"Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission -- to be of service to them wherever they require it." - St. Francis of Assisi, on the treatment of animals
I believe that we are each individual parts of a greater whole, breathing big collective breaths together, creating the reality we know together. It's a big project to attempt to integrate such seemingly different parts and parties; to attempt to bring all voices into harmony in order to restore that sense of peace and unity we're seeking. A key part of this harmonizing process is knowing and seeing each part, individual, voice - as both reflection and messenger. Reflection of what we've created based on current levels of knowledge and expression, and messenger carrying a unique seed of possibility for future change. We're each saying something with the energy of who we are and how we're acting AND we've each been given unique personality perspectives in this lifetime with something unique to say to benefit the progress of humankind. We each have within us a helpful voice ready to share perspective others may not be tuned into yet. Which we can find if we listen deeply enough to who we are - and share if we can feel fully enough into the passion that comes with it.
Very close to my heart is our current level of animal consideration and treatment in the world. This is something I have found I feel very moved to share awareness around, in an attempt to generate waves of change.
Please note - this is not to address the issue of meat consumption so much as it is to address the issue of how animals are often treated in that process. I believe animals deserve to be raised and handled across their lifetime with a level of consideration and treatment that is not currently ensured and enforced. I believe we owe them and ourselves movement toward a new level of respect and compassion. This will improve their experience on the earth as well as ours - as we graciously host them and take their bodies into ours. The truth is that we are not separate, but rather one, despite the variation in species. And we must love ourselves more.
So I offer this page as "thoughts to collectively ponder" and as "collection of resource" for how we can take action as individuals if we feel so moved.
Though they have not voices to speak up, we can speak for them. We can be their voice.