a little wooden casket and we buried her beneath a blue spruce. Then my maternal grandmother died when I was eight. Then my zebra finch. Then my dog. Then my paternal great grandmother and several other people. Shortly after I started college, my aunt died at the age of 40 from stomach and bone cancer. My first cat, Muffin, passed away two days after my wedding. Those were each hard but brought on more of a maturity about death. I saw suffering and knew that death most likely meant an end to that, at least in this world. I accepted the sadness but also the inevitability. In my experience, you cannot have one without the other.
Other people talk about an acceptance of death tying into their diets. It is not so simple to me. I cannot use that as an excuse to eat meat. As I've explored in other posts, I've come to the realization that my lesson in this life is to abstain from meat, at least for the time being. I know many people who say that they eat meat because it connects them to the cycles of life. I respect them for that because, ultimately, our diet is a very personal thing and we all do what we feel is right for ourselves and the environment (I hope). The herbivore is just as much a part of the circle of life. I accept that role and am okay with other organisms eating me when I die. I want them to. I want to go back into the Earth Mother's crucible. Does abstaining from flesh mean I am somehow ignorant of death? Does it mean I don't want to talk about it or hide from it? Not at all. I have great respect for hunters. When I meet people who have tried other types of meat, I ask how it tasted. I have a growing collection of found bones. I do not look away from the roadkill - I pray for it. I do not take some sort of psychotic joy from death and the kill. I would rather not watch a predator maul its prey, but that doesn't mean I don't understand or respect that magic.
The After Life
After death, I believe that we go somewhere. I am comforted and content with the Celtic models of the afterlife. They seemed to believe in the afterlife or the Otherworld being a collection of islands. Each island was something different - enjoyable, horrific, human, animal, relaxing, rollicking... Perhaps it is like that? Perhaps we choose where we stay for awhile. Perhaps we can move from one to another. Perhaps there are islands for other religions. Or even another set of island chains. Perhaps we can all visit one another while still enjoying our version of paradise. And yet perhaps there is nothing at all. Perhaps we will simply be converted to something or someone else, through reincarnation or the transference of energy. I remain happily agnostic about this subject.
At the same time, I believe in ghosts and the ability to communicate with the dead. I've experienced it myself at least four times. I cannot deny what happened nor rationalize it any other way. Thus, I believe there is something more than just silence after life. This fits perfectly into my desire to make altars for my ancestors and pray to them.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Birth
I was born in December. My mum still refers to me as a snow baby and, to this day, although I dislike the danger associated with driving in the snow, I look forward to and enjoy winter every year! I was born roughly a week before Christmas. My sister was born around Easter. Our birthdays and their celebrations have always occurred around major festivals of rebirth. I believe that life is magical and that we come from somewhere else, or some other life.
Pregnancy and birth are magical. Although I've never been pregnant myself, I've known enough women to experience it that I've witnessed the awesomeness that is creation. Birth seems like an extreme form of magic. I've seen some pregnancies that were unexpected and through strange or even sad circumstances, but they have always been accepted as fate and cherished. That said, I believe in a woman's choice to abort. It is none of my business what a woman does with her own body and I can think of a few circumstances where I would take such control. I'm very much a novice at magic and magical philosophy, but I know enough that some forms of magic are taking control of the forces of nature, with or without the permission of the Gods or spirits, depending on the tradition. Sometimes, it's okay to take that control as long as it is done with respect and foresight. At the same time, I believe that people must be more responsible. I believe that women have a right to abortions, but I wish there weren't a need for them ever.
We live in a crowded world that is quickly becoming depleted of its resources. This bothers me when I think about having any children of my own. When I got engaged, and felt very secure with my mate, I suddenly recognized what scores of women call their biological clock - in other words, I started to feel that real drive to have a child. It's uniquely different from my sex drive. I feel my body and heart want a child, but my mind firmly says no. This is mostly a matter of finances. Weretoad and I are in a good place. We are pretty comfortable now but I'm not sure how a child would fit into that equation. We also want to have more fun. We want to travel, attend theaters, take more college classes... A child would dramatically complicate all of that. I'm not above admitting my own selfishness here. I recognize that I am too selfish and couple-involved to allow the admittance of another into our home yet. We're just not ready. The environmental concerns that come with a child also weigh on my mind when I think about it. If we ever have children, I think one would be the ideal number. We would rather pump less of a progeny into an already burdened world than more or equal.
Death
I've experienced a lot of death in my life. The first was my goldfish at the age of five. I was very distraught. My father made her a little wooden casket and we buried her beneath a blue spruce. Then my maternal grandmother died when I was eight. Then my zebra finch. Then my dog. Then my paternal great grandmother and several other people. Shortly after I started college, my aunt died at the age of 40 from stomach and bone cancer. My first cat, Muffin, passed away two days after my wedding. Those were each hard but brought on more of a maturity about death. I saw suffering and knew that death most likely meant an end to that, at least in this world. I accepted the sadness but also the inevitability. In my experience, you cannot have one without the other.
Other people talk about an acceptance of death tying into their diets. It is not so simple to me. I cannot use that as an excuse to eat meat. As I've explored in other posts, I've come to the realization that my lesson in this life is to abstain from meat, at least for the time being. I know many people who say that they eat meat because it connects them to the cycles of life. I respect them for that because, ultimately, our diet is a very personal thing and we all do what we feel is right for ourselves and the environment (I hope). The herbivore is just as much a part of the circle of life. I accept that role and am okay with other organisms eating me when I die. I want them to. I want to go back into the Earth Mother's crucible. Does abstaining from flesh mean I am somehow ignorant of death? Does it mean I don't want to talk about it or hide from it? Not at all. I have great respect for hunters. When I meet people who have tried other types of meat, I ask how it tasted. I have a growing collection of found bones. I do not look away from the roadkill - I pray for it. I do not take some sort of psychotic joy from death and the kill. I would rather not watch a predator maul its prey, but that doesn't mean I don't understand or respect that magic.
The After Life
After death, I believe that we go somewhere. I am comforted and content with the Celtic models of the afterlife. They seemed to believe in the afterlife or the Otherworld being a collection of islands. Each island was something different - enjoyable, horrific, human, animal, relaxing, rollicking... Perhaps it is like that? Perhaps we choose where we stay for awhile. Perhaps we can move from one to another. Perhaps there are islands for other religions. Or even another set of island chains. Perhaps we can all visit one another while still enjoying our version of paradise. And yet perhaps there is nothing at all. Perhaps we will simply be converted to something or someone else, through reincarnation or the transference of energy. I remain happily agnostic about this subject.
At the same time, I believe in ghosts and the ability to communicate with the dead. I've experienced it myself at least four times. I cannot deny what happened nor rationalize it any other way. Thus, I believe there is something more than just silence after life. This fits perfectly into my desire to make altars for my ancestors and pray to them.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Saturday, September 11, 2010
More on Ahimsa and The Spirit of the Deer
A hierarchy naturally implies that I feel I am better and more privileged than other creatures. As I've expressed to others before, I really don't think that. I don't believe that humans are any better or worse than the other Nature Spirits. I believe we all have natural talents and that some of us are better at certain things. Framed by human-centric values and aspirations, I can say that we are more creative and innovative than other creatures (sometimes for better or worse), but there is a bit of hubris to that. I am proud to call myself creative and artistic, but I am not close-minded to the possibility that some other creatures have a different definition of art and think of themselves as more capable in that area than us. Who really knows?
In the end, I have made a spiritual decision about what I will and will not eat. It almost seems like a hierarchy in that I am choosing to eat some things and not others, but I feel no true superiority over the plants I eat. I have a great respect for plants. I talk to them, ask permission before I harvest, leave offerings, sing to them, and thank them frequently. I hug trees and am not ashamed to admit that. I do not feel as closely related to plants as I do those in the animal kingdom, but I fill a kinship nonetheless.
In talking more about it to prophet_maid, I compared myself to herbivores like rabbits and deer. I explained that I didn't feel removed from the natural cycles of life or somehow less human because I was denying myself participation in a common human act. I said that I was just as connected to the cycles of life as a deer. I don't see it as the denial of basic human needs; I see it as another way of experiencing humanity - a way just as valid as eating sustainable meat. Thinking of it this way in combination with the end of my previous post, in which I discuss spiritual prohibition and life lessons, it makes so much more sense to me. I am feeling more comfortable simply saying that it is a spiritual choice I have made connected to the lessons I must learn at this time in this life. Perhaps there will come a time when I am meant to learn the lessons of eating meat again. Who really knows?
Comparing myself to a deer, though, opened up a new door - one that has been slowly opening for years. I've had different spiritual experiences with deer. I could say it started as a child as I delighted at seeing the deer outside my home, but what child wouldn't feel that way? Truly, the first time I felt spiritually tuned in to this creature was when I started college. I was in a rough place emotionally. Although I was experimenting with Wicca before a breakup, it was after that I really became a practicing Pagan. It was then that I started to work harder and develop my skills. I went into the woods to meditate. One day, after meditating, I opened my eyes and was surrounding by a herd of deer. It seemed like a buck and a harem of does. I looked at the buck and I remember that I wasn't afraid. I was in awe as he stared me down. I remember saying to him in my mind, "I'm not here to hurt anyone." He made a noise - the first time I ever heard a deer speak in anyway - and stamped a hoof. The herd moved away, dissolving into the woods. I felt such a rush and instinctively felt like, after so many years of playing in the woods as a child, I was finally formally allowed there. Was the spirit of the Horned God in that deer? I've never been sure, exactly, but it was one of the most spiritually important events in my life.
The second time I brushed with the spirit of deer came during meditation. I met with a spirit of the forest - a fair woman who called herself a lady of the deer. I was then obsessed, for a short time, with Flidais. I tried to research her and seek advice from others. There is little on her, and some people seemed dismissive of it. Yet I felt so drawn. I still do... I let that fall by the wayside because I didn't want to seem too "New Agey" to Celtic Reconstructionists and scholarly folk who seemed to think she was just a literary character in the tales and little more. I wasn't as driven or emotionally strong then.
Most recently, I was in the woods making offerings. I called to the spirits of the forest and asked for their teachings. In that moment, a deer ran through in the distance, vanishing into the darkness. I wanted to follow it, but was also frightened for some reason...
I don't think of myself as the sort to attach oracular significance to every natural event I witness. Most of the time, if I see a raven, fox, or such, I just hail it as a passing nature spirit. There might be a lesson, but most of the time it is simply a blessing to see them. I feel lucky for that alone. The deer though... I cannot shake the significance of those times. I feel that this is something I should really work through and explore more. Perhaps I have another spirit guide I should be working with in addition to Breeze the Lynx? Perhaps I should start walking into that darkness and facing the fears.
The doll above, "Flidais," was made by the extremely talented Forest Rogers.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Ahimsa and Druidism?
The fact that I'm a Druidic vegetarian quietly amuses me. My ancestors were Irish, Scottish, and Germanic! They ate mutton, haggis, and sausage! My ancient Irish ancestors looked to Druids for spiritual guidance - which often involved blood. On Samhain, the herds were culled before the hard, cold months. My ancestors were from Northern Europe. They were herders, raiders, hunters, and fishermen.
They would probably have a hearty laugh at me! Yet I understand that their world was different from my own. They had to eat meat and other animal products to survive. Animals were often raised more sustainably than they are today on their giant factory farms. My ancestors in the northern climes just didn't have the choices that the Mediterranean Pythagoreans, the Hindus, or the Jains had. Not to mention, my ancestors did many things that probably should not be done today anyway...
I've been a meat-free vegetarian for about as long as I've been a Pagan*. For me, the two are hand in hand but I've never been able to exactly express why. I've always known that a part of it has to do with a deep respect for nature. But that is only part of it. Carnivores and omnivores are also part of nature and I do not deny their place or rights. My spirit guide is a carnivore. My animal companions are carnivores. They have never expressed a desire to give up meat and I don't think it would be healthy to force it on them anyway**. But I feel like I have a choice, and I don't feel like it furthers me from the food chain. I am basically an herbivore. If my spirit animal doesn't eat me first, then I will die and be eaten by smaller things and go back to the plants I ate. As long as I am not in a survival situation, I feel quite content eating as I do.
An lj friend and fellow ADFer*** recently posted this article entitled "I Was Wrong About Veganism" by George Monbiot. Basically the author, who once insisted that Veganism was the only ethical response to the environmental, health, and food dilemmas of this world, takes back the statement and gives his reasons based on new statistics. He argues that going local and returning to traditional feeding methods is the best for the environment and the animals. I totally agree, and the article made me feel better about my recent decision to consume dairy products again, albeit with a nearly strict preference for organic and/or local. The rare bit of cheese I eat must be rennet free. (On a side note, I feel like Brighid, my patroness who has very close ties with dairy, kept bugging me when I gave it up. So yes, in a way I do feel spiritually obligated to eat some of her essence.)
My friend is one of many Pagans I know who argue that eating meat and eating local is a moral act, to use her choice of words. By eating meat she is imitating the Gods. I get that, and I'm not about to say they are wrong, horrible people - especially if they are eating sustainably harvested meat. And yet... I still don't feel compelled to eat it myself. I've never felt spiritually motivated or pushed to. Quite the opposite.
I recently started to read more about Hinduism and Jainism in my quest to better articulate what, exactly, drives me to live the way I do. I could call myself an ethical vegetarian (someone who is a vegetarian for ethical reasons), but that implies that people who do eat sustainable meat are unethical...which isn't right or healthy to assume, in my opinion. I do what I feel is ethical for myself. In my studies, I came to the concept of ahimsa which is Sanskrit for the concept of doing no harm. It is an interesting and complicated subject but I rather enjoy learning about it because a lot of it is what I believe for myself. My friend Parallax first helped me begin this process of articulation when she mentioned a thought she had had when she was a vegetarian - there is a difficult to express hierarchy, which is why many of us are somehow okay eating plants. But even so, I try to be as respectful to plants as possible, thanking them for their nourishment, asking for permission before I harvest them, and leaving gifts of nuts or drink when I do. Even then, I try not to take everything - just enough for myself and for the plant to further flourish. Turns out, Jains believe in this hierarchy and have organized it. It is quite interesting, especially in light of recent arguments that "intelligent" animals like dolphins, whales, apes, octopuses, and squid should not be eaten at all.
So what does all of this mean to someone following a Druidic path? In Irish lore, some people are under geasa - magical bound to do or avoid something. Fate. One famous geis belonged to Cuchulainn. Because of his practically totemic connection to dogs, he was spiritually forbidden to eat of their flesh. As fate would have it, he ended up eating dog (due to other geasa in place) and this was part of his undoing. Perhaps not eating flesh period is my own personal geis - my spiritual fate? Perhaps it is merely this life's lesson. I have already learned much from my journey of fruit salads and lentil burgers - integrity, compassion, empathy, acceptance, patience, creativity... So much. Perhaps in this life, I am not meant to eat the salmon of knowledge - instead I am to share the hazelnuts of wisdom with the salmon themselves.
*I gave up red meat when I was 8 so I've been a flexitarian or vegetarian of some sort for a very long time.
** It would totally fail anyway. My cats like catching flies waaaay too much.
*** I don't know if she wants her username floating out in the virtual ether so unless she wants official credit, I will respect her privacy.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
They would probably have a hearty laugh at me! Yet I understand that their world was different from my own. They had to eat meat and other animal products to survive. Animals were often raised more sustainably than they are today on their giant factory farms. My ancestors in the northern climes just didn't have the choices that the Mediterranean Pythagoreans, the Hindus, or the Jains had. Not to mention, my ancestors did many things that probably should not be done today anyway...
I've been a meat-free vegetarian for about as long as I've been a Pagan*. For me, the two are hand in hand but I've never been able to exactly express why. I've always known that a part of it has to do with a deep respect for nature. But that is only part of it. Carnivores and omnivores are also part of nature and I do not deny their place or rights. My spirit guide is a carnivore. My animal companions are carnivores. They have never expressed a desire to give up meat and I don't think it would be healthy to force it on them anyway**. But I feel like I have a choice, and I don't feel like it furthers me from the food chain. I am basically an herbivore. If my spirit animal doesn't eat me first, then I will die and be eaten by smaller things and go back to the plants I ate. As long as I am not in a survival situation, I feel quite content eating as I do.
An lj friend and fellow ADFer*** recently posted this article entitled "I Was Wrong About Veganism" by George Monbiot. Basically the author, who once insisted that Veganism was the only ethical response to the environmental, health, and food dilemmas of this world, takes back the statement and gives his reasons based on new statistics. He argues that going local and returning to traditional feeding methods is the best for the environment and the animals. I totally agree, and the article made me feel better about my recent decision to consume dairy products again, albeit with a nearly strict preference for organic and/or local. The rare bit of cheese I eat must be rennet free. (On a side note, I feel like Brighid, my patroness who has very close ties with dairy, kept bugging me when I gave it up. So yes, in a way I do feel spiritually obligated to eat some of her essence.)
My friend is one of many Pagans I know who argue that eating meat and eating local is a moral act, to use her choice of words. By eating meat she is imitating the Gods. I get that, and I'm not about to say they are wrong, horrible people - especially if they are eating sustainably harvested meat. And yet... I still don't feel compelled to eat it myself. I've never felt spiritually motivated or pushed to. Quite the opposite.
I recently started to read more about Hinduism and Jainism in my quest to better articulate what, exactly, drives me to live the way I do. I could call myself an ethical vegetarian (someone who is a vegetarian for ethical reasons), but that implies that people who do eat sustainable meat are unethical...which isn't right or healthy to assume, in my opinion. I do what I feel is ethical for myself. In my studies, I came to the concept of ahimsa which is Sanskrit for the concept of doing no harm. It is an interesting and complicated subject but I rather enjoy learning about it because a lot of it is what I believe for myself. My friend Parallax first helped me begin this process of articulation when she mentioned a thought she had had when she was a vegetarian - there is a difficult to express hierarchy, which is why many of us are somehow okay eating plants. But even so, I try to be as respectful to plants as possible, thanking them for their nourishment, asking for permission before I harvest them, and leaving gifts of nuts or drink when I do. Even then, I try not to take everything - just enough for myself and for the plant to further flourish. Turns out, Jains believe in this hierarchy and have organized it. It is quite interesting, especially in light of recent arguments that "intelligent" animals like dolphins, whales, apes, octopuses, and squid should not be eaten at all.
So what does all of this mean to someone following a Druidic path? In Irish lore, some people are under geasa - magical bound to do or avoid something. Fate. One famous geis belonged to Cuchulainn. Because of his practically totemic connection to dogs, he was spiritually forbidden to eat of their flesh. As fate would have it, he ended up eating dog (due to other geasa in place) and this was part of his undoing. Perhaps not eating flesh period is my own personal geis - my spiritual fate? Perhaps it is merely this life's lesson. I have already learned much from my journey of fruit salads and lentil burgers - integrity, compassion, empathy, acceptance, patience, creativity... So much. Perhaps in this life, I am not meant to eat the salmon of knowledge - instead I am to share the hazelnuts of wisdom with the salmon themselves.
*I gave up red meat when I was 8 so I've been a flexitarian or vegetarian of some sort for a very long time.
** It would totally fail anyway. My cats like catching flies waaaay too much.
*** I don't know if she wants her username floating out in the virtual ether so unless she wants official credit, I will respect her privacy.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Friday, July 2, 2010
ADF Veggies
Huzzah! ADF Veggies, a group just for the vegetarians and vegans of ADF, has a few new members! Things are starting off slow, but at least there is *some* interest! :) If you're a veggie, please join!
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
A Lazy Day
I'm finally on vacation, and will be until August, so I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands. I've been sewing a lot, for one. I made a cat plushie, altered several dresses, and have been diligently working on a fairy doll*. I've been working on another pair of socks here and there. I've also been attempting to tidy my apartment and maintain my garden.
ADF-wise, I'm nearly done reviewing my first DP and have been reading, reading, reading for my own study programs. I also started a Google group for the vegetarians and vegans in ADF called ADF Veggies**.
I have been very productive!
Today, however, I feel lazy. I worked a little on my doll (sketched an outfit concept, painted some beads...), but otherwise? Maybe I feel a little lost without my job this month. I do everything I normally pack into the evening in the morning now and am left... with a lot of time!
I started to watch "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." A few episodes aside, I've never really seen much! A friend once tried to get me into it. She showed me a few episodes but never from the beginning. It always seemed really hokey to me. Indeed, it is, but by starting from the beginning the corniness has grown on me. I find the characters amusingly delightful. The occult references are often hilarious, but for every Hollywood cliche or seemingly offensive cultural appropriation, there's always a surprising "Wow, they actually know that!" moment. I've been urged by several friends to keep going as it "only gets better."
*Photos coming soon!
** Are you a vegan or a vegetarian? Join join join!
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Attempting to be a Fashionable and Eco-Friendly Pagan
It was warm yesterday so I put on my new black capris slacks (so soft!) and a black tank with a lovely, loose scoop-neck short sleeve over it. I thought my outfit would look particularly pulled together with all-black sandals*. At the moment I have a very old, very worn pair of brown wedges, a very old, very worn pair of high heel black and cream sandals, white and cream jute wedges, black flip-flops, and all black high heels. The latter I generally don't like to wear much because, although they are comfortable, they clack very loudly and are finicky if I step wrong. In other words, they force me to walk a certain - very careful way. But I wanted to look nice so I put them on and, shortly after, nearly fell on my face in the kitchen. I grumbled and found myself praying to the Gods to lend me grace. In fact, all day I caught myself praying before I went down the stairwell. "How funny," I thought, "that I'm praying to the Gods to keep me upright when I'm the goof who decided to wear these shoes."
I would like to find a comfortable, classy, and practical pair of black sandals. Ideally they would be vegan and more fabric than plastic. I'm having a difficult time finding anything like that... Most eco-chic shoes are very expensive. Tom's Shoes doesn't seem to make sandals. I normally love buying second-hand or vintage but I simply will not wear shoes another has worn. It skeeves me out. I will probably look around the mall and see if I can find anything... But I will continue to look around online. I'm not completely against spending $80ish for a pair of good shoes. I wear shoes until they start to fall apart, so if I can find something of quality that is more earth-friendly than leather or pleather, I will consider it.
Being a fashionable and eco-friendly Pagan is a very fine line to walk...
* I have to look relatively nice where I work. No sneakers or flip flops!
[ For my LJ friends, please visit me at: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ ]
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Thoughts on Drums
After last night's post, I couldn't help but think about my drums and their leather heads. What did that mean about me? I talked about it with my husband. We both agreed that they were purchased during a time when we were less strict on ourselves. Hubby has purchased some leather shoes in the past, mostly because, at the time, it was very difficult for him to find any in his size and in our price range. The drums were my purchase. We talked a bit about which could be better for the environment. It made me recall an article I read a few months ago about which was better - leather or pleather purses. In the end, neither - unless they were purchased from a trusted, environmentally responsible company (which tend to be very, very expensive!)*. The same is probably true with the drums.**
Am I about to buy another new drum with a skin head? No... After thinking about it, I realized that, given how strict I am on myself now, it wouldn't make sense for me to do that. I think the next time I buy a drum, whether it is skin or synthetic, I will buy it used. That way I'm not forced to support the leather/meat industry or the plastic industry - I'm supporting the movement that says no to throwing things away.***
*I believe the article suggested fabric purses or used for those unable to afford the others.
** Please don't interpret this post as an attempt at preaching. This is me venting my personal frustrations with myself and my own self-imposed morality/lifestyle. If you own drums with skin heads, or are planning to buy one, awesome! I'm not going to judge you so please don't judge me. :)
*** There are plastic(y) products that are hard to avoid. Shoes, for example, are one. The idea of wearing used shoes freaks me out. As far as medical and computer equipment go, you want the best bang for your money and that usually means it's new. I purchase synthetic fabrics but am slowly trying to find more affordable natural, organic fabrics. Price is part of the hurdle. For me, it's all about baby steps. And a drum, being so impractical on one level and yet highly spiritual on another - it seems like the sort of object I should really put a lot of thought into in regards to my morality. I hope this makes sense...
Am I about to buy another new drum with a skin head? No... After thinking about it, I realized that, given how strict I am on myself now, it wouldn't make sense for me to do that. I think the next time I buy a drum, whether it is skin or synthetic, I will buy it used. That way I'm not forced to support the leather/meat industry or the plastic industry - I'm supporting the movement that says no to throwing things away.***
*I believe the article suggested fabric purses or used for those unable to afford the others.
** Please don't interpret this post as an attempt at preaching. This is me venting my personal frustrations with myself and my own self-imposed morality/lifestyle. If you own drums with skin heads, or are planning to buy one, awesome! I'm not going to judge you so please don't judge me. :)
*** There are plastic(y) products that are hard to avoid. Shoes, for example, are one. The idea of wearing used shoes freaks me out. As far as medical and computer equipment go, you want the best bang for your money and that usually means it's new. I purchase synthetic fabrics but am slowly trying to find more affordable natural, organic fabrics. Price is part of the hurdle. For me, it's all about baby steps. And a drum, being so impractical on one level and yet highly spiritual on another - it seems like the sort of object I should really put a lot of thought into in regards to my morality. I hope this makes sense...
Bits and Bobs
~ Last night went well. I decided not to give myself a reiki treatment. I had a professional massage and no longer felt the need. The massage was amazing and I really liked the woman who did it. I got a good vibe from her and we talked a bit about some of the New Age/Pagan community in the area. I learned about several opportunities I would like to look into! More on these soon.
~ I meditated last night and used my bodhrán to drum myself into a trance. It's something I've been meaning to try but I always put it off because I thought the physical motion would be too distracting. It was strangely effective! I met Brighid and had a little chat with her. She put me at ease about several issues. I also met with my spirit guide and learned a strange dance from him. We also talked briefly about how funny it is that a vegetarian has a carnivorous spirit guide. He basically gave me the impression that just because he hunts for meat, it doesn't mean I have to. He said I hunt for other things.*
~ There's another ADFer in Watertown! I randomly looked at the roster for NY state and saw his name! He joined a month ago. I decided to email, say hello, and tell him about Muin Mound. He replied and said he is hoping to attend the grove.
~ My husband and I are getting really excited about Wellspring. He's mostly excited about camping out and finally using our tent. I'm looking forward to meeting more of my spiritual community and the workshops! I wish there was more information about what is being presented and when certain rituals will be...
*My bodhrán has a skin head. Yes I know this is hypocritical... I deal with issues like this all the time. I try my best and take my baby steps and live peacefully... But I also really trust the person who makes the drums and, frankly, I would rather have a drum from someone who respected the animal than a synthetic drum head from a factory.
~ I meditated last night and used my bodhrán to drum myself into a trance. It's something I've been meaning to try but I always put it off because I thought the physical motion would be too distracting. It was strangely effective! I met Brighid and had a little chat with her. She put me at ease about several issues. I also met with my spirit guide and learned a strange dance from him. We also talked briefly about how funny it is that a vegetarian has a carnivorous spirit guide. He basically gave me the impression that just because he hunts for meat, it doesn't mean I have to. He said I hunt for other things.*
~ There's another ADFer in Watertown! I randomly looked at the roster for NY state and saw his name! He joined a month ago. I decided to email, say hello, and tell him about Muin Mound. He replied and said he is hoping to attend the grove.
~ My husband and I are getting really excited about Wellspring. He's mostly excited about camping out and finally using our tent. I'm looking forward to meeting more of my spiritual community and the workshops! I wish there was more information about what is being presented and when certain rituals will be...
*My bodhrán has a skin head. Yes I know this is hypocritical... I deal with issues like this all the time. I try my best and take my baby steps and live peacefully... But I also really trust the person who makes the drums and, frankly, I would rather have a drum from someone who respected the animal than a synthetic drum head from a factory.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
My Place Among the Nature Kindred
Last night I got into a somewhat heated discussion on otherkin, vegetarianism, and animal rights on the ADF IRC chat. A couple of members who believe they are otherkin brought up a publication and I asked them a couple things about being otherkin which kind of started it all. You see, when I first heard of otherkin several years ago, I thought to myself, "huh. That's interesting. I wonder if that's why I'm so drawn to cats?" I never really thought much more about it though. Last night's discussion kind of forced me to think about otherkin again and articulate my thoughts about my own relationship with the animal kingdom.
Animal rights and vegetarianism can be very divisive issues as last night proved. There are scientific sides to the arguments, but when push comes to shove, a lot of what a person believes is based on UPG and their own concept of animism. And that is fine. I know I can't push someone to see the world as I do anymore than they can push me. Some of you who know me better understand that I think animals and humans are no better or worse than the other. We are equal. I believe that we have different talents and purposes, but that we aren't somehow better. As I thought about it last night, I realized that the Druidic concept of "a gift for a gift" is very much a part of my understanding of the natural world.
Don't misunderstand me. I understand that animals can be cruel to each other. Cats torture small prey and monkeys wage wars on each other. Etc etc etc. What we call "human nature" may very well be "animal nature." I think humans are capable of forming symbiotic relationships with animals and here is where the trouble begins. I have no problems with people who raise animals on farms or who hunt. Our ancestors seemed to understand the spiritual side of this as well. I'm generalizing my studies, but there are plenty of people who thanked their kill or left offerings to guardians of the hunt or livestock. Brighid, a guardian of domesticated animals, could be thanked for the milk. She is a protector of dairy giving creatures - maybe even one of them in some forms. (That is my own UPG.) I don't find deity to be limited to the human form. If anything, I get the impression that the Gods are real forces and we gave them avatars or they chose visages that we would feel more at ease around.
Back to reciprocity. We give cats and dogs shelter and food and they keep our homes free of vermin, help us hunt, drive our sleds, entertain us, etc. We both give each other love. I feel that, today, while we may have that symbiotic, "gift for a gift" relationship with our pets, we've lost it with the greater wild kingdom. Instead of giving our cattle a comfortable home in exchange for milk and meat, a majority of them live in horrible conditions and are beaten. We rape our forests in the name of profit. We plant a tree here and there but is that enough? Perhaps the forests, especially the rain forests, have given us enough and our gift back needs to be rest and lots of it while we learn to better recycle what we already have. (Desertification is a very real and growing problem right now. Mama Earth will be fine but what about the many humans displaced? What about the countless number of plants and animals killed in the process due to human greed?)
This brings me back to otherkin. I'm not convinced that I am one. There are days, it's true, when I suffer from "green guilt," but I am not about to forsake my humanity. There is plenty about it that I love - especially the arts. I do not know if nature spirits have their own art - they might! - but I am enamored with human art whether it is painting, sewing, dancing, or song. And while there are horrible, greedy people out there, I find that a majority of humans are kind-hearted and well-intentioned (if ignorant - but aren't we all that way in certain areas?).
I do not really think that I am a cat stuck in a human body. I am more inclined to think that maybe I was a cat in a previous life (some would argue that makes me an otherkin) or that the cat is a symbol I am repeatedly drawn to, physically and spiritually - a symbol representing the lessons I need to learn in this life, my shadow, or, perhaps my animus (one of my spirit guides is a male lynx after all...)
I do not reject the animal in me anymore than I reject the human. If anything, I am trying to find a balance between my human and natural side. I can't escape my humanity - doing so would mean leaving behind the people and activities I adore. But I feel like it would be irresponsible of me to ignore my inner animal and, thus, my connection to all of nature. My inner animal is my empathy with other creatures - the drive of my vegetarianism and my desire to do less harm to Mama Earth and my brothers and sisters in the natural world. I want to be closer to them, to better understand my place in the cosmos - not as their master, but as their sibling.
I don't have an idealized vision of Eden where I'm lounging with the lion as fearlessly as the lamb. I know enough about the cruelty of nature having lived in such proximity to it for years. I'm under no illusions and am aware of the chaos and the destruction necessary for the renewal. Just as human siblings quarrel and don't see eye to eye, we compete and become annoyed with our nature kin. But we must learn to live with them and love them somehow because we are all connected. At the moment, I think our relationship is imbalanced and consisting of more "take" than "give."
Perhaps my connection with the cat (and now my growing connection with the fox) is more shamanic than anything else. I am inspired by them and seek spiritual union. There are lessons for me in these forms. The carnivorous cat has taught me to respect and value the hunter - no small feat for a vegetarian! What else can they teach me? And in the meantime, what can I do for them to return the favor?
Animal rights and vegetarianism can be very divisive issues as last night proved. There are scientific sides to the arguments, but when push comes to shove, a lot of what a person believes is based on UPG and their own concept of animism. And that is fine. I know I can't push someone to see the world as I do anymore than they can push me. Some of you who know me better understand that I think animals and humans are no better or worse than the other. We are equal. I believe that we have different talents and purposes, but that we aren't somehow better. As I thought about it last night, I realized that the Druidic concept of "a gift for a gift" is very much a part of my understanding of the natural world.
Don't misunderstand me. I understand that animals can be cruel to each other. Cats torture small prey and monkeys wage wars on each other. Etc etc etc. What we call "human nature" may very well be "animal nature." I think humans are capable of forming symbiotic relationships with animals and here is where the trouble begins. I have no problems with people who raise animals on farms or who hunt. Our ancestors seemed to understand the spiritual side of this as well. I'm generalizing my studies, but there are plenty of people who thanked their kill or left offerings to guardians of the hunt or livestock. Brighid, a guardian of domesticated animals, could be thanked for the milk. She is a protector of dairy giving creatures - maybe even one of them in some forms. (That is my own UPG.) I don't find deity to be limited to the human form. If anything, I get the impression that the Gods are real forces and we gave them avatars or they chose visages that we would feel more at ease around.
Back to reciprocity. We give cats and dogs shelter and food and they keep our homes free of vermin, help us hunt, drive our sleds, entertain us, etc. We both give each other love. I feel that, today, while we may have that symbiotic, "gift for a gift" relationship with our pets, we've lost it with the greater wild kingdom. Instead of giving our cattle a comfortable home in exchange for milk and meat, a majority of them live in horrible conditions and are beaten. We rape our forests in the name of profit. We plant a tree here and there but is that enough? Perhaps the forests, especially the rain forests, have given us enough and our gift back needs to be rest and lots of it while we learn to better recycle what we already have. (Desertification is a very real and growing problem right now. Mama Earth will be fine but what about the many humans displaced? What about the countless number of plants and animals killed in the process due to human greed?)
This brings me back to otherkin. I'm not convinced that I am one. There are days, it's true, when I suffer from "green guilt," but I am not about to forsake my humanity. There is plenty about it that I love - especially the arts. I do not know if nature spirits have their own art - they might! - but I am enamored with human art whether it is painting, sewing, dancing, or song. And while there are horrible, greedy people out there, I find that a majority of humans are kind-hearted and well-intentioned (if ignorant - but aren't we all that way in certain areas?).
I do not really think that I am a cat stuck in a human body. I am more inclined to think that maybe I was a cat in a previous life (some would argue that makes me an otherkin) or that the cat is a symbol I am repeatedly drawn to, physically and spiritually - a symbol representing the lessons I need to learn in this life, my shadow, or, perhaps my animus (one of my spirit guides is a male lynx after all...)
I do not reject the animal in me anymore than I reject the human. If anything, I am trying to find a balance between my human and natural side. I can't escape my humanity - doing so would mean leaving behind the people and activities I adore. But I feel like it would be irresponsible of me to ignore my inner animal and, thus, my connection to all of nature. My inner animal is my empathy with other creatures - the drive of my vegetarianism and my desire to do less harm to Mama Earth and my brothers and sisters in the natural world. I want to be closer to them, to better understand my place in the cosmos - not as their master, but as their sibling.
I don't have an idealized vision of Eden where I'm lounging with the lion as fearlessly as the lamb. I know enough about the cruelty of nature having lived in such proximity to it for years. I'm under no illusions and am aware of the chaos and the destruction necessary for the renewal. Just as human siblings quarrel and don't see eye to eye, we compete and become annoyed with our nature kin. But we must learn to live with them and love them somehow because we are all connected. At the moment, I think our relationship is imbalanced and consisting of more "take" than "give."
Perhaps my connection with the cat (and now my growing connection with the fox) is more shamanic than anything else. I am inspired by them and seek spiritual union. There are lessons for me in these forms. The carnivorous cat has taught me to respect and value the hunter - no small feat for a vegetarian! What else can they teach me? And in the meantime, what can I do for them to return the favor?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Eating local means eating within season.
A couple years ago I was attending a Wicca 101 class lead by my good friend Katrina. At this time I had already left Wicca for Druidism, but I felt the desire to attend her class for various reasons: friendship, a hope to learn something different, a new perspective, and an excuse to practice my meditation skills. One of the biggest things I got out of the class was a newfound understanding of the Wheel of the Year and its connection to the land and agriculture. Intellectually I realized that certain foods were connected with the seasons and were therefore symbolic of the holidays. It wasn't until her discussion on food and the High Days that it dawned on me - eating, especially to someone on an Earth-centered path, is an incredibly spiritual act!
That lesson, combined with my desire to be more sustainable and ecologically responsible, has lead me to seek out different ways of eating and cooking. My husband and I have cut out most of the HFC in our diet. We're now trying to limit the amount of corn we have. Basically, if we don't expect corn to be in the product but it shows up on the list, we don't buy it. This means no more Kraft Mac and Cheese or Smuckers jam! In other words, we're attempting to avoid processed foods while simultaneously starting to boycott big business farms/monocultures . We still buy veggie burgers but we don't eat them often and I'm moving more towards making my own out of lentil, nuts, and bread crumbs. We've been religiously buying organic, naturally sweetened cereals. Our snacks are pickled veggies, fruit, nuts, and dries berries from the Mennonites and Amish. (I like to keep a dish full of nuts on the coffee table for snack attacks.) Trying to wean myself off the Veggie Bootie... I loves it... I may make it a weekend treat. Hubby still likes his chocolate syrup too... Baby steps, right?
Anyway, I was thinking more about our desire to be more supportive of our local farmers' market and how that means, for the most part, eating within season. What's available at the market right now? Eggs, preserves, onions, squash, and potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! We already have tons from a future in-law.
So eating in the winter means eating potatoes. Who ate a lot of potatoes? My Irish ancestors, of course! In fact, our rotund starchy friends have been a staple of the British Isles as a whole for decades. It only makes sense to look to them for inspiration. During my lunch break today I started to collect different potato recipes - Irish, British, and "Newish."
Tonight I'm trying my hand at Cornish pasties. I remember loving them when in Penzance. I only had a couple, but I've always meant to try making them myself. My first batch isn't really anything spectacular, but if I continue to practice I'm sure I'll get better at the construction. Next on the list is vegetarian shepherds pie.
Oh, and my hubby makes some pretty mean homemade French fries.
That lesson, combined with my desire to be more sustainable and ecologically responsible, has lead me to seek out different ways of eating and cooking. My husband and I have cut out most of the HFC in our diet. We're now trying to limit the amount of corn we have. Basically, if we don't expect corn to be in the product but it shows up on the list, we don't buy it. This means no more Kraft Mac and Cheese or Smuckers jam! In other words, we're attempting to avoid processed foods while simultaneously starting to boycott big business farms/monocultures . We still buy veggie burgers but we don't eat them often and I'm moving more towards making my own out of lentil, nuts, and bread crumbs. We've been religiously buying organic, naturally sweetened cereals. Our snacks are pickled veggies, fruit, nuts, and dries berries from the Mennonites and Amish. (I like to keep a dish full of nuts on the coffee table for snack attacks.) Trying to wean myself off the Veggie Bootie... I loves it... I may make it a weekend treat. Hubby still likes his chocolate syrup too... Baby steps, right?
Anyway, I was thinking more about our desire to be more supportive of our local farmers' market and how that means, for the most part, eating within season. What's available at the market right now? Eggs, preserves, onions, squash, and potatoes, potatoes, potatoes! We already have tons from a future in-law.
So eating in the winter means eating potatoes. Who ate a lot of potatoes? My Irish ancestors, of course! In fact, our rotund starchy friends have been a staple of the British Isles as a whole for decades. It only makes sense to look to them for inspiration. During my lunch break today I started to collect different potato recipes - Irish, British, and "Newish."
Tonight I'm trying my hand at Cornish pasties. I remember loving them when in Penzance. I only had a couple, but I've always meant to try making them myself. My first batch isn't really anything spectacular, but if I continue to practice I'm sure I'll get better at the construction. Next on the list is vegetarian shepherds pie.
Oh, and my hubby makes some pretty mean homemade French fries.
Friday, February 5, 2010
TGIF and Doxtater's Farmers Market
I don't know if it's the moon, the season, my hormones, or my lifestyle (it's probably a combination!), but I have been one tired Pagan as of late. It seems that I want nothing more than to sit on my bum and vegetate after work. I'm sorry to say that our home is not as tidy as it could be. If someone came to visit, I would feel terribly torn between my desire to be hospitable and my embarrassment. One of our cats made it worse when she stole an unfinished doll leg from my studio. There are tiny clumps of stuffing here and there.
I've tried to do things on my to-do list. My sewing has fallen behind which is unfortunate. However I've been kind of productive on the Druid front. I wrote an article for Oak Leaves that I have to send in. I've also been editing another person's article. I recorded a couple submissions for Tribeways. I need to give those another listen and send them in. I also need to finish my mentoring questionnaire... I should do that next...
In other news, my husband and I found a wonderful little shop in the town of Pamelia, NY (near Evans Mills if you know where that is...). It's called Doxtater's Farmers Market and it's wonderful. We found organic, cruelty free eggs there as well as local fruits and veggies (in season!), local peanut and almond butter, maple syrup, jam, soaps, lotion, and breads. There's a gorgeous brick oven that the baker uses right in the shop. He also makes delicious pizza. Oh, and for any of you meat eaters looking to support local, organic farmers rather than the nasty factory farms, Doxtater's also sells local, organic, pasture-fed beef, chicken, and sheep. I'm very excited about the shop and its proximity to my home.
I've also located a local farmer who sells milk (unpasteurized) but I need to find a good container. I saw some large glass jars at the local Mennonite shop. One of those would probably do the trick.
Happy a happy Friday!
I've tried to do things on my to-do list. My sewing has fallen behind which is unfortunate. However I've been kind of productive on the Druid front. I wrote an article for Oak Leaves that I have to send in. I've also been editing another person's article. I recorded a couple submissions for Tribeways. I need to give those another listen and send them in. I also need to finish my mentoring questionnaire... I should do that next...
In other news, my husband and I found a wonderful little shop in the town of Pamelia, NY (near Evans Mills if you know where that is...). It's called Doxtater's Farmers Market and it's wonderful. We found organic, cruelty free eggs there as well as local fruits and veggies (in season!), local peanut and almond butter, maple syrup, jam, soaps, lotion, and breads. There's a gorgeous brick oven that the baker uses right in the shop. He also makes delicious pizza. Oh, and for any of you meat eaters looking to support local, organic farmers rather than the nasty factory farms, Doxtater's also sells local, organic, pasture-fed beef, chicken, and sheep. I'm very excited about the shop and its proximity to my home.
I've also located a local farmer who sells milk (unpasteurized) but I need to find a good container. I saw some large glass jars at the local Mennonite shop. One of those would probably do the trick.
Happy a happy Friday!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Making a Cultural Shift
There's a lot of talk among environmentalists about making a cultural shift. There's no way around it - it's going to have to happen if we as a species want to survive. It's also going to have to happen if we don't want to dramatically damage the homes of countless life. (A lot of people argue that the Earth doesn't need saving because it will always bounce back - but that can't be said of the nature spirits we're killing directly and indirectly. So stop shrugging off the blame!)
But back to the point of the post. It is so difficult to imagine Western Civilization making such a dramatic change. The ignorant masses (I hate to use this incredibly pejorative term, but it's an accurate one.) refuse to shift and cling to bad science and irresponsible dogma. Then there are the poor. People from a low socio-economic background often find it incredibly difficult to make big changes, even when you argue that some of the changes would save them money. And let's face it - soda is often cheaper than wholesome juice. And as long as food stamps allow people to purchase junk, that's what most people will get. (Yes, I know - controversial statement!) And then there's... people like myself and many of my social circle. People who are aware of the need for change and are attempting to do it baby step after careful baby step. Finally, there are the people with real balls - the people who live the change. They only bike/walk/use public transit. They get most of their food from their own property. They live off the grid. They reject consumerism. Gods, I wish I could be one of them...
Living in Northern NY makes such a shift VERY difficult. (Saying this could be an excuse, a sign of ignorance, or a reality - it could be all at once. Let me know what you think.) We're "doing the right thing" by only having one car, but I find myself wishing we had two so that I could go ram-rodding around on my own while Ron is at work. Not very environmentally responsible of me, huh? Luckily, I live two-three minutes from my place of employment. I want to start walking and cycling more. I'm inspired by the stories about year-round cyclists. I need to practice more but I may just try to become one next winter. Ron can't walk or cycle to work considering it's 30 minutes away by car. He's got a job and I'm grateful for that - but until we start using more public or man-powered transit, we won't be very sustainable. This is something I want to work more on...
But there are other areas besides transportation - areas many people are arguing about as we speak. Let's look at some of them.
1) Going vegetarian / vegan. People have been arguing for years that this is one of the most important changes you can make in your life to help the environment. It amazes me that Al Gore goes on and on about change and yet STILL eats meat. To be fair, he has said that he's limited his meat consumption. This is good. If you eat meat, you should try and limit how much you eat. Try going veggie on weekends. It will save you money and make less of an impact. Even better, if you must eat meat (there could be health reasons, for instance!), shun fast-food and anything that isn't local or killed by your own hand. Going veggie? This point - I agree with.
2) Stop eating fish. I started to notice this a lot a year or so ago. Many scientists are indicating that we have severely fucked up in regards to the oceans. There are huge pools of plastic in multiple oceans, plastic in our beach sand, chemicals leaching into the fish, and over fishing. Don't get me going on overfishing - it will seriously make me froth at the mouth because I get so, so angry. If you can't give up that cheese burger, AT LEAST consider giving up seafood or limiting it. For some really good information, check out Overfishing. There are also fish that aren't as in danger so, if you must eat fish, go for those. (FYI - tuna is not one of them.) Giving up fish? I agree with that.
3) Overconsumption. This is the part where things start to get really, really tricky for people. I don't know about you, but I was born into a material world. As a child, if I wanted a toy, I got it. Oh yes. I was spoilt. Most of us were, even if we don't think so. Look at all we have compared to the countries with significantly smaller carbon footprints. And what is most of that stuff made from? You guessed it - plastic. What was that infomercial that used to be on tv? Plastics make it possible? A friend once pointed out to me that plastic is necessary for most medical equipment. My husband is quick to point out that plastic is necessary for electronics. Ok. Fine. But do we really need so much disposable crap!? Seriously - where is our ban on plastic shopping bags, NY? Are you not washing and reusing your ziplock bags? Why? It's so easy and saves you money.
Disposable crap aside, the hardest part is stopping ourselves from overconsuming. Let's face it - we like things. They make us feel happy. We enjoy that illusion. Heck, I'm an artist and art is often about making things. Granted they aren't on a mass-produced scale, but some of the materials I've accumulated are so, in that sense, I'm guilty. Reusing things in my craft has become very important to me. Again, baby steps.
My husband's number one hobby is playing video games - something I'm getting more and more into. But more games equals more plastic discs and packages. Would the industries lose money if they went all digital? My husband argues yes because without one-time install discs for games like World of Warcraft, people would pirate. And on top of that, there's the servers! People talk about wanting to live on Pandora, but are they truly willing to go cold turkey hunter-gatherer? That equals work, people! Do you think most are willing to go that far? Part of me feels so trapped by my student loans. College = a good job = student loans = stuck in the system. I can't be a hunter gatherer because that doesn't bring in the income required to pay off my student loans! So I shrug and whine about it on my fancy iMac. Oh yes, I suffer from extreme eco-guilt. :P
So overconsumption. I agree that it is an issue but it's not an easy one to solve. People like treasure and they like convenience. It's human nature. Only the bravest of us seem able to let go and live on the fringe. I want to attempt to consume less and less. I really want to try and buy less garbage. I'm a big advocate for second-hand clothing and renting rather than or before buying brand new. That's a start, I suppose. I think I get a little better every year... I hope.
4) "Ditch the Dog." That's the new one and arguably one of the most controversial. Some scientists are citing pets as horrible for the environment - worse than owning a car! A lot of this has to do with the food (remember, factory farming is bad for the environment and where do you think the kibble comes from?), but there were other arguments that I forget. I don't know what will become of this. I mean... seriously, do these people want more homeless animals on the street? If anything, people need to step up, be responsible, and fix their pets. Seriously, though, I am not about to euthanize my cats and ferrets. You could also argue that humans are bad for the environment (which, hell, we are!) so we should ditch our children. Because that makes sense... While there are valid points to the argument, it seems kind of faulty. Fix your pets, yes. Consider a raw diet, yes. (I'm hoping to start my cats on one this year after more research.) Ditch them? Where would they go?
So those are just some thoughts I've been having. If you actually read the whole thing, you deserve a cookie. An organic, vegan cookie. :P Most of this probably sounded really controversial or accusatory. I'm not trying to point fingers as I'm guilty too. If anything, I'm trying to start a conversation about the issues and possible solutions. What are you doing to change your impact and shift your culture?
But back to the point of the post. It is so difficult to imagine Western Civilization making such a dramatic change. The ignorant masses (I hate to use this incredibly pejorative term, but it's an accurate one.) refuse to shift and cling to bad science and irresponsible dogma. Then there are the poor. People from a low socio-economic background often find it incredibly difficult to make big changes, even when you argue that some of the changes would save them money. And let's face it - soda is often cheaper than wholesome juice. And as long as food stamps allow people to purchase junk, that's what most people will get. (Yes, I know - controversial statement!) And then there's... people like myself and many of my social circle. People who are aware of the need for change and are attempting to do it baby step after careful baby step. Finally, there are the people with real balls - the people who live the change. They only bike/walk/use public transit. They get most of their food from their own property. They live off the grid. They reject consumerism. Gods, I wish I could be one of them...
Living in Northern NY makes such a shift VERY difficult. (Saying this could be an excuse, a sign of ignorance, or a reality - it could be all at once. Let me know what you think.) We're "doing the right thing" by only having one car, but I find myself wishing we had two so that I could go ram-rodding around on my own while Ron is at work. Not very environmentally responsible of me, huh? Luckily, I live two-three minutes from my place of employment. I want to start walking and cycling more. I'm inspired by the stories about year-round cyclists. I need to practice more but I may just try to become one next winter. Ron can't walk or cycle to work considering it's 30 minutes away by car. He's got a job and I'm grateful for that - but until we start using more public or man-powered transit, we won't be very sustainable. This is something I want to work more on...
But there are other areas besides transportation - areas many people are arguing about as we speak. Let's look at some of them.
1) Going vegetarian / vegan. People have been arguing for years that this is one of the most important changes you can make in your life to help the environment. It amazes me that Al Gore goes on and on about change and yet STILL eats meat. To be fair, he has said that he's limited his meat consumption. This is good. If you eat meat, you should try and limit how much you eat. Try going veggie on weekends. It will save you money and make less of an impact. Even better, if you must eat meat (there could be health reasons, for instance!), shun fast-food and anything that isn't local or killed by your own hand. Going veggie? This point - I agree with.
2) Stop eating fish. I started to notice this a lot a year or so ago. Many scientists are indicating that we have severely fucked up in regards to the oceans. There are huge pools of plastic in multiple oceans, plastic in our beach sand, chemicals leaching into the fish, and over fishing. Don't get me going on overfishing - it will seriously make me froth at the mouth because I get so, so angry. If you can't give up that cheese burger, AT LEAST consider giving up seafood or limiting it. For some really good information, check out Overfishing. There are also fish that aren't as in danger so, if you must eat fish, go for those. (FYI - tuna is not one of them.) Giving up fish? I agree with that.
3) Overconsumption. This is the part where things start to get really, really tricky for people. I don't know about you, but I was born into a material world. As a child, if I wanted a toy, I got it. Oh yes. I was spoilt. Most of us were, even if we don't think so. Look at all we have compared to the countries with significantly smaller carbon footprints. And what is most of that stuff made from? You guessed it - plastic. What was that infomercial that used to be on tv? Plastics make it possible? A friend once pointed out to me that plastic is necessary for most medical equipment. My husband is quick to point out that plastic is necessary for electronics. Ok. Fine. But do we really need so much disposable crap!? Seriously - where is our ban on plastic shopping bags, NY? Are you not washing and reusing your ziplock bags? Why? It's so easy and saves you money.
Disposable crap aside, the hardest part is stopping ourselves from overconsuming. Let's face it - we like things. They make us feel happy. We enjoy that illusion. Heck, I'm an artist and art is often about making things. Granted they aren't on a mass-produced scale, but some of the materials I've accumulated are so, in that sense, I'm guilty. Reusing things in my craft has become very important to me. Again, baby steps.
My husband's number one hobby is playing video games - something I'm getting more and more into. But more games equals more plastic discs and packages. Would the industries lose money if they went all digital? My husband argues yes because without one-time install discs for games like World of Warcraft, people would pirate. And on top of that, there's the servers! People talk about wanting to live on Pandora, but are they truly willing to go cold turkey hunter-gatherer? That equals work, people! Do you think most are willing to go that far? Part of me feels so trapped by my student loans. College = a good job = student loans = stuck in the system. I can't be a hunter gatherer because that doesn't bring in the income required to pay off my student loans! So I shrug and whine about it on my fancy iMac. Oh yes, I suffer from extreme eco-guilt. :P
So overconsumption. I agree that it is an issue but it's not an easy one to solve. People like treasure and they like convenience. It's human nature. Only the bravest of us seem able to let go and live on the fringe. I want to attempt to consume less and less. I really want to try and buy less garbage. I'm a big advocate for second-hand clothing and renting rather than or before buying brand new. That's a start, I suppose. I think I get a little better every year... I hope.
4) "Ditch the Dog." That's the new one and arguably one of the most controversial. Some scientists are citing pets as horrible for the environment - worse than owning a car! A lot of this has to do with the food (remember, factory farming is bad for the environment and where do you think the kibble comes from?), but there were other arguments that I forget. I don't know what will become of this. I mean... seriously, do these people want more homeless animals on the street? If anything, people need to step up, be responsible, and fix their pets. Seriously, though, I am not about to euthanize my cats and ferrets. You could also argue that humans are bad for the environment (which, hell, we are!) so we should ditch our children. Because that makes sense... While there are valid points to the argument, it seems kind of faulty. Fix your pets, yes. Consider a raw diet, yes. (I'm hoping to start my cats on one this year after more research.) Ditch them? Where would they go?
So those are just some thoughts I've been having. If you actually read the whole thing, you deserve a cookie. An organic, vegan cookie. :P Most of this probably sounded really controversial or accusatory. I'm not trying to point fingers as I'm guilty too. If anything, I'm trying to start a conversation about the issues and possible solutions. What are you doing to change your impact and shift your culture?
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Prayer Before Eating
I thank the Earth Mother for the food before me.
I thank the men and women who toiled in field, farm, and kitchen to bring this meal to me.
I thank the plants and animals who had to die so that I could live.
(Inspired and partly borrowed from Isaac Bonewits.)
I firmly believe that modern Druidism, despite what my Celtic ancestors may or may not have believed, is an earth-centered religion. Given the food crisis some countries are facing and the environmental impact our agricultural industry has on Mama Earth, I feel that, at the very least, I can offer a prayer of thanks. As a vegetarian, I have to recognized that some animals were harmed in the production of my salad or wheat cereal in the form of the destruction of a habitat, perhaps even pesticides, or a tractor wheel... I have to thank the plants that I am taking into me.
Do you pray before eating? Why or why not? What do you say?
I thank the men and women who toiled in field, farm, and kitchen to bring this meal to me.
I thank the plants and animals who had to die so that I could live.
(Inspired and partly borrowed from Isaac Bonewits.)
I firmly believe that modern Druidism, despite what my Celtic ancestors may or may not have believed, is an earth-centered religion. Given the food crisis some countries are facing and the environmental impact our agricultural industry has on Mama Earth, I feel that, at the very least, I can offer a prayer of thanks. As a vegetarian, I have to recognized that some animals were harmed in the production of my salad or wheat cereal in the form of the destruction of a habitat, perhaps even pesticides, or a tractor wheel... I have to thank the plants that I am taking into me.
Do you pray before eating? Why or why not? What do you say?
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