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Episode 191: Offerings
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Welcome back, Witches! This week, we’re diving into the world of offerings- where they come from, what they are, and how they’ve been used across cultures and magical traditions. From ancient practices to modern devotional acts, we’re unpacking why offerings matter, what makes an offering meaningful, and how to choose something aligned rather than performative. Whether you work with deities, ancestors, spirits, or the land itself, this episode is all about intention, relationship, and respect. So get in, Loser—because your altar (and your understanding) is about to get a serious glow-up.
We’d be forever thankful if you left our podcast a 5-star review. If you loved the show and want more Get in Loser content, check out our Patreon, Supercast, and Buy Me a Coffee links below. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @GetinWitches, on TikTok @weredoingwitchcraft, or email us at weredoingwitchcraft@gmail.com. Supporting the show through the links below helps keep the magic going.
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Resources
- Wigington, Patti. Appropriate Worship- Honoring the Gods the Way They Want. (2019). https://www.learnreligions.com/appropriate-worship-honoring-the-gods-2561946
- Wigington, Patti. Pagan Offerings to the Gods: What’s an Acceptable Gift? (2019). https://www.learnreligions.com/offerings-to-the-gods-2561949
- Beckett, John. What to Offer to the Gods. (2023). https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2023/03/what-to-offer-to-the-gods.html
- Offerings to Gods and Ancestors: Paganism Basics. (2018). https://otherworldlyoracle.com/basics-pagan-offerings-to-gods-ancestors/
- Making Offerings in Spiritual Relationships. (2023). https://irishpagan.school/making-offerings-in-spiritual-relationships/
- Grandma (2024). The Art of Making Offerings: Connecting with the Spiritual Realm. Grandma’s Grimoire. https://grandmasgrimoire.com/making-offerings-connecting-with-spirits/
- Divine Feminine Witchery (n.d.). How to Dispose of Offerings and Spell Remains. Divine Feminine Witchery. https://divinefemininewitchery.com/blog-1/dispose-of-offerings-spells
- Learning Witchcraft (2025). Enchanting Wiccan Ritual Offerings: A Guide to Meaningful Gifts for Nature and Spirit. https://learningwitchcraft.com/enchanting-wiccan-ritual-offerings-a-guide-to-meaningful-gifts-for-nature-and-spirit/
- Tina Caro (2024). What are Ritual Offerings? What to Offer during a Spell Craft? Magickal Spot. https://magickalspot.com/ritual-offerings/
- Youtube:The Norse Witch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aReMlH35ZMo&t=107s
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Transcript
Introduction to Witchcraft and Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Do you feel drawn to learn more about witchcraft and the occult but feel lost on where to start? Then welcome to Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft, a podcast all about what it means to be a witch and where to get started on your journey.
00:00:11
Speaker
Join us as we navigate through various witchy topics and share what we've learned about the craft. So get in witches as we take a deeper look at magical offerings.
00:00:36
Speaker
oh my god so how was your concert uh i love the videos magical brutal hardcore
00:00:48
Speaker
so how is your concert i love the videos magical brutal hardcore I mean, that's what that's what we all want in a concert
Concert Experience and Band Performances
00:01:00
Speaker
though, right? It was so good. I'm honestly, I'm really glad that we got seats and not floor tickets since Amy is in America right now.
00:01:11
Speaker
And I took one of my girlfriends with me because that pit was insane to watch from above. I could not imagine the amount of like walls of death and – just circle pits that broke out during that show was insane. That would make me very uncomfortable. I'd be like, wait a second. I'm just a child. I'm just a baby. So for the listeners, I went and saw Whitechapel and Lorna Shore.
00:01:43
Speaker
um and if you know who they are sweet. Most people probably don't. Check them out. They're they're pretty hardcore, but Whitechapel especially – That was brutal, like wild, gnarly, heavy fucking show. i was like, oh, was not ready for that.
00:02:05
Speaker
Lorna's like, they're a death metal band, you know, they're they're black metal, but they're like, I don't know. i feel like their lyrics are so like, so good. And they've got a lot of like melodies and stuff in it. So like, it feels a little different, even though it is pretty heavy. Yeah.
00:02:22
Speaker
I don't know. I love Lorna. Yeah. We get my one complaint. Okay. This was my first concert in my 40s.
00:02:33
Speaker
Whoever decided that we needed four bands. That's too Because that was a four hour concert.
00:02:45
Speaker
Oh, man. It started at six. Doors opened at five, which is when we got there. hmm. So we got there 5. We had an hour before the show started.
00:02:55
Speaker
and then music started at 6 and didn't end until after 10. Damn. Yeah. That's a long concert. That's like going to a fucking festival.
00:03:07
Speaker
It is. My thing is, I don't really care much. I mean, it depends on the opener. It really depends on the opener for me because sometimes I'm just like, okay. And then other times I'm just like, oh my God, get on with it. don't fucking care anymore. Yeah, I kind of felt that way. So with the first band, I had no – I can't even tell you what their name was. They had – there's this font in metal right now that I fucking hate. They use it for their band names and you can't read it. Yeah. Who are you? I don't know. Yeah, it's just gibberish on the screen. Yeah, it's just like fucking – it looks like barbed wire like scribbles. I don't know.
00:03:49
Speaker
So their logo was like that. And I'm like, I have no idea who this is. And they go on and they start playing. And I'm like, it's not ah terrible, but it's I'm not into it. And they're going for a long time. And then there's a little bit of a break and people cheer and they start playing again. And I looked at Martina and I'm like,
00:04:12
Speaker
are we still playing this? Like everything sounded the same. I thought every song was just a continuation. Like they just played it again. was like, does this ever end? How many songs in are we? Because I still feel like it sounds like the first song.
00:04:27
Speaker
So that went on for like 30 minutes. The second band was decent, better, but their sound, like whoever did the sound for them, it was not good.
00:04:38
Speaker
And during that one, there was a single red like stage light that was just shining in our eyes the whole time. Like we were like closing our eyes and like looking down because it was so bright.
00:04:53
Speaker
And then Whitechapel came on and then everything like got better from there. so
00:05:01
Speaker
It's like it's funny in like. That type of music, I feel like it's very easy to tell who's had the experience, who's toured a lot, and they have it all together. Because from the first band, there was so much fog on the stage that I couldn't even see people. And then I was like, are we still on song one? I don't know. Yeah. Yeah. And then the second band, it was like, you could see the people now, like the lighting was a little bit better, but the sound was shit. And then Whitechapel came on and it was like, okay, now the sound is better. Like it's going pretty good.
00:05:34
Speaker
And then Lorna came on and it was just like beautiful, beautiful stage. Like, all the the videos in the background and all around them and stuff was pretty cool. so Yeah. Oh, I'm glad that it got progressively so much better throughout the night. It was really funny. And it was like two with the first band, you know, we're sitting up and we can see like the the pit.
00:05:54
Speaker
And so that the like mosh pit for the first band was literally just four people bouncing around off of each other. And then the next band like Shadow of in Intent or whatever, like they came on. And then then it turned to like like an eight-person mosh pit bouncing around. And then Whitechapel came on and it was like, okay, now we've got like a third of the room going. And then Lorna came on and I was like, Jesus, I'm glad I'm not down there. Right. Yeah. That was it sounds scary. ah yeah Yeah. Yeah. But yeah, it was good. It was a lot of fun. it was a little bit too long for me.
00:06:30
Speaker
I don't know if it's because I'm now. I mean, you got your money's worth. so I did. I definitely got my money's worth. Yeah. I was like, um you cut well, you know, Mauro and Sophia were there too. Like we rode down there together, but we were sitting in different sections. When we got to the end, like finally like found each other to leave or whatever. He was like, Jesus fucking Christ. And I was like, what? He was like, so long. Yeah.
00:06:53
Speaker
I know. ah too long like if they would have just cut the first band out yeah or the second yeah because of honestly i could have done without the first two bands like no shade to them they just weren't my thing Like i I'm fine with like one opener, but anything more than that, I'm like, oh my God.
00:07:12
Speaker
Like if I'm going to a festival and I know like, okay, I'm going to be there all day or for like half the day, like hours on end, I'm prepared for that. I was not mentally prepared for over four hours of a concert. And then like an hour and a half drive there, an hour and a half drive home.
00:07:28
Speaker
It was a lot. It was good, but it was a lot. I'm glad you have today to kind of recoup from that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But this is not a podcast about concerts or Lorna Shore.
Understanding Magical Offerings
00:07:42
Speaker
No, it's not. What are we talking about today? We're talking about offerings. Yes. So also just before we start, as a little bit of a disclaimer – Something has been going on with my sound lately and we can't figure it out. We don't know why it's happening. If you've been listening to like our more recent episodes, you've probably noticed some funkiness in the in the sound difference every now and then because it happens to be just little pockets for some reason.
00:08:12
Speaker
um So are bad and I don't know how to fix it. Or like a sound editor engineer and you know how to fix it. Let us know because ah we can't figure out what what's going on. so Yeah. Nothing has changed. None of the settings have changed.
00:08:29
Speaker
I don't know. i don't know what's going on. but I do my best. And clearly my best is a muffled sound for a few minutes out of every podcast now.
00:08:39
Speaker
no Not in this one though. No. Knock on wood. It's going to be perfect. All right. So to kick us off. Before we get into what kinds of offerings people give or who they're I think we need to start with just the basics. Like what is an offering actually?
00:08:59
Speaker
At its simplest, an offering is something that you give intentionally in a spiritual or magical context. It can be physical, emotional, energetic, symbolic, really anything that carries meaning, but the key word here is intentional. An offering isn't just a thing, it's a gesture.
00:09:19
Speaker
We tend to think of offerings as something formal or dramatic, like elaborate altars, rare herbs, or beautifully created bowls of fruit, But historically, offerings have been incredibly ordinary. Things like bread, water, flowers picked on a walk, a moment of silence, or even just a promise kept.
00:09:40
Speaker
I think that it's important to differentiate the difference between offerings versus things like spells, prayer, or sacrifice here as well. As most of us know, spells are practice where we work to achieve something. They're done to create change and they have a goal, an outcome, and or some kind of direction.
00:10:00
Speaker
Offerings are about the relationship between yourself and the deity, spirit, etc. that you're honoring or working with. So where a spell is more focused on the goal of what you want, the offering is more along the lines of acknowledgement and connection.
00:10:17
Speaker
Prayers are often focused on communication, so speaking, asking, reflecting, etc., where the offering is going to be that physical or symbolic action, usually in gratitude.
00:10:30
Speaker
I was also finding that sacrifices were being lumped in with offerings as well, and I think it's important to acknowledge that historically, sacrifices were often literal and tied to specific cultures or specific types of practice.
00:10:46
Speaker
In modern-day witchcraft, most practitioners don't practice sacrifice in this way. Instead, the idea of sacrifice is shown symbolically through actions like devoting time, giving up certain comforts or conveniences, and it's more done as a meaningful act.
00:11:03
Speaker
An example of this could be sacrificing an hour of sleep um to instead like tend to your altar or sacrificing time to doom scroll to instead do something in service of those relationships with your deities, your spirit guides, or ancestors.
00:11:19
Speaker
In terms of animal sacrifice, we also have to remember that historically, our ancestors may have sacrificed animals as an offering, but that is usually because that's what they had to offer during those times.
00:11:31
Speaker
Oftentimes these sacrifices were made in offering and then that animal would be cooked for a feast with that community. So you have to remember that there was like a time before refrigerators and that meant that meat had to be consumed before it spoiled. So offering some of the slaughter to the gods was also a way to bring ritual to their communities.
00:11:54
Speaker
Essentially, an offering becomes a way of saying that you recognize that the relationship exists and it's not done in a transactional way. And I saw someone describe it as being less of a vending machine and more of a conversation. And I really liked that description. was like, you're not doing this transaction of giving money to get something back. Like you're you're trying to have this conversation and build a relationship. And I was like, oh, I love that example. Yeah, that is cute. Yeah.
00:12:23
Speaker
So giving offerings has been an important part of ritual spiritual practice across cultures and time. At its core, an offering is a way for a practitioner to show respect, honor, and appreciation for a deity, spirit, ancestor, or divine force that they're engaging with. And they're often talked about in terms of reciprocity, but not in the you give me this, I'll give you that kind of way. Instead, it's about maintaining the relationship. Just like with any meaningful relationship, there's an element of care, acknowledgement, and presence. An offering says, I see you and I value this connection.
00:12:56
Speaker
And they can also serve as a way to deepen connection with the spirit world, not because the offering itself is inherently powerful, but because of the intention, consistency, and awareness behind it.
The Role of Offerings in Spiritual Practices
00:13:06
Speaker
Over time, offerings become less about the object being given and more about the act of devotion, gratitude, and the relationship building.
00:13:15
Speaker
If we look at an offering from like a historical and a cultural context, across cultures, continents, and centuries, humans have always felt the urge to give something back to what they perceived as sacred, whether that was gods, spirits, ancestors, or even the land itself.
00:13:34
Speaker
And in ancient pagan traditions, offerings were woven into everyday life. People left food for household spirits, poured out wine for gods, buried objects in the earth, or placed coins in water. And these were just part of the natural day-to-day rhythms in older times.
00:13:52
Speaker
These weren't grand gestures either. So farmers often would offer part of their harvest, travelers would leave tokens at shrines, and families would have a plate of food left out for the dead as well.
00:14:06
Speaker
Looking at historical offerings and placed in bogs, bogs are like when we started talking about offerings and stuff, I'm just like, oh, well, bogs. I love bogs. Bogs, um for those of you are listening who are not super familiar with them, they're a type of wetland that accumulates peat, which is an accumulation of decaying plant material over hundreds, if not thousands of years.
00:14:30
Speaker
They are unique ecosystems, often found in countries with cooler climates, and are known by their highly acidic waters and ability to preserve organic material. Bogs throughout history have been perceived as deeply liminal spaces, places that exist between land and water, life and death, and the human world and the spiritual one. And and because of this, in between nature, many prehistoric rituals and Ceremonies took place at bogs, including for the purposes of this episode for the placement of offerings. Archaeological evidence from places like Ireland, Denmark, and other parts of Northern Europe shows that people intentionally placed valuable items in bogs. like weapons, tools, jewelry, cauldrons, food, and even human remains. And these were not just discarded items, but items of significance, often carefully offered to deities or spirits associated with the land, fertility, sovereignty, or protection. And ancient pagan cultures believed that offering objects to bogs could appease deities, ensure fertility of the land, and bring prosperity to the community, or as a way to restore balance after a conflict.
00:15:37
Speaker
In folk traditions, offerings were practical and intimate. So you didn't try to give the most impressive things, but rather you gave what you had. They were often humble and could be things like cake, water instead of wine, or vice versa, wildflowers found on a walk. simple herbs from the garden, those kinds of things, meaning mattered more than the aesthetics. And I feel like this is so important to mention for today's practitioners because we live in a world where social media exists and everything is curated, aesthetically pleasing, expensive, visually perfect, et cetera.
00:16:16
Speaker
And if you've listened to the podcast at all, you know that we harp on using what you have and not getting sucked into the trap of of the aesthetically pleasing or keeping up with the social media witches that have these like beautiful accounts.
00:16:31
Speaker
If that's what's within your memes and what you like, then that's perfectly fine. But don't go spending money that you don't have because some witch on TikTok said that your offering needed to be expensive.
00:16:44
Speaker
It's also important to understand that not all offering traditions are interchangeable. Many practices we see today come from specific cultural, religious, and ancestral lineages.
00:16:57
Speaker
Some are closed traditions. Some require intention, community context, or deep study. And this is why we always say that it's so important that you're always doing your own research with everything that you practice. So while offerings are universal, the way they're practiced isn't.
00:17:15
Speaker
There's also a difference between being inspired by global traditions and flattening them into a single aesthetic. So respectful practice means asking questions like, where does this tradition come from? is it mine to practice? Am I honoring the context or am I just copying the visuals?
00:17:36
Speaker
And at the same time, it's also worth remembering that modern witchcraft is also a living tradition. People are constantly adapting old practices to new lives, new values, and new environments. And this can create a tension between tradition and intuition or between honoring the past. and creating something that feels aesthetic now.
00:17:58
Speaker
Offerings sit right at the crossroads of ancient and modern, communal and personal, historical and intuitive. They remind us that the magic didn't start on social media. It started in kitchens, fields, forests, grave sites, doorways, and really anywhere humans felt the presence of something bigger than themselves.
Choosing and Making Offerings
00:18:18
Speaker
And understanding that history doesn't make your practice more rigid, but rather it makes it deeper. Because when you leave an offering today, you're not just doing something aesthetic, you're participating in a ritual that humans have been performing for thousands of years.
00:18:34
Speaker
So once you understand offerings as a form of relationship, the next question becomes, who or what are we actually building a relationship with?
00:18:44
Speaker
Because in witchcraft, offerings aren't just given to gods on high altars. They're given to many different kinds of beings, forces, and energies. each with their own language and personality. So in this case, the who will actually help shape the what of your offering.
00:19:03
Speaker
The kind of offering you give isn't random. Instead, it's reflective of the relationship itself. So for example, offerings to deities often feel more devotional. People might offer candles, incense, food, drink, or objects that symbolically align with that deity's myths, domains, and personality, but even then, it's not about copying a checklist, it's about resonance.
00:19:28
Speaker
Ancestors are another huge category. Offerings to ancestors often feel quieter, more intimate, something like a cup of tea left on the table, a favorite recipe cooked in their honor, photos, letters, stories spoken aloud.
00:19:43
Speaker
So in this case, it's less about the grandeur and more about the remembrance. Then there are spirits of place. So like land spirits, house spirits, nature spirits. These relationships are often incredibly local and practical. So offerings might look like cleaning a forest path instead of leaving objects behind, pouring water into the soil, leaving biodegradable food, ah caring for a home with intention,
00:20:11
Speaker
And we can't forget about the elements and natural forces. People offer to fire, water, air, earth, seasons, moons, storms, sometimes not as a personified being, but as a presence. So in this case, offerings often become symbolic gestures that could look like breath and spoken word to air, objects returned to the earth, water being poured with intention, and movement to fire.
00:20:39
Speaker
But offerings aren't always directed outward. You can also make offerings to yourself in a sacred way. So things like allowing yourself to rest, setting boundaries where they're needed, allowing for creativity, or even focusing on healing.
00:20:55
Speaker
And when it comes to what we offer, the range here is Pretty large. There are physical offerings like food, herbs, flowers, crystals, handmade items, written intentions, jewelry, coins, etc. Like you would literally insert anything into that list.
00:21:12
Speaker
And then there's energetic offerings. like your time, your attention, devotion, prayer, acts of service, emotional honesty. And then there's also modern offerings that fit in today's into today's realm, like playlists curated for a deity or a mood, Creating digital art, and journaling electronically, maybe devoting time, learning like using a Kindle the internet. All of these things can be seen as offerings when they're done in a way to acknowledge and cultivate that relationship.
00:21:47
Speaker
It's important to remember that sometimes a glass of water, a moment of silence, or a single intentional act says more than the most elaborate alter ever could. So instead of asking what should I offer, maybe the better question is what does this relationship ask of me right now?
00:22:04
Speaker
One source I came across also said that they use the five love languages as a guide for their offerings. And for those not familiar with that, here's just a quick rundown. The first one is acts of service. So doing something in honor of your deity, like volunteering somewhere that would tie back to your deity.
00:22:22
Speaker
The next is words of affirmation, and this can be as simple as praying or talking to your deity regularly. Gift giving is the next one, which fits the idea of offerings like all together.
00:22:34
Speaker
the next is quality time. So spending time learning about them, meditating with them, etc. while listening to their messages and paying attention to their signs for you. This can also be done using different types of divination like tarot or runes.
00:22:50
Speaker
you know, like whatever type of divination you like to practice. And then the last one is physical touch. This one was described as using things like dance to honor your deities, dressing a certain way that could honor them, and basically just using your body to honor them in a sacred way, whatever that means to you.
00:23:10
Speaker
And just some examples of offerings. Every deity spirit guide An ancestor is going to be different. And for many of them, you can search their correspondences online. Like maybe not your ancestor, but um like deities can be searched online.
00:23:28
Speaker
um But there's some general ideas here just to get you started. So incense, herbs and flowers, food, drinks, candles, music, poetry, stones and crystals. There's really like no hard and fast rules here.
00:23:44
Speaker
If this is completely new to you, spend some time researching correspondences for your specific deity, if that's what you're looking for, to give you some ideas and you know to really get you started. But sometimes, too, just lean into your intuition.
00:23:59
Speaker
If you had something in mind already, trust your gut. There's really no limit to what can be used as an
Ethical Practices in Offerings
00:24:05
Speaker
offering. And as I've already mentioned, this doesn't need to be a grand gesture either. Offer what you have available to you. And looking at types of offerings with symbolism. So when we're thinking about herbs, like these often will symbolize healing, protection, and purity. Not always, but if you're looking at an offering in that sense.
00:24:26
Speaker
That can be something to think about. As far as candles go, these usually symbolize light, energy, direction, and intention. Crystals often symbolize spiritual energy amplification. Food symbolizes sustenance for the spirits and gratitude for nature.
00:24:42
Speaker
And flowers symbolize beauty and love and respect for life. So looking at it that way, I mean, obviously, depending on what meaning you give to each symbol, it's going to differ, but these are kind of like universal symbolisms for these different types of offerings. And then if you're working with specific deities, so if you're looking at deities associated with love, roses, apples, or chocolate would be great additions or useful offerings to give them. Deities associated with wisdom might like something like books, pens, or incense. Ancestral spirits might appreciate water. maybe photos, favorite foods, or their drinks. And this is something that you know with my um my father, whenever I've set out stuff on his altar, I usually do, well, all the time I have photos of him, but I also will put on his birthday, um on his death anniversary, his favorite food or his favorite drink. And um and so that is an example of that as well.
00:25:43
Speaker
Nature spirits or deities, they may enjoy leaves, acorns, seeds, or crystals. Elemental beings might prefer something like feathers or seashells, herbs, or colored candles. Guardian spirits, they may like personal items or meaningful objects that were meaningful to them. And then patron deity, these offerings...
00:26:04
Speaker
can be specific to this that deity's mythology or lore. So whether that be a statue of that deity or a picture of them, or like for Hecate, like maybe keys, it just depends on the specific deity. So you obviously have to do your own research there.
00:26:19
Speaker
And so whenever you look at choosing an offering, you really need to think about choosing an offering without overthinking it. A lot of practitioners, I feel like get bogged down with, well, I saw this on Instagram, so I need to do it exactly this way. And that's not necessarily the case. But before I delve more into that, I'm going to talk a little bit about offerings placed outside.
00:26:41
Speaker
So most human foods are not suitable to dispose of outside as an offering and examples of this. And we saw this with our you know ancestral offerings and Tiffany's already spoke to it, but things like bread, salt, chicken bones, et cetera, can be really harmful to the animals that live outside. Water, fruit, and veg that are naturally occurring in that area that you live in that are free of pesticides as well is a great sustainable way to provide an offering outside. and so This might be a also a great time to invest in some organic produce. The Norse witch also spoke on her YouTube channel about the dangers of placing coins on the ground outside as an offering because of the harm it could cause to animals if they were to ingest it.
00:27:25
Speaker
and also to the soil around that area because certain coins could contain large amounts of copper or other mineral or chemical compounds that could be dangerous to the local environment where you live. So again, make sure you're doing your research there. The Norse witch also talked about using liquid fertilizer as an offering, but she pinned a comment for this video from the user Omnicron Draconis 5708.
00:27:50
Speaker
And they said that it's not a great idea to give fertilizer as an offering because ecosystems are adapted to specific nutrient concentrations. So adding fertilizer can harm plants. And in highly agriculturally developed areas, the area already has an excess of fertilizer in the soil and in the groundwater, surface water, et cetera. And that can harm aquatic ecosystems.
00:28:12
Speaker
This user also highlights a solution of using small quantities of rolled oats as an offering outside because they don't harm small birds or animals that are attracted to them and may ingest them and they can't germinate anymore. So they're not going to harm the ecosystem around.
00:28:28
Speaker
But what's important is you want to choose offerings that resonate with your intentions and beliefs and that fit in with the deity you're wanting to honor. And it might be helpful to honor the season. So aligning your offerings with the seasons and the lunar phases and use what is seasonally available to you in your area.
00:28:46
Speaker
And before you make an offering, it's important to set an intention, manifest on that intention and ask for clarity. And this can help you align your offering with purpose and make it more meaningful and powerful.
00:28:57
Speaker
So looking at offerings, one of the biggest questions that comes up is how do you dispose of offerings? And this will depend on the specific tradition you follow. Historically, during animal ritual offerings and sacrifices, as Tiffany mentioned, while it wasn't uncommon for the blood to be shed as an offering, the meat itself would be consumed so that there wasn't any waste of food.
00:29:17
Speaker
Depending on the tradition, a lot of practitioners who prepare food as an offering will ceremonially place their food offering on an altar for the deity, but then will then eat the offering themselves. Some people also decide to eat a portion and then put a portion of the food offering on the altar specifically for the deity. And often in these instances, I think a good rule to follow is if you're not going to be eating the offering and you're placing it on an altar for a deity, i would leave it there for no more than two to three days.
00:29:47
Speaker
Disposing of an offering in nature is probably the best way that you can dispose of it if it is okay to put it back in the earth. And if you have a composter, might be great as far as disposing your offering.
00:30:01
Speaker
Also burning it. Fire is the element of transformation. Using a cauldron, a bonfire, or some other fire-safe method where you can burn an offering as long as it's safe to do so is also a great option. But if the offering contains plastics, chemicals, or heavy fragrances, it is not ideal to burn your offering and you should find a more suitable way to dispose of it.
00:30:24
Speaker
And if none of those options are available to you or say it is the offering that you have placed out does have certain chemicals or plastics in it. throw it away.
00:30:34
Speaker
There's nothing wrong with that. It's okay to throw it away. like I know people are like, I don't know. I don't Throw it away. If you have food that's been sitting on your altar for two to three days, throw that shit away.
00:30:45
Speaker
No one wants it. Okay. What do mean? Yeah. it's You don't need it. So looking at debunking some myths when it comes to offerings. As we mentioned, you don't need expensive items. There's a common misconception that offerings need to be rare, costly, or aesthetically impressive to be meaningful, and historically that was not the case. Many offerings, as Tiffany mentioned, were made from what people already had.
00:31:08
Speaker
bread, milk, water, grains, wine, or even sometimes handmade items. The value of an offering comes from the intention and the relationship and not the price. An offering that causes financial strain isn't more powerful. It's honestly stupid and unsustainable. So stop doing that. And also another misconception is that bigger means better, and that's not the case. More isn't better when it comes to an offering.
00:31:34
Speaker
Over-offering can come from anxiety, guilt, and fear, and none of those equal devotion. Small, consistent offerings are much more meaningful than grand gestures done occasionally. And when I say small and consistent, I mean like a cup of water given regularly with awareness, not something insane, like an entire cake prepped weekly that you're not even eating or glasses of wine nightly. Like don't stop doing that shit. And then authenticity over aesthetic is so important.
00:32:02
Speaker
Tiffany already mentioned social media and how it's shaped offerings, but you need to be more meaningful. While beauty can be meaningful, offerings don't need to be Instagram worthy. They need to reflect the genuine connection you have with the deity or spirit you're working with. And then looking at ritual and practice and making offerings intentional. Offerings are most commonly given at altars, but that doesn't mean that you have to also give an offering at an altar.
00:32:28
Speaker
You can absolutely present an offering in a plethora of different ways, but it's important that you have to set a good intention for what you're preparing to do and the environment, whether it be outside or inside. Offering should be treated with respect and in a manner that matches the spiritual work that you're undertaking. And then looking lastly at some ethics and boundaries when it comes to offerings.
00:32:50
Speaker
Not all offerings translate safely or respectfully into modern practice. Some offerings are tied to specific cultures, close traditions, or historical contexts that don't belong to everyone. Ethical practice means doing the work to really understand where that practice comes from, and whether it's appropriate for you to adopt that said practice. Offerings should also not be treated like bribes or bargains. They should be given freely without the expectation of something in return, and and they should never cause harm to the environment. I've already discussed some of this already when discovering offerings left outside, but food candles, coins, or certain objects when left outdoors can pollute ecosystems and harm wildlife. Ethical practice means that you need to choose biodegradable, non-toxic offerings or find symbolic alternatives that honor the spirit of the offering without damaging the land that you inhabit.
00:33:42
Speaker
And just as with human relationships, spiritual relationships require consent and respect. Not every deity, spirit, or ancestor wants offerings in the same way or at all. So it's important here to pay attention to traditions, intuitions, and personal boundaries to prevent over-offering, anxiety, or any fear-based practices. Offerings should be sustainable. You should never feel the pressure to give above your means, whether this be your time, your money, or your energy. Offerings rooted in guilt or fear can turn your spiritual practice into a chore or a sense of stress rather than connection and veneration.
Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser
00:34:17
Speaker
And lastly, you need to be aware of sacred spaces, especially when discussing offerings tied to graves, bogs, temples, or archaeological sites. It's important that these sites are not spiritual props. Removing artifacts, leaving modern items, or attempting to recreate ancient practices at sacred sites can not only be super disrespectful depending on the site and the practice, but in some cases it's illegal. So do your fucking research.
00:34:45
Speaker
As we always say.
00:34:58
Speaker
That's a wrap on this episode of Get In Loser, We're Doing Witchcraft. We hope you had as much fun as we did. If you loved this episode, we'd be eternally grateful if you left us a five-star review wherever you listen to your podcasts.
00:35:09
Speaker
It helps more witches, seekers, and magical misfits find our show. Want even more Get In Loser content? Join our Patreon or Supercast Coven. As a member, you'll get early access to episodes, a monthly newsletter, exclusive printable shadow work, and grow more pages, access to our witchy book club, promo codes for merch, and so much more. Just check the show notes for the link or search Get In Loser We're Doing Witchcraft on Supercast and Patreon.
00:35:33
Speaker
You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at Get In Witches or email us at we'redoingwitchcraft at gmail.com. Join us next week where we explore the practice of osteomancy,
00:35:44
Speaker
Until then, stay magical, stay curious, and as always, blessed be the witches.