Badger, and ethics in animism

[dibeartach.livejournal.com]

The Eurasian Badger : Rain, masculinity, wildness/nature, patterns or routines, tradition, strength, physicality, underworld/lower Otherworld, subtlety, mysteries, transition, life-path, fortune/fate, and significant crossing of paths with others. Comfort or warning, establishing place while maintaining personal freedom, focus and stability, gentle power. Also twilight, grounding, age, earth wisdom, and Spring and Winter.

I'm doing a whole bunch of meditations on Badger at the moment, and feel like this animal will be one of influence not just for the duration of the meditations like some of the other energies that have visited me, but a long term focus. In one of my wanderings, it came about that the claw was the power, so to speak, of the Badger. As far as I know, Eurasian Badgers are protected, thus it's probably going to be impossible to find a genuine claw for sale, even though I felt this to be important.
That made me think about the use of animal skins/claws etc in animism. My totem animal is the Salmon, and it was made abundantly clear to me that I was never to harm, hunt or eat Salmon under any circumstances. Later I found out that is a common attitude in regards to totem animals.
But as for other animals, we know from tribal cultures that animal skins, furs, claws and talons, and other parts were used to invoke that animal power in the past. Thus my strange message in regards to feeling like it was important to find a Badger claw.
What are your views on this little corner? Is it ethical to use animal bones or furs or what have you in animist practices?

Comments

My Opinions

[paleo.livejournal.com]

I feel it is perfectly fine to use animal parts from critters who have been respectfully and sustainably hunted or scavenged (such as with roadkill). I'm also fine with using things found at secondhand shops or garage sales. These folks are selling whatever is lying around and are not focused on keeping what I consider unethical cycles turning. Plus, buying them will keep these parts out of dumps.
I personally draw the line at buying *anything* where the dealer knowingly acquires animal parts from fur farms, trophy hunting, or predator control programs. I've promised the animal spirits that I will not give power/money to people that will continue such disrespectful practices.
That's where my ethics led me, though I respect other's right to choose so long as they are genuine about trying to follow a path of respectul coexistance with our fellow animals.

[firehauke.livejournal.com]

Interesting that you've been told (I assume by Salmon) to not consume the physical aspect of your totem - course, I can't relate, I don't have traditional 'consumable' (as in edible) totems. But, IMO, the use of fur, skin, talons, claws, teeth, etc as power items is a necessary thing. Some of us (like Lupabitch) are lucky enough to get bits of animals often and can incorporate them into our practices. Others, (like me) make do with effigies.

How you procure your 'bits' is dependent on your ethics. Like Paleo says, roadkill is a good way to obtain 'bits', scavenged from the forest floor at the right time of year (or on specific missions); antique or second hand shops are also an option.

Paleo and I will differ on the option of obtaining parts from fur farms, predator control programs (I don't hold with trophy hunting...that ain't right). YES, I agree that PCPs (not drugs...) are bad - however, mankind is still stupid enough to not realize that the balance must be maintained. Paleo seems content (from the reading here) in Hys promise to the Spirits to not use items gathered from these programs. I would take in these things, and do specific ritual to remove the anger, or redirect it into truth.

Fur farms is where I get my rabbit fur (since I can't hunt, not having had any practice), and turkey/duck/pheasant/other bird feathers that I can then use for bird medicine.

Mileage varies.

[breimh.livejournal.com]

Some tribes here in the Northwestern U.S. avoid eating meat of their family or personal totem animal, out of respect and reverence to the spirit of that animal. Others do eat the totem's animal out of respect. It just depends on what the tribe or the individual believe more strongly.

Personally, I won't use anything resembling my power animal's fur/bones/claws/et.al. But I do use feathers, bone flutes, ect. (of other animals of the totem I draw on the powers of) that I have gathered and empowered to work as fetishes, effigies and instruments myself. This was how I was taught, and what my own guides have explained to me. Everyone is different, of course.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

My totem animal is the Salmon, and it was made abundantly clear to me that I was never to harm, hunt or eat Salmon under any circumstances.

*nods* I know of other cultures that do this, with their totems (particularly if they're food totems). Likewise, even though it's not really readily available, I have sworn an oath to not harm ravens. That said, I have plenty of their shed feathers.

I think it is plenty fine to use animal parts and furs / claws in your practice. I prefer to get them humanely, though it's damned difficult in Australia to get anything at all because of quarantine, unless it's already in the country (and preferrably in your state) when you get it.

If you have problems with how the animal died, you can always create and construct rituals to send off or make peace with the actual physical animal spirit itself.

[aloiis.livejournal.com]

Perhaps a good and interesting alternative to buying/getting animal bits would be creating your own item (out of wood, stone or anything else). I think if you spend time, personal energy and such to carve something yourself representing or relating to the item you'd ideally acquire, it'd work as well. It's almost a ritual on its own and that way it's really genuine. I find it more respectful (to the animal and spirit) doing this rather than going through a random person and whatnot to get an animal bit from gods-know-where (and how) (unless chance is a part of the whole thing like I know it can be with me and Raven).

That said I agree with what people have said here; I have nothing against animal parts that have been ethically/respectfully acquired and such.

[dibeartach.livejournal.com]

Hmm, does anyone know where to come across animal claws or teeth from, that is vaguely ethical about it? I'm not exactly going to find roadkill for this animal here - apparently Badgers don't exist here, though I could have sworn I had avery close call with one in the car a few months back.
I would ordinarily make something from another material, like wood or clay, but it seemed important in the meditation that the claw was genuine.

[lapistigra.livejournal.com]

http://www.hideandfur.com/

[dibeartach.livejournal.com]

Hey thanks a lot! :-) But what does /pkg mean?

[lapistigra.livejournal.com]

per package I know a lot of Native Americans get their dance regalia supplies from this company.

[sienna-leaf.livejournal.com]

I agree with aloiis. I see your point that genuine might be more potent...but if done in attitude that you create the claw as gift to Spirit to inhabit...maybe it'd work.

Owl (specifically barred) is one of my totems...and I have been collecting shed feathers when I can. Problem is, they are illegal to have...but knowing where they are from (the ground!) I personally have no problem w/ them.

I do have a related question...I saw some amazing pieces on the internet made out of bits n pieces that furriers (correct word?) throw away as scraps. The artist reclaims those pieces and does ritual to honor the animal. I hate the fur trade...but I am on the fence about the art she does. It is sanctifying parts of the animal that otherwise would be garbage.

[sienna-leaf.livejournal.com]

yes...can't check my private email til later, but that'd be fine.

[lupabitch.livejournal.com]

I pretty much agree with everything that's been said here. Decide for yourself (and talk to Badger) where your boundaries are. Since you're probably going to have issues getting an actual claw, a replica or other substitute should work just fine. I've found in my own practice that totems appreciate substitutes when they're offered as a way of preserving endangered physical animals.

[dynxsilverwolf.livejournal.com]

I'd say discuss it with the totems themselves (as you've said, Salmon is giving you a clear message!), and I agree with all the other comments.

[le-gris.livejournal.com]

Im going to jump in just to say that I agree with aloiis as well. It is often just as "good" to create an effigy of what you'd like to have. Perhaps maybe even more appreciated for the effort!
I also agree with the general opinion on using ethically procured animal parts. I have collected dozens of found feathers, skulls, quills, claws, and skins, none of which required money or unnecessary death.

[erynn999.livejournal.com]

You might want to try working with fetishes instead:

http://www.zuniart.com/

http://www.keshi.com/

They can be surprisingly inexpensive and they're totally legal.