There is a common misconception about the plant-based lifestyle. Today we are going to address some of these myths and ideologies by taking a quick inventory of material facts.
A lot of animals eat plants, so why do we need to eat animals? Another way to look at it is, if an animal doesn’t eat plants then what will it eat? Killed/dead animals or creeping creatures? If I’m an animal, my reply would be… No thanx.
(Given the subjective nature of this topic) I won’t try to explain what being a vegan is, instead I’ll demonstrate what it means “to me”. A lot of times I hear people say things like…“If you want to be healthy, go vegan”. Fact is, I’ve seen plenty of meat eaters live healthy lives well into their 80’s, 90’s and even 100’s! So… being healthy isn’t going to be the most compelling argument here.
However, spirituality might be.
When I was younger, it never occurred to me that plants are among the most powerful and mysterious characters on Earth. Plants are very spiritual and magical in nature. Coming into contact with them can ever so slightly or totally alter a person’s state of consciousness. These events can manifest in a variety of forms. Let’s explore some examples.
- Being around plants can change a person’s mood by simply observing its beauty.
- The fragrance of a plant can also influence the vibration of an area and/or a person’s temperament..
- Foliage and humans share a symbiotic relationship (as they release oxygen that we intake and absorb carbon dioxide that we release. This gives the impression of us having a multidimensional/transcendent connection.
- Plants also have the ability to save lives as well as take them. They are sometimes used for medicinal purposes and can also be fatally poisonous. Those are very powerful attributes to have.
- Some plants such as (Peyote, Ayahuasca, Cannabis and Magic mushrooms) are classified as hallucinogens and can be illegal to possess. When ingested, they can act as a narcotic.
- Then there are those that are fermented and/or processed into alcoholic beverages.
For example:
Let’s examine the phrase “Wines and spirits”, then ask… what does that mean?
“Wines” are usually made of grapes (a plant)
“Spirits”- ie; gin, beer, vodka etc. are mostly made of corn, barley, hops, potatoes etc. (also plants).
These foods go through several processes and once consumed as alcohol, they produce physiological and chemical effects on the mind, body and spirit. Drunkenness can be a good reference.
But… What if we replace fruits, grains and vegetables with animals? Animals are spirits, just like humans. They have emotions and families, as well. (As an animal) Imagine, minding your business and one day someone/something decides to use you for food? Would you consider the entities that want you (for food) to be agreeable or disagreeable? That said, it’s hard to imagine a disembodied animal spirit personifying (positive energy).
I imagine when an animal is slaughtered, adrenaline runs through their bodies before they pass away and remains in the dead animal’s flesh that is later consumed. This may have a physiological and/or psychological effect on the consumer, that they may be unaware of. Some common side effects of adrenaline are anxiety, tremors, palpitations, headache, dizziness and sweating. Sensitivity or high doses can cause more serious side effects (such as chest pain, hypertension, abnormal heartbeat and/or respiratory difficulties).
Though physical, these ailments sometimes translate into mental and spiritual anguish. So therein lies the correlation. Events that have physical effects on humans can easily affect other realms of existence. This information can now conclusively bring us to what I initially suspected all along…
There is more to being a vegan than just diet and physical health, it’s also about… spirituality.
So, if you’re having a problem determining what Plant-Based living is all about, I hope you’ve been provided enough information to help realize a suitable solution.
