Live Plants and Animals in Magic

So, genuine question here, why does it seem so rare to find magic that utilizes live plants and animals these days? I’m honestly curious and would love to hear your thoughts on the matter!

Is it due to a lack of convenience? A lack of predictability? A fear of offending spirits? Risk vs reward calculations? Something else altogether?

I admit that using live plants and animals in magic is not always the answer but they do seem to have their time and place! Just like bones and dried plants do. Different things for different times and all that.

For example: there’s a particular plant I tie a spell to every year and therefore need to take care of it so it continues to thrive. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship though and we each get something out of it. Yes, there’s a risk that the plant might die but the rewards have outweighed the risk for me.

There are also heaps of folklore around blessing or hexing cows (and by extension the prosperity of the family), especially in the valley near me. I’m sure other areas are the same and yet I only ever hear about it locally and rarely online.

Even creatures as small as spiders can be utilized without killing them so why do I so rarely see anyone talking about it?

Is it happening and I just don’t notice? Is it no longer convenient? Do people not find it effective? Let’s chat!