"Great Wake" for the Turkeys
Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion

FROM UPC United Poultry Concerns
November 2019

Contributed to UPC by Prayer Circle for Animals #454 from Judy Carman, Circle of Compassion

Turkeys Dance, Play, Empathize, Protect and Mourn

Prayers and mourning this week for every precious turkey who has been killed for “Thanksgiving” meals in America.

We know that turkeys are people too, have emotions, and value their lives and the lives of those they love. Karen Davis, President of United Poultry Concerns, has written a special tribute to turkeys [Turkeys: Sympathy, Sensibility, and Sentience].

Please read it and share it widely, especially with those who still think, ironically, that they must kill and eat turkeys in order to give proper thanks. In her article, she notes, “An emotional behavior in turkeys that has been said to ‘defy logic’ is ‘the great wake’ they will hold over a fallen companion.”

UPC sanctuary turkey, Amelia. Photo by Davida G. Breier.

In one episode cited by A.W. Schorger, in The Wild Turkey: "The wing beat of a turkey hen who had been shot brought a flock that stopped beside the dying bird instead of running away as expected.”

Imagine the millions of turkeys who have been murdered in just the last few weeks. With no turkey friends left to hold “the great wake” for each of them, it falls to us to do so.

In the tradition of the great wake of turkeys, which may be millions of years old, may we each find ways to circle around these fallen companions of ours, honor them, acknowledge their beautiful souls, and mourn their loss and the terrible ways in which they have died. Yet in our grief, let us also give thanks for our undying vision that one day soon all turkeys everywhere will be free from the ignorance and violence of human beings.

This vision we hold is more real than all the killing that is happening now. We rejoice in knowing that it is more real for the simple reason that it is the true way of living for humanity. We ask for and give thanks for the never-ending divine assistance, the love of the universe, that gives us strength to never give up until all turkeys and all beings are free from human domination and violence. We see the day coming soon when all human beings will advance in consciousness and join us in reverence and love for all life.

May all beings live in joy and harmony together sharing this world of love as brothers and sisters. I give thanks for you, dear Prayer Circle members. You are shining the Light of Truth so that one day soon, all beings will be free. Thank you for your faithful prayers, your visionary thoughts, and your devotion to truth. Because of all of you, compassion is encircling the earth for all beings. May compassion and love reign over all the earth for all beings everywhere. Thank you all for your devotion to truth, love, liberation and peace for all beings.

With love, peace, and gratitude from Judy Carman, and from Will and Madeleine Tuttle, and the Circle of Compassion team.

---

Return to Animals: Tradition - Philosophy - Religion
Read more at Turkeys - Articles, Poems, Stories, Videos