Probable Future Situation

bngenoh

bngenoh

The Living Force
Hi all,

With all the information coming to light about what is and what is not "food" for humans; and all the information about what you shouldn't eat(GMOs etc). The high likelyhood that we can expect disasters, both global and regional in nature from a myriad of various interconnected natural phenomena, and others not so natural. My reasoning for posting this is as follows, so whatever wicked this way comes has come, and with all the aforementioned information, especially in regards to "food"...

You are in whatever area that you happen to find yourself to be in, and the question as to how you and those around you will eat, and thus be able to survive in this situation dawns on you, so you start looking for a herbivore to hunt. Through various hardships and failures (because this is probably your first time hunting and what else would you expect, before you knew how to ride a bike you fell of a couple of times) you finally get yourself some fresh wild meat. Before you start to prepare the animals body for eating, this is what i would say.

Oh, noble creature of the earth.
i am sorry for having ended your life prematurely,
But, fear not, for as your body will give us sustenence,
So to will our bodies provide you and yourkind sustenence when we eventually die and are taken back into the earth.
Again, i am sorry for having ended your life prematurely.
i wish your spirit all the best in its journeys throughout this marvelous wonder that is existence.
Thank you.

Its kind of like a grace before eating. What do you guys think?, Any improvements to be made?, Any suggestions for the further refining of it is welcome.
 
A prayer of thanksgiving should not express "sorry". I have never been sorry to kill the animals I have hunted or raised, but I have been deeply grateful and respectful for the gift of the animals lives; given, so that I and my family may live. It is a profound responsibility to take an
animal's life. It offers the opportunity for a deeper love for all that breathes, when viewed as a sacrament.
 
go2 said:
A prayer of thanksgiving should not express "sorry". I have never been sorry to kill the animals I have hunted or raised, but I have been deeply grateful and respectful for the gift of the animals lives; given, so that I and my family may live. It is a profound responsibility to take an
animal's life. It offers the opportunity for a deeper love for all that breathes, when viewed as a sacrament.
Click to expand...

i get your point go2, but my thinking in making this up is that as well as a thanksgiving, it is also taking the creatures prespective into account. Because the creature doesn't know what we know, it only knows that this other creature has or is killing me. So its kind of acknowledging its prespective. But if you would change it, how would you change it?
 
"I" tweaked it a little bit more. So know it would be this:

Oh, noble creature of the earth.
i am sorry for having ended your life prematurely,
But, worry not, for as your body will give us sustenance,
So to will our bodies provide you and your kind with sustenance when we eventually die, and are taken back into the earth.
Again, i am sorry for having ended your life prematurely.
i wish your spirit all the best in its journeys throughout this marvelous wonder that is existence. Thank you.
"I" thank you as well Earth, Oh Great Mother Goddess
For, as the Cassiopaeans say, literally giving your body, in the form of this creature for my sustenance as one of your children of the cosmos.
Thank you, mama Terra. :D

p.s. still looking for any ways to improve this, so input will be welcome.
 
I have myself contemplated blessing the animals and plants and such that I eat. Similar to what another said, it shouldn't be an apology, because in essence that would mean you're apologizing for sustaining your life... which, far from being an object of remorse, is I think one of our duties. In Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson, one of the rules/commandments of objective reason was "to have everything satisfying and necessary for the [physical] body." (this was the line that convinced me to abandon ethical vegetarianism).

One thing I recommend adding would be a vow or promise to use the flesh responsibly: maintaining your body purely for virtuous purposes. Essentially, you honor the animal by using it to serve and help creation in ways the animal cannot. That, to me seems like the right thing to do. It makes me wonder, how much would our behavior change knowing we subsist on the gifts and offerings of other life, and honored that? :)
 
whitecoast said:
I have myself contemplated blessing the animals and plants and such that I eat. Similar to what another said, it shouldn't be an apology, because in essence that would mean you're apologizing for sustaining your life... which, far from being an object of remorse, is I think one of our duties. In Beelzebub's Tales to His Grandson, one of the rules/commandments of objective reason was "to have everything satisfying and necessary for the [physical] body." (this was the line that convinced me to abandon ethical vegetarianism).

One thing I recommend adding would be a vow or promise to use the flesh responsibly: maintaining your body purely for virtuous purposes. Essentially, you honor the animal by using it to serve and help creation in ways the animal cannot. That, to me seems like the right thing to do. It makes me wonder, how much would our behavior change knowing we subsist on the gifts and offerings of other life, and honored that? :)
Click to expand...

Ok, know i understand, i will work on it. Thanks for the input, it has changed my perspective.
 
Hi bngenoh. If you feel that there is little distinction between your everyday life and your spiritual life; that all you are and all that you do is your religion; that man is an equal part of creation, then perhaps the Native American tradition can be of service here, since all this is why Native hunters always offered a prayer of thanks to their prey - not apology.

I would pray from the heart but keep the verbal part of the prayer to just a few words and simple enough to make a single mental picture from since it's supposed to be for the animal not for you. :)
 
I cannot speak for others.

Each of us has to find our own "path", to find peace within ourselves in what we do.

For my family & our way of doing things, Hunting/fishing/harvesting, we just say ,"Thank you!". ( But in somewhat a more solemn, & silent way. Rather than trying to find a certain way of speaking words/prayer.)

Personally, for example, in taking wild game; I will take the time to take some tobacco from a cigarette. Usually one half of one. I offer the non-burnt half of the tobacco to the four points of the compass & then I light & smoke the rest of the cigarette & blow the smoke to the four points of the compass. In doing this I am offering my thanks to to the Ones who allowed me to be successful to the end of my hunt; To honor them, & to also, to thank & honor the one whom I have taken from this existence, in order to continue my existence & those who rely on me to aid them in their existence. My "Thanks" is done silently. The method & thought is ,to me, more worthy & expressive than speaking verbal "language" to the one whom I have hunted & taken. As far as my way of thinking/belief....,It is your thoughts that are important, not so much any words you speak. At least,as far as I am concerned. As I said... I cannot speak for others.

We each have our own way of giving "Thanks", showing "respect", & acknowledging things.
I hope you find your "path" to do the same. I believe I have found mine, in situations like this. Or, perhaps I would be better off stating,"That this has worked for me for quite some time."

Respects & G'Luck in your endeavors,
JB/MnSportsman
:)

( & BTW , I am still working on my methods for trying to communicate , here on this forum. I am consistently trying to be as concise & brief as possible since I do not have the ability to "edit" at this time. Please forgive me if I seem to sound repetitive. I do not type, nor "phrase" ( word my idea(s)?) as well in print, as well as I speak, it seems. I will work on it. ;) )
 
FWIW, for years I have been saying a version of the following prayer of thanks at most of my meals--sometimes I forget. I tweaked it a little a couple of years ago to reflect my membership in the FOTCM.

"Bless this food to my use and I to the service of light and to the service of others. I am grateful for the sacrifice of all entities who made this meal possible, especially this (pig, cow, deer, . . . ). DCM bless us all."

shellycheval
 
Bud said:
Hi bngenoh. If you feel that there is little distinction between your everyday life and your spiritual life; that all you are and all that you do is your religion; that man is an equal part of creation, then perhaps the Native American tradition can be of service here, since all this is why Native hunters always offered a prayer of thanks to their prey - not apology.

I would pray from the heart but keep the verbal part of the prayer to just a few words and simple enough to make a single mental picture from since it's supposed to be for the animal not for you. :)
Click to expand...

This definitely struck me, because all the verbage i had was essentially for me and not for the animal, thanks for poiniting it out. "I" have reformulated it, and thanks for the Native American suggestion, it definitely warrants more research from me. YAY networking :D
MnSportsman said:
I cannot speak for others.

Each of us has to find our own "path", to find peace within ourselves in what we do.

For my family & our way of doing things, Hunting/fishing/harvesting, we just say ,"Thank you!". ( But in somewhat a more solemn, & silent way. Rather than trying to find a certain way of speaking words/prayer.)

Personally, for example, in taking wild game; I will take the time to take some tobacco from a cigarette. Usually one half of one. I offer the non-burnt half of the tobacco to the four points of the compass & then I light & smoke the rest of the cigarette & blow the smoke to the four points of the compass. In doing this I am offering my thanks to to the Ones who allowed me to be successful to the end of my hunt; To honor them, & to also, to thank & honor the one whom I have taken from this existence, in order to continue my existence & those who rely on me to aid them in their existence. My "Thanks" is done silently. The method & thought is ,to me, more worthy & expressive than speaking verbal "language" to the one whom I have hunted & taken. As far as my way of thinking/belief....,It is your thoughts that are important, not so much any words you speak. At least,as far as I am concerned. As I said... I cannot speak for others.

We each have our own way of giving "Thanks", showing "respect", & acknowledging things.
I hope you find your "path" to do the same. I believe I have found mine, in situations like this. Or, perhaps I would be better off stating,"That this has worked for me for quite some time."

Respects & G'Luck in your endeavors,
JB/MnSportsman
:)
Click to expand...

Thank you very much for your input MnSportsman, it has definitely helped me in cutting down on the verbage, again YAY networking. :D

shellycheval said:
FWIW, for years I have been saying a version of the following prayer of thanks at most of my meals--sometimes I forget. I tweaked it a little a couple of years ago to reflect my membership in the FOTCM.

"Bless this food to my use and I to the service of light and to the service of others. I am grateful for the sacrifice of all entities who made this meal possible, especially this (pig, cow, deer, . . . ). DCM bless us all."

shellycheval
Click to expand...

Thank you for this as well shellycheval, it is helping me further clarify my intent, thoughts, and words in this matter. YAY networking :)

Heres what i got now:

Thank you noble creature of the earth
For giving me your body, that i may eat and grow.
Thank you as well Earth, Oh Great Mother Goddes,
For giving me your body in the form of this creature that i may eat and grow.
"I" vow, that with every bit of strength i derive from your body
"I" shall be and act only in ways which bring greater order to you and the Universe.
Thank you Great Gaia.

Before drinking water:
Thank you Earth, Great Mother Goddess
For giving me your blood, that "I" may drink, and be well.
"I" promise, that with every drop i drink, i shall be and act only in ways that bring greater order to you and the Universe.
Thank you.

"I" have noticed that if i don't do the water one, it will taste bitter, but after i do the water one, water from the same container tastes sweeter. It may just be my subjective, wishful thinking, but then again....

Still welcome any and all input to further refine it. Thank you all so far for your objecticve inputs, i sincerely appreciate it. YAY networking :D
 
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