Inspired in equal parts by teaching of indigenous/earth-based cultures as well as from our own experience witnessing the beauty of our animals in both life and death, we strive to honor the flock (and arguably our very humanity) through utilizing as much of a harvested animal as possible— from nose to tail and horn to hoof.

It is in this light that we have some beautiful skulls to share with you.

“What might one do with a skull?” you may ask. Skulls naturally bring up a lot in a culture such as ours that tends to avoid talking about death and impermanence. Many cultures around the world and throughout history aren’t so uncomfortable with these concepts and have various symbols and archetypes associated with skulls: Fertility objects, valor, bravery, guardianship, ancestral connection, to name a few. Many people use them for art– either as they are or choosing to decorate them.

When we shepherds look at these skulls we are reminded that food is sacred, that life is only sustained because death happens, that every bite of food that nourishes our body—be it animal or vegetable— requires loss of life so that ours may continue.

Author and teacher Martin Prechtel shares that in many indigenous cultures it was common practice to take in and care for any infant animal that was orphaned during a hunt. The people would care for that animal as their own because they knew their lives depended upon the health and welfare of that animal; as it fed and nourished them, they must feed and nourish it in return, that the cycle may continue.

The orphan served as a living, daily reminder of a universal paradox: for life to go on, there must also be death. He calls these orphan animals “grief orphans” and we think skulls could serve a similar purpose in our modern culture.

What might you do with a skull?