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When you were a child, did you love animals?
Do you still love animals? Do you remember when you realized that eating meat meant an animal had been killed? How did that feel? Humans who love animals and also eat meat are sometimes trapped in a painful dilemma. Love animals. Don't want animals to die. Animals = Protein = Food And of course, for sharks and some other predators: Humans = Protein = Food (Interesting...Yes?) |
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So if you love animals and you eat meat, what is the solution?
Some people become vegetarians. If that hasn't worked for you, perhaps you will be interested in another option: Sacred Meat. Honor animals. Respect the sacrifice of animals who are eaten. What if these words were expressed by you and me and others: Sacred Meat. Meat is Sacred. The Meat of Animals is Worthy of Respect. Animals must be cared for and killed in the most intelligent, painless way possible. Meat is valuable. Meat is not to be wasted. Humans can and must insist on best conditions for animals. |
What Do You Say To A Chicken? Thank You. |
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| Is the meat-eating dilemma new?
Apparently not. The legend of Thor and his goats is a clue. Here is a painting of Thor and his goats by Swedish painter Mårten Eskil Winge (1825-1896). In this painting, Thor is fighting giants. His cart is drawn by his loyal, magical animal companion goats. How magic were Thor's goats? If Thor needed food, he could slay his goats, eat the meat and reincarnate his goats again the next morning.
Tors strid med jättarne, 1872, by Mårten Eskil Winge (1825-1896) 46. "One day the God Thor set out in his car drawn by two he-goats, and accompanied by Loki, on a journey. Night coming on, they put up at a peasant's cottage, where Thor killed his goats, and after flaying them, put them in the kettle. When the flesh was sodden, he sat down with his fellow-traveller to supper, and invited the peasant and his family to partake of his repast. The peasant's son was named Thjalfi, and his daughter Roska. Thor bade them throw all the bones into the goats' skins which were spread out near the fire-place, but young Thjalfi broke one of the shank bones with his knife to come to the marrow. Thor having passed the night in the cottage, rose at the dawn of day, and when he was dressed took his mallet Mjolnir, and lifting it up, consecrated the goats' skins, which he had no sooner done than the two goats re-assumed their wonted form, only that one of them now limped on one of its hind legs. Thor perceiving this, said that the peasant, or one of his family, had handled the shank bone of this goat too roughly, for he saw clearly that it was broken. It may readily be imagined how frightened the peasant was when he saw Thor knit his brows, and grasp the handle of his mallet with such force that the joints of his fingers became white from the exertion. Fearing to be struck down by the very looks of the god, the peasant and his family made joint suit for pardon, offering whatever they possessed as an atonement for the offence committed. Thor, seeing their fear, desisted from his wrath, and became more placable, and finally contented himself by requiring the peasant's children, Thjalfi and Roska, who became his bond-servants, and have followed him ever since. [Pg 301] From THE ELDER EDDAS OF SAEMUND SIGFUSSON. |
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| Thor was given bond-servants to make amends for the injury to his goat. The goats were magic and extremely important to Thor. | ||
| So here we are now, at a time when the earth is so densely populated with humans that huge urban centers are even supplied with meat from other nations.
How do persons far removed from the animals who will be killed to feed the humans behave with honor and respect towards the animals who are sacrificed? What if... 1) You ask for the source of the meat before you buy, and you ask for proofs that the animals were treated well. Can you make a trip to the ranch, butchering and packing locations? Can you protest cruel treatment of animals? Can you inform others? What if... 2) When you cook the meat, you say "Thank you" to the spirit of the animal and treat the meat with respect... What if... 3) You give thanks at the table where you will eat the meat, and ask your family to join in simple ceremonies of thanks and honoring of the animals... What if.. 4) You treat the bones and remains of the animals with respect, save them and bury them with a simple ceremony so their remains nourish trees and plants... What if... 5) When you come in contact with live animals, you say... "Thank you" to the chickens. "Thank you" to the cows. "Thank you" to the fish. "Thank you" to all the animals who are killed and eaten by humans... What if... 6) You know and share prayers for hunting so that hunting returns to the very serious and reverent act that it was when our ancestors respected the earth and knew the deaths of the hunted animals meant food for living human family members and their companion animals... |
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