Everything Under the Moon

So I'm curious. If any of you saw my introduction thread, you'll know that I'm extremely new to this. So while I don't have an altar yet, I was curious. What kind of offerings do you make to your deities? Does it vary on who it is? What the purpose of the offering is? I a thread about the disposal but I was not sure about what to use as an actual offering.

Thank you very much in advance! :3

well an offering is a way to honor your god and goddess at least thats how i see it
as for what to offer depends on who you ask and what you think is right it can be anything from an item that you think they would enjoy like a flower or it could be food and drink that you think they might like or are linked to, or even animal things like antlers, or like arrows or something silver for Artemis because those are things associated with her

It also depends on the type of god you have; like you would give a flower that is precious to them if they are a nature goddess/god
or if it was a war god maybe a weapon that you place on the alter for them like a dagger or helmet
but you would not really give a war god a flower unless he has one that is a known symbol of his or her

if you wont to play it safe bread and/or honey with milk and/or wine is alway a good choice because of bread being made of wheat also known as the life grain, milk being the life drink because of breast milk and wine because its made of fruit and is thought to purify the body with its burn and who dosnt like a good cup of wine ever now and again
>> (they even carry over this aspect in Christianity with communion with flat bread and wine) <<

I have also been known to give the gods something that for me is a treat and there for even more special cus i shared it with them like Gushers for me were a snack that was to experience and never got, for me to get them now is a rare treat and i tend to eat them up like crazy fast and i dont tend to share them but I will use them as an offering if I have them because they are that special to me and Ik that my Goddess knows this and appreciate my willingness to share them with her
this link gives you a very simple explanation as to what is good for certain god types like Hearth and Home, Nature and Garden, and other god categories
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/godsand ... s_Gods.htm

hoped i helped some
blessed be
babybear

BabyBear wrote:well an offering is a way to honor your god and goddess at least thats how i see it
as for what to offer depends on who you ask and what you think is right it can be anything from an item that you think they would enjoy like a flower or it could be food and drink that you think they might like or are linked to, or even animal things like antlers, or like arrows or something silver for Artemis because those are things associated with her

It also depends on the type of god you have; like you would give a flower that is precious to them if they are a nature goddess/god
or if it was a war god maybe a weapon that you place on the alter for them like a dagger or helmet
but you would not really give a war god a flower unless he has one that is a known symbol of his or her

if you wont to play it safe bread and/or honey with milk and/or wine is alway a good choice because of bread being made of wheat also known as the life grain, milk being the life drink because of breast milk and wine because its made of fruit and is thought to purify the body with its burn and who dosnt like a good cup of wine ever now and again
>> (they even carry over this aspect in Christianity with communion with flat bread and wine) <<

I have also been known to give the gods something that for me is a treat and there for even more special cus i shared it with them like Gushers for me were a snack that was to experience and never got, for me to get them now is a rare treat and i tend to eat them up like crazy fast and i dont tend to share them but I will use them as an offering if I have them because they are that special to me and Ik that my Goddess knows this and appreciate my willingness to share them with her
this link gives you a very simple explanation as to what is good for certain god types like Hearth and Home, Nature and Garden, and other god categories
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/godsand ... s_Gods.htm

hoped i helped some
blessed be
babybear

Thank you very much! Some of this was as I suspected but you did teach me some wonderful things! :] I don't have an altar yet but I intend to have one soon. Thank you for your input!

Blessed be.

glad i could help and once you set yours up i would love to see it

BabyBear wrote:glad i could help and once you set yours up i would love to see it

Oooooh of course! I plan on posting a picture of it on here!

I make the offering have some significance to the them.

Like for Ganesh I go to an Indian grocer and get these specials treats/sweets that he likes.

For Apollo, a hyacinth flower to represent his love for Hyacinth

Another idea is that if you have recently asked a deity for something, give Them something similar in return. For example, if you've asked for money, offer a few coins. If you've asked for a new love, offer something related to love, like roses.
They also accept whatever we have on hand. Let's say want to offer wine, but if you only have juice (let's say it's because you're a minor), juice is just as acceptable.
Anything you make yourself is also appreciated by the gods. If the only thing you can cook is macaroni and cheese, They'll enjoy it. If you paint them a landscape, They'll see the beauty in it. Store bought goods are also acceptable, as long as you put your love and reverence for the gods into it.

A good example of the offering to the gods, kinda like echo said about the mac and cheese, is actually in Percy Jackson series where they offer up a bit of their meal to the fire in honor of Zues's wife Hera and the god or goddess who is their mother or father (cus they are demi gods), anyway the principle is that by burning the food it gets sent to the gods and by offering some of your food your honoring them and letting them know that you are thinking about them.

For me I use different offerings for different deities. I base some of it on the symbolism of that God or Goddess and others based on cultural practices. For me its important to try and stay as much within cultural practices as possible. I feel it makes them feel more at home and like they were worshiped in ancient times.

Here are some offerings I frequently give:

To my ancestors I often offer water to. I have also offered them a small bit of milk and honey.

My dragons I frequently give an offering of Dragons Blood to.

The Norse/Germanic Gods typically receive alchohol as an offering. That is what was traditional for them so I do that. I would do mead offerings much more often if mead wasn't so expensive. I typically give an offering of rum and coke. This is what I bless for my own ritual drink so it is shared with them in a ritual setting.

I have given a dryad coins for an offering so that our house would be prosperous. I also have a given that dame dryad an offering of my own hair as a symbol of my connection to the land. She also go alchohol when rituals were performed outside.

Food has also been an offering to the Gods and Goddesses of the elements and the seasons. These are the five deities outlined in my Grimoire. They are the Gods and Goddesses of the witchcraft tradition I happen to practice and be developing.