I imagined that my first “post-introduction” post would be something of a Paganism 101-type thing so as to help myself (and any other baby Pagan who wanders by my blog) figure out just where I am and where I seem to be heading along the Pagan path. But as I was working in my vegetable garden today, I started to think about the lettuces I was harvesting. As I tugged each leaf away from the base of its plant, I thought about the energy (both mine and the Divine) that went into growing it all. Then I started to wonder how much longer I could expect to be able to harvest from these plants before they start bolting in the glorious summer warmth that is here in the Pacific Northwest at last. On the heels of that thought, I began to muse about the cycles in nature. Jumbled in with all of that was a thought about a post I had read somewhere recently (gee, I guess I’m going to have to get better at marking these things so that I can link to them in my posts) regarding the ethics of meat-eating for Pagans. The gist of the post, as best I can remember, was that meat eating didn’t seem to be in line with Pagan reverence for all life. So then I continued to think about whether what I was doing at the time (disconnecting lettuce leaves from their source of life) showed reverence for life, and what I came up with (this is going to sound trite, I know) is that my family and I are life forms that need nourishing, too. Not only that, but we enjoy a little meat, fish, or fowl every now and then.
I guess some arguments Pagans make against eating meat might have some validity, especially those that focus on the amount of meat we Americans tend to eat (often way too much) or the gruesome conditions many animals bred for our eventual consumption are kept in. But objection to meat eating simply on the basis that it shows a lack of reverence for some forms of life is a false argument, in my opinion. For assuredly, the lettuce leaves I harvested and my own body are just as imbued with Divine energy as the animals which contribute to my omnivorous diet.
I agree. This argument gets taken far too far. ‘Reverencing all life’ means, to me in this context, giving the animals we eat the very best treatment and conditions, and buying only meat that reaches or exceeds these conditions. And as that will mean it’s more expensive, it follows that we eat less meat, not none.
People may choose to be vegetarian for any amount of reasons, but respect for life doesn’t mean we shouldn’t kill animals to eat them. It just means we need to give them more respect while they’re alive.
Eberyone can make a difference on this by choosing organic, free range eggs, for example. By buying them, we’re actively supporting a change in husbandry practice. By not buying them at all, we’re supporting the status quo. Which, as you say, is a national disgrace – on both sides of the Atlantic!
By: The Green Witch on July 17, 2008
at 11:47 am
I do believe that buying organic is better, but organic standards in this country are falling. Horizon, for instance, sells organic dairy products from cows that still live in feed lots. I don’t believe that by not buying eggs at all you are supporting the status quo. Every person who adopts a vegetarian diet saves 90 something animal lives per year by reducing the demand for meat. It probably follows that people who don’t buy dairy or eggs are supporting humane practices by reducing demand for dairy and eggs from mistreated animals as well.
Ultimately lifestyle choices like diet are for each individual to choose for themselves. To say that Pagans shouldn’t eat meat is adding a sense of dogma, IMO. Maybe reverence for all life is a pagan ideal, but how an individual chooses to apply that principle to their life should be personal and not for others to pass judgment about.
I am a vegetarian moving toward veganism, and will eventually be posting about my choice, my journey with it, and my reasons in my blog if anyone would like to stop by and view it. I’m not a food nazi, i still have meat eaters in my family, but i do try to help the people around me make educated choices about eating animal products.
By: twincowfaeries on July 17, 2008
at 1:19 pm
Green Witch-Thanks so much for your comments. Although it’s never nice to find out that reprehensible practices have spread beyond American shores, I find a weird bit of comfort in knowing that others behave that way, too (i.e., Americans may be stupid in this regard, but not exceptionally so.) I appreciated your thought on changing such practices–as Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
Best to you,
Sabrina
By: Sabrina on July 17, 2008
at 7:34 pm
twincoowfaeries–Thanks for letting me know I was understood and not disdained even though my personal principles and lifestyle choices differ somewhat from yours. Yet another thing I love about the Pagans I’m starting to hang out with digitally!
Best,
Sabrina
By: Sabrina on July 17, 2008
at 8:19 pm