Working Animals Into Your Practice Responsibly.
Working Animals Into Your Practice Responsibly
By Jess Ellis
“But in fact we do not come from dust, nor do we return to dust. We come from life, and we are a conduit for other life. We come from and return to incomparably amazing plants and animals. Even while we are alive, our wastes are recycled directly into beetles, grass, and trees, which are recycled further into bees and butterflies and on to flycatchers, finches, and hawks, and back into grass and on into deer, cows, goats, and us.” -Bernd Heinrich from Life Everlasting: The Animal Way of Death
In magic and witchcraft, animals and nature are often a very important part of our practice. We work with certain animals to harness specific energies in our process or, in a broader sense, as a way to relate to and better understand the land we live on and the beings we share it with.
Many of us wish to collect physical remnants of animals to incorporate into our altars or spellwork, but would like to do so as ethically as possible, retaining a respect and reverence for the life of that creature. “Ethically sourced” is a tricky term, in my opinion, with ethics by definition being very subjective. Each practitioner and tradition holds their own unique set of ethics and values by which they practice, often informed by society and culture. I prefer to use the term “sustainably sourced”, keeping in mind that these materials should be obtained in a way that does not harm another living being for the purpose of using it in my work, while also honoring its life by not letting anything go to waste. We must also be aware of certain laws and regulations which prohibit the collection of certain species. These laws may seem arbitrary or overly strict (“I found it already dead!”) but are put in place for good reason to protect vulnerable populations. Since there is virtually no way to prove that one did not harm or kill the animal, the authorities enforce these regulations very strictly and possessing certain animal parts can lead to hefty legal repercussions.
If you do choose to collect your own bones, etc. from natural-death items you may find on your property or in the landscape, I have a few thoughts. I think this can be a lovely and sustainable way to find these pieces, and often a specific spirit may find you in this way, allowing you to have a more personal connection. One of the biggest factors (ecologically) that I consider when deciding if a natural item is ok to remove from a landscape, is the community of other living things that thrive off of an animal carcass that remains after death. Though many of the smaller organisms that congregate around this feast may seem distasteful to the casual observer, they all play a crucial role in the delicate balance of the ecosystem through the recycling of nutrients, and the continuation of the cycle of life and death. Without beings like bacteria, flies, burying beetles, dung beetles, fungi – and even crows, vultures, and many rodents – the dead remain as they are, and the cycle of life cannot go on.
Some species, such as the American Burying Beetle which is critically endangered in the United States, rely primarily on carrion as their food source. Due to many factors, including human destruction of natural habitats, carrion is a precious and often scarce resource. If you notice a bustling community on the animal you wish to remove from the habitat, consider the fact that you may be taking a precious meal from hundreds, if not thousands, of other organisms. I would opt to collect when an animal has reached a later stage of decomposition, when there is little nourishment left for others. I also highly recommend exploring and educating yourself about death as a part of any spiritual practice. It is the inevitable fate we all face, and I believe life becomes a much more precious experience when we consider that it all ends one day. Honor the creatures, large and small, who play a role in this process, and allow us to continually use and reuse the many nutrients that exist on this planet, without which we would starve. If you wish to really get down to the microbial level and learn to connect with the tiniest microbes with respect and understanding, I would encourage you to check out Siv Watkins’ brilliant work on Microanimism.
Another important factor in your decision to remove from the landscape includes ensuring that the species you are collecting is not protected from such activities by law (Migratory bird act etc.) Also carefully consider the legality of location. If you are on private property, you should have the permission of the land owner to collect. Also, other areas such as National Parks restrict collection of any natural resource. Violating such laws may result in heavy penalties and are a federal offense. I would encourage you to research the laws pertaining to the region you live in. In the United States, the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s website is a great place to start. Although these laws may seem overly strict, particularly if you did not harm an animal and they were already dead when you found them, they are there to protect species and ecosystems that are facing steep population decline, or extinction, and may exist in a very precarious balance. There may often be no way to prove whether or not you killed the animal, and these laws are there to protect many species against those who harm these animals intentionally.
If you prefer to forgo scavenging for your own parts, and wish to collect animal items that have already been cleaned and preserved by a skilled taxidermist or other practitioner, there are several ways to go about sourcing responsibly (and will ultimately depend on your own set of ethical standards). You can purchase from someone who works with animal bones, furs, etc. in a way that does not harm an individual animal or population and honors the life of that animal. My personal go-to is Oracle Natural Science in Kansas City (their items are also sold at Ritualcravt). Independently owned businesses like this may either find natural-death animals, or source from other industries which view resources like bones, fur, teeth, and claws, essentially as “waste”. Skilled practitioners will collect these items, clean, and preserve them, giving them a whole second life in a way that holds space and honor for that animal.
There are also many practitioners who wish to refrain from using any real animal products at all. In this case, there are several creators who make animal bone and skull replicas which are a lovely substitute and still can embody that animal spirit you wish to work with or use as an offering on your altar. (Lantern Labs creates lovely, hand painted replicas which you can find at Ritualcravt). You may also choose to represent the animal by carving their form out of a candle. The burning of such a candle can represent the offering of that animal to a deity or for a working. The creative options here are really endless. Write a poem or short essay that represents what that animal means to you, draw or paint a portrait of the animal, or create a small sculpture. You can even perform a dance in which you move in a similar way to that animal. I think creative offerings, into which you have poured your energy, are a beautiful and potent way to connect with and honor a spirit, deity, or your ancestors. It is an offering of your own labor, hand, and creative spirit. Many may say “I’m not an artist”, or “I’m not a creative person” but a spiritual practice is in its own right an act of creativity and self expression. Magic is an art and as magical practitioners, we are all capable of creating and alchemizing one energy form into another.
Another way to connect with animals in your practice is to simply visit them out in nature and just sit with them. Observe at a distance that is safe and does not disturb them. Rest, listen, and quietly watch as they exist in the world. Take notes, draw sketches, and just note any feelings, thoughts, and images that come up for you. Our memories of these experiences remain with us and help to inform our practice, and how we move about in this world. It is humbling to be immersed in a natural environment and remember, that these animals do not need us for their existence. We all cohabitate in this environment and it is important to remember how our actions affect the world around us. If you have the ability, donate your time or give monetary donations to wildlife preservation or rehabilitation programs. Do what you can to give back in some way, because humans as a species have taken so much. Always remember that our time and acts of service are powerful offerings as well.
To speak a bit on my own personal set of standards, I commit to never harming another living being to benefit my practice. I do prefer to use actual bone, fur, etc. when possible because I find that these parts of the body retain a lot of energy from the life once lived. However, one deity that I have begun working with in my practice is often associated with vultures, an animal that is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. I choose to represent that animal on my altar with the use of a 3-d printed resin replica skull. As I dive back into writing poetry, a practice I haven’t worked with in many years, I am also working toward writing a piece of poetry about the Vulture and what it means to me and to this deity.
I hope that, beyond giving ideas and thoughts regarding incorporating animals into your practice, that these words also remind all who read them that a spiritual or magical practice is a personal experience. It is easy to search for a book or website that gives us a guide to what a certain animal or plant represents energetically, but you will find as many opinions on these correspondences as there are people in this world. When I work with an animal, I pay attention to their biology, behavior, and their social structures. Do your own work to learn about the spirit you wish to work with. This is a time consuming process, but there is no better way to open yourself up to the messages out there that are waiting for you. As another example, consider the process of working with plants magically. You will develop a much closer relationship to a plant if you grow it yourself, from seed if you can. There is such a rewarding experience in working with a plant to transform it from a tiny seed into a fully grown and fruiting beautiful being. The process of feeding that plant, paying attention to its growing cycle, what it needs throughout the seasons, giving it offerings, speaking to it, and listening to what it has to say in return, will bring you much closer to it than simply picking the plant and using it based on someone else’s experience.
As the warm weather begins to return to this region, there will be many opportunities to immerse oneself in the natural landscape. Walk this path with respect, reverence, and a humble desire to learn from the creatures that have inhabited this planet for ages. Even in busy urban areas, there are opportunities to sit and watch. See the insects landing on dandelions in the cracks of a sidewalk. Watch the crows fly overhead and call to each other to gather at a dumpster for some sustenance. Observe the squirrels hopping from tree to tree, finding small morsels to stash away. These are learning opportunities to better understand what the animals can show us about our own existence. Stillness and observation can be some of the greatest of teachers.
