They are buried, or exposed in trees or on platforms, or wrapped in the bark of trees or covered with stones, brush, and so on. Beuys continues, “There are many proscriptions against breaking or in any way harming the bones of animals (especially bears, reindeer, and other animals which are hunted) such bones are to be carefully collected and disposed of. The myths and rituals associated with a variety of animals are remarkably consistent. And when I try to speak with the spiritual existences of this totality of animals, the question arises of whether one could not speak with these higher existences too, with these deities and elemental spirits.” 2 Though many animals have been venerated over the years, three of the most important are cattle, deer, and elk. Joseph Beuys, whose art draws upon and even reenacts spiritual traditions many regard as primitive, explains the abiding significance of animals: “Why do I work with animals to express invisible powers?-You can make these energies very clear if you enter another kingdom that people have forgotten, and where vast powers survive as big personalities. It is not only human bones that are surrounded with an aura of sacrality, but often the bones of certain animals as well. Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the wind, prophesy, man, and say to it, These are the words of the Lord God: Come, O wind, come from every quarter and breathe into these slain that they may come to life.’ I began to prophesy as he had bidden me: breath came into them they came to life and rose to their feet. As I looked, sinews appeared upon them, flesh covered them, and they were overlaid with skin, but there was no breath in them. I will fasten sinews on you, bring flesh upon you, overlay you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live and you shall know that I am the Lord.’ I began to prophesy as he had bidden me, and as I prophesied, there was a rustling sound and the bones fitted themselves together. This is the word of the Lord God to these bones: I will put breath into you, and you shall live.
He said to me, ‘Man, can these bones live again?’ I answered, ‘Only thou knowest that, Lord God.’ He said to me, ‘Prophesy over these bones and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
He made me go to and fro across them until I had been round them all they covered the plain, countless numbers of them, and they were very dry.
One spirit two skeletons full#
The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he carried me out by his spirit and put me down in a plain full of bones.
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