Offerings

[outlaw393]

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.

I dunno, as long as the deity doesn't have an issue with it, and mine doesn't, eating makes more sense to me. That way you can absorb the deity's blessing/energy into yourself and bring yourself closer to your deity.

I do feel closer to my deity after my ritual.

[outlaw393]

I dunno, as long as the deity doesn't have an issue with it, and mine doesn't, eating makes more sense to me. That way you can absorb the deity's blessing/energy into yourself and bring yourself closer to your deity.

I do feel closer to my deity after my ritual.

Also while we're talking about northern deities, I have to ask about Thor. I keep seeing online that mead, beer, or honey are good offerings.

I'm looking for food offerings, preferably non-perishable. Would chocolate be ok? Or other sweets?

Over 6 years being Pagan and 5 of them studying the Norse gods and I'll admit, I haven't worked directly with Thor very much at all over the years. But he answered one of my prayers the other day quite miraculously.

[Wickerman]

Also while we're talking about northern deities, I have to ask about Thor. I keep seeing online that mead, beer, or honey are good offerings.

I'm looking for food offerings, preferably non-perishable. Would chocolate be ok? Or other sweets?

Over 6 years being Pagan and 5 of them studying the Norse gods and I'll admit, I haven't worked directly with Thor very much at all over the years. But he answered one of my prayers the other day quite miraculously.

I read somewhere that baked goods were generically appropriate for Norse deities.
Maybe bake some cakes with honey?
I would be glad to sample them for you, just to be sure they were up to standards.

[Elani Temperance]

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

To me, this greatly depends on the God/Goddess in question. For example, those of the Greek pantheon as well as most fire and sun Gods/Goddesses like them burned. Many earth deities like them buried. Many sky/air/animal Gods/Goddesses like to have them left out and water Gods/Goddesses, obviously, would like you to throw them into a body of water. This is usually my base for deciding what to do with an offering; what element does the God/Goddess relate to most and go with that except when I know what the entire pantheon prefers (like the Greek).

Appropriate offerings build on this principle; look to the individual God/Goddess and see what his/her interests are. Athena like pottery and craftwork, Demeter likes seeds, greens and flowers (although stay away from the crocus!). Also take a moment to consider what your deity may not like. My one Goddess will not accept anything which inhibits clear thought (like alcohol).

I try to keep at least one thing on/near my altar for each of my Goddesses. During ritual I clear my whole altar and build a new one for the God(s)/Goddess(es) I will invoke and offered appropriately. When this ritual is done, I have burned the offerings or offer them outside in the desired way.

Hecate, for example, is a dog lover and would like to see her (food) offerings left out on a crossroads so her hounds can get to it for her. In my experience, she will also accept offerings through burning, specially non-consumables.

Offering, in my opinion as a hard polytheist, is mostly about trying things with the best of intentions. If it's not exactly to their liking, the Gods will let you know. There is no reason to think they expect you to get it right right away. It might even be the thought that counts.

[Aster Breo]

To me, this greatly depends on the God/Goddess in question. For example, those of the Greek pantheon as well as most fire and sun Gods/Goddesses like them burned. Many earth deities like them buried. Many sky/air/animal Gods/Goddesses like to have them left out and water Gods/Goddesses, obviously, would like you to throw them into a body of water. This is usually my base for deciding what to do with an offering; what element does the God/Goddess relate to most and go with that except when I know what the entire pantheon prefers (like the Greek).

Interesting.

Do you see this way of determining how to make offerings as an historically accurate practice? Or is it more something that works for you but is not based on historical evidence?

[Elani Temperance]

Interesting.

Do you see this way of determining how to make offerings as an historically accurate practice? Or is it more something that works for you but is not based on historical evidence?

That greatly depends on the God/Goddess/pantheon. I try to be aware of the historical practice (as I imagine this way is what the Gods are looking out for and it would be a shame if they were watching the fire for offerings while I just threw them into water ) but I admit to using my own reasoning, mostly. I base my practice more on mythology than history.

[outlaw393]

I read somewhere that baked goods were generically appropriate for Norse deities.
Maybe bake some cakes with honey?
I would be glad to sample them for you, just to be sure they were up to standards.

I will say that Loki likes cotton candy and that has worked really well. I still need to do a Thor ritual though to thank him for his protection.



Figuring out what Thor likes will be a completely different ballpark.

[Inucirrus]

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 focus my research more on what NOT to historically give a deity. If they historically don't want cool water, don't offer them cool water. It's best to give them something "random" (for lack of a better word) and see how They react, than to give them something They flat-out will NOT partake of. (Ex: Fish to Osiris, Cool Water to Set) That out of the way, I've found that there are a lot of everyday signs pointing you in the right direction. Take for example Hades. Hades (being a God) is associated with winter, and with Menthe per myths. Is it not appropriate to offer Him cocoa and a candy cane? There are also seasonal offerings; Spring-flowers, fall-harvest food, etc, etc. There are resources online such as Wepwawet Wiki (for Kemetics) that has suggested offerings on it (food, drink, color, stones, etc) maybe there is one for your pantheon or Patron(s)/Matron(s)?

Personally, I leave offerings on the altar for the entirety of the ritual and do a "revision of offerings" ritual, stating "These, your divine offerings revert. They revert to your servants for life, for stability, for health, and for joy! Oh that the Eye of Heru may flourish for you eternally!" Something simpler was mentioned in Eternal Egypt (R. Reidy): "as these offerings have nourished you, now they shall nourish me"
There are two exceptions to this rule. One: When the divine ask for you to partake with them, do so. This is when a revision is not necessary. Two: When the divine ask you to leave Them to their offerings, I let them stay on my shrine for four hours.

[Darkhawk]

I focus my research more on what NOT to historically give a deity. If they historically don't want cool water, don't offer them cool water. It's best to give them something "random" (for lack of a better word) and see how They react, than to give them something They flat-out will NOT partake of. (Ex: Fish to Osiris, Cool Water to Set)

Water is poured to all the netjeru. Whoever told you otherwise was ... ... mistaken.

[Inucirrus]

Water is poured to all the netjeru. Whoever told you otherwise was ... ... mistaken.

Libations are poured to all Netjeru. Water as an offering is not ALWAYS the BEST offering.