Crescent Shadows On-Line Newsletter of the Hudson Valley Pagan Network, Inc.

Since the beginning of time people have hunted animals for food. The earliest tribes performed magickal rituals using sympathetic magick to aid in their hunting success. The Horned Lord of the forest, whom we worship, is a direct descendant of these rituals. Because of this, hunting season holds a special place in my heart. This year the Goddess and God provided me with an opening day three point buck first thing opening day morning. This was my first buck ever. Later, that morning I was able to watch two beautiful does walking around near my treestand. I watched them for about twenty minutes until they finally disappeared into the thick brush.

Hunting is a very satisfying way for me to be at one with Deity and touch my Warrior Spirit. Hunting demands skill, strength, and most importantly responsibility. The things that I have seen while hunting provide pleasure that is almost unexplainable. Sitting in a treestand, watching a goshawk fly past you while listening to its piercing cry. This particular goshawk has been a companion to my hunting for three and a half years now.  Having a Baird owl sit in a tree ten feet away watching and studying me. Watching wild turkeys fly up to roost in trees next to me because they didn’t know I was there. These are the reasons I hunt. I can be one with nature. You may ask, how then can I kill an animal?

All creatures kill to survive. A simple fact of life is that we must feed ourselves to survive. I believe that there is a life force in everything, animal, plant, and mineral. As long as we do not frivolously take life or do so in anger or revenge it is just part of the natural cycle of life. When I kill an animal while hunting I thank that animals spirit for the sacrifice it made for my benefit. I do this just as I would thank a tree for the gift of itself for a new staff or its firewood. I thank the bush that provides a branch for a new wand in much the same way. In fact, pre-hunting activities include a short prayer to the God and Goddess and post- hunting activities include a thank you. I do not place a higher value on animal life than plant life.  All of these things are equal in my eyes. 

Yes I could just go to the Price Chopper or Shop and Save to get my groceries, but I feel that this is being just a little hypocritical. Why should I let someone else do the dirty work? I feel that my hunting activities help to keep me in tune with the Cycle of Life.  When I was a Falconer, I had to feed my hawks as much fresh killed meat as I could to keep them healthy. This was a very good lesson in the way nature works and how we are all interconnected.  The killing was necessary. There were alternatives to fresh killed food for the birds, but they were not as healthy as they could be.

What is the point of all my ramblings? Hunting is a good way to get in tune with the Cycle of Life, your Warrior Spirit, and Deity for those who choose to practice it. It is not for everyone, but for those who choose to partake, you will be rewarded handsomely. Any comments or discussions about hunting may be directed to me…..

Shadowbird

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Last Updated: January 30, 2002
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