This new fox just arrived. I’ve started to become less stringent about where I purchase pelts from, though not lackadaisical. What I’m seeing more of is that what I’m buying is leftovers – things that are still #1 grade, but would otherwise be garbage if no one were to buy them. Things X designer or Z boutique didn’t want.
This will probably be my next to last pelt for a while (making maybe one more purchase after this). Part of this is because of the weather change, and part of this is because of responsibility. I have to care for all these furs, as the animal would have cared for its own fur.
I’m also learning a lot more about the uses that Native American and pagan European people have for furs and pelts. Learning about what a berserkr was, and what a bersærkergang was. Learning about the idea of “importing the energy of this animal into myself”. Partially to know what to avoid doing avoda zara-wise, but also to learn about how this was seen in ancient times.
Clearly Hasidic philosophy has no problem with it. However, as was explained to me by a Bostoner einikel back in the day, everything a Hasidic person wears has meaning. That fur on that shtreimel is meant to represent a manifestation of Divine light. Same with the fur on the collar. This is all evidence of increased Divine attachment/dveykus. Fur does have some significance, but not in and of itself, it denotes something else. It’s not doing anything, it’s symbolizing the results of a Divine process (e.g. the bestowing of “extra soul” on Shabbat).
The ancient Nordic berserkr would drive himself into a frenzy, importing the energy of the bear/wolf into himself, transforming himself into a “Divine predator“. This would come about via a combination of hallucinogens, chanting, and music.
If an elevated state is possible through hallucinogens and music, when praying to avoda zara, how much more should Jews be able to do, without the hallucinogens? We have the Torah, we shouldn’t need to wear any particular material to achieve anything.
I don’t know how many more of these I’ll get next year, but I do know that I intend to keep these pelts forever at this point. This is more sustainable than faux fur (granted not ideal) and absolutely beautiful.
Should everyone be down to buy every piece of roadkill someone is hawking out of a truck? Obviously not. But again, with a few clicks worth of research, one avoids that – and can find amazing things.
