How to: Thank the Universe

[BlackLili]

Posting here to ask generally, what do you all do to thank the Universe (or however you perceive your deities/Powers Wot Be) when you've been granted a boon - especially a big one?

I've been doing everything I could to get this job to go from contractor status to full employee since I started here 4 months ago. This has included the mundane things like making sure I'm there on time everyday and only missed one day due to illness - and that was only a half day - always smiling, cheerful, hitting my "metrics" on calls, (I work in a call center where quality assurance is taken rather seriously.) This also includes an altar to "life wealth" that has been in my library since before this job started. It has my Maneki Neko with her right paw raised, a spot in the back of the statue holding my prized peacock feathers. It has a little box with a picture of the Green Man on it that my husband won for me at the Excalibur Casino on our honeymoon in Vegas, inside the box are the $.50 pieces I won on that same trip playing the blackjack tables, mint we grew in our garden, patchouli which was a gift, and any spare change that has made its way from my pocket to my altar goes in there eventually, too.

I've also did thank yous to Papa Legba and Maitresse Erzuli (Vodoun Lwa of the Gates/Crossroads and Beauty, Grace, and Wealth) and in general worked at knowing my ancestors and honoring them.

I feel like I should do something big - a big thank you or show for the Powers who helped set this in motion. I know I'm getting this opportunity through almost pure chance - someone was fired and they needed someone to take her place in the schedule - so I feel doubly wealthy indeed.

Suggestions for suitable ritual/sacrafice/thanksgiving?

Beannachtai,
BlackLili

[cheddarsox]

Did job come with a pay raise? You could set up an automatic draft to a good cause. Maybe something that can/will help others improve their lives...a job training program, scholarship fund or something of the like.

[wolfjan1]

I have not read of your dieties yet, but I am getting there. I thank Gaia avery day for my bounteous life. I have a place to live, family and a people who love me.
So, I garden, plant trees, feed strays on the way to somewhere else, and contribute to the local food bank. I recycle. I drive very little.
I think it is whatever your dieties ask of you. Cheddarsox made a good suggestion.
Bless you and the best for your new job.

[~Elise~]

Just remember to say Thank you and leave an offering of food and drink. It's as simple as that. IMO anyway

Elise

[TheWomanMonster]

well first of all congratulations!
and in answer to your query, it doesn't need to be elaborate, just do small things to make the world a kinder better place.

[Teresa]

Just remember to say Thank you and leave an offering of food and drink. It's as simple as that. IMO anyway

Elise

I agree with this.

Also if you feel urged to do something in return, a little info about Papa Legba. It has been said that he smiles upon those that look out for (the street people), giving them a sandwich, a drink or a few dollars. Also leaving pennies at street corners and the crossroads gives you favor with Papa Legba.

[BlackLili]

I agree with this.

Also if you feel urged to do something in return, a little info about Papa Legba. It has been said that he smiles upon those that look out for (the street people), giving them a sandwich, a drink or a few dollars. Also leaving pennies at street corners and the crossroads gives you favor with Papa Legba.
I didn't know that, but it makes sense. I've always had a thing about leaving homeless folks food though, even before I started studying the lwa.

My husband and I were talking about homeless encampments in my hometown, and he stated that he didn't think there were any like that in the city we're in now. So I began pointing out strategic spots along our route (under bridges, behind stores in wooded/cleared areas, etc) where there were most likely sleeping bags and other signs of "home." He was astounded to hear that not only have I visited spots like this since I was a kid, but I've always brought food and left it - even if no one was there at the same time I was.

Its good to know that Legba likes that. Just another reason to be kind to all creatures.

[BlackLili]

Thank you to everyone who responded - the ideas were all excellent and really made me think about what I wanted to do.

I've lit a candle as a thank you, and sprinkled some salt, though this weekend I think I'll be preparing a small dumb supper in thanks as well.

I've also decided that once the position is underway and I'm making my new salary, I'm going to donate what I can to my high school's library and computer programs. I used to eat lunch in class so I could skip the horror of the cafeteria and sit quietly either in the library online (weirdly enough in Pagan messageboard rooms usually...) or upstairs in the PC lab. It was these two haunts of mine that got me my first jobs in IT and in the library at my universities, and since I work in IT now and plan to go back to school for my Master's in Library Science, I think it's imminently appropriate.

Thank you everyone - you're a great group to share good news with!

Beannachtai,
BlackLili

[Snapdragon]

I had the impression in reading through your posts, that you have lived in a generous and open-hearted way. Perhaps the universe is thanking you. Some might even call it "being blessed."

[Teresa]

I had the impression in reading through your posts, that you have lived in a generous and open-hearted way. Perhaps the universe is thanking you. Some might even call it "being blessed."

I felt that too. I also feel that you ( B.L. ) already have favor with Papa Legba, at least thats what the spirits say to me!

I am a firm believer that what you put out into the world comes back to you. My Grand use to drill that into my head as I was growing up and I have seen blessings come back around full circle. :spinnysmi

[BlackLili]

I had the impression in reading through your posts, that you have lived in a generous and open-hearted way. Perhaps the universe is thanking you. Some might even call it "being blessed."
Aww, well yes, I am most definitely blessed. It's been a red-letter year for me this year of all of them so far though!

[BlackLili]

I felt that too. I also feel that you ( B.L. ) already have favor with Papa Legba, at least thats what the spirits say to me!

I am a firm believer that what you put out into the world comes back to you. My Grand use to drill that into my head as I was growing up and I have seen blessings come back around full circle. :spinnysmi
Its a good thing to have drilled into you. I've been taking care of friends of mine for a long time now, and only in the last couple of years have I been making a move to improve my own situation, as opposed to worrying about everyone else's all the time and setting my own aside. Since I've made this change, things seem to be coming around full-circle, and I would love to keep the goodwill going - just because I don't take in "stray" humans anymore doesn't mean I can't give back, right? ;)

It makes me happy to hear that Papa Legba has accepted me. I've felt such a connection to the lwa since I got back into really studying them (before that it was much more "we do this because we've been taught to do this by our mothers"-type learning.)

Beannachtai!