Of Bones And Drums - Vegan Witchcraft

The use of animal-skin drums and other animal products within Traditional Folk Magic and Spirituality, through an animistic and vegan approach.

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#animism #veganism #witchcraft

[jamesortiz]

As a vegan Animist who practices folk traditional witchcraft, asking for permission is very important it’s much like taking things from a grave of someone, or river or land of coarse found animal. These objects or persons have energies associated with them some died horribly others of natural causes some with fear or hatred in there very being. Taking these objects invites these into your homes binding them to one’s self. I’ve been waiting for a video like this for sometime you never disappoint thank you Arith

[alysmarcus]

Arith, I love you. Thankyou so much for addressing this. Decades ago I would make a drum etc, - everything i made was of 'found' identity and we would do ceremonies and burials for the animal and spirit - tree parts too. A friend of mine was listed with the environment office, so we would get called if a bird got caught (killed) in an electric fence. Mostly i would do the ceremonies and burial, people always asked why i didn't take anything; and i would answer that it was only enough and hopefully an honour to ceremony for the spirit. That was enough for me.

[ernamoller]

Thank you Arith your videos are always worth listening to.

[MisterDaviso]

If I may, I would also like to offer my input as a Vegan and aspiring Witch. When I first went vegan, before I started my craft, I spent a long time "reincarnating" the spirits of objects that were of personal and sentimental value into new forms. It was a painful process, and I can understand why many would avoid it, especially if they are not causing direct harm.

My rationale was twofold: first, if the items had been made from humans, I could not imagine myself continuing to use them if I was ever presented with an alternative, even if the proper rites had been done; second, while I trusted myself to not cause further harm, I do not trust others, so I did not wish to display the use of corpses in any form of positive light, as it felt like advertising suffering as a commodity.

I make no judgements, but instead I offer encouragement to make the transition to plant- and mineral-based materials wherever possible. It is painful, but you are not alone, and you will find great wisdom in doing so.

[teresafigueiredo]

Congratulations on your work, which in everything has been a contribution to clarifying and remembering what is fundamental in Life!

[ClearLight]

Thank you for addressing this subject, Arith, the core of "And Harm None" seems to evade many.

[ambermiller]

This topic was extremely timely for me. I really appreciate you taking the time to address this address this.

[nicole]

Wow!! thanks so much for such powerful words and holding space for conversations needed to be had, much gratitude and respect🌺🦉🪶🦅🕸🌱

[runeguidanceofthenorse]

I myself just addressed this issue a little bit in my patreon, in a video I did on animal necromancy. As a bone gatherer, I myself understand the idea that just because a bone is found doesn't mean its meant to "take." These are important dialogs.
Great video my dear friend.Thank you.

[dazla]

Your intros are gold! You definitely have a knack for starting off the conversation 🤗 And, this all makes so much sense. I am not vegan but do have respect, and give thanks, for all things I utilize from the animal world. I have a couple of drums that are made out of reindeer hide that were ethically harvested by the Sami' people, and turned into hides for drums, which were made by a pagan animist friend (I feel confident in the lineage of these items). I very much respect those drums and the other animal parts (antlers, a couple skulls and bones) that I have in my home. Most of the bones I have acquired myself in nature. I always ask permission to take a few, and then give thanks to the animal for it's sacrifice. My antlers are primarily reindeer from the tundra in Norway, from a Sami practitioner. I do have a couple bone items of unknown origin (the first ones I acquired, before really understanding the importance of knowing how, and why, they were harvested). I know, how thoughtless and naive was my thinking at that time. You have certainly brought a very important topic to the forefront and given me further food for thought. I see an asking permission (albeit late), and giving thanks, ritual in my near future. Thank you for this very important video, Arith. You have truly brought so much richness, and knowledge, to my life and practice.

[Cinnamoon]

Your kind words spoke to my soul. Why harm when we have no need for it?
"Remember, that we all are brothers/All people, beasts, trees and stone and wind
We all descend from the one great being/That was always there/Before people lived and named it/ Before the first seed sprouted" (-Heilung, opening ceremony)
I deeply believe that awarness and respect for our fellow-beeings on this earth, will not only make the world a better place, but has the potential to bring salvation to ourselves.

[apolloartemis]

always coming with such great wisdom. pleasure to hear but most important is act on the impunity of the meat lobby

[ForrestAnna]

I too have a drum, and a few animal parts, found by me. I also think that the idea of honor and courtesy are an integral part of witchcraft, and is the oil which makes it work. We are are part of this all.

[poolguyunfiltered]

Thank you so much for helping so many of us proceed upon our animistic path. I'm not a vegan, but I am very much into being as conscious about how I conduct myself in the world. I directly take no life that I don't have to. I'm very live and let live with any creature that crosses my path (some even drop a bit of knowledge along the way). It's a middle path for me where I do as little harm as I can within the ecosystem, to maybe offset the damage I do through eating a bit of fish or whatnot. I have given up red meat and try not to purchase anything that was from an obvious factory farm....but I love me some fish.

I have never understood the purchasing of animal items. For me, the connection that I have is often mostly to do with the fact that I found that item at that place at that time for some reason. Without that, it feels like I would just have a bunch of dead parts and pieces in my house. I generally do not need to take and physically do anything with what I find. It's usually the thought or feeling that comes with moment. I feel that even honoring a life taken, especially one that was caused by humankind without purpose, is a valid reason to acknowledge a fallen person of the earth. My under my breath little prayer for every roadkill animal I pass is "rest well, little friend". It's my way of at least acknowledging that a life was living and was taken for a reason that had nothing to do with the natural order (I mean short of the creatures that will eat the remains).

2 summers ago, a massive storm came through and toppled a giant limb from my oak tree in my backyard. Through the grace of Thor, the branch missed my house by inches and found the one 4" by 4" post to land most of its weight upon lest it took out part of my living room. Still pouring out some libation for that solid he did for me;) However, in the process one of the residing mama squirrels of the tree did not survive as her nest was in the fork of the limb. I found her laying at the base of the tree holding on to the roots. I think she was critically injured in the fall and was dead but just didn't know it yet. She got as far as her home trunk and breathed her last.

I left her where she lay. My wife questioned why I left a dead animal rotting in our yard, but it didnt feel right to just scoop her up and toss her in the trash. She was nestled against the only home she ever had. She was nestled against the tree that had fed her and sheltered her until it could not. I know she had her broods up there. I left her to go to the soil. Within a few months with no large scavengers getting in my fenced yard, she was a tattered pelt and some bones. I took some of the fallen wood from the tree and crafted a short walking stick. As I dried it over the fire and thanked the tree for its gift. I got the idea to ask the squirrel if she wanted to be part of this. This stick was cut from the branch she lived upon. Feeling she was good with it, I placed her remaining bones in the fire as I blackened the stick and steamed out the sap. Now, this stick will last for generations with little care. A piece of my dear friend, the oak, and its resident that it provided for will be together in a way as one.

I feel their are many paths in animism. I believe that it is the intention with how we conduct ourselves (acknowledging, asking, using our energy and observation in a way that so that we do not harm another) that is the most meaningful. I will never question another's beliefs as there are PLENTY of religions that do that now. I simply feel that for ME, a broad and open mind of being conscientious to the presence of other persons means taking as much care as possible to harm nothing nor amass an excess from nature. In that, I can see how the vegan lifestyle would compliment the animistic value system very well.

[etiennesportfolio]

Great points, it was super thorough (the use of previously bought things, animal parts found naturally, respect and asking for permission) I always struggled with the wasteful part of veganism that just says ditch everything, it's not sustainable and if you care for the environment wasting is kind of hypocritical

[apheliondriff]

I completely respect your thoughts and views on this subject.
I myself am not vegan but can understand your stand on the matter. As a consumer of animals and a practitioner of the old ways and indigenous beliefs, I actually think about this actually quite a bit.
In short, we even support and promote your practice.
Thank you, Arith.

[brianburkart]

Thank you for your words, the energy behind them is wonderful

[josakeller]

You have such an important perspective 🥳🙌 feels nice to hear someone speak my truth haha

[denyse]

many thanks kiddo for making this much needed video !

[IvanRSaldias]

Best Cold Opener ever! 😂😂😂
Arith, you are a KING!