Blood Sacrifice
A month or so ago I wrote about offerings. Shortly thereafter Christopher Bradford and I had a good discussion about Blood Sacrifice and where people go wrong with it. I don’t practice it, but I have attended ceremonies where it is done, such as the Pujas at Dakshin Kali. I was going to do a post about it, but got sidetracked. I was reminded when Jake posted the following advice on FB:
“I’ve said it before and will say it here. While I don’t practice animal sacrifice, if it is to be done at all by ‘Western occultists’.it should be learned about from someone within a Living Tradition which does it with respect and compassion.
Obviously that would involve not being a white supremacist dickhead trying to be an edgy LHP magician.” – Jake Stratton Kent
I have seen a few conversations here and there about how any serious magician should “not be afraid” of blood sacrifice and that it is a “transgressive and blasphemous act” that seals your deal with the dark and fluffy ones.
Here’s my two cents: It’s no more transgressive to kill an animal for ritual than it is for your hamburger. If anything it should be less anonymous and more mindful and compassionate. If it has built up in your head as some kind of ultimate blasphemy then you shouldn’t be doing it. If you don’t have the experience to do it quickly and right, you shouldn’t be doing it.
If you kill a chicken for dinner a few nights a week, its not going to strike you as particularly transgressive to kill one for a spell or as an offering. If it does, then you are doing it wrong.
“But Jason, there are some spells and rituals that historically call for cruel and painful sacrifices. What about those?”
Yes, in fact there are such spells. Drowning Cats in the PGM and throwing Pigs onto a bonfire with gunpowder strapped to them for a particular Petro Loa that will not be named. These spells and rituals do exist.
CHOOSE A DIFFERENT ONE!
Just because something is traditional does not mean it is good, just, or acceptable. But this post isn’t aimed at people doing traditional things in a living religion. It’s aimed at those who would make a mockery of such traditions by getting off on it as some dark and terrible act.
