Relative to how there are levels to human life this is the same for animals. Some are more aware than others. You cannot compare that easily the consciousness of a dog/cat to a chicken.
It was very hard for me to accept this, eating meat and understanding that this is normal and okay for us to do. I was at a point where I was feeling really weak and had no energy. Meditation wasn’t as fulfilling because I wasn’t nourishing my body enough to comprehend and understand what was happening.
Do not force yourself or create trauma out of this, keep reading Clergy's sermons, do meditations and get close to the Gods.
I really appreciate thine kind words, it really means a lot to me because, well, for example I lived on a farm for a couple years once and it was a no kill farm and let me tell you... Yes, I lived on farms where the critters got killed too... They can be very emotional too... Actually had chickens too where I was seeing all kinds of behavior people don't ascribe to them... Even critters as tiny as a parakeet tend to die when a mate is suddenly gone, out of heartbreak... For example on one farm a sow got killed by the owner's decision because she stopped being able to have babies, and her mate remained heartbroken, never even having received a new mate, constantly seeking company from me... Had for example a rooster with such a tender and caring personality, always protecting and finding treats for the hens and babies, beating up the other pissant roosters raping the hens left and right... (That was on the no kill farm where even the owner told us with the guy I lived with to kill all those roosters so only ours would remain because he was so kind...) I really have an extremely hard time trying to separate them based on awareness level, for example my sister had a pet rat who had such a shy, clingy and tender personality...
It does give me comfort that Father Satan is not judgemental about my soft heart... I've had so many people telling me that I need to stop being such a bleeding heart, and hey, it's actually my forte as a mother, if I had the energy I'd get back to my passion of trying to help and uplift people too, I spent years always hunting for people who were down so that I could try to get them back on their feet emotionally aye...
I'm actually thinking about not following this thread anymore because let me tell you, I've dealt with so many people considered harsh by now, it has made me realize that being sensitive actually is the feedback system to remind one not to be awful to others... Every time I see someone not even feeling sorry for those miserable creatures just gets me alarmed and wanting to run the other way...
But then am just one more person trying to do things on my own instead of asking questions when unsure aye...
For example I came here to find answers to a million questions, but I always worry that people would find them ridiculous... But don't wanna be one of those people who keep dwelling in the wrong assumptions aye... *sigh*
I guess it might be a worthy investment to start asking them? Or give this forum a break and just focus on things alone... Damn me if I know... *sigh*