Offerings

[outlaw393]

I've been a practicing Pagan one way or another for six years, and one thing I've never been able to figure out is the subject of offerings.

First question: What's considered a proper offering to the god being offered to? I would suppose this would change depending on the individual god in question.

Second question: How long do you leave the offering on the altar? I would place it on the altar during a ritual and leave it overnight, perhaps. But is that long enough?

Third question: What do I do with the offering afterwards? Do I eat it? Do I throw it outside and feed it to the animals? If that's the case then I would have to use food that would be suitable for birds or squirrels.

Just a mystery I've never been able to quite figure out. Thanks!

[earth_dragon]

I've been a practicing Pagan one way or another for six years, and one thing I've never been able to figure out is the subject of offerings.

First question: What's considered a proper offering to the god being offered to? I would suppose this would change depending on the individual god in question.

Yeah, it could depend on the individual deity you are making the offering to. Some common offerings, tho, are bread(s) and alcohols, and many like different kinds of fruits or veggies. I would look up what is associated with a particular deity and see what kind of offering might please them. Also, have you considered the idea of making a different kind of offering, something like art, music, or poetry? There's actually a wonderful thread about that going on right now. I don't have the link handy, but I can look.

Second question: How long do you leave the offering on the altar? I would place it on the altar during a ritual and leave it overnight, perhaps. But is that long enough?

I always left mine overnight. That felt right to me. Again, this may be something to look up according to individual deities. If you're leaving food, tho, you probably wouldn't want to leave it for more than 12 hours max.

Third question: What do I do with the offering afterwards? Do I eat it? Do I throw it outside and feed it to the animals? If that's the case then I would have to use food that would be suitable for birds or squirrels.

Sometimes I've given something to animals, particularly if I was celebrating a Sabbat in which animals are celebrated. But usually I either bury or burn my offerings. Occasionally, when appropriate and sanitary, I'll take an offering to a natural body of water when I am done with it.

I hope this is of a little help to you, hon. Best of luck!

[SatSekhem]

First question: What's considered a proper offering to the god being offered to? I would suppose this would change depending on the individual god in question.

The type of offering, as well as what to do with it, would depend on the god. I've noticed that a lot of gods like chocolate (WHO DOESN'T?!?!). There's a pretty constant libation offering of water, beer, wine or milk for Kemetic deities; I assume at least water and wine are as common with other pantheons. The same can be said of various foods. I'd be willing to give to Sekhmet something with a spicy kick whereas, I'd be less reticent to doing so if I was worshiping Seshat, f/x.

So, in reality, when it comes to what your offering, your best bet is to ask the god in question first. Sometimes they'll give you a direct response. Other times, they'll let you stumble around and figure it out for yourself.

Second question: How long do you leave the offering on the altar? I would place it on the altar during a ritual and leave it overnight, perhaps. But is that long enough?

In reality, the length of time is also dependent on the deity. When it comes to incense leftovers, Sekhmet doesn't care if I clean them up right away. When it comes to food, she wants it gone in less than a day. She doesn't need to have it sitting out for weeks on end. The same goes for libations of beer, wine, or water. She doesn't need it for very long. As for the Lwa, we tend to leave offerings out indefinitely.

Third question: What do I do with the offering afterwards? Do I eat it? Do I throw it outside and feed it to the animals? If that's the case then I would have to use food that would be suitable for birds or squirrels.

Entirely, also, dependent on what the gods require of you. In Kemetic faith, we're more likely to consume the offering in question, which may be why it doesn't stay on the altar as long as, say, something being offered to a spirit or Lwa. However, that may not be what your gods what from you, so... In my practice, if/when I leave offerings for my ladies, I do not consume them but revert them to the earth. That way, I'm not only honoring my patrons, but I'm also honoring the spirits of nature that live nearby. Plus, what squirrel doesn't like apple slices? None.

[Adrianne Boudreau]

I've been a practicing Pagan one way or another for six years, and one thing I've never been able to figure out is the subject of offerings.

First question: What's considered a proper offering to the god being offered to? I would suppose this would change depending on the individual god in question.

Second question: How long do you leave the offering on the altar? I would place it on the altar during a ritual and leave it overnight, perhaps. But is that long enough?

Third question: What do I do with the offering afterwards? Do I eat it? Do I throw it outside and feed it to the animals? If that's the case then I would have to use food that would be suitable for birds or squirrels.

Just a mystery I've never been able to quite figure out. Thanks!

I tend to go for the old wiccan stand by: bread, fruit, juice, or wine. I find the goddess, isn't picky as long as my offering is sincere, and heart felt. I don't leave food offering out long after my prayers, because I have a bug problem. So I tend to bundle them up in foil, and bury them in the front yard the next morning. Although, I also kind of feel bad, because I don't give offerings often because of my busy schedule, and admittedly my own sheer laziness.

[Asch]

I've been a practicing Pagan one way or another for six years, and one thing I've never been able to figure out is the subject of offerings.

First question: What's considered a proper offering to the god being offered to? I would suppose this would change depending on the individual god in question.

Second question: How long do you leave the offering on the altar? I would place it on the altar during a ritual and leave it overnight, perhaps. But is that long enough?

Third question: What do I do with the offering afterwards? Do I eat it? Do I throw it outside and feed it to the animals? If that's the case then I would have to use food that would be suitable for birds or squirrels.

Just a mystery I've never been able to quite figure out. Thanks!

IME these all vary depending on the deity/pantheon and worldview in use. For example if you are a recon of any kind your approach is probably going to differ from a more eclectic person even if you're approaching the same deities.

You might get some more helpful responses if you can nail down how you're going to approach offerings and who you're going to approach.

In the end, when in doubt, pray for guidance.

For instance leave out a common traditional offering that a lot of pantheons / deities seem to have in common such as incense or alcohol, offer a prayer/ritual etc and close by asking for guidance regarding future offerings. Then pay attention, a response may be a thwap upside the metaphysical head or something as subtle as the bowl of offering being inadvertently spilled etc.

[outlaw393]

IME these all vary depending on the deity/pantheon and worldview in use. For example if you are a recon of any kind your approach is probably going to differ from a more eclectic person even if you're approaching the same deities.

I am not recon at all, and most of the experiences with offerings is all UPG based.

You might get some more helpful responses if you can nail down how you're going to approach offerings and who you're going to approach.

I know the attitude towards offerings - at least in Asatru - always was "a gift for a gift" so if I expect to get something from the god I must give something to the god. IMO however, my offerings will never be comparable to what he can give me. If he helps me get a job, what can I give him that will compare? Nothing, really.

I expect to be approaching Loki, as he is who I am primarily working with.

In the end, when in doubt, pray for guidance.

For instance leave out a common traditional offering that a lot of pantheons / deities seem to have in common such as incense or alcohol, offer a prayer/ritual etc and close by asking for guidance regarding future offerings. Then pay attention, a response may be a thwap upside the metaphysical head or something as subtle as the bowl of offering being inadvertently spilled etc.

I burn incense during every ritual as a sort of sacrifice, and the smell is wonderful as well. I rarely receive answers to prayers, for some reason it is hard to get answers to prayers for me. I am not sure why, it's just the way things have been for at least a couple of years. And now here's Loki, who has chosen me, and who's more present than any of the other Aesir ever were.

[Asch]

I am not recon at all, and most of the experiences with offerings is all UPG based.

I wasn't suggesting you were merely illustrating a point.

I know the attitude towards offerings - at least in Asatru - always was "a gift for a gift" so if I expect to get something from the god I must give something to the god. IMO however, my offerings will never be comparable to what he can give me. If he helps me get a job, what can I give him that will compare? Nothing, really.

I expect to be approaching Loki, as he is who I am primarily working with.

Reciprocity doesn't necessarily indicate an equal gift for a gift. What you can give may never equal what a deity/spirit/ancestor can give but you can still give something to build a relationship on and demonstrate/practice hospitality. The ADF uses a reconstructed Indo-European term to illustrate that kind of relationship, this is what Rev. Kirk Thomas had to say about it:

This odd looking word, *ghos-ti, is the Proto-Indo-European word which refers to the reciprocal relationships of hospitality. In fact, the English words "guest" and "host" both come from this root (the * at the beginning of the word just means that it's a word reconstructed by linguists and not attested in literature or archeology). Our religion in ADF is based on this idea, that we can form relationships with the Powers by making offerings to Them, with the expectation that we may receive blessings and wisdom from Them in return. http://www.adf.org/articles/identity/ghosti-cheer.html

I burn incense during every ritual as a sort of sacrifice, and the smell is wonderful as well. I rarely receive answers to prayers, for some reason it is hard to get answers to prayers for me. I am not sure why, it's just the way things have been for at least a couple of years. And now here's Loki, who has chosen me, and who's more present than any of the other Aesir ever were.

*shrug* you may never get a clear response to prayer ever. S'just one of those things.

[Wickerman]

I've been a practicing Pagan one way or another for six years, and one thing I've never been able to figure out is the subject of offerings.

First question: What's considered a proper offering to the god being offered to? I would suppose this would change depending on the individual god in question.

Second question: How long do you leave the offering on the altar? I would place it on the altar during a ritual and leave it overnight, perhaps. But is that long enough?

Third question: What do I do with the offering afterwards? Do I eat it? Do I throw it outside and feed it to the animals? If that's the case then I would have to use food that would be suitable for birds or squirrels.

Just a mystery I've never been able to quite figure out. Thanks!

Typically in Asatru we eat the sacrifice. I offer a pig at our October Blot, the inedible portions are burned in the bale-fire and the edible portions are cooked in a Viking style ground oven and served at the veisla.

[outlaw393]

Typically in Asatru we eat the sacrifice. I offer a pig at our October Blot, the inedible portions are burned in the bale-fire and the edible portions are cooked in a Viking style ground oven and served at the veisla.

Oh, so it's perfectly acceptable to offer food to the gods and then eat it. Ok, cool.

[Asch]

Oh, so it's perfectly acceptable to offer food to the gods and then eat it. Ok, cool.

IME it depends on your perspective and worldview, from what I've observed a lot of Celtic based folks bury or dispose of offerings while others will consume them.