Offerings for the deities

[-Sky-]

I am very interested in the different offerings for the Gods and Goddesses.So please share what you offer to each of the deities you honour and worship.


Blessings,
~Anna

[mystic_peacock]

I offer incense normally. On occasion I offer milk, words, or movement (bellydance, or just simple gyrations)

I think of anything as being an offering if you do it with Goddess in mind :)

--Serra

[Morr]

Specifically to my Patrons:

The Morrigan -- Cinnamon Incense, flowers, red wine, food.
The Dagda -- Guinness, flowers, food (he likes cakes and cookies LOL).
Brigid -- Lavender incensee or any other soothing incense, flowers, Milk or Juice, food.
Manannan MacLir -- Stones from the beach, seashells, Guinness, food.

When I work with other Gods who arent my patrons, I usually offer a general sort of offering -- Food, drinks (usually juice or milk), incense. To Gods of the Irish Pantheon I always add flowers as well.

I havent done it in a while, but when I want to honor the land spirits and fairies, I leave honey and milk and sometimes a crystal or two outside by a tree. Havent done it lately because I live in a neighborhood and theres barely any trees or flora in general out here. It sucks, but I'll be moving soon, so I am hoping to find a tree or two around where I'll live so I can make offerings again.

[Malcolm]

usually just whatever I have on hand, but usually coins

[dragoncrone]

shells, rocks, pods, pieces of bird eggs in spring... fresh flowers and herbs, especially for Bast...Food & incense for Ganesha...Money& incense for Buddha...and chocolate for the Road Trip Goddess...

[-Sky-]

Wonderful ideas everyone!


movement (bellydance, or just simple gyrations)

I've done that before to raise energy but i never thought that it could be an offering for the deities.:) It's a very good idea!

and chocolate for the Road Trip Goddess...
The road trip Goddess?*curious look* Can you tell me about her?

The Dagda -- Guinness, flowers, food (he likes cakes and cookies LOL).
Brigid -- Lavender incensee or any other soothing incense, flowers, Milk or Juice, food.

Morr,you mean Guinness the beer?For Brigid i also use as an offering vanilla incense and cinammon sticks.
Thank you for sharing the information with me because i also work with the Irish pantheon and i was really interested in your responses.:)


Another question i have,what do you do with the offerings?Do you leave them out in the wilderness?

[Morr]

Oh hell yes, Guinness -- the Beer.

He and Manannan LOVE it. L-O-V-E it!
Brigid sometimes enjoys it too. Mama Morrigan prefers to be more choosy and goes with the wine *chuckles*



I usually put the offerings outside. Theres so many stray cats and dogs around here (unfortunately), so I leave it for them after I have offered them to my Gods on my altar and when I'm done with the ritual/meditation/prayers/Gods & me time.

I usually let the flowers I offer them stay on my altar untill they dry out. Then I thank them and gently throw them away (I am super connected to flowers, I HATE seeing them dry up and die, so I like to thank them when I am done with them. Even if its not for ritual purposes).

[cheddarsox]

I don't leave my offerings to a deity, just to WHAT IS...(I a pantheist) but daily offerings.

Water and grain, my work, praise and chant.

cheddar

[-Sky-]

Oh hell yes, Guinness -- the Beer.

He and Manannan LOVE it. L-O-V-E it!
Brigid sometimes enjoys it too. Mama Morrigan prefers to be more choosy and goes with the wine *chuckles*



I usually put the offerings outside. Theres so many stray cats and dogs around here (unfortunately), so I leave it for them after I have offered them to my Gods on my altar and when I'm done with the ritual/meditation/prayers/Gods & me time.

I usually let the flowers I offer them stay on my altar untill they dry out. Then I thank them and gently throw them away (I am super connected to flowers, I HATE seeing them dry up and die, so I like to thank them when I am done with them. Even if its not for ritual purposes).

Thank you so much for the information Morr!I've drank Guiness before,i'll see if i can find it around here.I see how Dagda can love it with this black colour and the rich taste.Have you ever considered Irish whisky for them?:cheers: Wine is one of my favourite offerings,especially red wine and i feel that the deities always love it.I usually spill it on the ground or the flowers i have in my balcony.

I do the same with flowers.I try to keep them fresh in my altar but after they dry i throw them away.Sometimes i leave them in the forest.

[Nitefalle]

Sila-na-Gig likes whiskey, she's an earthy sort of gal. I offer Cernunnos pure energy or whatever I have on hand that is of a natural bent. I leave the Fae differing things, depending on the season. Usually, I just give them an open invitation to my garden.....and the other day, I found a mushroom ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Right next to the huge bunch of clover (that's mixed in with yarrow, two varieties of thyme, lavender and pinks). I was so excited. Anyway, my offerings usually depend upon the season, as I usually only do ritual for Sabbats. If I meditate with them, I'll offer them something on the "astral" plane (I use that term loosely...I don't really go on the astral, but I don't have a better word for that place where I meet them....in my head?).

[CelticMoon11]

Time, booze and food always seems to go down well :) lol

[coeur]

It depends on what deity I am evoking but usually I place something that has to do with his/her association. For instance for the demon Sallos, I offered him a rose. I have also offered incense to various deities as well as 'commissions' (certain pictures they want done in their honor, a poem glorifying them, etc.)

[Mouse]

My service, Chocolate, food that I've made from scratch, The best of whatever drink I have in the house which is usually milk but I'm working on that and blood. Occasionally I'll offer incence resins or I'll recite poetry.

Interesting thread. :D

[fangedeshana]

I don't worship a deity. But i do leave offerings for trees and nature and such. Sometimes it is drinks and food (if after a ritual). Sometimes it's a wreath made from fallen leaves and sticks, or a burried stone with something special inscribed on it.

Sometimes it is clearing up all the rubbish other people leave all over the place and recycling (both of which i do on a regular basis).

[Elfwitch]

Milk honey mead and blood normally go donw well.
And in the case of weyland silver coins are appreciated.

[-Sky-]

I offer Cernunnos pure energy or whatever I have on hand that is of a natural bent.

I work with Cernunnos too.:) When you say pure energy you mean that you raise energy and offer it to him?Care to elaborate on what else you offer to him please?

and the other day, I found a mushroom ring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Awww that sounds so exciting!The fairies appreciate you!I think that they've brought life in my flowers too.

booze
What is booze CelticMoon?

[CelticMoon11]

Booze is grog is alcohol is mmmmm, make sense ya? :lol:

[-Sky-]

Booze is grog is alcohol is mmmmm, make sense ya? :lol:

So booze is alcohol?LOL thanks for the clarification.I'm Greek,this is why i didn't understand what you meant hehe

[Karma Chameleon]

I am very interested in the different offerings for the Gods and Goddesses.So please share what you offer to each of the deities you honour and worship.


Blessings,
~Anna


Whiskey, Mead, Flowers, Poems, etc...

[Meadhbh]

I found that milk and honey works well. As does bread and incense, around Samhain I switch to a mix of incense ash and sea salt. My own blood can work just as well though.

[LightDancer]

My thanks, my worship, my heart and my soul, all that I have to give is His:)

Jamie

[MysticWitch]

I dont offer anything. I guess im pretty bad :(

[RakliDipity]

I dont offer anything. I guess im pretty bad :(
I wouldn't say that you not offering anything to the Gods is bad, different people have different relationships with their Gods, they may want different things from you. :hahugh:

Last night, I offered my last minute cram revision session to Djehuty, not intentionally, I was making a prayer to him and it ended up with me writing about catalysis and such...funny how those things happen

[David19]

I try and offer things that were offered have been offered to the gods before, although i haven't made offerings to lots of gods yet.

I'm going to make an offering to Athene for helping me in my exams (and my revision), but i'm trying to figure out what to offer her.

I'd like, one day, to maybe make something that was originally offered to them.

If a deity wanted an offering of blood, i think i'd give it, but it'd be my own blood, or animal blood from a butcher (i couldn't actually kill one).

[Ninjakitten]

I offer incense. I figure that the other stuff that is usually offered is actually a gift to me from the Divine, but by burning incense I'm showing the Divine what I'm doing with those gifts to honor Him/Her. Also, since I worship the Judeo-Christian god, I kind of go with what little I've learned about Judaic burnt offerings (yeah, I know about the first-fruits thing, too, but I don't grow anything to offer).

[Duwayitheru]

Incense, candles, perfumes, art, gems, knives, pots, feathers, honey, breads, fruits, veggies, sweets, spicy foods, herbs, teas, water, soda, milk and honey, various other foods and drinks.

[KylalaKitty]

I offer what at that time I think would be a good offering...poetry,stones, wine, food, but mosty...energy (by singing or dancing, or both :P),

[Silver Nightfire]

Energy that I've raised (through chanting, dancing, drumming...), flowers, homemade food and drink, I read poetry and sing songs I've written, pretty things I've made myself...it depends on the occasion I guess.

[maiem]

Amun-Ra: Round things, orange, red, yellow, and blue things (especially lapis), Goldschlager, bread, water, figurines of rams, geese, and falcons, goose feathers, gold things, spicy things, apple juice, orange juice, cherry jolly ranchers, chocolate, beef, silver, amber, citrine, laboradite, sun jewelry, swords, daggars...

Mut: Green things (esp malachite), lion and vulture figurines, vulture feathers, gold, silver, beef, flowers or all sorts, carnelian, double crowns, musical instruments, water, bread, sweet foods...

Yinepu-Wepwawet: black things, hematite, toys, things related to death, silver, halloween related objects, candy, bread, water, rum, cigars...

Khonsu: Anything moon related, white chocolate, moonstone, hematite, bone objects, silver, falcon figures, water, white grape juice, clear glass, clear crystals...

Serqet-Aset: Anything red or orange, pomagranite juice, scorpion figures, daggars, gold, goldstone, magical tools, words...

[Mishka]

I light candles for HaShem.

For the Earth: tending my yard and flowers, physical self-pleasure (if you understand )

[omar]

Beer & nuts or wine & fruit cake. My Cherokee Indian freind uses tobacco & corn meal.

[SilentDreams]

Well I only do rituals on Samhain(it's the only time I can ever remember and acctually motivate myself to do anything for lol!).

So I picked "Flowers etc." cause I offer leaves. I also picked food(I offer whatever foods I have to give at the time) and incense, "apple" scented usually to tie in with the fall theme.

[Qeniheru]

It varies, but I usually give offerings of oranges and pieces of citrine to Brigid, and if I'm working with anyone else I tend to leave offerings specific to them, incense and energy are usually part of them. When my moonflowers come into bloom I will probably start offering the flowers to Diana. :)
I also always share my grounding food, which tends to be something along the lines of V8 Splash and crakers or bread of some sort.

[Xirian]

I chose other because I have offered almost all the things listed in the poll. I generally offer what is in season outside. And/Or offer food, drink, flowers, herbs, incense, music, seeds, the list goes on. It also depends on the deity I'm honoring at that time, which changes regularly depending on what I am doing.

[Whitewolf]

I light incense. Last year I did leave a beer as an birthday offering for the Egyptian God Set. 8O No, I have no idea what he thought about that. I don't know what else to offer him. Maybe some lettuce.

[Rananeida]

There was no "all of the above" option, so I clicked them all. :)

There are old, long standing traditions regarding seasonal and situational offerings, and there is a time or situation for all of the things listed in the poll. Under the option "other" I list fats, body fluids, metals and soil, among other things.

For the everyday salutations there are some things I offer more often than other things. Incense and alcohol, almost always. Or substitutes, as I don't drink other than for medical reasons, and sometimes don't have vodka or akevitt in the house. Regular juniper for cleansing is also hard to find where I am at the moment, so I use bought wooden incenses. Spring water, coffee and bisquits are popular too. Especially among the grandaunts and grannies. :)

[Magus]

I am very interested in the different offerings for the Gods and Goddesses.So please share what you offer to each of the deities you honour and worship.


Blessings,
~Anna

My offers to my lady Hekate are incense sticks and vanilla or sandalwood oil.

[MacMorrighan]

I am very interested in the different offerings for the Gods and Goddesses.So please share what you offer to each of the deities you honour and worship.


Blessings,
~Anna

What a thoughtful question! As a Priest of The Morrighan, I can only speak of my relationship with Her. However, I have offered the following items to Her in the past either at Her Altar or in public as a proclaimation of Faith:

Music: When I was in college, studying music (I'm a classically trained vocalist) I would dedicate each song to Her. I would even try to choose a song (as my assignments would allow) that seems to Glorify the multifaceted Aspects of Her nature.
Wine [Libations]: She adores Sloe Gin; the Blackthorne being a sacred Tree of the Goddess, as is the Bramble/Blackberry-- so Blackberry wine is also highly appropriate. One can also never go wrong with Mead! Being that She is a Mother-Goddess and Earth-Goddess (look it up yourselves if ya' don't believe me! :graduate: ) Hawthorne Flower wine is also appropriate. Heck, I've also chosen very Sabbat appropriate Libations that She has enjoyed, such as a simple bottle of beer for Lughnasadh!
Sabbat Cakes [various]: At the Sabbats I always prepare Traditional Sabbat Cakes for the Goddess that include honey, consecrated salt and wine (usually Mead, actually) as flavourings, etc. They're yummy!
Flowers: Generally, at my Altar is a vase full of flowers that I offer to Her as a "living sacrifice" because flowers live, wilt, and eventualy die. This is, also, a very Traditionalist practice! Some Gardnerians are in favour of it, while Alex Sanders advocated using of a raw egg in lieu of a sacrifice, as I seem to recall.
Prayer: Hell, sometimes a simple "I love You" is the most potent of gestures! Occassionally I will write Her a "love letter" on a piece of parchment, consign it to the flaime, and throughout that day and several days afterwords I can feel Her love, or what I would now term "ecstacy"!
Incenses & Anointing Oils: Often these may be "prayers" in and of themselves as the smoke carried one's thoughts to the Gods.
One "other" that crosses my mind at this late hour is morning/evening devotions wherein I light a simple votive candle and praise the Goddess! Some times it's all I have time for, but it's the thought, and my relationship with the Goddess, that counts.


Take Care,
Wade MacMorrighan

[MacMorrighan]

Another question i have,what do you do with the offerings?Do you leave them out in the wilderness?

When it is something parishible like Sabbat Cakes, a libation, or wilted flowers, I actually take it outside as soon as possible and place them at the food of a tree where I leave all of my offerings. Although, I'll have to re-think this when I move to the downtown area of our respective capital! There's a river, but all the barricades and bridges make it impossible to dispose of anything into its waters.

[Semjaza]

Blood and incense... Sometimes herbs and water... I cannot remember ever offering alcohol but perhaps I should start...

Cheers,

Semjaza
FFFF

[Glory]

I try to offer time and work. Before a ritual, I will usually put in some effort, like cooking a meal for others, or cleaning, or going out of my way to help someone else. For me, it's a lot like payment - I don't expect good blessings and luck in rituals for nothing.

During a ritual, I will usually burn incense, and if I'm outside, I'll offer food/drink. I will also write poetry, dependent on who I'm honouring.

[Metta]

Last night I actually made my first offering of fresh fruit, milk, bread, and wine to the Goddess, praying for strength to get through the next few weeks.

It was well-recieved; the ducks from my lake nearby made a nice little meal of it, lol... All goes back to nature, I suppose :)

[RainInanna]

When I'm thinking about what to offer to the gods I generally research what their worshippers offered them in their own time, and start there. Then as I build a relationship with them they will tell me what they like - for example I tend to get an intuition to go into the flower section and a particular bouquet will stand out, so I take it home for the Goddess.

[danuwest]

For Irish dieties, what did the Irish have to offer? They didn't have potatoes, but ate a lot of barley and oats. They used a lot of milk, and some fruit. I offer Irish oatmeal (from Ireland) mixed with cream and honey. I offer it and leave it out in the crook of a tree that hangs over a stream.

I will also offer service- helping out in a homeless shelter, picking up trash around the park, donating food or clothes. My favorite is to take a box of hotel shampoos and soaps to the women's shelter. Haven't done that in a while though.

[aluokaloo]

I picked most of the above up there, though it's normally incense, oils, or food and drink. For my patrons Fenris, I offer pine oil mixed with blood on a burner. For Diana, I offer anything that smells of rose. For several other deities it depends The Greek Wind Gods, and to Gaia and Poseidon, I offer healing energy, or cleaning up an area. For Bragi, I offer poems and ryhmes. For Frigga, I make a special and tasty meal, or dessert! It all depends. That;s just naming a few. For the Kitsune, I'll sit and have tea with them, like green tea, jasmine, or orange spice, and for Boar, I leave him an apple

[Evanescent]

I burn candles as an offering -- that wasn't up there, and silly me didn't check off on "other". I also offer herbs to both the lord and lady, and my familiar.

But my big thing is stones. I've given four or five pieces to my familiar now, and haven't found any that have really "called to me" to give to the lord or lady. I have also given dried/preserved flowers to them. Some continue to decorate my altar now, others I leave under the bushes outside.

[damnopin]

Every conversation, every thought, all travel, every written transcript, every work of art, every human, every animal...:lol:

[damnopin]

This it is deeply true.

Harnessing congruency among all elements is the combination of dynamically synchronized of vibrations (at the proper time, of course) (i.e. stones, gems, runes, incense, planets, stars). To make it all seem like a very natural and traditional thing (aesthetically pleasing, inviting and palpable to all involved, whether its a group or an individual)

[Rainbow]

I can't at present offer incense due to where I live, but I offer the rest of them. In addition I offer music.

[Cerulean_damselfly]

I usually address them in their language of origin, as close as I can come!

Given my gods and ancestors were offered the same sorts of foods, tea, salt, etc., this is done in such bowls and bits from inherited or in-the-spirit-or-style of such things.

I'm adding music soon, it takes a bit to find...and will take some time before I can offer suitable music of my own...incidently, I try to do it only on 'traditional' and special holidays and change offerings in seasonal tribute.

Best,

Cerulean_Damselfly

[Tanya]

We have a small spirit house in our garden. We leave our gifts there except for on MayDay when we are beating the bounds, then we leave it at the farm gate. Most of the time its milk/wine/beer and cookies/cakes/bread. Though on Yule we leave carrots and celery for the reindeer as well. During harvest fests, bread, tomatoes, corn, and on Samhain, meat.. usually pork.

All alcohol spilled outside is "the goddess taking her due"

At wells, we always drop coins.

[Kimberlily]

Usually bread (I am a kitchen witch, after all) but also drinks and incense. It really depends on the ritual.

[Aina]

I usually leave a prayer.

[TaysatWesir]

All of the above and artwork.

[Skadi]

Libations of milk, mead, or cider/apple juice.

[solinviticus]

How exactly would one offer food or expirable liquids like milk? Do you leave it out for a while and when it goes bad throw it away?

[David19]

How exactly would one offer food or expirable liquids like milk? Do you leave it out for a while and when it goes bad throw it away?

I'd assume you might offer them as a liberation, like pouring it on the ground in their name or dedicating it to them, like say something like "I dedicate this milk to you, whoever (insert name of deity), or maybe leave it on an alter and replace them the next day or something.

Maybe other people will have more ideas.

[Heart of All]

If I'm leaving a liquid, I pour it on the ground and tell the deity in question that it's for them.

As for what I give, it varies. I'm not 21 for another week, so I have limited access to alcohol, but I have a bottle of rum. Loki really appreciated the rum.
I haven't yet found something to give Odin that he regularly likes, but Thor seems to like the rum okay as well as just prayers to him.
For Frigg, I clean my room.
For Freya, who I am closest to, I give all kinds of things. My attention, shares of my food. Most particularly, though, I give her my dancing. And since I plan on being a professional dancer, it's a really important gift for me to give her.

[Sequoia]

This may sound really stupid, especially considering that she's a cat goddess (and all cats that I've ever known hated strong scents), but I give offerings of perfumes and scented oils to Bast. No clue why I started doing so, but I guess she likes it? (Haven't been smote by any cats lately...)

I offer energy and prayers to the general 'god' in the sky being. The mother of everything... yeah. Am I making any sense?

[Whitewolf]

Usually I'll light some incense and offer it to the Gods and Goddesses. I once left some beer for Set, for his birthday. 8O I'm not sure if he liked it or what. I couldn't really tell. It's the thought that counts, I guess.

[childofbast]

I said other because, depending on who I'm honoring or what I'm doing, I've offered all of the above.