I believe that my soul is directly intertwined with the world around me. A blade of grass contains a spark of the Divine, the same as any animal or human – I must respect not only my body, but also the animals and plants that are sacrificed to maintain my body. For my magick to be effective, my word must be true and in harmony with the Divine energy in all things.
אברא כדברא — I create as I speak.
To this effect, below I present my definition of “Kosher” eating and living. What is presented is an ideal. Each lifetime is a process of learning. Just like in school we strive for 100% on an exam, but are not crushed by receiving an 85%. My goal is to receive high marks, even if, being human, I do not reach perfection.
This document, like life, is a work in progress.
Ethical Living
- Honor the Divine in all its forms.
- Honor the Elements, the Spirits of Nature, and Heavenly Beings.
- Honor the Ten Commandments of Moses.
- Honor my Ancestors.
- Speak honestly and behave in an upright fashion.
- Put ethics above material gain.
- Live each day fully. Live with joy. Live with excitement. Live with intent.
- Harness my natural talents, provide opportunities for them to grow, and share them with others.
- Encourage the dreams of those around me.
- Live in harmony with nature. Care for the Earth to leave a better world for those who come after me.
- Choose “green” products over more harmful ones.
- Creatively re-use products whenever possible.
- Plant native plants and landscape in a way that is beneficial to my environment.
Ethical Eating - (Explore Sacred Food around Washington, DC)
Sacred Eating Practice Recommended Reading
- Whenever possible local agriculture should be supported through an active effort to purchase locally-grown/raised/produced foods.
- Eat foods that are in season, to keep my body in tune with the natural cycles of the world around me.
- Support smaller, independent food producers should also be actively supported.
- Organic and non-genetically modified food products, fruits, vegetables, and grains
- Food products sold by ethical, eco-conscious companies
- “Clean” Animals raised in an ethical manner
- Cage free / Pastured
- No growth hormone or unnecessary antibiotics
- Fed natural healthy food – no animal byproduct for cows, chickens, etc.
- Slaughtered in a responsible manner that does not cause unnecessary pain or distress.
- Limit consumption of high-fructose corn syrup which is used to enhance the profits of manufacturers
- Avoid all food products that contain Hydrogenated Oils and Partially-hydrogentated Oils, which serve no value for the body, potentially cause great harm, and only are used to increase the profits of the producers.
- Do not be ignorant of what I am eating — read labels
- Return what I do not eat to the earth (compost!)
Popularity: 29% [?]
Absolutely!
Sometimes it’s hard to buy just organic foods but there are so many different ways in altering what you buy to feed yourself and your loved ones. I’m happy to have come to this realization!!
After all, we are what we eat! The way we eat should also be a mandatory education!!
Check out Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon! The best source I’ve found on food consumption. Based on the work by Dr. Weston Price who observed the diets of Tribal cultures all over the world. Very powerful, life transforming information.
Thanks for the suggestion Emunah! I’m familiar with the work of Dr. Price. I’ll have to add Ms. Fallon’s book to my reading list.
Beautiful. Not easy, but worth attempting if not all, than doing the best you can.
[...] was one issue I thought I had some personal closure on. I first wrote my own statement on eco-kosher to follow around four or five years ago. I was sure that traditional kashrus held no pull for me [...]