The most recent 5-Day Ghost Free Journey took place from September 10 through 14th with Davis Dunavin, from Connecticut, US. These 5 days were filled with in-depth discussions that covered many aspects of Davis’ transition from long time vegetarian to vegan.
Davis started his Journey with a discussion about “getting over the taste boundary of eggs and cheese”. He said “my personal taste preferences are not worth supporting such an inhumane system and compromising myself”. Several members of the Ghost community revived a discussion about the dairy industry, the humane meat/dairy industry, and helped Davis explore other alternatives to eggs and diary. Recipes were shared, and Davis felt comfortable grocery shopping for the week of vegan meals. He even made enchiladas and pizza with cheese substitutes in the first two days.
As the week unfolded, Davis began to delve deeper into other ethical and social issues that impact him personally. He offered discussion about American culture, especially how the male culture is tied to eating meat, and at the same time, vegan males are represented as weak, naive, or overly sensitive. The effects of these stereotypes can pose challenges for men. What a lively discussion this proved to be on Day 3, with input from a fashion perspective and sociological discussions about “The Sexual Politics of Meat”, by Carol Adams.
Days 4 and 5 were days of reflection for those who so generously shared their stories about their own Ghost Free Journey that spanned months or years. Many community members made the point that being vegan goes beyond a single point in time, and that it is a lifetime of making choices day by day, meal by meal. We all try to do our best, which doesn’t mean perfection (in a non-perfect world). The goal for most vegans is to choose with the intention of causing the least harm. It was wonderful to have so many share from the Ghost community, and point out that there is an abundance of support, resources, and alternatives to live Ghost-Free.
Throughout the 5-Day Journey, a theme of connecting with non-human animals was apparent. Davis felt the need to reconnect with animals as he once did as a child, but living in a metropolitan or suburban area often take us from this connection. Several people shared their profound experiences with visits to Farm Sanctuary, and experiencing first hand, “the connection” . Stay tuned, as Davis promises to update us with photos when he visits Farm Sanctuary or Woodstock Farm Sanctuary.
There were so many wonderful comments and suggestions during each of the 5 days. We hope that you will take the time to read the full posts of the 5-Day Ghost Free Journey. Please join us for the next Journey from November 12 through 16th…it takes a village.
For The Ghosts,
Rosemary and Donna
Co-Coaches.
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