animal sacrifice and a question about specialized training

Personally I think that we need more people that have the sort of training needed to be a sacrificer. Killing an animal quick, clean, and with as little stress to that animal as possible is something that takes training and some practice to confidently get it right...and that is before you add anything specifically associated with the religion of the sacrificer such as taboos on certain methods of killing, prayers and when to say them, offerings to be made to the animal, what parts of the animal are to be used by man (and who) vs what parts are to go to the Gods, how those parts are to go to the Gods, etc. etc.

I recommend Basic Butchering of Livestock & Game by John J. Mettler, though I don't agree with some of the methods used that book will give you a good basic understanding. There are other books and aids of that sort that should probably be consulted. If you can find someone that practices Halal or Kosher butchering, see if they would be willing to teach, they may not but they may have resources that you would be hard pressed to find otherwise.

Having someone that has butchered animals (specifically livestock) who is willing to teach you how to do it, that you know is making a point of quick, clean killing, would be of immense help though.

Before you ever consider sacrificing for a group, you had better be Very competent and confident in your abilities. Understand that you are probably going to mess it up at least once and that this can be a fairly unpleasent experience...always have a back up, always be ready to strike again, do Not let that animal suffer longer than an initial mistake on your part will cause and do your damndest to make it right in whatever way you can.

I don't have a lot of intimate experience in what you are wanting to do, but I do have some, and that will only grow as my homestead takes on livestock to go along with the garden. Perhaps you'll get the training and get that competence ahead of me, but I'll be sure to pass on anything I glean from my own practice to you in the future if you're interested.

Here in Portland Oregon, we have the Portland Meat Collective. They teach butchering, charcuterie, and meat handling. My husband just took a rabbit class where they learned about raising rabbits and killed and dressed one as part of the class. Anyway, this collective has a kickstarter to start collectives in other states, including Vermont. Google Portland Meat Collective for more. There may be a similar organization in your area already. As for the spiritual aspects of sacrifice, you may want to a) look back into history for eyewitness accounts of this sort of thing (I'm thinking Greek writings) and b) look at what modern cultures that practice animal sacrifice do.

Thank you. I will most certainly look into it.

Honestly the thought makes me increadibly happy and hopeful for the future, that such lineages could be brought about.

Other potential specializations I can think of: funerary specialists, midwives. What about ritual tattooers?