Could you simply offer a thank you to the chicken when you kill it? I think that my children became more aware of the treatment of animals because they were exposed to killing our chickens. We spoke about respecting life and the fact that we gave them a merciful, quick death.
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Oh Tamra, I'm so glad you asked this question. You voiced the question that's been in my mind, for a while now. We only have 5 laying hens, and we don't have plans to slaughter these girls. However, I know that at some point one of them might need to be dispatched - for one reason or another. I almost had to end my rooster's life last summer until a nice hippie friend, with a big farm, took him to live there. We eat meat, now & then, from local farmers, mostly. However, I totally agree we need to be more connected with the death of the animals we eat.
Right now, I always audibly voice my thanks to each hen for the egg, when I pick it up, if I can recognize who laid it. Otherwise, I thank the coop and it's occupants in general!
But when I eat meat, I thank the animal that died for its willing & humble spirit in choosing a physical form that provided me with food. Then, I promise that animal's spirit that I will not waste the energy I receive from its meat, but use it wisely. And I ask the animal's spirit to be with me so that I can learn to be as willing and humble as they were, within my own earthly form.
Even so, if I hand-raised these animals, saw their life-force and their connection with each other and with me, I would grieve if they were slaughtered. One of my relatives, recently, told me that my hens are "just chickens, despite how much you love them". They don't know I can tell each one's voice, even when my back is turned. They don't know that each of my hens knows her own name, and responds noticeably to it.
I like how you are making fans & wands and special things from the parts. To me, that's not morbid. What's morbid, to me, is spilling blood and then wasting & discarding the parts of the body that aren't desired. That's disconnection from the animal that gave up its life. The whole body was important to that animal. All the parts played a role in keeping it healthy and alive. All were treasured, all were groomed. The animal was not just a breast, a leg, a thigh. It was ALL of it, down to the claws.
I've asked farmers for a chicken's feet and head. A couple years ago, I was laughed at and refused. Now, I notice, the farmers market carries at least the feet sometimes. I make soup & broth from all parts, if I can get them. Sometimes I've pressure cooked the bones, so we actually can eat them too. There's very little that gets discarded in this house. It's a lot of work, but I feel honest doing it.
Oh Tamra, I'm so glad you asked this question. You voiced the question that's been in my mind, for a while now. We only have 5 laying hens, and we don't have plans to slaughter these girls. However, I know that at some point one of them might need to be dispatched - for one reason or another. I almost had to end my rooster's life last summer until a nice hippie friend, with a big farm, took him to live there. We eat meat, now & then, from local farmers, mostly. However, I totally agree we need to be more connected with the death of the animals we eat.
Right now, I always audibly voice my thanks to each hen for the egg, when I pick it up, if I can recognize who laid it. Otherwise, I thank the coop and it's occupants in general!
But when I eat meat, I thank the animal that died for its willing & humble spirit in choosing a physical form that provided me with food. Then, I promise that animal's spirit that I will not waste the energy I receive from its meat, but use it wisely. And I ask the animal's spirit to be with me so that I can learn to be as willing and humble as they were, within my own earthly form.
Even so, if I hand-raised these animals, saw their life-force and their connection with each other and with me, I would grieve if they were slaughtered. One of my relatives, recently, told me that my hens are "just chickens, despite how much you love them". They don't know I can tell each one's voice, even when my back is turned. They don't know that each of my hens knows her own name, and responds noticeably to it.
I like how you are making fans & wands and special things from the parts. To me, that's not morbid. What's morbid, to me, is spilling blood and then wasting & discarding the parts of the body that aren't desired. That's disconnection from the animal that gave up its life. The whole body was important to that animal. All the parts played a role in keeping it healthy and alive. All were treasured, all were groomed. The animal was not just a breast, a leg, a thigh. It was ALL of it, down to the claws.
I've asked farmers for a chicken's feet and head. A couple years ago, I was laughed at and refused. Now, I notice, the farmers market carries at least the feet sometimes. I make soup & broth from all parts, if I can get them. Sometimes I've pressure cooked the bones, so we actually can eat them too. There's very little that gets discarded in this house. It's a lot of work, but I feel honest doing it.
I've grown up a christian, and have lately been reading on other religions and trying to figure out where I fit into this. What we always grew up with was saying a small prayer thanking the maker for the food we were about to recieve and ask for a swift release so no pain is felt. Then we said a small prayer of thanks to the animal itself promising it wouldn't be wasted. Thinking back on it, what we were doing wasn't exactly a christian thing both praying to the animal and the maker at the same time... but it made sense to me then as it does to me now. Who am I to guess the nature of the maker or who's teachings are right and wrong... thats why I am on my own journey to educate myself to find my place where I belong. Just my $.02
I wonder if this would be a good book for you, Boyd. It seems manly, but I want it for myself.
http://www.amazon.com/Wiccan-Warrior-Walking-Spiritual-Sometimes/dp/1567182526/ref=pd_sim_b_4
It is called the Wiccan Warrior and is written by a former military man and a police officer. He has some other books out that you might like.
http://www.amazon.com/Wiccan-Warrior-Walking-Spiritual-Sometimes/dp/1567182526/ref=pd_sim_b_4
It is called the Wiccan Warrior and is written by a former military man and a police officer. He has some other books out that you might like.
For those interested in Celtic beliefs, this site has some podcasts. I haven't listened to them yet but I plan on doing so.
http://celticmythpodshow.com/episodes/Archive2008.php
Some of my ancestors came from Ireland so I am interested in Celtic Mythology.
http://celticmythpodshow.com/episodes/Archive2008.php
Some of my ancestors came from Ireland so I am interested in Celtic Mythology.
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Thanks
Checking it out on amazon
If you want the book, don't go off and buy a new copy. I have an almost new copy here that I'd be glad to send you.
Thanks
If you want the book, don't go off and buy a new copy. I have an almost new copy here that I'd be glad to send you.
I am glad you all understand. I am so used to horrified looks when I disclose the whole truth of my chicken keeping. Some are pleased by the thought of free range eggs, some even admire raising your own meat, some appreciate the masks, but few I interact with daily understand the deep connection I feel and the responsibility I take for these birds' lives. Even though the guys do the killing (we all have our squeamish moments... I cringe at causing pain, and my guys don't handle blood and guts at all well!) I know that I am directly responsible for that life, and for the time, place, and circumstances of its end. It is a heavy burden, but one that makes you feel righteous and whole, even in your sadness. At least that's how I feel. I have admitted the truth that we must cause death to live. I could so easily live ignorant of this and leave the blood on others' hands, but I do not feel right about that anymore. I still get most of my food from the store, but I am trying to steer my life away from blind consumerism and back to nature... My room mate's kids will grow up knowing where their food comes from and what it took to get it to the table. In fact when doing a kindergarten assignment related to thanksgiving the older boy was probably the only one in his class to write up as part of his 'how to cook a turkey' instructions that you have to kill the turkey first! Maybe some would be embarrassed by that, but we were proud of him. He has never even seen a live turkey, but he made the logical realization that a turkey begins as a live bird and even at age 5 did not begin his hypothetical thanksgiving feast at the grocery store.
I agree with this, this is how we handle the dispatch of surplus roos. We make sure it has a good day and then honor it and thank it for giving us life. Then dispatch must be swift and as painless as possible. I prefer to eat food that I knew. That way if I eat meat I know that it was raised well and honored in its death.
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