Sacrifices to the Outdwellers

[KellyP]

Let me start this post with a brief description of my purpose in hopes that it will aid in guiding the comments I receive. This post and what posts may follow are not about defining what a druid was, what a druid did, or anything specifically about druids of the past. I am interested in a community that I know exists here within MysticWicks of people who study or practice as druids today, within a world different from our ancestors. This post is about expanding my understanding and perhaps that of others by the exploration of what others think and do in the current time frame. I am interested in references to past practices or history only as it helps enlighten your description of what you do.

With that said, let me now introduce my topic.

Do you include sacrifices to the "outdwellers" as part of your personal liturgy?

[KellyP]

I personally include a sacrifice to outdwellers during the solitary rituals I perform on each High Day.

In my practice, the Outdwellers is the collective of spirits be they land wights, gods or ancestors that can not or choose not to be part of the ritual I am about to conduct. Perhaps the spirits feel that the gods I am inviting to join me within my sacred space are enemies or at least unwelcome. Maybe they are disruptive spirits that do not wish to see me conduct my ritual comfortably, peacefully or safely.

Generally, I move to a recognized point near the edge of the space I am going to use and leave a sacrifice specifically to such spirits. I often accompany the offering with words similar to "I yield this gift in trade for the time and space I need to finish my work here. I understand that I am asking for something you may not wish to give and hope that my gift is found acceptable. Please do not hinder my work and I shall glady return this space to you when I have finished."

For some reason, I have grown accustomed to offering the outdwellers money. A pile of coins seems natural and I cannot resist using a shiny dime and three shiny pennies (aka 13 cents). Once my ritual has ended and as part of the cleaning of the area afterward, I pick up the coins with a general statement of "Thank you, I appreciate that my work here was not disturbed and invite you to return in good health to this place." Often I bury the coins near the area in a small hole or under leaf litter in a way as not to disturb the appearance of the surroundings.

I believe some organizations include provisions for such an offering in their public rituals. Do you make such an offering in your practice?

[Maggie]

Let me start this post with a brief description of my purpose in hopes that it will aid in guiding the comments I receive. This post and what posts may follow are not about defining what a druid was, what a druid did, or anything specifically about druids of the past. I am interested in a community that I know exists here within MysticWicks of people who study or practice as druids today, within a world different from our ancestors. This post is about expanding my understanding and perhaps that of others by the exploration of what others think and do in the current time frame. I am interested in references to past practices or history only as it helps enlighten your description of what you do.

With that said, let me now introduce my topic.

Do you include sacrifices to the "outdwellers" as part of your personal liturgy?

Hmmmm. I am not a particularly liturgical type person. The only organized rituals I've participated in have been Asatru influenced and they always included an offering to "the others". I got the impression that it was sort of a case of "We know you're out there even if we don't know who you are so please don't bother us, we're giving you an offering too". For me personally I've never analyzed it. Any rituals I do are pretty much focussed on the purpose and because of location done indoors. I suspect I tend to think of "indoors" as being away from other influences. I'm not aware of the survival of any actual ancient Celtic ritual practices specifically in this area anyway, although Scottish legends and folklore are full of "others" in the landscape.

I tend to assume that "others" are out there all the time, I think of it as being in a neighborhood where everyone may or may not interact. Naivete here, but I assume that if I don't have ill intentions toward anything those "anythings" don't have ill intentions toward me. We may not like each other but we don't bother each other. I always leave what's left in my garden after Samhain for the "others", and I always acknowledge their existance.

Maggie

[Dave the Druid]

Not as such,
even though I am aware of outdwellers, and they are numerous. I tend to focus on who/what ever spirit I am communicating with.

[Ladyvi]

outdwellers ..

i actually relate well with them. i live near a cemetary lol. makes for a noisy house.. as far as in ritual. depends on the nature of the ritual. and everything has a cost.. absolutely everything has a cost. the sacrifice may not be readily apparant. but it is there. and perhaps has been paid previously long hence.

[mothwench]

yes i sacrifice to those you refer to as outdwellers. :)

[John_Mischief]

I do. Usually in ritual I will offer some honey or something of that sort, but outside of ritual I leave offerings for them a lot too.

[ShadowDragon999]

I also give offerings to the outdwellers,this is also for that 'not to be left out'.Usually done before festivals and so on..so the answer is yes,I do.