From Ownership To Kinship

Originally Published April 8, 2021

Imagine working together with animals and co-creating a life together as partners, not as owner and pet paradigm. What would that feel like?

Animals are part of the family. You wanting to do right by them is only natural - and thank you for that! 

Yet when we look at our relationship from the standpoint we are the “owners” and they are the “pets”, that automatically sets up a relationship of power-over instead of true kinship.

Did you know under current law domesticated animals are considered property?  We have designated sentient beings into the same legal category as things, such as furniture and vehicles.

Because you’re reading this, I know you know to the depth of your soul that isn’t true. Sentient beings are not “things”, they are not property and we can’t (or shouldn’t) own them, no matter what our culture says.

I believe animals have the same rights we do. That our relationship with them should be seen through the lens of kinship.

It’s time for change and to ask and explore some hard questions for some possible answers. Those questions and our answers reflect who we are and how we show up in the world. A starting question might be: how much of our love and commitment to animals is shaped by the ideas of a culture that in general values people over animals?

The animals deserve that honest exploration and so do we. 

What if we were to see animals as kin and not just animals? What if we were to start to reimagine a new way of being with animals that reaches beyond what society says is acceptable?  

It’s important we begin to recognize where unaligned practices show up in our lives. Those questions, questions like them and our answers help us recognize that. Once we’re aware, we can see how they afect us, how we unconsciously participate in them and begin to learn to disconnect from them.

This change takes place in community, not in individualism. If you are ready to make that change and are looking for an online community, go to the shop and check out the online membership site Kindred. Kindred helps you relate to animals through a new place of understanding with the monthly teachings, journal prompts, practice suggestions, affirmations, altar suggestions, community forums and Q&A sessions. Join the community and bring your growing aware of true kinship with animals into your daily life.