Cruelty-Free Circle

With all of the wonderful options available today, there is no reason why your next Witchy potluck, festival, or circle, can’t be filled with compassionate and magickal deliciousness all at the same time. Check out these tips and get ready to charm your coven-mates for many moons.

Plan a vegan potluck
Here at PaganVeg, we all agree that the best part of Esbat and Sabbat gatherings is the food. There is certainly no better outreach than getting your brothers and sisters of the Craft to indulge in some home-style goods that are prepared with mindfulness and love. For Mabon, try an autumn stew with faux meat crumbles and veggies. For Beltane, fix a fruit-filled ambrosia salad fit for the gods. Record your favorites in your Book of Shadows and make it a tradition! For a variety of recipes, check out VegWeb.com.

Ditch the cow pus
Milk is seen in many cultures as highly sacred to the Goddess in all her forms. Libations of milk were made to Hathor, Brigid, Isis, Inanna, and many others. However, many cultures also made libations of juice, water, and plant-based milk as well. Did you know that humans are the only species on the plant to drink milk from another species? We are also the only species who drinks milk after infancy. Next Imbogc, or anytime milk is called for, try substituting it for a delicious soy, rice, or almond milk available at any major grocery store. The baby calves in the dairy industry who are sold to veal farms are very likely appreciative of the gesture.

Let your light shine!
All of the Pagans out there who are Witches all know how much we love our candles. Bee’s raised for beeswax go through routine examination and handling, artificial feeding regimes, drug and pesticide treatment, genetic manipulation, artificial insemination, transportation (by air, rail and road) and slaughter. The next time you buy candles for ritual or make them at Candlemas, consider buying ones made from paraffin or soy. Soy candles burn longer and release less chemicals into the air. What better way to bless your space?

“May you never hunger”
The next time you break bread (or cookies as many groups do) in circle, stop buy the store and pick up any of the accidentally vegan cookies or breads. Many groups don’t have the time or funds to bake from scratch so this would be the next best thing. Did you know Oreos are vegan? So are sugar wafers and many other kinds of cookies. Most breads are milk-free as well. Just check labels to start out with and you’ll be a milk-free pro in no time.

Pleather yourself, and your tools
Did you know that animals raised for leather are kept in filthy overcrowded areas and shipped around the world in all weather extremes? They are also hung upside down and have their throats slit for this once-thought “natural” material. Leather is soaked in all kinds of chemicals to keep it from decomposing. If you throw that leather-bound spell book out the window, it will still be there 100 years later. Earth-friendly? We think not. Try using pleather or nylon in place of leather cords for spellcraft, covers for books, sheaths for knives, and grips for wands.

Fur-free drums
The most likely place to find fur is at a drum circle. You should know that animals raised for fur are kept in dirty metal cages, are often denied food and water, have their necks broken, are frequently castrated for males, and are then skinned alive. No, you are not honoring an “old tradition” by using animal skins on your drum. Unless you killed the animal yourself (and shame on you if you do anyways), the fur lining on your drum most likely came from an animal in china who was violently skinned alive. Drum heads can be made out of synthetic material like polyurethane and are easily available at most places that sell drums. Drum heads can be lined with cloth, strings of beads and nuts, hot-glued charms, and a variety of other materials. Let your imagination soar!

If you run into any situations where you think an animal can be spared in circle and have not seen it here, please feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help you out.

Happy casting!
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