Lifestyle changes

I have a question slightly related to this but not for myself. I have a mostly vegetarian diet along with my husband. However, we have a cat who we are slowly transitioning to a raw food diet for her best health. My biggest hurdle is knowing that I will now have to buy meat and handle it in order to feed her the best quality most affordably. But, I have a psychological, probably spiritual, struggle with going forward with this. I know it's to ensure my cat has the best life possible, but at what cost considering the role I'm playing in serving her this meat. Granted, we already feed her meat-based commercial cat food and I'm aware of the "disconnect" that happens when I open a bag or a can and don't see the animal in the product like I would if I were to open a package of chicken thighs. Do you have any thoughts on how I can approach this? Would love your perspective.

That is very helpful. Thanks so much!

Om Coreen. Thank you for the question, it is a great one that I"m sure others in the group are curious to know the answer. Therefore I will write a full explanation with some investigations and suggestions to clarity this very delicate topic.

First of all I believe the answer is multi-layered; including ethics, personal values, and traditional knowledge.

From a classical yoga perspective, the yogis thoughts/observances regarding the 'clean' dietary recommendations are that the more pranayama one practices, the more sensitive you become to energies. Therefore since most animals have a life of suffering and fear (tamoguna), the yogi will avoid ingesting the adrenaline/fear and the energetic emotional suffering the animal likely experienced since they are trying to increase sattva guna (balance/harmony/peace). As we know, tamoguna 'pulls down' sattvaguna, so therefore as sattva-guna evolves/reveals consciousness, tamoguna veils consciousness. In addition the Dharmic law of ahimsa (non violence) toward life on Earth is a founding principle of hatha yoga and raja yoga.

So from a yogic standpoint, the more purification you are attempting to achieve, the more "strict" the dietary recommendations.

In my own opinion, diets are as unique as our fingerprints since most food choices are born either from habit (cultural/society) or personal values and beliefs. I do believe and always encourage everyone to challenge yourself in your own beliefs around food and find the most sattvic approach to your dietary needs. This develops more goodness, honoring, and love in the world and planet.

Perhaps a starting point to address here is to trust your intuition. Check in before ingesting any animal products and see if you still desire them during the month (and afterwards in my opinion). If you do, you do. Just be sure to do a ceremony to honor the life and purify the suffering from the animal muscle and fat as much as possible. Then enjoy and celebrate the life that is nourishing your body for it unwillingly sacrificed its own life to give you nourishment. :)

Again, I know this is a sensitive topic and I do not judge what anyone does with their diet. It is such a personal journey and a reflection of consciousness that it is ever evolving in my own opinion. Hope this helps and I know it is lengthy but its a great question that deserves this attention!! :)