Saturday 8 November 2014

Post No. 611 - Reading (including why I disapprove of animal sacrifice)



G'day, hello, howdy, hi, zdravstvujtye (some of my work colleagues are Russian, including an absolutely invaluable administrator who has recently taken maternity leave - may she and young one and family be blest), guten tag (where I have connection owing to a recent past life), sveiki, czesc (I have friends, not just colleagues, at work who are Polish), bonjour (colleagues at a former workplace were French, and we practised and tried to extend my woeful and limited range of this language), selamat pagi (one of the best junior engineers I ever worked with was Malaysian, and she taught me a few words), annyeonghaseyo, pryvit, bitaem, como vai (a friend of mine a few years ago, although not Brazilian, had Portuguese ancestry), ¡Hola (a former work colleague and friend, a VERY talented artist - with a Mexican sensibility to her artwork, particularly around the Day of the Dead - used to teach me Mexican Spanish), Selamat pagi, ni hao (ah, my work trips to Asia, and the many wonderful, wonderful people I have met there - and some excellent work colleagues and friends here, as well), bongiorno (my current home city of Melbourne has lots of Greeks and Italians, who have made our culture far richer - and made us coffee snobs :) ), hoschakal, hejsan, ciao, jo napolt kivanu, chào bà, chào ông, yiassou (from the city which has, I understand, the largest collection of Greek people outside of Greece), ceau, salam wa aleikum, sawas dee ka, dia duit, hoi, hei, namaste, marhaba, dobry den.



  • there will be a Goddess Festival in my neck of the woods, in June, 2015 – see here;
  • http://www.patheos.com/blogs/quakerpagan/2014/07/a-perfect-day.html;
  • this applies also to my nation Australia: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/quakerpagan/2014/10/yeah-it-really-is-about-race.html;
  • http://www.patheos.com/blogs/quakerpagan/2014/09/what-do-you-mean-god-cat.html;
  • good definition of privilege in this article, towards the end, but read all of it: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/quakerpagan/2014/08/on-privilege.html;
  • http://www.patheos.com/blogs/quakerpagan/2014/08/my-polytheistic-mystic-monist-heart.html;
  • there have been some articles on animal sacrifice lately, which have focused on comparing that to meat bought at a butcher or supermarket, and condemning a perception of cruelty in commercial meat farming. I think that is arguable: yes, factory farming and things like crating (banned in Australia and Europe) to produce veal is cruel, but much of animal husbandry is aimed at keeping animals healthy and content. I actually consider most animal sacrifices cruel, in that they do not stun the animal first, nor do they necessarily avoid panicking the animal as many modern abattoirs that have been redesigned by Temple Grandin, or based on her understanding, do.
    I also consider the comments that animals have to have their spinal cord intact as they die so that “certain hormones can be released” * to be utter rubbish. (Out of interest, do those advocating that think the same of humans? If so, are they against euthanasia, which aims to make death painless?) I’m also aware of comments that cutting the arteries and windpipe is quick: again, utter rubbish. An ex of mine wanted to raise a pig at home for slaughter. When it’s throat was cut, it thrashed around for about 30 seconds. Don’t tell me that that was painless or quick – certainly not compared to being stunned first!
    And, also, I am very tuned in to plant life, and I am aware that all plant matter was once living – without getting into the issue of killing (probably non-sentient) pathogens and sentient vermin.
    Finally, my view of sacrifice is that, to be meaningful, it must be personal. Killing an animal that was always intended to be killed is not giving up something. “Sacrificing” time and energy to study and practice is far more valid - in fact, a genuine Christian who gives up something significant for Lent is showing a better understanding of sacrifice than those who think killing an animal raised to be killed is sacrifice. In fact, the only unique aspect around that is the energy of the humans - and, since the killing is botched, in my view, the terror and pain of the animal. The energy of the humans can be raised without the killing, so the only essential difference is ... what? The terror of the animal? Is that somehow special because it is being done with more deliberation than at an abattoir? What does that attract? Seriously, think about what sort of entity that would attract? There ARE literally blood thirsty Deities (for instance, The Morrigan, the Great Queen), but they can be slaked by a human doing a small blood offering, as Morpheus Ravenna wrote about in this post.
    On a less wholesome note, there are also entities - most definitely NOT deities - who prey upon suffering, traumatic death and the "energy of transition" (death). Some of these are ... not so good (some are, being a little like scavengers - cleaning up stray energies, in a sense). Ever thought of what happens when you feed them?
    Do you know enough to make sure the energy goes where you want it to? (Many people who do this with genuine intent do know enough on that aspect, by the way - it is the dabbler who is likely to get this aspect wrong.)
    There are times when giving up a life is valid – for instance, someone acting to save many others, but, in my view, many times animal sacrifice simply reinforces a view that life is not sacred – just as capital punishment does. (Incidentally, how does an animal consent to being sacrificed - or killed for food, for that matter? And a sentient plant such as a tree? There are a lot of issues here that people are not going anywhere near!)
    In my view, animal sacrifice, along with human sacrifice, are elements that Paganism should move on from, just as neochristianity should move on from its problems (such as discrimination against women and LGBTIQ people), and society should provide fair and equitable education for all, etc, etc, etc. Animal sacrifice can and, if it is undertaken, should be improved to include stunning first, which then reduces the matter of objections to:
         (a) a debate about diet, and
         (b) a debate about what this does spiritually.
    My views on meat as food are coloured by my sensitivity towards plants, an awareness of the possibility of killing sentient vermin, knowledge of the needs of some people (for instance, some women with heavy periods who are unable to take iron tablets).
    My views on what this does spiritually are influenced by my views on respecting, and demonstrating respect for, the sanctity of life, and my related opposition to killing humans, whether by allowing poverty, allowing war, or by human sacrifice. In making those statement, I am FULLY aware of what sacrifices people may have to make as people, in the course of their lives, and that there may be circumstances where it falls to one or a few to sacrifice their lives or wellbeing for the sake of a larger number. I object to trivialising those sacrifices by pretending that similar circumstances can be created, albeit to a lesser degree, by a ritual based on taking the life of an animal, just as much as I object to those who display arrogance or ignorance or ingratitude about what has been done in the name of getting food to their table - both meat and plant. If animals have been raised intentionally for food, loved and cared for, and are killed humanly, then there is a good argument for demonstrating respect and awareness for the animal by a ritual - PROVIDED that ritual does not upset the animal, or create a sense of fear.
    You should also do the same when harvesting plants.
    This post is a fair summary of the debate: http://wildhunt.org/2014/11/animal-sacrifice-in-modern-paganism.html;
  • this sums up why I’ve been respectfully wary of Odin: http://polytheist.com/orgrandr-lokean/2014/10/31/the-halloween-special/;
  • whilst I normally agree with this author, this article is just utter rubbish. Yes, we live in a noisy world, and that is a problem; no, we should NOT accept it – the world NEEDs to become less noisy for the sake of the well being of everyone: http://www.theage.com.au/comment/its-a-noisy-world-so-scream-and-let-scream-20141031-11epr4.html;
  • more surprising announcements from Pope Francis: http://www.theage.com.au/world/evolution-is-real-and-god-is-no-wizard-says-pope-francis-20141029-11dcon.html;
  • http://wyldwyverne.com/2013/10/21/fairy-garden-and-sanctuary-for-ghosts/;
  • http://wyldwyverne.com/2013/10/16/the-faerie-shaman/;
  • http://pombagiraspolly.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/beyond-the-seasons/;
  • http://alisonleighlilly.com/blog/2014/wonder-on-the-wing-lessons-from-the-owl-goddess-on-climate-change/;
  • good review – and I may well start looking at a few YouTube links for inclusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHkjl-nUK-I&list=UUsWrm9ApaFh7s0Br7m_6ulg;
  • some thoughts on dark and light magic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45IERSNxlEY&list=UUsWrm9ApaFh7s0Br7m_6ulg;
  • creation of a crystal web access point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4wU1OXe888&list=UUc8FGWoAdNgs94c-p1g12SA;
  • some thoughts on human dominance of this planet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQQJbBVwSBM&list=UUc8FGWoAdNgs94c-p1g12SA&index=55;
  • dowsing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHHzIE0MxaE&list=UUc8FGWoAdNgs94c-p1g12SA&index=58.
 * From the Wild Hunt post that I link to: "A single cut is made at the neck, severing all vitals instantly, without compromising the central-nervous-system (the spine and neck bones). By leaving the CNS intact, the animal’s natural and biologically programmed response kicks in, which settles the animal into a state of euphoria and death, rather than agitation or panic. (Severing the CNS prevents necessary full-body signals, including hormonal release signals, from being delivered.)" On the basis of my experience, I consider that to be as credible as the rubbish that crustaceans don't feel pain when dropped into boiling water, and the screaming noise is due to some lame explanation that wasn't ever credible. If one really wishes to create feelings of euphoria, use a nitrogen mask.

PS - the debate on animal sacrifice has had a really good, informative, calm, continuation here.

And from the general new sites:


[1] BPLF = Balanced Positive (spiritual) Light Forces. See here and here for more on this.

[2] Please see here and my post "The Death of Wikipedia" for the reasons I now recommend caution when using Wikipedia. I'm also exploring use of h2g2, although that doesn't appear to be as extensive (h2g2 is intended - rather engagingly - to be the Earth edition of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy").

Love, light, hugs and blessings


Gnwmythr, Wéofodthegn 
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear"; ... aka Bellatrix Lux … aka Morinehtar … Would-be drýicgan or maga ... )

My "blogiography" (list of all posts and guide as to how to best use this site) is here, and my glossary/index is here.

I started this blog to cover karmic regression-rescue (see here and here), and it grew ... See here for my group mind project, here and here for my "Pagans for Peace" project (and join me at 9 PM on Sunday, wherever you are, to meditate for peace), and here for my bindrune kit-bag. I also strongly recommend learning how to flame, ground and shield, do alternate nostril breathing, work with colour, and see also here and be flexible. 

I am a Walker upon the Path of Balanced Positivity, seeking Spiritual Maturity.
  • Gnwmythr's Stropping Strap: Occam's Razor only works if  the simplest solution is actually recognised as being the simplest, rather than the one that best fits one's bigotries being labelled 'simplest'.
  • Our entire life experience, with all the many wondrous and varied people, places and events in it, is too small a sample for statistical reliability about Life.
  • May the world of commerce and business be recognised to be a servant, not a master, of the lives of people.
  • Being accustomed to interacting via certain rules makes those rules neither right nor universal.
  • Like fire to the physical, emotions to the soul make a good servant, and a bad master.
  • The means shape the end.
  • As words can kill, the right to freedom of speech comes with a DUTY to be as well-informed, objective and balanced as you can be.
  • My favourite action movie of all time is "Gandhi", although I've recently come across "Invictus" and might put that one in to that category. However, I loathe the stereotypical action movie - and, for similar reasons, I loathe many dramas, which are often emotionally violent, more so in some cases than many war films.
  • All of the above - and this blog - could be wrong, or subject to context, perspective, or state of spiritual evolution ...

Human dignity is the inherently cumulative holistic combination of human rights, wellbeing and potential, and all actions or interaction which promote, realise or facilitate same. The converse also applies: whatever degrades, diminishes or robs humans of dignity, is inherently undignified.
Gnwmythr

The “purpose” of spiritual evolution is not the attainment of “spiritual perfection” - not in the sense of not having to evolve further, at any rate, since there is no such thing. We need to evolve in order to grow - but we can take rest breaks (hopefully well earned :) ) along the way. No, the “purpose” of evolution is, rather, to perfect our ability to learn, and thus grow.
Gnwmythr

Jesus loves you. Odin wants you to grow up.
(Facebook meme, according to John  Beckett)

We make our decisions. And then our decisions turn around and make us.
F.W. Boreham

Females, get over 'cute'. Get competent. Get trained. Get capable. Get over 'cute'. And those of you who are called Patty and Debby and Suzy, get over that. Because we use those names to infantalise females – we keep females in their 'little girl' state by the names we use for them. Get over it. If you want to be taken seriously, get serious.
Jane Elliott

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing.
(based on writing by) Edmund Burke

We didn't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we only borrowed it from our children
Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.
John F. Kennedy

Tags:  animals, attitudes, children, coming events, deities, diet, discrimination, economy, finances, homelessness, killing, perspective, sacrifice, Vampires,
First published: Laugardagr, 8th November, 2014
Last edited (excluding fixing typo's and other minor matters): Sunday, 9th November, 2014 (added PS)
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