Offerings - Tumblr Posts
On Worshipping Hades
There are a ton of posts out there for signs and symbols, offerings and all that. Regardless, I’m making this post because Hades is the God I receive the most asks about, and this post was highly requested.
The Basics
Offerings:
Coins & other money (traditionally gold or brass, but all money works)
Stones, especially dark, jagged stones
Alcohol, especially wine
Honey
Milk or Water
Tobacco
Herbs: cypress, mint, myrrh, patchouli, bay, pumpkin, yew, wormwood, cinnamon, lavender, willow, oak
Flowers: marigold, dandelion, rose, lily, daisies, rowan, poppy, daffodils, calendulas
Oils, especially olive oils and vinegars
Salts and spices
Shells or bones of the earth
Teas, especially blacks and oolongs
Breads or cakes
Fruits, such as apples and pomegranates
Meat (especially lamb)
Incenses: frankincense, myrrh, wormwood, sandalwood, cinnamon, rose, pomegranate
Candles: black, grey or silver
Symbols:
Dogs (Cerberus, specifically), black lambs, serpents and screech owls
Precious jewels, money, metals
Cypress, white asphodel, mint, narcissus
Drinking horn
Sceptre
Key
Helm of darkness
Black, grey, silver, gold
Nighttime
Autumn and Winter
Cemeteries, crossroads, forests, caves and mines
Ideas for the Altar:
Black mirror
Black cloth
Dark stones, such as hematite, onyx, obsidian, jet and the like
Shells
Dirt from outside, or graveyard dirt
Black, grey or silver candles
Flowers (dried works well too)
Bones (ethically sourced)
Representations of any of His symbols, listed above
Money, especially rare coins
Silver, or other precious metals
Family heirlooms
Active Practice
Worship Etiquette:
As with all chthonic deities, offerings are usually poured down. Offerings that float up (such as incense) are less common, but can be used.
Food offerings are usually buried instead of eaten. However, if need be, you may eat them.
Offerings are often buried, poured down the drain, or into the trash. This is done to ‘complete’ the offering.
This is very traditional, but I want to include it for extra information. In a temple with a roof, offerings would often be left by His feet all day and then during at night. Also, since the Mycenaean period, priests of Άδης would rhythmically pound their hands on the ground whilst praying to Him. I will sometimes tap (not pound) my head to the floor while praying in honor of this tradition.
As always, be polite. Hades will forgive any mistakes with a forgiveness offerings and continued respect.
Ideas for Active Worship:
Saving money, and spending it wisely
Cleaning litter from cemeteries, and tending to old graves
Offerings to the dead, as well as money to the spirits of the dead to let them pass on, and donating the physical change
Collecting crystals and stones
Making an altar to tend dead spirits
Studying other cultures’ burial methods and cemetery rites
Donating to burial, mortuary or funeral services
If you communicate to spirits, treat them kindly and help them move on
Ancestral worship
Praying
Devotional poems and artwork
Dedicating items to Him, such as jewelry, a wand, or a specific bone
Working with death energy and dying plants during autumn and winter
Caring for dogs kindly
Reflecting on your thoughts and emotions on death
Helping others who have experienced loss
Frequently Asked or Requested Information
Hades can help with:
Fears about death or dying
Suicidal tendencies
Chronic illness
Money and business
Creativity
Moving on
Releasing regrets, guilt, and past relationships
Seasonal worship and practice
Earth magic and herb work
Recovery from trauma
Spirit work, namely spirits of the dead
You DO NOT need to:
Be a spirit worker or death worker in order to work with Him
Swear an oath with Him, unless you’re 110% sure to commit
Be a devotee in order to worship Him
Only worship Him
Speak super formally to Him
Be someone you’re not in order to worship Him
You DO need to:
Honor Him
Be respectful
????
PROFIT
More Questions I’ve Answered
What are more DO’s and DON’T’s?
How do I know it’s Hades and not someone else?
I want to devote! How can I?
What if I can’t give extravagant offerings?
I can’t bury His food offerings
I feel like He’s not listening
I think I’ve fallen in love with Hades
Easy ways to start worshipping
I’m closeted, and want to devote
More tips for closeted worship
What are some modern things Hades would like?
How does Hades feel about cursing?
I was taught to fear Hades …
What do I even say to Him?
Do you have any tips or advice for someone wanting to become more involved with death magic and Hades?
Are there any Gods Hades wouldn’t want to be worshipped alongside?
How do you pray to Him through journal?
Advice on devoteeing
For more information on worshipping Hades–espeically devoteeism and oaths–you can check out this zine I published about Him, Pleading to Hades.
Offerings for the Dead
Most people are reblogging an ask I answered long ago about offerings to give to the dead. It’s long overdue, but I’ve finally typed it up into an actual cohesive post.
~ Herbs ~
Lavender, for peace in passing on
Thyme, to give peace to those who have died from violence
Apple, a common Irish symbol for the dead, which I often give to my ancestors
Pomegranates, myth of Persephone and all that
Rosemary, for remembrance
Myrrh, commonly used in necromancy, also used to give off good vibes
Chervil, often used in rituals for the dead
Mugwort, usually used to aid divination and communication with the dead. I also give it as an offering
Bay, same as mugwort (my mentality is that these herbs will help “send” the offerings to the dead)
Lemonbalm, for peace and healing
Wormwood, to strengthen the communication with the dead, as well as healing and revenge
Frankincense, a traditional herb (usually incense) to honor the dead
~ Flowers ~
Calendula, for blessings and eternal love
Rose petals (or the flower) for love and healing
Marigolds, perfect for ancestor worship (as well as spirit work salves and tea)
Lilies, for a sense of security and togetherness; ideal for children
Orchids, for balanced emotions and adoration; ideal for former lovers
Daisies, also ideal for former lovers and lost family members
Tulips, to spread happiness
Dandelions, ideal for connecting with certain spirits (especially when drunk as a tea)
~ Liquids ~
Water, a traditional offering for the dead, often left out for passing spirits
Wine or other alcohol
Juice, namely pomegranate or beet
Oils, such as olive oil, pomegranate oil, coconut, almond, vinegar
~ Other ~
Stones or crystals
Coins
Tobacco (I also know some people who use cigarette smoke or ashes)
Grains, traditionally brown bread
Meat
Candles, namely dark colored or earth-toned
Cleaning up graveyards, placing offerings on graves and speaking to them also makes a great offering
Song and music
Anything personal to the person you’re sending the offering to
~ What to do with the Offerings ~
Burn herbs or flowers (safely) with a written message to “send” the offering to the soul
Leave coins, flowers or herbs on the grave
Pour liquid into the earth, or leave them out in a bowl
Leave offerings out as a “standing offering” for the dead who pass through (idea from @arachnospooky)
This is SO overdue I’m so sorry but I hope it helps!!
Offerings for Deities
It’s been a while since I’ve made a post. I’m going to address one of the most frequently asked questions I receive: How do I give offerings? For some reason, many beginner books don’t dive into the specifics of this religious practice which many are unfamiliar with. Hopefully this will help.
General Rules:
Offerings are given as thank-yous, as little gifts to say that you appreciate the deity’s existence. They don’t have to be expensive, but they should be special in your eyes. For example, I often offer donuts or wine simply because I don’t buy those two things often.
Offerings should be appropriate for the deity you’re giving them to.
You’re allowed to get creative with offerings–in fact, the Gods even prefer that you do!
How often you give offerings in accordance to your practice is up to you.
You may give apology offerings for any offense you think you may have made.
Prayers, songs, playlists, and there intangible gifts still count as offerings.
You do not need an altar to give offerings. You can give offerings anywhere, at anytime.
Simply saying “This is for you” makes the object an offering.
Food Offerings:
Most food offerings are eaten after being offered. The main exceptions are Greek chthonic deities, and ancestors, in which case you do not eat the offerings. Research your specific pantheon to make sure if eating is appropriate or not.
There is no set amount of time to leave out food offerings. In fact, many worshippers will eat said offerings right after they offer them.
If you do not eat food offerings, you may throw them away, saying something like, “Though I discard these physical offerings, the spiritual offering remains”.
You may also bury the offerings. Make sure that the offerings will not harm the surrounding environment or animals. Do not bury them in a jar or plastic bag.
If you offer herbs, you may either burn them using a charcoal block or cauldron, or you may throw them out/bury them. While burning is certainly traditional in many pantheons, do not feel the need to if you will be bothered by the potent smoke or handling fire.
Liquid Offerings:
Liquid offerings are handled in the same way food offerings are, with the exception of oils.
You do not have to drink oils after offering them. (Drinking straight olive oil is pretty gross, and please DO NOT drink harmful essential oils!) I recommend pouring them into the ground outside, or into the trash can.
You may pour liquid offerings into the offering bowl, or, you may keep the liquid offering in a cup. I have a special teacup that I often use for offerings such as tea, but any regular teacup will do. After all, you are offering the liquid, not the cup.
Incense and Candle Offerings:
According to tradition, these offerings must be left to burn out on their own. I recommend lighting small tea light candles for these offerings, as big candles burn for a long time. However, some modern Pagans may blow, rinse, or snuff them out early to prevent a fire hazard.
Make sure to be present while the offering is lit, and make sure nothing catches on fire.
If you are bothered by incense smoke, using an essential oil diffuser or unscented candle works fine.
Although many Pagans recommend incense as a general offering, you do not have to offer it, or any candles, if they bother you.
Plant Offerings:
If you offer a plucked flower, you may leave it on an altar or table until it withers. Afterwards you may throw it away. Basically, you handle it as any other friend would had you given them a plucked flower.
If you offer a growing or potted plant, tend to it as you would your other plants. If it dies, that’s okay. Simply discard it as you would normally. The Gods understand that plants die, and They appreciate the beauty of plants while they last.
Other Offerings:
For objects such as stones, shells, or family heirlooms, keep them on the altar or somewhere else special. Ideally, you will not need to throw these away. If they get damaged somehow, and if you cannot repair them, you may throw them out, but give an apology offering and try to replace them.
For artworks or crafts, place them on the altar or hang them somewhere. Don’t sell your offerings; they are gifts you gave to the Gods and not yours to sell.
For songs, play or sing them anytime you’d like to connect or give something to your deity.
For writings, you may keep them, or some people might burn them to “send” to their Gods. Whichever way is up to you.
For e-shrines or other technological offerings, keep them saved in their own folder, keep them nice and up-to-date.
For magical tools, such as grimoires or wands that you dedicate, feel free to use them as normal. Just take care of them, and remember to thank the deity you devoted them to once in a while.
For daily or private actions, such as cleaning, giving to others, etc., simply think “This is for you” or send your energy to the God, and finish the action.
You may say prayers out loud, write them down, or simply think them in your mind. All are perfectly legitimate.
I hope I got all of this. Feel free to reblog or message with corrections, since I know I don’t know everything about every pantheon. Have a beautiful day, and have fun worshipping!! (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧
Historically accurate offerings to the Theoi, but this time it’s the Chthonic edition! These three were the only deities that had information substantial enough to make a slide on. All information is taken from the stories and tales of them on theoi.com.
Make sure to click each image to get a fullview! Ευχαριστώ!
Celebrating Valentine's Day with a simmer pot for Aphrodite!
Offerings: Why, and How?
There are some spirits and gods in the worlds that really must be approached with the correct offering, or will be very offended if you bring the wrong one. This post is not about them.
Thanks goes to @river-in-the-woods for help proofreading and providing additional perspectives
Spirit and deity work is a huge part of my deal, and therefore so are offerings. When I help people with various spirit issues or perform divination that suggests a spirit wants to contact them, I usually recommend giving offerings as a first step.
This usually creates a lot of questions, like:
I don’t want to worship them, so I’m not comfortable with offerings.
I only want to work with spirits I don’t need to pay.
What kind of offerings are OK? I can't afford to buy extra stuff right now.
I can’t have a shrine or leave food sitting out so it’s not possible for me to make offerings.
The reasons why offerings are given change from culture to culture, and situation to situation. I personally see offerings as being one of two things: good manners, or equivalent exchange.
How to do so comes after the saucy radio dialogue and the fairy tale.
Good Manners
Your grandma comes over. She was just on a 5 hour flight to come visit you. She comes in through the front door. You offer her some water and a snack.
Offering grandma water and a snack isn’t a form of worship or payment. It’s polite and respectful. It took her a lot of energy and effort to come and see you. Her well-being and comfort are important to you (in this hypothetical, of course).
When I drive 10 minutes to see my best friend, she always offers me tea. She’s not paying me for my friendship – she’s happy I came, she wants me to be comfortable, and it’s a sign of mutual respect. “I value your presence; I’ll offer you some tea.”
If my friend stopped offering me tea, I’d wonder if our relationship was doing OK – and if she explained to me she was out of money, or she’s doing a no-tea challenge, we’d be perfectly good.
But if you greet grandma empty-handed and say you don’t think it’s your job to provide her meals, the situation feels a little different. It feels to me as if grandma might not be as interested in making the trip to see you next time.
Equivalent Exchange
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
“I’m going to bury some stuff. I just did ritual and an important part is burying the remnants at the crossroad.”
“Right on, we’re the spirits of the crossroad, so you came to the right place.”
“Yeah, so you’ll be opening the gates of the four directions and delivering my spell to manifestation, right?”
“Sure, we can do that.”
“…”
“…”
“Are you going to, uh… pay us for that service?”
“I don’t see why I should.”
“But you need us to open the gates for you. We have to spend our own energy to do this work. I mean it’s not terribly difficult, but still.”
“Yeah, but I don’t see why that should be on me.”
“Not even a tip? Have you got some change in your pocket?”
“To be honest, I don’t think it’s fair to me to have to pay.”
“So you want us to work for free?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t care what it costs us to do this work for you, you just want to take the fruits of our services without regard for us?”
“Yes.”
“And we should do it because you feel it's unfair to have to pay us for our work?”
“You got it.”
“And if others told you that you must donate your labor to give them what they want because it's unfair to give you a wage, this would be…”
“A huge injustice. This is actually a major problem in my country right now. We are so underpaid for what is demanded of us that it really is hurting my mental health and wellbeing. You have no idea how hard it is to be exploited for someone else’s prosperity. I kind of feel like one day I might just go off grid and refuse to be a part of their system.”
The Quality of Offerings Are Relative
The fairy queen Medb was curious about the humans beyond the Greenwood, so she decided to meet them all, from the wealthiest noble to the poorest villager, and to give a gold coin to the kindest one. Before she left, she cloaked herself in a human disguise and dressed as if she were a hardworking seamstress.
First she went to the house of a rich farmer who owned herds of cattle. She knocked on the door and was greeted by the mistress of the house, Frau Hilda.
Medb said, “I am a traveler and the road has been long, may I have some water?”
Frau Hilda kindly invited Medb inside. She sat the queen down at her large, clean table in her warm and cozy kitchen. Frau Hilda went to the larder. Medb could see that her larder was overflowing enough with fine wine, cheeses, and sausages to serve an army. Frau and fetched two jugs of milk and two loaves of bread. One of the jugs of milk was thin, and the loaf of bread was dry. The second jug of milk was thick, as if it was pure cream, and the loaf of bread was hot and fresh.
“Here, have some milk and bread,” Frau Hilda said. “It is much better than water, and will restore you from your travels.” Frau Hilda poured a glass of each milk, and handed the queen the thin milk and old loaf. Frau Hilda herself drank the rich, delicious milk and ate the hot bread.
“This is much better than water, and I thank you for your kind generosity,” agreed Medb.
The two women spoke kindly and politely to each other. Medb learned about the wealth and prosperity of the farmer and his household. They spoke until Medb finished her thin milk and old bread. As she left, Medb thought to herself that the thin milk and old bread, although better than water, were the poorest things in the larder. She kept her gold coin to herself, and walked down the road.
The next day, Medb came upon the hovel of a poor woodcutter and his wife. She knocked on the door and was greeted by Frau Brunhild.
Medb said, “I am a traveler and the road has been long, may I have some water?”
Just like Frau Hilda, Frau Brunhild kindly invited Medb inside. Frau Brunhild’s kitchen was small and cramped. She went to her larder and Medb could see it was almost empty. It only held a bag of flour, a scrap of bread, and a jug of water.
Frau Brunhild brought out the water and bread. “I am sorry I don’t have any milk for you,” Frau Brunhild said. “But let us share in what little we have.”
Frau Brunhild poured Medb some water and gave her one-third of the bread. “We must save some for Mister Brunhild,” she explained.
“I thank you for your generosity,” said Medb. “You show kindness in sharing what you have.” The two women spoke kindly and politely to each other until they had eaten the bread and drank the water. As she left, Medb thought to herself that although it was only water and a little slice of bread, Frau Brunhild had truly offered the best in her larder.
Medb was so moved by this generosity that she returned to the hovel that night, and hid the gold coin in one of Frau Brunhild’s shoes, and after that the Brunhilds always had better prosperity and fortune.
No matter what you have, your best is your best. You do not need to over-spend, give away too much, or sacrifice your wellbeing to give respectful offerings to spirits. If the best you have is a glass of tap water, that is good enough.
What kinds of offerings can you give?
I’m copying this over from my neighborly protection post.
Food and Drink: Good offerings include things with strong tastes and smells, foods high in caloric value, milk, honey, all nuts, eggs, and seeds (things which contain the potential for life are very good offerings), all home cooked/baked foods, fresh water (an especially good offering), coffee, tea, alcohol, tobacco, and juices all make very fine offerings.
Perhaps tellingly, the finest or most necessary offering is simply a glass of fresh water (yes, it can be tap water).
Consumables: Incense and candles both make good offerings. Both should be burned. I am actually more wary of using real resins and herbal powders for spirit offerings, since the natural powers of these plants are released and may affect what I’m trying to do (or make it easier or harder for spirits to speak to me, or drive away spirits I’m trying to talk to, or draw in ones I don’t want to talk to). For these reasons I like to use stick or cone incense for offerings. It is the light and warmth from the candle which is enjoyed by spirits so it can be any type or color of candle.
Artwork, fake paper money, origami, and other burnable stuff can be dedicated (another way to think about this is to gift it to them) and then burned. The point is not destruction; the astral essence of these things is released so the spirits can possess them in their world.
Non-consumables: Coins are very common offerings. Small, delightful objects (especially shiny ones), like shells, little figurines, or toys often make good offerings. The act of devoting a ritual tool or vessel to a spirit can be an offering. Things which can be consumed (like cigars or paper art) don’t have to be burned and can be given as regular offerings also.
Energy: Your personal energy is a great offering. You don’t have to give a ton of it away. Try making an energy ball and sending it upwards and away, intending that it reach the spirit you want to give it to. I often like to pattern these gifts into an object, like an energy coin or energy apple.
How do you give physical stuff to a nonphysical being, though?
Lay out the offerings on a clean surface. It doesn’t have to be an altar or a shrine, although I suspect such consecrated places can make it easier for spirits to access and enjoy your offerings. It can be just like setting out a glass of water and half a sandwich for grandma.
Do something which indicates the offering is for the spirits or a specific being. My friend can make me a cup of tea, but if she just sets some tea down on the table and walks away, I’m not going to be sure it’s OK for me to drink it until she says, “this is your tea!”
What you do can be as simple as standing before the offering and saying or thinking, “This is for [names of spirits, or ‘the household spirits’, etc], please enjoy! I’ll come clean it up by noon, enjoy it before then.”
At a minimum I recommend leaving non-consumable offerings out for fifteen or thirty minutes. If it’s a candle or incense, they burn out when they burn out (you do not have to let large candles burn completely, but be careful of promising a candle as a gift to spirits, then going back on that promise and using it for something else). Energy offerings are given instantaneously and no waiting period is necessary.
Whenever you return to clean up the offering, it’s polite to say something like, “thank you for coming by, and I hope you enjoyed! It’s time for me to clean up now. Please return to your abodes; as you came in peace, leave as friends.” I personally like to affirm the purpose of giving an offering - that it’s because I want to be a good neighbor, I want to have solid relationships with the spirits around me, and that I hope we’re all going to be friends. I also like to affirm that although I invited them all to the offering, they should go home now - I wanted you for the BBQ but it’s like 9pm now and we’re going to bed, so you need to go home too.
I throw out food. I compost it if I can. Whether or not you can eat food already offered to spirits is a whole discussion and beliefs vary. My belief is that you shouldn’t eat it after it’s offered.
Other non-consumable objects can be buried if they’re nontoxic to the environment. They can be left on an altar or shrine, and cleared out on a regular basis (like once a full moon, or on holidays).
To Eat or Not to Eat?
I mentioned briefly above that I don’t believe you should eat offerings after they’ve been offered. This is a pretty complex topic that does merit discussion.
For example, I sometimes eat the offerings while they’re being offered. I have a close relationship with various spirits, and sometimes I invite them into my body to taste and experience the food and drink I eat.
The reason I don’t prefer to eat offerings after they’ve been offered is that my belief is that the metaphysical substance which supports us as living creatures has been removed and taken away from the spirits. I don’t believe the food would be harmful, but that it also wouldn’t be helpful. To me, throwing the food away isn't a waste because it already fulfilled its purpose.
However, tons of people believe that you should eat food and beverage offerings. This is in order to avoid waste (because after all, even if I say metaphysically the food served its purpose, I’m still throwing away totally edible food). I am advised that in Buddhism, offerings given to ancestors, buddhas, and bodhisattvas aren’t degraded at all, and you can safely eat and drink offerings afterwards (and not doing so would be wasteful). For buddhas and bodhisattvas offerings are just a sincere gesture; the ancestors do get nourishment from food offerings and they greatly benefit from it. Even so, food offered to ancestors is still perfectly wonderful to eat.
In other belief systems, some people think that eating offered food can actually make you sick, especially if it’s offered to the dead. This may be due to a metaphysical change in the food, or because the spirits don’t want to share.
Sometimes, whether or not food is eaten after being offered depends on the type of spirit or god it’s given to; chthonic entities often seem to frown upon their offerings being eaten or shared.
Some believe that food offerings shouldn’t be eaten but neither should they be trashed; they should be burned or buried.
Sometimes, dedicating a food or drink offering to a spirit is a way to bless it under their power. If I dedicate a glass of water to the Indweller of the Sun, it’s understood to be imbued with the virtues of the Sun. If I drink it, it becomes a form of equivalent exchange - I gave something to the Sun, it gave something to me, and this ritual action is completed when I consume the offering.
Given all these varieties of belief, it’s safe to say that you probably can’t go wrong. If you can’t or don’t want to waste food, or it isn’t counter-indicated by your path, eat food offerings.
If you’re especially nervous or worried about what might happen to you if you do eat them, then don’t. Or, avoid the problem altogether by just giving energy or incense offerings.
The idea that "water is a very cheap offering" and therefore not good enough to give to the gods or your ancestors is directly tied to your own lack of self-worth and fear that you're not doing enough and therefore feelings of not being good enough to work with the gods or your spirits.
The feeling of needing to get something a lot more expensive or something that requires more effort in order to validate your desire to work with the gods or your spirits is just another way capitalism has conditioned you to demonize basic needs and reject them in order to access your own spirituality.
Until recently, filtered water was inaccessible (and depending on where you are, it still is). Your gods and especially ancestors are fascinated with you having access to cleaner water, something they have fought for you to get.
Offer them water. They really do treasure it.
Loki Deep dive
Signs he's reaching out- seeing the Snaptun Stone, Large numbers of spiders, Fire seeing his symbols and things that remind you of him in a dream, a close brush with danger, Dreams of Loki speaking to you, Repeated appearances of any of the animals related to Loki, sudden obsession on him or seeing things related to him that you wouldn’t regularly notice
Days & holidays! - Autumn Equinox, Samhain, Yule, Sep 5 UPG (tumbler meme devoted to him day) , Julaften, Saturday, April fools, Lokablót
Equivalent- logi (the personification of fire), Prometheus, Tantalus, Jesus, Pan, Cernunnos, Dionysus, anasi, Bacchus, Lugh, Hermes, Mercury, Elegua, Eshu, Prometheus, Veles, Coyote and Crow
Dislikes- in my experience he wasn’t a fan of Hermes, he doesn’t like Heimdall (Heimdall kills Loki )
Married- he is married to Sigyn! (the goddess of Victory) Also, Loki’s first wife (Angrboda who was a Jotun ) taught Loki magic, later he devoured her heart because she was an ‘evil’ witch.
Zodiac- Aries and Gemini
Siblings - Blood Odin, Hellblindi and Balyestyr
Devotional- volunteering to help survivors of trauma, helping with orphanages, and those who are in need, laughing at yourself.
Animal - Coyote, Salmon, Snakes, Foxes, vulture, Quiscalus quiscula, wolves, serpents, cats, falcon, butterfly, raven, flies, dragons, spiders.
colors - yellow , green , red, pink, neons, purple, gold, silver, Black, violet
offerings - Candy, Atomic Fireball (he loves alcohol ex- tequila, rum, brandy, and mead, but he does get tired of it beacuse it’s offered so much), Pez, Pixie Sticks, cookies/pastries, caramel apples. Speaking of apples, He loves red food (ex-Red Velvet) He likes things with a lot of pepper spice, or even just the peppers themselves (habaneros seem to be a favorite), good whiskey, bread, knives, whatever reminds him of u, also baked goods, or anything really, you can give him just sugar or just food, whatever says “LOKI!!”, he also loves caffeinated drinks!, he likes cinnamon, chocolate, Tobacco, weed, cheesecake, especially with berries, old granddad brand of alcohol, and hard cinnamon flavored or spicy liquor, and spicy runs and mulled wine! Carmel golden apples! He also loves Nutella, I would recommend giving whatever you think he would like, he likes new things I heard.
Number - 13 and Kaunaz, Naudiz, Thurisaz, number 3, The Berkana rune,
Planet- Pluto, Dark Moon
To do in his honor - Inner Child work, Llaughing at yourself, Accepting that no one and self is perfect, and mistakes are okay, Feeling all of our feelings, drawing, coloring, singing, dancing, being creative, working with children or the elderly, collecting and sharing jokes, going on a walk, get lost, go on an adventure with friends or fellow outcasts, go clean up a local park in his honor, do something ur scared of, joke in their honor
What he favors in devotes - Passion and drive, inc stubbornness, a go-getter, hunger for life, child like playfull Ness
God of - Celeverness, change, Creation, Cunning, Divine, Discovery, Humor, knowledge, sex, Seduction, shapeshifting, trickster (mischief), wit, truth, temptation, the hearth, nature.
Patron -outcasts (black sheep), earthquakes, changing cycles of the moon, nature, fire itself.
his weapon- Lævateinn
Herbs - daisy, mistletoe, Lavender, Patchouli, Cinnamon, Clove, Hemp, Holly, Mistletoe, Cedar, Juniper, Elder, “yellow rattle” plant, lokasjóður, “Loki’s Purse” (a plant), Loki oats, wild oats, birch, alder, mullein, acorns, Aspen trees (UPG)
Preferred coffee- very very sweet. (I also heard he likes mocha)
Remind me of him - smiling, laughter, dancing, knives, horns, flowers, trees, flies, foxes, rings, black nail polish, masks, spiders, red hair, cat eyeliner look, eyeliner, blue eyes, plastic toys, nature
Blessings - sharper knives (be careful they may be blunt one second and then sharp)
Tarot- The magician, Wheel of Fortune, the sun, the devil, the tower, the magician,
Signs - spiders, vultures, snakes, seals, foxes, flies, wolves, Dandelions, coyotes
Alter decorations - boats, kids' toys, anything listed here really.
Scents - He likes cinnamon, mulled wine, cotton candy, and peaty whiskey and yew, but nothing strong or overwhelming or alluring and anything too feminine, he also dislikes super masculine colognes. He likes Pine, cinnamon, sugar & spice, honey, and wild berry incense and dragons blood incense
Animals• Fox, spiders,Flies, salmon horses, vultures
Crystal• Volcanic and Sulfurous stones (ex. Obsidian Gypsum, Hematite, etc.)((is associated with tectonic activity)), pyrite (fools gold), color-changing stones, Bloodstone, Xlead calcite, Sunsgone, Stones associated with the air element, red stones, Stones of any other color you associated with Loki (ex- red Jasper, Garnet, Carnelian, Ruby), Stones that scream “LOKI!!”, but mostly - Red Jasper, Amber, Garnet, Goldstone; Plastic, Acrylic, Glass, Gold, Bronze, Silver, Magnesium, Orange calcite, hematite, fire agate, onyx, etc.), serpentine, fire quartz, smoky quartz, pyrite, multi-colored/color-changing stones (labradorite, fluorite, alexandrite, bismuth, etc.), carnelian, and tiger's eye, kambaba jasper, prehnite, garnet, green aventurine, malachite, and petrified wood, Yellow calcite
Symbols•fox, Knox, web, Tangles, snakes, Flies, salmon, horses, Mistletoe, (I've also heard vulture, hawk, skull
Names•known as sky traveler, Ve, or, father of monsters, Flamehair, “that bastard” (UPG), Lie-Smith, Sly-God, Shape-Changer, Sly-One, Lopt, Sky Traveller, Sky Walker, Wizard Of Lies, and Loftur and I'm sure there's more. (I’ve accidentally called him Taco Bell before myself.)
Mortal or immortal • immortal, but has apples to live longer, suspected the Apple effects last YEARS (like more than 100+ years. Because he is not “old” or dead yet, and in mythology, they take it to stay young and live forever.) and ragnorok
Vows/omans• Blood brother with Odin, Loki swears oaths that he will devise a scheme to cause the builder (of the wall of the asier home) to forfeit the payment, whatever it may cost himself.
Morals• He's morally grey
Personality• understanding, and fast going, can be jealous and has a quick temper.
Fact• He had a wife before Sigyn and he is in a cave until Ragnorok. I also heard he like farts a lot. And sends spiders, so beware, he made spiders in Sweden mythology
Roots• Norse mythology
Appearance in astral or gen• red hair and fair skin but not too red or too fair. Also, blue eyes I think or green. Or anything at all really.
Children- Hel, Jormangandr, Fenir, Sleipnir, Vanir, Narfi, (from sigyn) Svadilfari, and Einmyria and Eisa (with Glut.) He also ate a woman’s heart and bore the first witch, some say also a HUGE cat.
Season• the month of Gemini and Aries
Status• God and Yotan
Element- Fire, air, nature.
Personality- Loki is not always the most mature and can sometimes act like a toddler. Also chaotic Neutral. he is not an omniscient Deity, but true to his word.
Parentage • The tree Lufey and farbauti
Prayers•
Flame-hair, your soul burning into the night, Throwing caution to the wind And casting the die of fate, Teach me your fearlessness. Lie-smith, your sharp words like daggers, Cutting through illusions to the bone And revealing the reality we refuse to see, Teach me your clarity. Silver-tongue, whispering carefully veiled truths, Sowing shrouded mystery in your wake, And leading only the clever onward, Teach me your secrecy. And leading only the clever onward, Teach me your secrecy. Gift-Bringer, recognizing all the overlooked, Giving rightly earned reward where it’s due, And in turn, blame as well, Teach me your justice. Scar-lip, ending silence in the face of injustice, Grinning down at the outcasts And rallying your voice with theirs, Teach me your anger. Pain-holder, accepting your punishment, Embracing the consequences of your deeds, And taking the fall of those who are weaker, Teach me your resilience. World-breaker, harbinger of chaos, Spitting fire upon the stagnant And carving the spear of change, Teach me your courage. Cruel-striker, slanderer of the gods, Burning the inefficient and stale, Revealing potential in the ashes, Teach me your insight. Sly-walker, throwing your mischievous grin about And casting laughter into the darkness Where before there was only despair, Teach me your joy. Shape-changer, manipulator of all walks of life, Confidently adapting to every situation, Commanding the strength of any form, Teach me your cunning. Hearth-fire, warmth of my heart, Your arms a sanctuary where none is found Light and life of the home I can always return to, Teach me your nurturing. Sky-treader, ever true to your wild heart,Letting none even try to contain your spirit As free as the sky itself, Teach me your passion. Hail Loki, And thank you, my God, For everything you bring to my life.I love you so.
- by @klawl
Links/websites/sources •
Links I recommend -
Loki is the Norse god of mischief, and the hard cold truth, even tho he may be cold, he is wise, and charming in many ways.
I use resources, I do not own the info, and most deep dives have UPG (that I use in my work.) And I only take some information from sources. I am 14, this is my hobby, I am learning but I spent many hours and days on this, and I am always open to criticism. I have been doing worship for 5 years. Please know you can use the info, I do not sue, but I will take action if this work is used without permission and not put as a resource if used in any work. without permisson and not put as a resource if used in any work, for the public.
The 7 Sacred Offerings
Within the faith of the Bowynn tradition it is said that the gods ask for only 7 basic types of offering. These seven became the staple of offerings and are called "Tau Numa Abennes", literally The Seven Offerings. The list is as follows
Flowers, Plants, Flora and Foliage. (cut, potted, wreath, garlands)
Uncooked foods. (Fruits, honey, veggies, nuts, grains, herbs,)
Cooked foods. (Meats, cakes,)
The light of a Candle
Incense
Libations of all sorts (Anything liquid from water to brews)
Votive offerings and objects (clay, wax, cloth, wood figures. Objects)
There is technically and 8th form which is personal self, often meaning cuts of hair, nails and drops of blood. These are only used to bless and bind with a sacred religious tool and even then, very minimally. The gods otherwise abhor the sacrifice of life and the disrespect of the body. "Your body be a gift from us immortals, defile it not but instead keep it clean and pure.)
Once a year on New Years {Then Ohenn} a great complete set of all 7 offerings is displayed on Altars and is offered to the gods.
During the Holiday of "Kodex Tor" it is costumery to burn what is called a "Tsa'heka" of incense, which is 'bundle of 100 incense sticks." Sometimes a myst will off a Tsa'heka to the gods when casting a particularly powerful spell that is in dire need.
Unlike Wiccans, the gods of the Bowynn do NOT have any one set of particular offerings they require. That is to say there is no need to attribute only certain scents, colors and food to a particular god or goddess. they will accept any offering if given with all respect and love.
As to why offerings are gifted to the Bowynn gods, it's out of love and respect. For they have given some of the greatest gifts to mankind, its only right to give a gift in return. Brea, the goddess of the earth speaks very clear in this when she replied ...
"For all this that I have given on to you, for the life you live, the air you breath and that land you walk on, the light the lets you see the beauty of the day and the night that lets you sleep, would not you give the same to me? Gift to me a stone, a cutting a grass, a plate of your meal, light, waft of smoke. Kind comes in kind my beloved children and in circle again. Give what you can in love and hurt nothing that I have life to. Give to us, your beloved parents, and in kind we will give to you."
As to the "post offering" or to say what happens after offerings are gifted. the goddess Abbennaea clarifies this in her own words.
"Precious child, fret not because that which you offered is still on the plate. For you see, I take not that which you give to us in the mortal world but instead I take its divine essence, its spirit and love that you have given. And I bring it to those of us who you have offered it to. In turn, we the immortals, turn your gifts into that which is good for all, mortal and immortal alike. Only the scented herbs that you burn for us, we receive directly, as it rises and flies to our presence. Then within the turning of a full day and night, dispose of the mortal husk of your offering into a pit in the earth, into the waves of the sea, the waft of the wind or that is most befitting of such a gracious gift. And take heart knowing your gift has pleased us."
So, in a word, the gods take the divine essence of your gifts to them and after 24 hours you may dispose of the food or plants in a respectable manner, as best one can.
With this, we close with the basic outline of the Bowynn faith. Posts beyond this point will deal with the Holidays that the Bowynn celebrate and the Gods themselves in detail.
Holy spaces & shrines in the modern norse path
Before we dive into the oh-so-diverse topic of holy spaces, let me first specify a few practical tips!
I’m very much aware that the definition of the term “holy” is deeply subjective and varies depending on one’s opinions. I’ll elaborate on a few of my thoughts on the topic further!
In no way are you bound by any rule regarding this aspect of paganism.
I will base my post off of my research, granted, but also on my personal experiences and practices!
Now, what makes a holy space sacred? Not necessarily "holy" per say, but simply sacred.
The very first factor to consider is, what is sacredness? Lots and lots of pagans engage mostly in solitary practice, so much is true. Which is why lots of us find ourselves gravitating towards spaces others may not necessarily find any sense of "sacredness" in. The corner of your room where you tend to pray the most? Sacred. Or the spot in your garden where you perform your harvest ritual every year! It’s the connection we feel to the space that makes it sacred in the first place. But a space being holy depends on whether or not we choose to anoint it in such a way.
When something is sacred to me, I tend to feel a sort of spiritual pull. A swelling of the heart, if you will, like the feeling I get when faced with a breathtaking landscape. The feeling of spiritual connection to a particular spot is the first intuition one needs to tune into when choosing a holy space. After all, staying in tune with one's intuition might be one of the most important aspect of any spiritual practice.
Within nordic practice, a holy space is often called vé, a sacred enclosure. Vé's are attested in numerous toponyms as well as ancient texts, such as Beowulf, or the Skáldskaparmál. Their omnipresence in Scandinavian toponyms might, when considered through a pagan lense, signify something quite interesting: the holiness of a space depends on the space itself, its location, rather than what's inside it— or rather, how grand and ornate it is. When building a holy space for oneself, one does not need lavish decoration, or an elaborate shrine with the gold foil and the statues.
However, there are a few steps one can follow in order to anoint a space as holy, if one wants to reconstruct a few practices from pre-Christian Scandinavia. Although I'll specify that as always, no rule is set in stone when it comes to neopaganism. The choice to abide by them or not is entirely up to the practitioner. And in any case, even as I was gathering these few ideas, it was clear that, as always, pre-Christian practices centered around holy spaces vastly differed depending on the place and the time. Regardless, I think it's fun to do some research on the topic in order to reconstruct on our own terms a holy space in the nordic tradition.
The first step? Having a good knowledge of your area. Both before and during the Viking Age, holy places were more often than not located outside. It can be a great help to know where to find the greenery in one's area. Is there a beach near home that the public has access to? How about a large park where you can spend some time alone without being bothered? Even your backyard does the trick! Anywhere you can see the sky and breathe the open air is already perfect. Now, the Germanic tribes would generally worship near an object of particular importance, such as a grove, a body of water, a clearing in the forest, a hill... Although this doesn't seem to be very present in historical attestations, and considering I'm devoted to Yngvi-Freyr, I'm an especially big fan of worshipping in plains, or fields!
I think it's important for me to note that if you are lucky enough to live near a body of water, you can choose to engage in one of the most popular forms of offering in nordic historical practice: throwing offerings out to sink into the water! This practice was especially widespread, evidence of it having been found as far as Britain and Iceland. Evidently, if one chooses to engage in such a practice, it's important to respect the ecosystems and stick with offerings that won't damage them (acorns, stones, flowers and the like). As for an outdoors shrine located in a forest, or near woodland, it would have been customary during pre-Christian times to center a holy space around a tall tree, perhaps representing the World Tree Yggdrasil.
Considering lots of neo-pagans prefer to keep their practice discreet, it goes without saying that the holy space of your choosing does not need to be especially big, nor especially decorated. It can be as small as it is humble! One of the spaces where I most like to worship is the little corner of the yard, tucked under a cedar tree, where I rebuild my hörgr every year, as soon as the snow melts for good. Nothing too flamboyant!
Now, the second step to building a little outdoors shrine for yourself is to choose a representation of the deity to adore. It's said that the human-like appearance of this representation mattered little to the Germanic tribes, whose representations of the Gods could be rather simple, and not especially ornate. For this reason, it would be perfectly logical to even choose an object associated with the deity in question to serve as the main representation placed in the sanctuary. If we're talking about Freyja, a falcon statuette, or feather could do the trick! As for Fenrir, any wolf imagery could work as well! In the case of Thórr, one could replicate the case of Donar's Oak and choose to center their shrine around a particular tree (the rowan are the oak would make the best choices, if one is to pick a tree sacred to Thórr). These are just examples, and the possibilities in this regard are limitless. This "main" representation can be used as the center of your sacred space, and given offerings during rituals or celebrations. In my case, I like greet this representation both when "entering" the sacred space and when leaving it, as a sign of respect!
If one so desires, it's possible to set up some kind of "delimitation" in order to mark the entrance of the sacred space, or its outline. I like to place either ribbons on nearby branches, or litter stones here and there to lie in a loose circle (we wouldn't want to block the rays of the sun from reaching the earth and keep the greenery from growing). In order to signal the entrance of shrines, the Germanic tribes would generally use heaps of dirt or pillars of stone, among other things.
Another intresting element one might include in their sacred space is the presence of fire! Whether this be a bonfire, incense, a simple candle or even just a handful of ash, there's lots of ways to include the "element" of fire into a modern day shrine. It's a means of warming up the space, so to speak: tending a fire in the shrine is akin to having a hearth in the home!
Ideas for common, historically attested offerings: Ethically-sourced animal bones, gold or golden jewelry, tools, representation of the Gods, beads and beaded jewelry, alcohol, food and meat…
Now, let's pull away from the history lesson and let's dive into modern, neo-pagan practice! I'd wager some of you are wondering, how exactly can one keep a whole shrine, but make their practice as low-key as possible?! After all, I know firsthand that solo practice is especially common among neo-pagans. So my answer to this question is, who said anything about keeping? One piece of advice I've already given to a few fellow pagans in the past is to create a little portable shrine all to yourself! Let me explain myself: you arrive at your chosen location, you put down a basket full of decoration and you put up a temporary space in which to worship for an hour or two. You take out a deity representation, a few candles (if they're allowed on site!), a handful of offerings and a cloth on which to place them. And when you're done with the ritual, you pack up your things and make sure you leave the site as clean as when you first found it. In other words, what I’m suggesting is the possibility of gathering a few designated worship items in order to make oneself a portable, personal little shrine! It might seem like a silly idea at first, but I’ve discovered it’s not only a fun habit, but it’s also greatly helpful on a tight schedule to have a quick and easy way to engage in outdoors practice.
As always, I wrote this post aiming to help fellow pagans find ways to balance historical practice and modern, solo practice! I hope these few ideas did the trick, and wish you all a good and plentiful spring season!
First picture
Broke Boy Guide to Altar Offerings
Hey! Are you broke but still wanna offer something up to the gods? Don't worry! (So am i) So here's a guide of things that are either free, low cost or that you probably already own to slap onto those altars. Mind you: These are mainly modern offerings that I attribute to these different classification of gods. I'll likely update as time goes on with other classifications :)
General Offerings to Deities:
random flowers from outside
random sticks from outside
hand written letters/prayers
plushies of the animals they're connected to
raw/cooked meats as "sacrifices"
drawn symbols
Art/Creative Deities:
symbol painted bottle caps
pens/pencils/markers
old sketchbooks
stickers/prints
origami
comic books
figurines
Death Deities:
bones or meat from your meals
dirt from a dead plant
dying flowers
skull imagery
coins or other gifts for those passing
photo/belongings of your late loved ones
Familial/Household/Protector of Children Deities:
photobooth photos
jewelry gifted from family
baby teeth from your children
breast milk
old baby shoes
framed photo of family
cookies/bread
homecooked meals
Fire Deities:
birthday candles
charcoal discs
burnt herbs
alcohol
incense
tobacco
matchbox/lighter
Healing Deities:
your current medications
bandaids
water
skincare
vitamin gummies
spell jar in an empty pill bottle
Knowledge/Wisdom Deities:
old books & textbooks
pens/pencils
mini chess pieces
written down philosophical quotes
good test scores/report cards/degrees
Love/Lust Deities:
origami 3D hearts
chapsticks
unused makeup
love letters to deities
love letters about S/O or crush
current perfume/cologne
current lotions
apples
Nature Deities:
plants dedicated to them
herbal tea packets
feathers
milk
fruits/vegetables
spells using recycled materials (toilet paper rolls, etc.)
bread
acorns
Sea Deities:
beach sand
shells
sea water
tiny sea animal figurines
shared fish dinners
makeshift spell jar using a shell
Trickster Deities:
laffy taffy joke wrappers
cards against humanity packs
other comedy card games
Apple offered to Lucifer - over 2 months
Just an apple - 1 month
You can't tell me deities aren't real
Prompt 73
Geralt, as a deity, gets many an offering. However, he's known for slaying creatures and monsters and (through what is mostly rumors) Humans, so all his offerings reflect this. Blades, and blood, and dead things, and money and hide in exchange for safety of their families and villages. He's intrigued when he starts getting regular offerings in the form of... Handwritten, meaningful, sincerely admiring songs recounting his 'adventures' and his 'hardest battles', all of which are made up. Geralt sees no harm in perhaps telling the human some real stories to make some accurate songs. No harm at all. Apparently there was some harm. As the rest of his "followers" have grown jealous of Jaskier (the human with the song offerings) - So jealous in fact, they've decided to try offering Jaskier himself to Geralt.
On Nisaba: Epithets
This is just a quick way to dust my brain of ideas before bed, but also a thing I've been interested in. I should be a good scribe and list sources, do some superscript numbers, and all that jazz. I am a sleepy scribe who needs to earn money in the morning, so I'm taking shortcuts like a college student.
Historical terms used for Nisaba:
Mother of the Burning
Priestess of the Country
Purity-Adorned
Noble Lady whose body is the flecked barley
Splendid Radiance
Righteous Wild Cow
Exceedingly Wise
Foremost of the Land
Righteous woman
Woman who swells with joy
Lady who radiates
Exalted Scribe of An
Land-Registrar of Enlil
Beautiful Woman
Lady Colored Like The Stars
Dragon Emerging in Glory at the Festival
Lady Of Broad Wisdom
Lady of the Protective Spirits
Lady of the House of Wisdom
She whose Heart knows Counting
Throne-Bearer of Ninlil
These are not all limited to her, but they have been used to reference her. Her "spheres" if you want to be picky about it are barley, astronomy, mathematics, the act of writing, and literature among other things. There are nuances to her, as with most people.
UPG epithets:
Goddess of Information Technology
Great Librarian
Keeper of the Book of Names
She Who Holds the Book of Life
Lady with hair like mulberry silk
Lady of the Gold Standard
She who is the beauty of the reed wedge pressed into clay
She who dwells in the college coffee shops
Dragon of the book-hoard
Lady of the printing press
She who speaks multitudinous tongues
She who dwells in binary code
Also as a side note, please appreciate the pun in my offering apples and blackberries. In my experience she has a preference for vanilla, too. Check out the chemical breakdown of books as they age and you'll find some vanillin, which is involved in that sacrosanct "book smell". Also almonds, which I'll be trying soon.
Just a little something for anyone who's worried about offerings. You can make fancy cakes and hunt down expensive historically accurate wheat. Or you can make a midnight run to Walmart and whip up some sweet, totally healthy and very appropriate deliciousness. In fact, I might try making some by squishing dates in a Ziploc and shaking that in a bag of chopped pistachios. Who knows. Is this what they call a life hack?
On Nuska: #justpolytheistproblems
I talk a lot about Nisaba, and for good reason. She's the goddess I'm sworn to, and very important to me. But I know I have a habit of hyperfocusing, and I know I love Nuska too. It's just that I have no idea how to express it sometimes. I write poetry for him, I praise him, I've got an icon and a candle for him on my altar, but. I want to give him something special. Yes, there's the food offering, but. I mean. I've offered bullet shells to Inanna and massive works of poetry to Nisaba. Nuska is a fire god, and more specifically deals with torches, lamplight, and purifying fire. What protects you at night, pretty much. He's also the vizier of Enlil who orders the E-kur, maintains it and keeps it spotless in addition to seeing out Enlil's commands. In my practice I view him as the son of Nanna and Ningal, and Gibil as a bit of a separate-but-related deity in charge of more work-oriented fire (cookstove, kiln, forge). Nuska is also an intermediary between a supplicant and the gods, as a god of fire which carries incense smoke and offerings to the heavens. So what on earth could I possibly get him as a gift? I have a nice incense burner, candles for days, the clay lamp I made for him as an icon. I don't really need more candles. Maybe a specific incense, like how I burn vanilla for Nisaba? But I don't know if that feels right either. I mean, I have a hunch about cinnamon incense, but. I can't exactly buy a bunch of tiki torches, and putting an old electric nightlight up there just wouldn't seem right either. Let's face it, they're pretty ugly. So. What do? I guess I'll figure something out, but feel free to commiserate or shout ideas.
Offerings for the Dead
Most people are reblogging an ask I answered long ago about offerings to give to the dead. It’s long overdue, but I’ve finally typed it up into an actual cohesive post.
~ Herbs ~
Lavender, for peace in passing on
Thyme, to give peace to those who have died from violence
Apple, a common Irish symbol for the dead, which I often give to my ancestors
Pomegranates, myth of Persephone and all that
Rosemary, for remembrance
Myrrh, commonly used in necromancy, also used to give off good vibes
Chervil, often used in rituals for the dead
Mugwort, usually used to aid divination and communication with the dead. I also give it as an offering
Bay, same as mugwort (my mentality is that these herbs will help “send” the offerings to the dead)
Lemonbalm, for peace and healing
Wormwood, to strengthen the communication with the dead, as well as healing and revenge
Frankincense, a traditional herb (usually incense) to honor the dead
~ Flowers ~
Calendula, for blessings and eternal love
Rose petals (or the flower) for love and healing
Marigolds, perfect for ancestor worship (as well as spirit work salves and tea)
Lilies, for a sense of security and togetherness; ideal for children
Orchids, for balanced emotions and adoration; ideal for former lovers
Daisies, also ideal for former lovers and lost family members
Tulips, to spread happiness
Dandelions, ideal for connecting with certain spirits (especially when drunk as a tea)
~ Liquids ~
Water, a traditional offering for the dead, often left out for passing spirits
Wine or other alcohol
Juice, namely pomegranate or beet
Oils, such as olive oil, pomegranate oil, coconut, almond, vinegar
~ Other ~
Stones or crystals
Coins
Tobacco (I also know some people who use cigarette smoke or ashes)
Grains, traditionally brown bread
Meat
Candles, namely dark colored or earth-toned
Cleaning up graveyards, placing offerings on graves and speaking to them also makes a great offering
Song and music
Anything personal to the person you’re sending the offering to
~ What to do with the Offerings ~
Burn herbs or flowers (safely) with a written message to “send” the offering to the soul
Leave coins, flowers or herbs on the grave
Pour liquid into the earth, or leave them out in a bowl
Leave offerings out as a “standing offering” for the dead who pass through (idea from @arachnospooky)
This is SO overdue I’m so sorry but I hope it helps!!
(o≧▽≦)ﾉ ... aphrodite moodboard !! ☆
i thank her for gifting me with all my beauty and all the love in my heart <3
Random PNGs, part 183.
(1. Ghost wall plaque, 2. Sculpture by Hamish Pearch, 3. Glass model of a tubular polyp, 4. "Alice in Wonderland" by Igor Siwanowicz, 5. "Black Tulip" by Lowell Blair Nesbitt in 1975, 6. Pine tree platter from 17th c., 7. "Okimono" sculpture from 19th c., 8. "Sisyphus" by Shary Boyle, 9. "After all, we’re only here once III" by Felipe Baeza in 2023)
Hail Melinoë, daughter of Zeus Kronian and Queen Persephone, goddess of ghosts and nightmares, bringer of madness, and chthonic nymph. I honour thee in mind and action, and ask for your protection against harmful spirits and those who wish harm unto me, as well as guidance for my self in learning and understanding the shadows of the world and the self. Melinoë krokopeplos, grant me sanctuary from the madness you ensue during the darkness of night.
Praise Melinoë