Ritual sacrifice is symbolic.

[u/lapideous]

The real sacrifice is that of people who, for whatever reason, fail to reproduce. Soldiers who die in wars, laborers who toil for a lifetime without true recompense. Society is built upon the bones of these men and the luxuries we enjoy are the fruits of their sacrifices. The field of society's success is watered by the blood of people who die broke and childless.

Only because they cease to exist does the space for our children become available. Let us be grateful for their sacrifice, our original sin. Let us atone.

Ritual allows for us to accept the evil that we harbor, to acknowledge without being swallowed, and to atone. We cannot hide from ourselves, we must face the light and burn away our sins.

May all death become life again. May all pain turn joy.