Liber ab Mentis (The Book of Mind)^253
use in ritual. You see, although animals have been proven to do just about all of the
things we used to claim made them different, they have not as of yet developed the
ability to work metal. Some animals do indeed build homes, have language, teach lan-
guage to others, make love facing each other, practice monogamy, live in extended
communities, and so on. Practically every thing we have used to separate humanity
from animals has been disproved, except one. In reflecting on the Elements, other
religions claim the one Element that animals do not demonstrate is Spirit.
It might surprise you to know that I agree, but only in the semantics of how I use
the term. I do very much believe animals have soul, but when I use the term Spirit I
mean much more than soul. I mean soul tempered with mind. Because that tempering
process can be equated to Fire, I note Fire as the one Element of the four that animals
do not possess a mastery of. I do not believe humanity has mastered Fire. But we are
the only critter that has made an attempt thus far.
While presenting this concept in workshop forum, one person in attendance in-
sisted that by acknowledging the difference between humanity and animals that I was
claiming humanity is better than animals. I explained that I believe all Life is sacred,
but could not resist the opportunity to do just a little bit of vegetarian proselytizing.
“Do you eat meat?” I asked. The truth of the matter is that I have chosen to be a
vegetarian, but do not generally think that eating meat is wrong. I think it is wrong for
me but do not condemn others for doing exactly what I have done, which is to make an
educated personal choice. The thing is, the person in that workshop had clearly not
made an educated personal choice. He was telling me it is wrong to consider animals
different than human beings, yet he doesn’t eat human beings.
There is a clear difference between animals and humanity. That difference is rep-
resented in our lore, in our language, and in the way we conduct ourselves every day. I
have shown that the ancients were rather clear in their belief that animals have soul. I
have shown that so strong was their belief that it is built into our modern language.
Now let’s look at what animals and humanity do not share: mind. Again I turn to my
dictionary where I find the very first definition for mind is:“The human consciousness that originates in the brain and is manifested
especially in thought, perception, emotion, will, memory, and imagination”^1Human consciousness is the tempering fire that I speak of. Those same folk who
argue that I should not point out the difference between humanity and animals are
usually the first to point out that only humans have developed the nuclear bomb (fire).
Of course I agree, yet even though they argue my very point, they still will not concede
that there is a difference between humanity and animals. If there is no difference, then
does it not stand to reason that humanity is just as responsible for this Earth as is my
cat? Therefore, does it not stand to reason that we should do just as much to save the
Earth as my cat, that being nothing at all?
The ancient Pagans saw the clear division between animals and humanity by the
attribute of mind being given to only humanity, and they demonstrated that belief in
their lore.x WB Chap 15.p65 253 7/11/2003, 6:03 PM