Would that you could live on the fragrance of the earth, and like
an air plant be sustained by the light.
But since you must kill to eat, and rob the newly born of its mother's
milk to quench your thirst, let it then be an act of worship.
When you kill a beast say to him in your heart,
"By the same power that slays you, I too am slain; and I too
am consumed.
For the law that delivered you into my hand shall deliver me into
a mightier hand.
Your blood and my blood is naught but the sap that feeds the
tree of heaven."
And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart,
"Your seed shall live in my body,
And the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart,
And your fragrance shall be my breath,
And together we shall rejoice through all the seasons."
And in the autumn, when you gather the grapes of your vineyards for
the wineprss, say in your heart,
"I too am a vineyard, and my fruit shall be gathered for the
winepress,
And like new wine I shall be kept in eternal vessels."
And in winter, when you draw the wine, let there be in your
heart a song for each cup;
And let there be in the song a remembrance for the autumn days
and for the vineyard, and for the winepress.
