Following the Trail of the Lord of Animals part 2: First the Temple, then the City

1

April 13, 2012 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather.

Author’s note: Part 1 can be found here. Also, I lied; it might take us a while to reach the classical era. Word count limits and history being so fascinating, why rush?

 

“First came the temple, then the city.” ~ Dr. Klaus Schmidt of the German Archaeological Institute

 

If the peoLion man photople who created cave art carved, moulded or sculpted the male form, we don’t have much evidence of it. We have found many a little venus statuette. I am sure you are familiar with them, dear readers. A possible masculine representation is Löwenmensch, a statuette of a therianthrope with the head of a lion. The gender of the lion-person is uncertain even amongst the experts. It’s entirely possible that the artist did not intend to portray gender at all.

Why were our ancient ancestors driven to portray part human, part animal images? What Mystery did this art represent to them? Are we looking at ancient recordings of the first forays into the Otherworld? Are they representations of how man felt himself to be part of the animal kingdom, at one with the world? Were these truly their gods?

It was a long road from forager to farmer, much of that road is still shrouded in the mists of time. We find our man-animal again in art of one of our first great monuments.

In what is now south-eastern turkey we find what may be the oldest known religious structure built by man. Göbekli Tepe (which means Potbelly hill in Turkish) is possibly the first piece of architecture constructed by man that was greater than your average nomadic hut. The people who built Göbekli Tepe were still hunter-gatherers; they had not yet invented the written word, agriculture or even the wheel. These people had no beasts of burden, they had only stone tools. Yet somehow they came together to build a complex so large and beautiful that it astonishes archaeologists and has changed how we think the birth of civilization came about.

The complex was inhabited and added to over the course of generations, but the main temple was built approximately 11,600 years ago, seven thousand years before the Great Pyramid of Giza and Stonehenge. It is in fact, older even than the civilization of Sumer and Çatalhöyük.

“Göbekli Tepe is the oldest known example of monumental architecture—the first structure human beings put together that was bigger and more complicated than a hut. When these pillars were erected, so far as we know, nothing of comparable scale existed in the world.” ~ Charles C. Mann

 

It seems as though people came together to build a massive temple over the course of generations. The people of Göbekli Tepe were still hunter-gatherers, the archaeological record shows little to no sign of the domestication of animals. It does seem however, that the people who built and worked (or worshipped) in and around Göbekli Tepe did create some settlements. While similar sties, such as Çatalhöyük, show us that people were building settlements and giving up a nomadic life following the herds, the people of Göbekli Tepe were among the first to that we know of to construct permanent, massive, stone complexes.

 

“Other sites with comparable findings are Çayönü, Nevah Cori, Jerf el ahmar, Tell Abr, and Tell Qaramell … Göbekli Tepe is of a similar date, but it very different in comparison with these sites. It is unique not only in its location on top of a hill and in its monumental architecture but also its diverse set of objects of art, ranging from small stone figurines through sculptures and statues of animals to decorated megaliths, all of which set it apart. Göbekli Tepe is not a settlement; it is a mountain sanctuary.” ~ Klaus Schmidt, the Oxford Handbook of Ancient Anatolia: (10,000-323 Bce)

 

We do not find Gobekli Tepe 2our horned deity here, though there are some therianthropic images. Many of the pillars seem to be wearing necklaces, belts and loincloths, while also depicting animals such as foxes or snakes. Many of the animals portrayed at Göbekli Tepe seem to have intelligence, as they gaze at us from their stone pillars. In this, they remind us of the painting and engraving found in Old Stone Age caves. Could it be that some kind of man-animal god was worshipped here? Perhaps animals themselves were the focus of the builder’s religious devotion?

After 4,000 years of work and worship at this site, the people of Göbekli Tepe filled the site, burying it in sand and debris and seemingly walked away from it. We cannot guess as to their reasons why.

 

Tags: , , ,

Our Thoughts About Animals

0

February 27, 2012 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather.

While I polish up my next instalment (or two) on our Lord of Animals series, I thought I might share with you some insightful and interesting articles about our relationship with animals from the Pagan blogosphere … and maybe an episode of a podcast or two. (Yes, I know some of these are older posts; don’t we have a short attention span?)

If you have written a blog post on the matter, or know of one that you would like to share, please post the link in the comment section.

 

Familiar Spirits and Animals– dedicated to Aszdra and her successors

At Walking the Hedge, Cyne shares some personal reflection on working with familiar spirits.

 

Animal Sacrifice in Modern Paganism?

A contemporary Druid takes a look at animal sacrifice in modern Paganism.

 

Familiars and Familiar Spirits

Here is another look at familiars from an American Folkloric Witchcraft perspective.

 

How I Accidentally Became A Toadwitch

One Traditional Crafter recounts her reluctance to become a Toadwitch and how it happened anyway. There are some follow up posts on this blog (Root and Rock) about sacrifice and the toad Rite that might interest you as well.

 

High Performance Symbolism: The Jaguar

Rebecca takes a look at the symbolism of the Jaguar.

 

The Naturalist’s Altar

Sarah Lawless shares some wonderful images and ideas for natural and animal centric altars.

 

A Dog’s Perspective on Paganism

Star foster is inspired by two puppies she is caring for.

 

Blog Post 121 – Watching Birds

New World Witchery studies the connection between birds and divination.

 

Episode Seven: Coyotes in the City

Did you miss this episode of Standing Stone & Garden Gate? We talk about urban wildlife, coyotes to be exact.

 

Pagan Centered Podcast – Episode 124 – Lukumi Trad + Animal Sacrifice

The Pagan Centred Podcast weighs in on the issues of animal sacrifice.

 

How to Save the World: Seven Pillars of Vegetarianism

A while back, our very own Allison wrote about vegetarianism.

 

Q of the Week: Animal Rescue

Dr. Myers asks some tough questions about animal rescue.

 

Tags: , , , , ,

The Story of Dog

4

January 22, 2012 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather.

Once upon a time …

Long ago, when the Human race was still young and new to this world Humanity lived in caves and in tents made of wood and animal hides. Humanity had learned to harness the power of fire and to control it. Humanity had learned to kill the other creatures of the Earth and to use their body parts for more than just food. All the other creatures of the Earth had learned to fear Humanity, for Humanity had become a mighty hunter and had begun to range far and wide over the landscape.

Mother Earth loved all her creatures but She loved Humanity best. For through Humanity could She perceive Herself in all Her glory. She could watch the Sun rise through Human eyes; feel the wind blow against Human skin, taste meat and fruit with Human tongue. She could feel what it was to make love, experience the thrill of the hunt and She learned about the fear of death.

That the Mother loved Humanity best also caused the other creatures to fear them. Many creatures learned to run at the sight or smell of Humanity but some did not. Some creatures liked the taste of Human flesh and others would fight Humanity if they should try to hunt them.

Wolf feared Humanity. Much more than that, Wolf feared Humanities fires. The thought that Humanity dared to bring fire into their dens filled them with fright. Fire was far too dangerous to have in one’s den! Wolf learned to stay away from Humanity.

One day, however, a young she Wolf was walking through the woods and caught the scent of blood on the air. She was very hungry, for she carried pups in her womb. Her pack mates had been killed by a bad Winter and she had no one to help her hunt. She followed the delicious smell, her stomach rumbling with hunger. When she saw where the smell was coming from she shivered with fright, for the smell came from just outside a Human den. The smell of meat was so strong she could not turn away. So she hid and she watched the frightful Humans.

She watched Humanity carve hide and flesh off a kill and divide its parts amongst them. She watched with horror as they burned flesh over a large fire. Yet she stayed, for the smell of the meat made her pups move within her. She stayed out of hope. Then she watched as one Human took some bones, scraps and other things out of the Human den and walk away from it. Silently she stalked the Human, watching his every move. The Human took the scraps and placed them into a shallow pit a ways down a Human trail from the Human den. Then, he left.

The she Wolf waited as long as she dared, to see if any Human would return to the pit. She whined. Fear and hunger waged a war within her; finally the need to feed her pups won and she slunk out of the bushes and into the pit. There she found and snatched a bone that still had meat clinging to it and ran off, back into the bushes. She did this three more times through the night until at last, her belly was full.

Wolf made a den not far from the Human scrap pit and she stole food from it late at night. Then as the Moon full and high in the sky, she gave birth to five pups. Wolf ate the placentas and cleaned the pups; she fed them with good milk thanks to the food she had gotten from the Human pit. Once her pups bellies were full and they slept, she snuck out of the den and went as far from them as she dared, to mark territory in the way that Wolves do and to gaze up at the Moon. She spoke a prayer of gratitude to the Mother for her healthy pups, her safe den and the Human pit.

Wolf taught her pups how to steal from the Human pits and they also learned how to stalk Humans as the Humans stalked their prey. Wolf and her pups cleaned up the Human kills once they returned to their Human den. Wolf’s pups and their pups grew to understand Humanity more as they watched them. They grew to fear them less and less. They made their dens near the Human den.

Then another bad Winter came. The freezing cold brought sickness to the small Wolf pack and many died. Only a few pups who had just begun to be weaned survived. They cried and cried for their mother but she never came. One by one, they began to die themselves until there was only one. The last pup dared to climb out of the den in search of her mother and cried for her. She was so very, very cold she knew if she had no warm mother soon she would die. Then something came towards her and she cowered in fright. The thing picked her up and held her close. The smell of a Human scared the Wolf pup greatly, but then she realised she was warm, snuggled within the furs the Human wore. She found herself being lulled to sleep by this warmth and by the sound of the Human’s heartbeat.

The bad Winter had also not been kind to Humanity. The sickness the Winter brought had taken a child from this Human woman and she had walked the woods in mourning. When she heard the cries of the pup she had been filled with the power of the Mother and could not turn away and leave the pup to die. The Human took the pup back to her den.

The other Humans were afraid, for they feared Wolf. But the wisest Human among them saw the Mother within the woman who had brought Wolf into their den and spoke on her behalf. The woman took the pup into her part of the den and she cared for her. She fed her scraps of meat mixed with her own milk, milk she had no child to give to. She raised her as if she was her child and grew to love her.

As the pup grew into a Wolf she began to leave the Human den more and more, answering the need to be a Wolf. However something magical had happened, for in the time the pup was in the Human den, Humanity had learned about Wolf and Wolf had learned about Humanity.

This Wolf remembered the love she had been given by the Human woman and she taught this love to her own pups. Those pups were less afraid of Humanity than any other Wolves had ever been, for they knew how to love a Human and not to fear Humanity. Their pups grew even bolder and so did their love for Humanity. Humanity learned not only to respect and fear Wolf, but also how to love Wolf.

Mexican Wolf

From Greg Harder at the NUP Flickr group

 

 

Eventually the Wolves of the Humans were free of their fear of Humanity and only full of love for them. Humanity called these Wolves “Dog”. The Dogs changed their shapes, colours and sizes to better suit Humanity and Humanity grew to love Dog as one loves a best friend. Dog’s love for Humanity grew so great that of all the Mother’s creatures, Dog’s love runs the deepest, even deeper than Humanities’ love.

With this love and with the remembered gratitude of the Wolf who was hungry and the pup who was cold, Dog has ever served Humanity. Dog freely gives up life and limb, freedom and the woods to be in the company of Humanity.

Without the service of Dog, Humanity would have struggled even harder to learn to herd animals, to protect crops and their dens. Humanity would not have a warm Dog to snuggle when the Winters are bad. Without the service, love and loyalty of Dog, Humanity would not be what it is today.

Above all this however, the greatest service Dog has ever provided Humanity is the ongoing lesson of unconditional love.

The end

Tags: , , ,

Following the Trail of the Lord of Animals (Part 1)

10

November 8, 2011 by • Categorized: Fur and Feather, Science & Religion.

“Our way is the way of the serpent in the underbrush,
Our knowledge is in the eyes of goats and of women.”
~ Jack Parsons

 

Abbé Henri Breuil sketched diligently by the dim gas-light, in a high alcove deep within a cave system. What he drew there and in other caves, what theories he later published about his discoveries, would help shape not only modern archaeology but also modern Paganism.

The Abbé was a man obsessed, crawling through narrow passages and scaling walls, only to lie upon the floors of caverns humanity had not set foot upon for thousands of years. All to draw the images he found there within. The most ancient of art in European history called to him. Cave art; depictions of bison and horses, lions, disembodied body parts (such a vulvas without the woman) and hand prints. As well as a few images of the human form mingled with that of an animal, the experts call these part-human and part-animal figures therianthropes or anthropomorphs.

 

“God was born sometime in the Palaeolithic Age, the Old Stone Age, which corresponds historically to the geological ice age.  There are indications of religious cults in altars and burial sites that date back to the time of Neanderthal Man (Homo sapiens neanderthalis) that is, as early as the Middle Palaeolithic (ca. 75,000 B.C.E.). But the first clear pictures we have of male deity are on the walls of the great cave of Cro-Magonon Man (Homo sapiens sapiens) in Europe, Africa, and Asia during the early part of the Upper Palaeolithic (30,000-10,000 B.C.E.) period. The Upper Palaeolithic was marked by the development of bladed stone tools, by some cave dwelling, by hunting and gathering and later fishing, and by the emergence of art in the form of sculpture and painting” ~ God: Myths of the Male Divine by David Adams Leeming and Jake Page

 

The Trois-Frères cave system was just one of many ancient cave systems Breuil would visit in his lifetime. In fact, it is far from the most famous of caves he worked in. Discovered in southern France, the art in this cave dates back to the mid-Magdalenian period of about 14,000 B.C.E. This cave features some 280 engraved images of bison, horses, stags, reindeer, ibex and mammoths. In a large chamber known as the Sanctuary, at the height of about four meters (about 15 feet) from the cave floor, a therianthrope dominates the scene. Part man and part beast this figure is both engraved and painted. He is not large, a little less than a meter tall in fact, but as the only painted engraving, he stands out from the animals depicted on the walls around him.

 

Breuil was known to exaggerate his images at times and to attempt to “fill in the blanks”. He also worked in very difficult conditions, often on his back, trying to hold a light and his drawing implements at the same time. He drew this image with antlers, which do not appear in modern photography.  This image is partially carved and at times photography does not do the relief of cave art justice. This may be a trick of light, or of Breuil’s own mind. The experts still do not agree on this point. To this day one of the most commonly found versions of this image is a photograph with Breuil’s artwork superimposed upon it. Below is a written description given by a modern researcher who had the chance to see the Dancing Sorcerer with his own eyes:

 

“His eyes are two black circles with black, round pupils looking straight ahead. His nose is a single line between them that ends in a small arc. A long, pointed beard that reaches to his chest covers the rest of his face. He even seems to have a thick handlebar moustache that turns up at the ends. He has the ears of a stag. They are pricked up and turned forward as if something has caught his attention. Two stag’s antlers sprout from his head. He has the long body of a horse, outlined with thick stripes of black paint, and a horse’s tail that is also partially painted. His arms are more human than not. He’s holding them together in front of him. They end in what appear to be five long fingers but no thumb. His sizable penis, while not erect, sticks out beneath his tail. He has muscular legs bent at the knee. They, too, are colored in with black paint. He has lifted one foot as of he is walking, prancing, or dancing. He is a moving, bearded man-stag-horse who knows we are here and has suddenly turned to look right at us” ~ The Cave Painters: Probing the Mysteries of the World’s First Artists by Gregory Curtis

 

This man-beast was dubbed by Breuil “The Sorcerer” (later referred to as The Dancing Sorcerer) and he theorized that this image was that of a shaman. He felt this supported his theory of “sympathetic magic”; an image of a shaman dressed in the skins of an animal, calling the hunt to him for the survival of his community [1]. Indeed the image itself does seem to be in mid-step, as if forever caught in a shamanic dance.

Margaret Murray read Breuil’s work and combined with her other studies, and with her desire for a revival of Pagan practices, she built upon Breuil’s theories. In her work “The God of the Witches” she called The Dancing Sorcerer “…the earliest known representation of a deity”.  An idea that became so poplar even Breuil himself adopted it. So did many others, including Gerald Gardner. In fact many introductory Pagan books feature an image of The Dancing Sorcerer and speak of the Stag King, the Horned God, or the Lord of Animals to this very day.

Many scholars and non-scholars have adopted the theory that the Dancing Sorcerer is either a shaman or deity or both. Though we must be honest in acknowledging these are educated guesses at best.

 

 “Because they are uncommon in cave art and also infrequent in mobiliary art, the figures of humans have not yielded much information on their role in the Palaeolithic message. The magic of the hunt, symbols of human fertility side by side on the walls with those of animals, a shaman executing hunting dances, mother goddesses, all these explanatory

themes abound, and are based solely on the reminiscences of western thought.” ~ From The Dawn of European art: an Introduction to Palaeolithic Cave Painting by André Leroi-Gourhan

 

Another therianthrope can be found within Trois-Frères, surrounded by a seething mass of bison, rhinos and horses. He is bull-like, complete with horns and a furry ridged back. He rises up on his hind feet, one leg bent in stride or dance. A long, thin object protrudes from his mouth (or nostrils) as if he is playing upon a reed pipe or some instrument.

 

The cave known as Chauvet may feature some of the oldest known cave paintings. This cave was discovered in 1994 in southern France. One interesting image found within Chauvet is that of the lower part of a woman with a bison and a horse above it. The pubic region is clearly and carefully drawn. The shape and style of the thighs and legs (minus feet) is eerily similar to the Venus statuettes found in archaeological digs, such as the Willendorf Venus. Her legs meld with that of the animals; the bison’s head and horns cover where her belly should be. The shape and position of the bison’s head mimic that of the female reproductive organs. Prehistorians refer to this figure as Venus and the Sorcerer. We find this enigmatic image in the deepest chamber of Chauvet; it is nearly 7m (20feet) high. It is drawn using charcoal upon a limestone cone than hangs from the ceiling above. The pubic triangle sits roughly at eye level. Among the numerous and astounding works of art within Chauvet there are many drawings horned animals and disembodied vulvas, though the Venus and the Sorcerer stands out.

 

Carved in the rock shelter known as Gabillou we find a bison or oxen headed figure. He, like the image in Trois-Frères, also stands erect. Both his legs are bent and he holds his arms out in front of him. It seems as if his lips are turned upwards in a smile. Yet, it is possible he is struck by a spear or lance of some kind.

 

These are but a few examples of such images found in our most ancient past. Although we do not know the true meaning behind the horned therianthropes found in Stone Age caves throughout Europe, we can still be certain they did have some important and possible even sacred purpose. As Professor Samuel Brandon said about the Dancing Sorcerer in Trois-Frères cave; “…it seems to be generally agreed that this picture of the ‘Dancing Sorcerer’ was a cult object of great significance to the community which used the cave.”

 

The main competing theories to explain the therianthropes found in cave art is whether we see depicted in them a god or a shaman, or perhaps both.

 

Çatalhöyük (also called Çatal Hüyük) was a very large settlement in southern Anatolia, occupied from about 7,500 BCE to 5,700 BCE. Çatalhöyük is by far the largest and most well preserved Neolithic archaeological site we have found. The people lived in mud-brick dwellings crammed cheek to jowl. According to the research of the archaeologists who study this site, it seems the people here had begun to domesticate animals, such as sheep and cows, as well as begun grow crops.

The buildings had plaster interiors that were often richly painted and decorated. Amongst the painting, figurines and artwork found at Çatalhöyük the most numerous are images are of women (including the famous Seated Woman of Çatalhöyük, possibly a goddess figure), men with erections, hunting scenes, wild cattle and stags. The heads of cattle were mounted on walls.

 

 “The painting on the walls of the shrines are rough and forceful. They lack the elegance of the earlier Magdalenian phase of the Upper Palaeolithic art or of the near contemporary work of the artist of the Sahara oases. They are powerful however; they give prominence to the bull but for the first time men (or rather figures with human characteristics) are shown as important elements in the scenes portrayed.

This is very different from the practice of the Upper Palaeolithic artists; though the human figures are still relatively small compared with the bull in Çatal Hüyük, and sometimes with the other animals with which they are shown, they have some individuality and independent character. They are represented with considerable vigour whereas the bull is static, though its massiveness makes it seem dangerous and full of menace. The warriors (for this is what they seems to be) who leap around it are clearly young, introducing one of the recurring elements of the bull-cult; the presence of armed boys or youths, which was to be found in all its later manifestations. They brandish their weapons though the bull remains impassive, in the most graphic episode on the shrines’ walls. Some of the bull’s attendants carry torches. This will become another constant element in the cult’s iconography which harks back to the torches carried into the painted caves and forward to the boys or youths in many other later variants of the cults who are depicted lighting the dark interiors of shrines and caves.” ~ From ‘The Power of the Bull’ by Michael Rice

The astrological Age of Taurus (the age of the bull) began over 4,000 years before Christ, some 6,000 plus years ago. After the Taurean age began the Age of Ares (the age of the ram). In the four millennia that these two ages lasted humanity witnessed the rise of bull worshipping practices, and mythology associated with the bull, in Egypt, Minoa, Assyria and Crete. This is where we will return to our search in the next instalment, a time when we left behind hunter gatherer societies, abandoned caves and worked our way into the Bronze Age & Classical antiquity.

[1] It is interesting to note that the theory of sympathetic magic, so popular amongst Pagans today, is the brain child of an abbot.

It should be mentioned here that the theory of sympathetic magic being used in cave art to invoke the hunt has been debunked. The archaeological record tells us the animals most commonly eaten by the cave artists were not the most commonly painted animals and vice versa. Meaning people who painted Mammoths ate the prehistoric ancestors of goats; people who painted horses ate reindeer.

The current accepted theory for the purpose behind cave painting is indeed still shamanic and spiritual in nature however. Many of the non-animal images painted in caves have been found to appear within the mind and before the eyes while a person is experiencing sensory deprivation. People subjected to sensory deprivation also often hallucinated images of great personal meaning and cultural importance. Not much was more important to Stone Age people than animals and there is no place on Earth better suited to sensory deprivation and trance than the dark and silent depths of a cave.

Tags: , , , ,

Dead Things on the Altar

6

July 24, 2011 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather.

I am always on the look out for feathers. If I wore a bumper sticker on my butt it would say “I stop for animal parts.” I have piles of feathers. My altar is decorated with not only feathers but also a clump of squirrel fur, deer fur, horse hair, antler tips, an actual rack of alters, leather, hide, teeth, bones and skulls. The newest editions to the family are a full crow’s wing and feet.

 

Animal parts make up a large portion of my ritual and magickal tools, to quote a friend of mine; “There are dead things on that altar”, enough that it’s a challenge to teach my young cat to stay off. My response to my friend was that she also has dead things on her altar; sticks, leaves, decomposing plant matter, dried flowers, acorns that will never become trees. She insisted that it is different to have a branch from a tree than a bone from a bear.

At a talk given by Judika Illes a couple of years ago she pointed out that tomatoes don’t want to be ripped from the vine. It’s just that we can’t hear them scream, unless you really try, unless you’re really attuned to the Land and that tomato plant. Of course, if you are that attuned, you’ve probably made sure to give the appropriate offerings and thanks and have explained to the tomato plant why it must be this way.

When I gather deadfall from a tree I give offerings and thanks. When I gather a shed feather from a bird I give thanks and offerings. When I cut a branch from a tree I know that I cut through living flesh, that sap is lifeblood … yet it is different than when I cut an animal. Removing the feet from a crow found dead is a different experience, even if it is not nearly as bloody and gore-filled as one might think. This point is driven home as I slice through sinew and nerve endings, causing the claw to open and close as if the bird is grasping at me. A bee might fly into my face as I gather wild chamomile in a vacant lot, but wild flowers are not going look at me with dead eyes.

 

When I gather animal parts there is also a methodology, just as when I gather leaves or flowers.

 

First and foremost, one must know the laws of the land. Depending on where you live it may be acceptable to gather from found dead animals, while in other regions it might not be. In some parts of the world even keeping an eagle feather that you found laying on the grass is breaking laws. In others you’ll need a permit or a hunting license or be a Native American. It varies a great deal. There are also laws regarding what you may sell, trade, give as a gift or what can cross borders.

When you wildcraft, garden or gather plants material there are also rules and laws to consider. Folks who choose to go the route of guerrilla gardening or planting on public spaces are running the risk of waking up one morning to find the city has destroyed their work.  National and provincial/state parks often do not allow you to take so much as a pine cone. Vacant lots and other semi-wild urban areas might be sprayed with nasty pesticides or chemicals, something you will want to know about before walking into the place looking for some nice Queen Anne’s Lace for a natural dye.

Some people may choose to knowingly break these laws, for religious purposes or as an act of civil disobedience. It can be a hard pill to swallow; knowing that poor road killed deer may be unceremoniously dumped in a landfill by city workers. Especially when you yourself would honour it with love and in ritual, keeping a small piece so that it’s memory may live on. This is an ethical choice each must make, a risk that you must choose to or not to accept. But do so with full knowledge of the laws and the consequences of breaking said laws. While we may resent and question the laws and the law makers, keep in mind that often these laws are created to protect the Land. As a Pagan, Witch or Heathen, is it in your personal code of ethics to violate laws set forth to protect Mother Earth and Her creatures? Even if you find the laws to be unfair to you? Is it worth sneaking a pretty piece of quartz from a national park?

 

Secondly, consider what you are going to use the gathered parts for. Will it be a fetish for a familiar spirit, a devotional piece, or mere decoration to pretty-up your wand? Do you really need yet another oak leaf on your altar, would it not be better left to decompose with the rest of the leaf litter?

Most of the feathers and occasional bits of fur that I collect never become tools. They spend a period of time upon my altar, honoured and respected guests, before they are returned to the land. I honour the soul of the animal that it came from. I do this because it pleases my god and my spirits when I do so. It is a selfless act, I give up time and energy, I give blessings and offerings and then I send return them home. There is nothing for me to gain from this, other than pleasing certain entities who charge me with the job.

That horse hair? Plucked from the fencing that surrounded my mother’s horse pasture. The horse who the hair came from died as a result of a bear attack last year, the hair is now kept upon my altar for remembrance of a dead friend.

The bones and teeth in my divination set come from kill sites. Found while walking in the woods or whilst driving down a highway and encountering the remains of an unfortunate animal. The sticks and stones in that same set were primarily gathered much in the same way, found while on a hike or gathered from the family farm. Each piece was taken with love and respect … reverence even … offerings of energy (and possibly something more tangible, such as water) given in exchange.The pieces in this collection, the spirits attached to the physical objects, willingly joined my casting collection. They happily provide insight and are used to communicate with the spirits, gods and the dead. In exchange they receive energy, love, time spent soaking up the sunshine and a useful existence. Don’t we all want to be useful?

 

I do not need a new staff for ritual workings. Not when I already have one. It maybe be something of an embarrassment to me, made years ago and over done. I jokingly call it my “Fluffy Bunny Staff”. Yet, I do not need to cut another branch and start anew. Why do so when I can simply sand the poorly researched markings from the old one and make it new again?

 

Ask yourself this:

How great is your need? Many Witches of simular ilk as I share a motto: do as is needed (not as is wanted).

What do you offer in return?

What are your personal ethics in relation to the laws of man and the land?

Have you ever considered applying the Three Rs to your ritual, magickal and working tools?

How well do you know the landscape from which you take pieces, both animal or plant? How strong is your relationship with it?

Are there dead things on your altar (animal, fossil or plant)? If so, why?

 

Wikpedia entry on the Eagle Feather Law

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_feather_law

 

Canada’s Migratory Birds Convention and Regulations

http://www.ec.gc.ca/nature/default.asp?lang=En&n=C7564624-1

 

List of protected bird in Canada

http://www.ec.gc.ca/nature/default.asp?lang=En&n=00F8E609-1

 

Wikipedia entry on the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (North America)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migratory_Bird_Treaty_Act_of_1918

 

Wildcrafting Ethics:

http://www.botanicalstudies.net/wildcrafting/wildcrafting_beginners.php

http://home.teleport.com/~howieb/treats/wildcrft.html

 

 

Please forgive me for only listing North American regulations, that’s where I live! A quick Google search should help you find out what the rules are where you live.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

The Pagan Pooch

1

June 11, 2011 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather.

As Paganism grows our communities become more family oriented and pet friendly as well. We are seeing more gatherings, festivals and rituals (large and small) that allow dogs … under certain rules, of course. Even if it is simply Pagan Pride Day at your local public park or a private ritual in a friend’s backyard, a Pagan’s pooch might be there. Even if you aren’t attending Pagan events, you might be taking your dog camping or hiking this year. If you don’t have a dog, you might still encounter a dog or more while camping,

My dogs know thier "ritual manners"

hiking and attending outdoors Pagan events. There’s also the possibility of a service dog being in attendance.

 

My old dog is too old to be kennelled now, most kennels don’t like taking on elderly dogs. She’s also getting more confused and less interested in much more than lying at my feet. She has lots of experience with camping and festivals and even in her advanced age, she knows her manners. However, she just isn’t interested in meeting new people anymore. She’s happy to be around people, she just doesn’t want to be petted. She doesn’t bite, though she will give warning if someone is pushing her buttons, as will I.

 

Some of this stuff might be review, but as the season of outdoors activities enters full swing, it is worth a reminder.

 

 

Service Dog Etiquette

 

Service dogs aren’t just for the blind; they assist folks for everything from epilepsy to autism.

 

The simplest rule of thumb is this: Leave the service dog be, he’s working. This also goes for canine police officers and search & rescue dogs etc. If you really, really need to pet that dog ask first.

 

It is not polite to inquire after the service dog person’s disability.

 

It’s easy to spot a service dog

Do not whistle or call to the dog.

 

Service dogs always have a right to be wherever they are.

 

Never make assumptions about the individual’s intelligence, feelings or capabilities.

 

Please give a service dog and their person the right of way.

 

 

 

How to Greet a Dog Properly

 

I swear that growing up, my brother and I were the only kids who knew how to do this. Amongst the kids we knew, we were also some of the few who had never gotten bitten by a dog. Here are the steps to properly greet a dog you do not know or do not know well. My mother (a dog trainer) used to call this “how to shake hands with a dog” when teaching kids and families.

 

If you don’t like dogs, or are afraid of them, simply put yourself on the other side of the person from the dog, politely tell the owner you have a fear/allergy to dogs and walk away.

 

Ask the owner for permission to greet the dog.

 

Greet the dog verbally “Hullo there pretty girl”

 

Crouch down to be closer to the dog’s level. Do not bend over the dog as some dogs may find this to be a display of aggression or dominance. Hold out you hand in a loose fist or open palm at roughly the same height as the dog’s head. Or, simply stand still and let the dog decide if he wants to say “hullo” of his own accord.

 

Nervous dogs may like to approach your side more than approaching you front on.

 

Allow the dog to approach you, do not approach the dog. Respect his personal space.

 

Allow the dog to sniff your hand, getting your scent. You can verbally encourage the dog at this point. “That’s a nice dog”

 

Dog greeting. Click for full size. Illustration was done by Lili Chin of Doggie Drawings..

If the dog growls, raises his hackles, shows his teeth, seems overly stressed, avoids looking at you or walks away from you, do not persist. Simply back away and carry on, the dog does not want to greet you.

 

Some dogs will sniff your hand but not wish to be petted (my old girl is one such). A dog that wants to be petted will indicate this desire by wagging his tail, looking at you, and by stepping closer. He may even rub against your hand or come right up to lean against you.

 

It’s best to scratch under the chin before you reach for the rest of the dog. A dog who wishes to have his head, rear end, back or belly petted will offer it to you in a pretty obvious manner.

 

Do not rough house with a dog you just met. Your own dog may like to a little rough and tumble play or good hard pats on the back, but another dog might not.

 

Do not yell, screech or carry on. Do not run, jump, dance or wave things around. Be calm and relaxed and use you “inside voice” you never know how an unknown dog might respond or how easily spooked he is.

 

Don’t take forever. Pet owners have places to go and people to meet. While they may wish to chat with you, they may also need to carry on with what they were doing.

 

Most well loved family dogs will give you plenty of indication that they are nervous, uncomfortable or just indifferent, you just have to pay attention.

 

 

When Encountering Dogs that are Not Yours

 

Some basic rules of thumb for encountering dogs can be counterintuitive. We love dogs so much, it’s natural to spot one and want to rush over to greet it. It’s natural that if you see a dog that is injured to want to rush over and help it. However, this is not always the wisest course of action. Even the smallest and most well socialized dogs can bite or become frightened in certain circumstances. Before following that instinct to help or greet a cute pooch, pause for a moment and listen to your common sense and caution.

 

Keep in mind that at a park or campground a dog will feel a little bit out of sorts. A dog you meet on a hike might respond differently to you than how he would if he met you on his own turf. Look to the owner for guidance and respect any instructions they offer you.

Remember that you can admire something, or some dog, with a “look but don’t touch” policy.

 

Never, ever, approach a dog without asking the owner’s permission first. Simply ask “May I greet your dog?” before you interact with the dog.

Why? Because not all dogs want to be greeted and it may not be a good time for the owner. A dog recently arrived at a park or campsite might be overwhelmed with all the goings on and not be in a good head space to greet and meet. An elderly dog might not wish to make friends, but prefer to be left alone. A dog owner might be in a bit of a rush and not have the time to allow you to greet and fuss over their pooch. A puppy might be still in training and hasn’t learned his manners yet.

 

If the dog owner asks you to not greet the dog, or gives you specific instructions of how to greet the dog, please respect them. Many elderly dogs have arthritis and do not like to be petted on their backs or near their hips; this is a good thing to know and to be respectful of.

My own old girl is not as excited about meeting new people as she was in her youth. Typically when someone wishes to greet her, she simply walks away, indicating her lack of interest. There has been many times where I informed a person that my dog would not like to meet than and they ignored me and tried anyways. Often with the result of them chasing (in slow motion) my old dog around as she tries her best to avoid them. I have had to take people by the hand and firmly inform them that my dog wants to be left alone.

This happens much more often at Pagan events. The reasoning that I am given by such people is that they are magickal witch-y types who have a special affinity to animals, and therefore my dog should want to love them.

 

If children are walking the dog, it may be best to not attempt to greet the dog at all. Greeting people can be very exciting, and a dog that is wound up may be harder for the kids to control. Kids also have a harder time telling an adult that they may not greet their dog.

 

Never greet a dog through a fence, over a gate or through a car window. Never greet a dog on a chain or who is tied up. Never greet a dog that is in a pen, crate or cage. A dog in such circumstances may feel threatened or fearful as a result of you sticking your hand into their territory and bite.

 

Do not greet unsupervised dogs.

 

Do not greet dogs who are wandering loose. It is far better to alert the staff or volunteers in charge of an event or campground of the loose dog and let them handle it.

 

If you see a dog in a dangerous situation, such as left in a hot car, alert the authorities and staff of the event or campground before taking any action yourself. Remember that a dog in a dangerous situation is more likely to bite.

 

If you see a dog that is injured, such as left in a hot car, alert the authorities and staff of the event or campground before taking any action yourself. Remember that an injured dog is more likely to bite or run off out of fear.

 

A dog will consider his campsite to be his territory, use the same proper manners when entering a dog’s campsite as you would if you were entering his home.

 

Never offer a dog food without permission, that dog might have allergies or be on a special diet.

 

 

For the Dog Owner

 

For crying out loud, clean up the poop!  *grin*

 

Make sure you know the rules of the park, campground or property you are on. It’s not worth a fine if you get a ticket for having your dog off leash.

 

Inform people before you bring a pet, even if they are permitted. It’s helpful to know how many dogs will attend when planning a ritual.

 

Find out beforehand if dogs will be welcome in the actual ritual space or if they will have to stay out.

 

You are 100% responsible for your dog at all times during a festival, ritual and so forth.

 

Make sure you have everything you need, poop bags, water, toys, and a spare leash, before you head out.

Next we will learn how to keep the cat off of a goddess' throne in mid-ritual

Be mindful and polite of people who are allergic or afraid.

 

Teach your dog to mind his own manners when meeting new people.

 

Unless folks are happy having playing pups tearing through the ritual, put your dog on a sit or down stay behind you for the duration of a ritual.

 

The folding exercise pens are great when travelling.

 

Ask before you give your dog a piece of the ritual meal.

 

Don’t leave your dog unattended. Of course there are exceptions; my own old girl will curl up quietly if left in our tent for a short period of time. I’ve had dogs that are fine in the RV for a bit as well. But in these cases, the dogs are neither loose nor able to interact with other people and we are never far away.

 

You have the responsibility to bring a dog that is trained, happy, healthy and socialized.

 

Vendors and volunteers are not dog sitters. But trusted friends might do the job, even if it’s keeping pooch with them at the campfire, while you go off for a bit.

 

 

Good doggy manners will mean more and more events that you can bring your best friend too.

 

Here are some tips on camping with your dogs.

 

Be safe, have fun, take short showers, drink lots of water, bring a Frisbee for fido.

Tags: , , , ,

The Death of an Elephant

8

May 12, 2011 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather, Nature in the News.

Recently Bob Parsons, CEO of the web hosting company GoDaddy, released a video of himself hunting and killing an elephant in Zimbabwe. This has caused a great deal of controversy for both the CEO and his company. PETA was a client of GoDaddy and they have now put out a statement that they will not be using GoDaddy’s services any longer. A Number of other companies and organizations have also done such.

The Dogwood Local Council (DLC), a southern affiliate of Covenant of the Goddess (CoG), released a statement of their own; swearing to never use GoDaddy’s hosting services or for its domain registering services. (see bottom of this article for full press release)

In their press release, the DLC site an article from the New York Times about how elephant aggression is largely the fault of how humans interact with the elephants. This is not unlike how in North America we see mountain lion and bear attacks increase when we encroach on territory, remove food sources and do not treat animals with proper respect. (People have been known to try to bait bears with food to get a good photo of them, with disastrous results)

Some highlights from the article:

“Decades of poaching and culling and habitat loss, they claim, have so disrupted the intricate web of familial and societal relations by which young elephants have traditionally been raised in the wild, and by which established elephant herds are governed, that what we are now witnessing is nothing less than a precipitous collapse of elephant culture.”

Elephants are becoming increasingly destructive and dangerous, trampling huts, crops and even people seemingly out of spite.

“He confirmed that a small group of elephants charged out one morning two years earlier, trampled the fields and nearby gardens, knocked down a few huts and then left.”

It seems that the greatest cause of this change in elephant behaviour stems from the changing dynamics of how young elephants are raised. With less territory, less food sources and poaching, elephants are not being socialized by their elders as they ought to be. In a sense elephant society, is experiencing a dramatic break down. Elephants rely heavily on the herd: the family or clan system, with this deteriorating, we see the results in aggressive (usually young male) elephants that become dangerous. They are a danger not only to the humans who live near their migration routes or at the edges of their protected parklands, but they are also a danger to other elephants. Researchers have found that young male elephants are killing each other at alarming rates.

“This fabric of elephant society, Bradshaw and her colleagues concluded, had effectively been frayed by years of habitat loss and poaching, along with systematic culling by government agencies to control elephant numbers and translocations of herds to different habitats. The number of older matriarchs and female caregivers (or ‘‘allomothers’’) had drastically fallen, as had the number of elder bulls, who play a significant role in keeping younger males in line. In parts of Zambia and Tanzania, a number of the elephant groups studied contained no adult females whatsoever. In Uganda, herds were often found to be ‘‘semipermanent aggregations,’’ as a paper written by Bradshaw describes them, with many females between the ages of 15 and 25 having no familial associations.”

It seems that Mr. Parsons encountered such a young and aggressive male elephant on his trip to Africa. These elephants are referred to as “rouges”. The people of the village Mr. Parsons was visiting reported this dangerous elephant to the authorities and with their help; Mr. Parsons hunted and killed it. The people of the village rejoiced as they butchered his carcass and distributed the meat. There was not enough meat for everyone it the village and it quickly became something akin to vultures in a feeding frenzy, with much pushing and shoving. The video show Mr. Parsons proudly posing as he leans on the dead elephant.

Here is a link to the video (which has become harder and harder to find as Mr. Parsons tried to claim copyright and have it shut down) It may not be appropriate for the easily squeamish.

http://greenmi.net/godaddy-ceo-bob-parsons-kills-an-elephant-video/

Mr.Parsons is not a villain; let us not paint him with that brush. Thing are never that cut and dry. While his hunting practices may be unethical he also does a great of good work. GoDaddy does a great deal of charity work, including raising funds and awareness for the folks in Haiti. Mr. Parsons served as a rifleman in the Vietnam War, where he was wounded on duty. It is quite possible that he felt his actions in Zimbabwe were altruistic in some fashion. In response to the outrage Parsons explained,

“The tribal authorities requested that I and others like me patrol the fields before and during the harvest.”

 

There has been speculation that the release of the hunting video was part of some kind of publicity stunt, which I find myself doubting. GoDaddy is indeed known for it “extreme” advertising, having had commercials pulled from the Super Bowl and such. However, the initial release of the hunting video came from Mr. Parson’s blog and Twitter account, which he often posts videos of his activities to. The blog itself is certainly part of his promotional tool kit, but I find it unlikely that he posted the hunting video specifically to generate controversy and Internet drama. Generally the man uses sex to sell his product, which is much more effective, don’t you think?

Bob Parson’s hunting practices do not strike me as within the lighter side of the grey area that is ethical hunting. But to give ourselves some perspective, his big game hunting practices are not much worse than those done right at home. Behold, for example, the mirrored hunting hide:

Is this really necessary for hunting deer?

Honestly, if I was a former rifleman carting around a big gun in Africa and some local villagers asked me to remove an elephant who was making it dangerous for them to tend their crops and bring in the harvest … I’d kill the elephant. I’d do it after ascertaining whether or not all other possible avenues had been tried. Though I’m not sure if banging pots and pans or setting up a few bonfires will deter a pissed off pachyderm.

I’ve lived on farms, I’ve had to deal with my share of coyotes going after the flock and I lost a horse to a hungry bear last year. We always tried everything we could to encourage those animals to go elsewhere, from hanging motion sensor lights to wind chimes to shooting blanks. But I understand very well that if your own livelihood, and the ability to feed your family is being threatened, you take up you gun and you shoot that coyote. Or you ask the very nice rich man from America to kill that elephant. Sorry guys, but I’m not going hungry to feed a jack rabbit who is eating my food.

Obviously we should look to the root of the problem; we are encouraging elephants to attack people in Africa, just as we as the root cause of a mountain lion attacking a person right here at home. We move into their territory, we don’t respect them, we mess with the food chain, we change the dynamics of the herd, and this is the result. These things do need to change and we need to start making those changes now.

However, I am not so strong as to look a mother in the eyes and say “I’m terribly sorry about your elephant problem ma’am, but you see, it’s your fault for expanding your crops into elephant territory. So yeah, good luck with that, hopefully one of your kids doesn’t get trampled to death.”

Maybe Mr. Parsons is not that strong either. Or maybe he simply had a hard-on for killing something as large and impressive as an elephant. There has always been plenty of people like that around.

Some of them are considered heroes

Maybe Mr. Parsons saw himself as part of a line of men like Teddy Roosevelt there. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’re doing the right thing. Or maybe he’s just a spoiled millionaire who likes to shoot things. I can’t climb into his head to know for sure, nor can you.

There are some positive outcomes from the death of this elephant. The carcass of such a large herbivore can feed a dozen different species of predators and scavengers, and not just hyenas or flies, but humans as well. Certainly the villagers in the video seemed thrilled to butcher the carcass and distribute the meat.

It is certainly positive that the DLC and PETA (and others) are moving their services, since they have chosen to seek a provider that is more Earth conscious. It’s good to put your money where your mouth is. An organization which follows an Earth centric spirituality, or which promotes animal rights, ought to be making such choices and thus be an example for us all. I expect organizations to follow their principals.

Whether you boycott GoDaddy or not is your choice (or the choice of your organization). I do hope that any decision is made with careful consideration and not a knee jerk reaction, or jumping on the bandwagon.

For myself, I’m not a GoDaddy costumer to begin with (I buy my hosting from a Canadian company, since one of my principals is to buy as local as possible). If I was a GoDaddy client, well even after writing this article I am uncertain s to whether I’d take my money elsewhere. What would you do?

*

Southern Witches and Wiccans join the protest against Go Daddy CEO’s slaughter of an African Elephant.

Atlanta – The Dogwood Local Council (DLC), a southern affiliate of Covenant of the Goddess (CoG), has formally decided to discontinue the use of GoDaddy’s hosting services after the release of CEO, Bob Parsons’ hunting video.  In March of 2011, Parsons released a video depicting himself and others shooting a “troublesome” elephant.  As he explained to reporters, these elephants, “trash fields and destroy crops” leaving villagers to starve.  According to Parsons, the hunting is a welcomed activity which brings both food and safety. (As reported by The Los Angeles Times)

“We understand that Parsons’ acts were within the legal limits of Zimbabwe’s laws.  And he may believe that he is doing good.  However, the ends do not always justify the means.  After careful consideration, we, as Witches and members of humanity, have decided to protest these killings,” states Hawk, First Officer of Dogwood Local Council and High Priestess of GryphonSong Clan.

In the hunting video, Parsons comments on the well-documented fact that there has been a noticeable increase in elephant attacks.  However, as noted by Dogwood’s members, Parsons fails to identify the reason for this elephant problem:   humanity’s own aggression toward the elephants.  In a 2006 New York Times Magazine article, entitled, “Elephant Crack-Up?” written by Charles Seibert, this proverbial Catch 22 is well illustrated. Seibert writes, “The great paradox about this particular moment in our history with elephants is that saving them will require finally getting past ourselves; it will demand the ultimate act of deep, interspecies empathy.” (As published by The New York Times Magazine, October 2006)

In their discussions over the GoDaddy Video, Dogwood Local Council’s members repeatedly expressed the need for a genuine and reciprocal balance between humanity and animal cultures as expressed by Seibert.  The teachings of Wicca and Witchcraft do not place humanity over the natural world but within it.  According to the Pagan world view, humanity is as much a part of nature as the elephants.

“While we do not want to see humans starving as a result of these roving elephants, we cannot condone the progressive annihilation of a species simply because they are in our way.  And the African Elephant is still on the WWF endangered species list,” adds Hawk.

Moreover, Dogwood members echoed the concerns of others that Parsons’ video was merely a publicity stunt for GoDaddy services.  Questions have been raised by various media outlets as to whether the hunting event was, in actuality, a selfless attempt to come to the aid of a starving village. After all, GoDaddy is known for its somewhat risqué advertising and marketing campaigns.

“Was this a true act of humanitarianism or was this an outrageous promotional stunt for GoDaddy?  If it was purely an act of goodwill, was it really necessary to release the video and, more poignantly, the photos of villagers wearing “GoDaddy” hats?  Does Bob Parsons always carry around a few hundred logo caps on those yearly trips to save people from marauding elephants?” questions Lady Miraselena, Public Information Officer of Dogwood Local Council.

The Witches of Dogwood Local Council will now join others in moving its website from GoDaddy’s hosting services and no longer use the company as its domain registrar.  Dogwood strongly urges all concerned individuals to follow suit.  Currently, the Council is in the final stages of deciding which new hosting service would best fit their needs.  They are hopeful to find one that derives some of its power from green energy sources; thereby, making two strong statements and taking two steps forward on behalf of the Planet, nature and their Goddess – Gaia.

 

For more information about Dogwood Local Council,please visit www.dogwoodlc.org or follow @dogwoodlc on Twitter.

For more information about Covenant of the Goddess, please visit www.cog.org or follow them on Facebook: /pages/Covenant-of-the-Goddess.

Dogwood Local Council (DLC)

Throughout the United States, the Covenant of the Goddess has Local Councils that serve CoG members on a state or regional level. Alabama and Georgia are served by the Dogwood Local Council. A Local Council is a smaller branch of the Covenant, consisting of at least three member covens of at least two different traditions, in reasonably close geographic proximity to each other. Dogwood Local Council (DLC) sponsors annual festivals, speakers and a variety of seasonal events.  They are based out of Atlanta.

 

Covenant of the Goddess (CoG)

The Covenant of the Goddess is one of the largest and oldest Witch and Wiccan associations and was incorporated as a nonprofit religious organization in 1975. The Covenant is an umbrella group of cooperating, autonomous Witchcraft congregations and individual practitioners with the power to confer credentials on its qualified clergy. CoG fosters cooperation and mutual support among Witches and Wiccans and secures for them the legal protections enjoyed by members of other religions.

 

Tags: , , , , , ,

The Happy Cricket Dance

4

April 17, 2011 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather.

(My apologies for the double post. However I just received some news I felt I needed to share right away)

 

Cricket stretched and yawned. She circled twice and lay down in her favourite spot on the deck, the spring-time sun warming the wood of the deck, the cool breeze rustling her fur. She watched the younger dogs rough house and play in the yard below for a few minutes before drifting off into sleep. A couple of hours later my mother stepped out onto the deck and called the dogs into the house. Cricket did not stir from her favourite spot. Mom called her by name and still she did not stir. Placing a hand on the little black dog she knew, Cricket had passed into Summerlands. Comfortably, in the sunshine, in her favourite spot, in her sleep, her beloved pack around her. One could not ask for a better passing.

 

With love she was gently wrapped in an old but well loved blanket and buried at the edge of the woods. A seed package of local wildflower species sprinkled over her grave. Mom did not cry as she buried her Cricket, nor did she when she called to give me the news of her passing. I did not shed tears either, though each of us felt that familiar little ache in our hearts. In part because we both have become accustomed to death, between the farm and the rescue work, you get used to it after a while. In part because we knew Cricket had a good life, for as long as she lived at Misty Acres.

 

Cricket was a black miniature schnauzer and she was undoubtedly born in a breeding kennel, possibly in a puppy mill. Likely one in northern British Columbia, though with the way dogs get traded around in less-than licensed kennels it is hard to say for certain. Mom first heard of her about six years ago. A fellow dog lover contacted her and encouraged her to go to a kennel up north and see if she could persuade the owner to let her take some of her dogs. This kennel owner was dealing with a long term illness and had to leave her dogs in the care of her daughter while she stayed in the big city for treatment. Her daughter was busy with work and a young child and so she relied on her husband to care for the dogs. Unfortunately, the man was a drunk and a brute.

 

At the time Misty Acres really didn’t have much space for more dogs, but perhaps we could take one or two to ease the burden. Mom drove up and had a look. She found Cricket in an outdoor pen, covered by a tarp, in a northern climate. Filthy pine shavings were scattered on the ground as bedding. The first big thunder and lightening storm of the year had passed over a week before. During this storm Cricket’s litter of new born pups died, mostly likely from cold and wet and exposure. Cricket cowered in a corner of the pen, terrified, filthy and matted. Without hesitation Mom gave the bastard his asking price for the dog and loaded her into the passenger seat of the truck. As she drove home she called her contact in the SPCA and reported the conditions of the kennel.

 

They drove through the night, Cricket wrapped in a blanket and given little pieces of a chicken sandwich Mom purchased at a drive-thru. The little dog was so matted she could not lie down comfortably, as the mats filled her armpits, connecting leg to belly. As they neared Misty Acres I prepared the grooming table and wash tub, the clippers and the first aid kit. I blocked off the rest of the pack from the main room of the house so as not to overwhelm the new arrival. When they pulled into the drive way I hurried out and took Cricket straight into the house. It was the middle of the night.

 

We spent the next few hours cutting away mats that were so bad they had pine shaving in them. Shaving her down and giving her a bath. Tending minor cuts and abrasions and examining her for any serious illness or injury. We found evidence that she had more than one litter before. She had a slight fever so we left a message on the veterinarian’s voicemail that we would be by in the morning for a health check up.

 

We spoke softly to the frightened little girl and offered treats to ease her fear. We stroked her gently and praised her for allowing us to examine her. At first she was terrified but by the end of our administrations she was resting her head in my hand, gazing up at us with big brown eyes. There is only one way I can think of to describe the look in an abused dog’s eyes when they realise they have found love and safety: “Thou Art Mine Saviour” It is enough to make you weep with the overwhelming burden.

 

Slowly over the next few months Cricket was rehabilitated. Her fears of storms, shovels, and strange noises abated. She grew to love us and her pack. It was decided not to re-home her for Mom had developed a deep bond with her little Cricket. Cricket learned to love treats, especially the morning round of treats which are chopped carrots and a few slivers of bread. Cricket would dance with the sheer joy of morning treat time, going so far as to stand on her hind legs and drum on the counter in anticipation.

 

Cricket enjoyed about six years of love and safety at Misty Acres with my mother. She developed friendships with other dogs and even tolerated the cat. She would lie just outside the birthing pen whenever a momma was giving birth (at Misty Acres many of the rescued dogs are pregnant) and guard it. When young pups were ready to venture out of the puppy pen and into the rest of the house, she was right in the thick of them. Tolerating nips and pokes from clumsy and playful pups, snuggling them when they wore themselves out and fell asleep.

 

Handing out treats of chopped carrots each morning won’t be the same at Misty Acres. There will be no more “happy Cricket dance”. Yet even this is cause for celebration. As Cricket passes on to the otherside of the Veil, it frees up space to bring a new rescue to Misty Acres. It allows another dog to one day dance with joy over a carrot.

 

When people think of animal rights, they often think of controversial organizations like PETA, they think of people who throw paint on ladies in fur coats. They often don’t think of the individuals who do the work, people like my mother. They often don’t think of individual animals and how their lives can be changed.

 

Rest in peace little Cricket.

Tags: , , , ,

Unleashed: Critter News Round-up

2

April 17, 2011 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather, Nature in the News.

After hearing repeated complaints from breeders, law makers in Missouri are planning on repealing a voter approved Puppy Mill Law. The main reasons they site for this repeal are the cost of implementation of the bill and that it could be used to punish good breeders. It is estimated that dog breeding earns $1 billion a year in Missouri. Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States says:

“The effort in Jefferson City is a piece-by-piece dismantling of every core provision. It suggests to me that this is an industry that wants deregulation. They want to do things that they want and to heck with the people who care about dogs or consumers as long as there are enough dogs purchased.”

One of the stipulations of the law that outrages breeders most is one that disallows them from having more than 50 dogs in their kennels at any given time. Another requires that they give small dogs as much as 12 feet of space to live in and large dogs 60 feet of living space, previously dogs could be kept in cages no larger than 6 inches wider and longer than the dog itself.

Republican state Representative Mike Lair of Chillicothe is quoted saying that

“Dogs are property. Dogs don’t have rights.”

 

 

Humpback Whales love a good song, and will pass a catchy tune amongst themselves a new study reports. Researchers in Australia have been listening to Humpback whale song for some time now and have found that whale song will be passed along from one individual to another. This discovery will hopefully lead to a better understanding of whale communication and culture.

 

 

For the first time ever the USA Congress will be removing a species off the endangered species list. A budget bill singed by the President will strip protection from gray wolves in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Utah. Wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana had to be cancelled last year as a judge ruled the animals were still in need of protection, but hunters will be free to hunt wolves come this autumn. Wolves in Wyoming may be taken off the list sometime in the future.

Animal rights groups are watching this turning of events with trepidation, concerned it may be setting a bad precedent.

 

 

The population of Antarctic Penguins has dropped as much as 50% over the last 30 years. A recent study finds that a shortage of krill maybe be the main cause of the population plummet. The warming of the air and waters in the Antarctic and the rebounding population of whales, who also eat krill, are the leading cause of the krill shortage. With less food available less and less penguin chicks have been surviving each year.

 

 

National Geographic recently posted images of a dig in Egypt. Archaeologists are evacuating what is known as the Dog Catacombs, a warren of tunnels and chambers dedicated to the god Anubis and filled with the bodies of dogs and puppies.

 

 

After a boon year with Vancouver/Whistler hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics, the tourism industry took a nose dive. The Whistler branch of Outdoor Adventures, which includes a sled dog touring facility, ordered the kennel manager to cull roughly 100 dogs. After making a few weak and vain attempts to have that many mush dogs re-homed he set about killing them himself, without the required assistance and supervision of a veterinarian. The culling quickly became a slaughter with animals running off into the woods after being shot and having to be tracked down. At least one animal has its throat slashed with a knife. All this was one within sight of the rest of the pack of dogs before the culled animals were placed in a grave in the woods.

The slaughter of these dogs came to light when the manager Bob Fawcett applied for workers compensation sighting he suffered from post traumatic stress from the incident. A task force was assembled by the Premier of British Columbia to investigate the incident. The investigation into the slaughter continues and now that the ground has thawed the grave will be exhumed so investigators can find more info on exactly what went on as well as give the dog a proper burial.

Memorial vigils, walks and mushes have occurred all over Canada and the United States since the news story broke and new regulations are being proposed to avoid such a tragedy from ever happening again. A Facebook group called Boycotting Outdoors Adventures has bee created which updates regularly on the investigation and memorials.

I will update when more information comes to light through the investigation.

 

 

Another reason to not flick your cigarette out the window while driving: A fire that broke out in a horse trailer killed six racehorses on Friday. The horses were travelling on the Interstate-95 were en route to begin training at the Long Island horse track. Officials blame a flicked burning cigarette butt for the fire. Once they spotted the flames the two drivers tried to smother the fire but to no avail, one of them received minor injuries.

 

 

A pod of Killer Whales have researchers scratching their heads this weekend, after spotting the orcas eating fish rather than their preferred diet of seafaring mammals. The pod was spotted of the coast of San Pedro, California and researchers are asking fisherman and boaters to photograph the pod, for identification purposes, if possible.

Tags: , , , , , , ,

This is When We Sniff Butts

8

April 5, 2011 by • Categorized: Columns, Fur and Feather.

… and touch noses and get to know each other, right? Maybe not.

 

“We need another and a wiser and perhaps a more mystical concept of animals… In a world older and more complete than ours they move finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth. “ ~ Henry Beston

 

When was the last time you laid hands on an animal? For some of us, it may have been quite a while. For others we lay hands on our beloved pet daily, for a few others we lay hands on animals for our livelihood.

 

Many of us wear leather each day and yet have never been in the presence of a living cow. Some of us will eat an animal’s flesh more often than we lay hands on it; touching hide, feeling fur, smoothing feathers.  It is not uncommon to meet a Pagan, Witch or Heathen who proudly displays a bear skull upon their altar, yet when asked, they admit they have never actually seen a bear in its natural habitat.

 

Throughout my life I have had the privilege and the responsibility of living and working with animals. Up close and personal, from birth, through life and unto death. Perhaps even onto my own dinner plate.

 

I come from farm folk, I have participated in dog shows and kennel clubs, and I have worked in rescue and the fostering of abused animals. I have assisted with the training of dogs and horses. I have worked at boarding kennels, pet stores and dog groomers. I have been a midwife to birthing animals and I have also hunted and killed. Always with reverence and respect, even when I was knee deep in half frozen mud and manure, bone tired and heart broken.

 

Animals have been my hobby, my friends, and my joy, a big part of my spiritual path, my frustration, my job and my life’s work. Recently I have decided to back up all my experience with education as well. It is from this perspective that I will be writing this column.

 

I am not anti or pro anything. This is not a soapbox. I do not bother with black and white; I am a pluralist and a polytheist. My goal with this column is to encourage discourse and raise awareness. It is up to you to form your own opinions.

 

Here are some of the topics I hope to cover in Fur & Feather:

 

Animals in the News: This being part of the PNC and all … I will post and comment on news stories about animals. Everything from painful stories such as cases like the slaughter of mush dogs in Whistler this past winter and the ongoing investigation, to the heart warming tales we all like to read now and then. I hope to not only report and comment but to also take a look at why such stories might matter to your average Pagan, Witch or Heathen.

 

Animal Rights, Rescue and Rehabilitation: The Earth is our Mother and we must take care of Her … but what of Her creatures? Here I will share my personal experiences working in these fields and interview other people who work to save animals. As well as ask if a Nature worshipper is obligated to volunteer at the local Humane Society or to report a case of a neighbour hoarding cats. How relevant is animal rights, the extinction of species and the abuse of family pets to the Pagan community?

 

Animals and Spirituality: Together we can study animals in mythology and folk lore. What is our evolving relationship with animals compared to our Pagan ancestors and their rites of animal sacrifice?

Let’s take a look at how a modern Pagan works with animals in ritual and magick. How does one train their dog to behave in ritual, or keep kitty off the altar? Is animal sacrifice ever acceptable in a modern setting?

Many Pagans work with spirit animals, totems or guides we may call them. But what does this mean and what are these animal spirits? How can we connect so easily with a spirit animal and yet be so removed from the flesh and blood critter lying as road kill on our street?

 

Cohabitation and Training: Many Pagans have pets, but how do we live with them? I hope to offer tips and advice on training, first aid and emergency procedures, how to introduce a new pet to your home and much more.

 

Ethical Eating: Many of us eat animals; this is a big part of humanities’ relationship with them. I hope to respectfully cover the many different perspectives on eating, and not eating, our fellow members of the animal kingdom.

Not just what we eat, but also what we feed our critters. How ethical and healthy is your own pet’s diet?

 

Farming, Hunting and Husbandry: From homesteading to factory farming and from the breeding pen to the show ring. More and more people are raising chickens in their backyard, even in the city. What are our alternatives to the modern factory farm?

Are we doing right by our animals to create inbred champion dogs, cats and horses to display for trophies? How do you tell if your puppy came from a reputable breeder or from a puppy mill?

How do we hunt ethically and with respect? The hunt is an important motif in many Pagan practices and celebrations, deities of the hunt populate our many pantheons’. Yet this topic is often glossed over, it is time to stop romanticizing and start scrutinizing.

 

Book Reviews and More: I will review books, documentaries, blogs and maybe even the odd film about animals.

 

I plan to post at least once a month to Fur & Feather. I will also contribute to the main body of No Unsacred Place when I can find the time. While I am not new to blogging, I am new to this style of column writing, so expect a certain amount of “growing in” at first. I should also note that I am a farm girl, not an academic; my grammar, research and use of the language may not be on par with someone holding a Masters degree. You’ll just have to bear with this hill-billy Pagan chick, I guess. *grin*

 

If you want to know more about me, please check out the author page. I will post to Fur & Feather again soon.

 

Cheers!

Tags: ,