The Spiritual Relationship
(Internet Published) Aug 2000
By bribery, punishment and starvation, a man may gain control over his dogs, horses, pigeons and children. It is very easy to get pigeons to take feed from the hand or lips of the owner. Nevertheless, this is not a spiritual relationship, no a working relationship. Contest tipplers, working rollers, high flying kit pigeons, at their best, are not pets. It's all about discipline, brought about by firmness, mutual respect and understanding.
At the age of 3 1/2 weeks, tipplers must be taken away from their parents, and placed upon a firm imprinting system. Taken outside of the weaners
section, each day and during the period when they must learn to pick up their own grain and find clean water supply.
There are three kinds of imprinting (1) The imprinting of the approaches and
entrance to the loft, (2) The imprinting of the presence and protection of
the owner, and (3) The imprinting upon droppers or intended kit mates. All
combined with the ritualism and habits of the owner. For it is easy to win
the silly heart of a pup and to teach it to sit up and beg for cookies. This
is not a spiritual and working relationship. I compare the management of
tipplers and other pigeons to that of managing working horses, stock dogs,
police dogs, gun dogs, even the escort dogs of the blind people. These are
certainly not pets such as these do have a working dignity, with no need for
bribery and softness. Neither can they be trained with whips, starvation and
kicks.
All such livestock must be trained from an early age and with an expertise
which is the natural gift of some men. Now you probably have known, certain
old fellows who had a way with little children and could get them laughing
without stuffing them with candy or dishing out $.
Such men tell their dogs to be quite and sit down and the dogs obey. No
shouting, no threats No! No! A spiritual relationship without which no man
will ever train anything. Not least of all, his own children.
Nevertheless, there are among us, men with only one idea and that is to
starve pigeons into submission. Such men, don't teach or train, they just
break and degrade. Under a system of starvation, a pigeon is in a state of
blind hunger. Such as these are deprived and have not the crucial
incentives. Mostly they drift away for they have nothing to lose. I cannot
tell you how to become a SHAMAN or a DRUID. If you have it in your souls to
be so, then you will be so. If you are just $ motivated, then you have no
souls. Ask Harry Shannon and Michael Beat and the men of honor who do have
outstanding honor. For verily I do say unto you, that without honor we are
no better than cattle.