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.

Thank you Arith your videos are always worth listening to.

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

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

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

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

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Important topic, thank you Arith 🌻

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.

Thanks for this. Carnism is deeply entrenched in most societies, and even more so in parts of pagan circles. I got a few funny looks when I started to replace some of my tools (with which I have never really been comfortable) with some vegan ones I am in the process of making myself. But so what? As someone under the pagan umbrella, I am pretty used to funny looks, and also, there are so many quirky people in my bubble, so I shall be an example of how to constructively deviate from tradition in order to keep my spiritual as well as moral integrity.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Makes sense, makes a lot of sense!

This is great I totally agree and would apply that to anything that has been taken from the earth historically. Wood, fur, leather, bones, tusks, crystals etc has a past story and hopefully was taken by asking permission from the mother or as a scruff that honours the animal, tree etc, and uses every part. The spirit lives. We can even connect with something old. So use it with honour but don't buy new.

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.

great content arith as ever

Interesting. Not a vegan, or a bone collector, but many great points. Thnx.

many thanks kiddo for making this much needed video !

life cycle... everything lives off other things.... we are all a sacrifice... what feeds on us... cannibals like bacteria, fungus, worms, etc.... making it a willing sacrifice as a natural roll of all things consumed by all things... being in harmony with this with love and gratitude....

I love this video!!

Love your stuff kick on love it ❤️❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🤍

As a teen, I used to spend a lot of time fishing. I usually released but would occasionally catch them to eat. One time I failed to cook and eat the fish and it spoiled. This impacted me and I felt terribly about it. I couldn't shake the feeling or ignore it totally. Eventually, I took the fish(which I had been avoiding because of my guilt) and gave it a burial in my backyard. I knew I hadn't made it "right" but I did feel a release. To this day I still feel sick remembering my wastefulness and disrespect. I'm not a vegan and probably never would be one. As part of my personal health code I try to minimize my meat consumption but I don't see myself completely removing it from my diet. However, I relate to idea of minimizing your negative impact and being respectful/responsible. I wish that everyone who chose to eat meat had to raise, kill and butcher their own. There would likely be a lot less meat consumption(for various reasons) if people had to experience the full life cycle and be responsible for all of it. While I cannot live up to this standard now I'm working towards this since it feels more correct since I insist on eating meat.

Basic question about veganism, bro. I'm vegan activist for 14 years and we discussed this subject with my team thousands times. For us it's simple: any new stuff will cost some resources. New resources Your old drums doesn't cost anything if we are talking about capitalistic system of consumption. So remember, that veganism is not only about respect to ones live, but to all living beings, our mother Earth and biodiversity itself. So you did nothing wrong saving old working stuff, not paying for smth new. Cos our kind has already make a lot of terrible shit and trash on this planet. Thank you for your talking about veganism❤ With deep respect to you 🙏

Great vid. 👍

I'm not a vegan but am curious especially in an animism context. I hear about research(I haven't done much in verification but consider this at least a hypothetical experiment) that plants can detect or even experience "pain" when being damaged. I've heard that a single plant can even communicate its harm to other plants. Imagine that harvesting and eating plants causes "harm" like in animal consumption. Perhaps from our animal perspective we don't appreciate the experience of a plant because it is much more alien. To sum up: 1) plants might feel things like pain, 2) there could be a community of plant entities which know a member has been harmed, 3) our monkey brain might be biased against appreciating plant intelligence/consciousness. If these are all true, then being plant based might not be simple enough. How does an animist-vegan weigh the value of an animal vs a plant? I hear some vegans who promote the farming and consumption of insects instead of animal meat. Are all existences the same weight in value? Or is there a hierarchy? If there is a hierarchy then perhaps its better to consume bugs and plants because their spiritual power has less influence upon you than an animal??? This train of thought is fun for me to explore. I hope my curiosity isn't offensive.

Could it be possible that the spirit of the animal via the skin covering your drum lives on through the intention you bring in using your drum? In other words the animal's spirit lives on when you beat the drum. All we can do is make the best decision with what we know in the moment. When we know better we do better.

Hmm. I have some problem with using or not using certain materials. All living things can feel pain. Not only ascendants of animal kingdom. Even fungus or plants can feel it but they sense it diferently. With our perception we tend to think the pain is only reserved for animals. And so that implies being vegan is not enough and we shoud only make tools cloths and food from minerals and air only. And here is second problem we make some of it that way. But in a process we produce things that are in some part not biodegadable witch tends to acumulate in enviroment again causing pain to living beeings. How to escape this mental trap?

I've been watching your videos from the beginning, I preface this because I am genuinely asking. I don't understand why people draw a line between animals and plants, or any other spirit. I believe that spirits exist all over and are in constant struggle with one another. New science is showing plants communicate, and even ancient people spoke with them like with ayahuasca. Animals eat each other and plants, the spirit of wind grinds stone, spirit of water extinguish fire. We are all part of a universal whole and when you consume an animal you take it into yourself, but in a way you are always consuming yourself as a piece of that universal whole. It is a great cycle, where we all take and give, which is why I want a green burial, to give back rather then a chemical bath and a box. I understand much of what is said with respecting and appeasing the spirits, and agree. But I never hear anyone talk about the many other spirits that are frequently ignored. Does the tree deserve less?

I agree completely. For thousands of years, humans have consumed animals. But, these animals for the most part reigned free. A proper kill and use of as many body parts as possible for food, clothing, and other such items is the appropriate religious material to use for drums, mallets, etc. Proper procurement and use of animal parts is an honor to the ancestors. It wasn’t possible for many societies to abstain from animals; however, in modern society it is. Failure to use as many body parts in a kill is waste of an animal. Abuse of an animal as in modern food production is outrageous. I eat meat, but I do not condone what happens in meat markets.

Actually laughed. Thanks for that.

Hi everyone, does anyone know what's going on? Today is Mr.Arith's video day!!!!! Where!? Wednesday, June 12th? What do you think?😢

I can think of the concept of animism and veganism. The issue I forsee is that some actions of violence must be done. Almost all life wants to continue and there are times to restore some natural cycle the life must end. Think of the very old Tigers and Very old lion that hunts men and has left the local ecosystem. So I can value and understand veganism, I am not one. I have been involved in life and death, and sometimes I am troubled by my disconnect with those animals I consumed. However, I live as best as I can considering my modern time.

Curious Question: Can someone take things belonging to an Animal Spirit w/ actual permission? I don't know how that would be possible, given that the animal can't speak to me becuz they have already ☠️ Di3d. Seems a bit weird to ask a dead fellow a question of permission to take their stuff... Jus Me?

Do you have the same issue with human bones? Seems too universalist for me who practices in a very traditional manner.

Amor você não precisa se culpar. Quando é feito um tambor, uma pessoa consciente Não Mata os animais para fazer um tambor. Pelo contrário eles ajudam o meio ambiente. Uma pessoa pega as peles com um combinado com as outras pessoas. Porquê a pele do animal não é usada e queimada. E aonde é queimada não cresce mais nada lá. Então assim não são todos que matam um animal para só fazer um tambor. Sempre temos que ver os dois lados.

Slaying the animal for the drum your using would indeed be more personal and closer to your existense

PLANTS HAVE FEELINGS TOO.. I think the plants control man at least in areas of high vegetation... eating them seems murder.... perhaps we can learn to just live on sunlight, water, frequencies, maybe dirt or minerals, etc.... like plants themselves.. converting energies into food for our bodies

Great! I bought a drum a fortnight ago on a whim. Let's do this! But, I will have roasted red beef, hot off the grill and bone.

Most people don't understand that the reason indigenous Americans would wear certain feathers was to absorb their predatorial nature when on the warpath and was considered ill advised for everyday attire because of the effect it would have on behavior

I humbly disagree, my friend. Eating meat is a species appropriate diet for humans. I hate the CAFOs, I hate the way we mass produce animals for food, but animals raised properly, in nature, is a beautiful thing and very healing for the Earth. Farming crops is so harmful to the Earth. To make room for grains and vegetables you have to practically sterilize the area, spray chemicals all over everything to maintain it and harvesting... kills a lot of animals in the process. Farming kills more animals than proper animal husbandry. Done properly, animal husbandry heals us, humans, as well as the environment. Pasture for cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, is also open to the wildlife of the area (except their natural predators of course-wolves, wild cats, bears...). Birds, insects, deer, the myriad small mammals scurrying around. If that same pasture were to be turned into a farm for grains or vegetables all of those same plants and animals would be at risk. Pesticides kill the insects and the birds that consume them. Herbicides kill everything except the target crop. The deer and the small mammals are killed or scared away. Crops use so much more water and resources than cows and sheep and chickens simply eating from the land. Eating meat, raised properly, is the best way forward. And as for the spiritual aspect, I believe prey animals know what they're getting into when they come into this life. They ultimately know their lives will support the lives of others. There is a quiet nobility in their sacrifice to us that I am deeply grateful for. We are all a part of this beautiful web of life. It is not always pretty or easy to deal with, but it is our place to be at the top of the food chain. Blessed Be

vegetarianism isn't very ancestral.

'Vegan' witchcraft..? lmao wtf

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