Animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in Chile, South America
Abstract Background: The word “occult” means hidden. Occult rituals are indeed commonly characterized by group secrecy and may include Satanism, Witchcraft, Divination and other practices. The occult lore commonly includes a variety of symbols, often including animals that play a part by carrying su...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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CABI
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Human-Animal Interactions |
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| Online Access: | http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2025.0026 |
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| _version_ | 1849330216972845056 |
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| author | J. Claudio Gutierrez Steven D. Holladay |
| author_facet | J. Claudio Gutierrez Steven D. Holladay |
| author_sort | J. Claudio Gutierrez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background: The word “occult” means hidden. Occult rituals are indeed commonly characterized by group secrecy and may include Satanism, Witchcraft, Divination and other practices. The occult lore commonly includes a variety of symbols, often including animals that play a part by carrying supposed elements of magic. Methods: This manuscript first explores occult symbols and ongoing aspects of occult lore in Chile, South America. Representative isolated cases involving ritualistic sacrifice in the capital city of Santiago, and in central beach towns are then explored. Results: An emerging message is that some isolated rituals of the occult, while often largely unseen, take place in our society. Conclusions: The authors of this manuscript acknowledge the religious aspects of animal symbols. However, concerns arise when occult activity includes animal abuse and unnecessary suffering. Creating greater awareness of such animal use is hoped to be a step toward prevention. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ddd53df4ab5541948a40ded1173c9296 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2957-9538 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | CABI |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Human-Animal Interactions |
| spelling | doaj-art-ddd53df4ab5541948a40ded1173c92962025-08-20T03:47:02ZengCABIHuman-Animal Interactions2957-95382025-06-0113110.1079/hai.2025.0026Animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in Chile, South AmericaJ. Claudio Gutierrez0Steven D. Holladay1School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA;College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USAAbstract Background: The word “occult” means hidden. Occult rituals are indeed commonly characterized by group secrecy and may include Satanism, Witchcraft, Divination and other practices. The occult lore commonly includes a variety of symbols, often including animals that play a part by carrying supposed elements of magic. Methods: This manuscript first explores occult symbols and ongoing aspects of occult lore in Chile, South America. Representative isolated cases involving ritualistic sacrifice in the capital city of Santiago, and in central beach towns are then explored. Results: An emerging message is that some isolated rituals of the occult, while often largely unseen, take place in our society. Conclusions: The authors of this manuscript acknowledge the religious aspects of animal symbols. However, concerns arise when occult activity includes animal abuse and unnecessary suffering. Creating greater awareness of such animal use is hoped to be a step toward prevention.http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2025.0026animals in the occultwitchcraft loreanimal sufferingritualistic animal sacrifice |
| spellingShingle | J. Claudio Gutierrez Steven D. Holladay Animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in Chile, South America Human-Animal Interactions animals in the occult witchcraft lore animal suffering ritualistic animal sacrifice |
| title | Animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in Chile, South America |
| title_full | Animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in Chile, South America |
| title_fullStr | Animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in Chile, South America |
| title_full_unstemmed | Animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in Chile, South America |
| title_short | Animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in Chile, South America |
| title_sort | animal symbols in occult lore and sometimes accompanying ritualistic animal sacrifice in chile south america |
| topic | animals in the occult witchcraft lore animal suffering ritualistic animal sacrifice |
| url | http://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2025.0026 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jclaudiogutierrez animalsymbolsinoccultloreandsometimesaccompanyingritualisticanimalsacrificeinchilesouthamerica AT stevendholladay animalsymbolsinoccultloreandsometimesaccompanyingritualisticanimalsacrificeinchilesouthamerica |