There are many ways you can offer food to the gods but I never really see this specific method (which I used to use when I was super poor) and honestly, even though I’m doing economically well, I still use this method as a bonding experience with me and the gods/spirits. I thought I’d share it for those of you who might need it.
I grew up super poor and unable to waste food because I was doing witchcraft in secret and my mother would flip or my siblings would eat the food if I left food out. Still, I felt bad because all the witch books I was reading at the time (the 90s) said I had to have a physical altar (I later learned this is such BS because you can mentally have one if you can’t physically aquire or keep one) and that I HAD to put food on it as an offering and later dig it in the Earth when it was done. (Very hard to do if you live in the city and can potentially be bad for the environment).
I was frustrated. I wanted to show the gods and spirits around me that I cared, that I was greatful for their protection and constant blessings. But with me being only able to get what I could from my mom because my mother couldn’t afford to give us an allowance, there was nothing I could do, so I got creative.
I looked at my food and was silent for a bit. My mom was so proud because she assumed I was saying Grace in my head. In actuality, I touched my plate/bowl and imagined gold energy coming out of my finger tips. The gold engulfed the food and I mentally said:
“I offer the spiritual aspect of the food I’m about to eat. I offer it to (say name/names of the gods and spirits. I visualized many copies of this food for all I was offering it to, so they can enjoy the meal I was about to eat.)You are also welcome to eat through me and taste what my tastebuds taste. I will only be consuming the physical portion of this food. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you do and continue to do. I love you.”
Some spirits would take me on my offer to eat through me and I could feel their energy go inside me while I ate. It was a beautiful experience and one that I still practice for a few reasons:
1) It allowed me to continue working with these gods/spirits in private.
2) I didn’t have to worry about what to do with the physical part of the food because I consumed it.
3) it was economically sound. As someone who was very poor and could only offer what I had, the spirits understood I was doing what I could. A lot of would be witches say they can’t afford the food offerings because they have to buy extra food when their normal grocery bill already looks scary.
4) I could feel the spiritual energy during these offerings. It was like being in a euphoric state of mind and that felt like we were truly bonding. It also helped me be able to identify when my spirits were near and tell them all apart.
When I got older and had a job, I was able to afford buying extra offerings but it wasn’t the same amazing experience. When I was getting rid of the food, I couldn’t help but feel bad for “wasting” it. (Something that was considered a terrible offense in my poor household.) I started to feel more and more disconnected with the spirits and before I knew it, the hectic aspects of life made it hard for me to remember to make extra for my altar so over time I stopped doing it altogether.
I find it easier for me to include the spirits in my daily life than make extra time for them because sometimes life has a way of keeping you away from your spiritual activities when it gets hectic.
Now, I do what I did when I was a kid. I interwove my gods and guides into my daily life and am experiencing magick like never before! I know some people will see this as super obvious but I felt it needed to be said for those who might need to see this.
I hope this helps and remember, no one has a right to say what is right for your craft but you! ❤
Every day/when you want, write something as an offering to the deity/spirit on a small piece of paper. It could be words of praise, a song that reminds you of them etc. Anything, really. Then put it in the jar.
(Alternatively use small rocks or sticks and meditate while holding them, metaphorically infusing the words/mood of your offering into the thing.)
When the jar is full, use it in a ritual dedicated to the deity/spirit, or when asking for something. Maybe you’re asking for strength on a rough day or for inspiration to do well in a creative project. Or you’re just saying an extra big thanks.
Burn the pieces of paper or sticks, or throw the rocks in a lake or something – whatever (eco friendly!!) way of disposing the things you prefer. Metaphorically, you’re then reminding the deity/spirit of all your days of taking time to give something to them, and you’re letting all those little tokens go now to start refilling the jar again.
Or you could just let the jars be and let there be more and more of them on your altar as time goes by!
So I personally set the food out, pray and then when I feel it’s time start eating.
When I’m at home, I have two white offering cups where food and drink go. I then do a ritual, and when all the candles are done burning and the incense has gone out, then I go back and eat what I left.
If I’m out, or on my lunch break. I will divide my food into two, and say this half is for me and the other for the gods. But because I have short lunch breaks, there may only be a few seconds after I finish my side and move onto theirs.
So you could say both! It depends on the situation, how much time you have and if it would be appropriate to leave the food.
Some things that I don’t leave too long;
☀️ Tea/coffee – I drink it when it stops steaming
☀️ Alcholic drinks – don’t leave them overnight as oxidisation turns them vinegary which is just unpleasant to drink
☀️ Bread – leaving too long and it will go hard
☀️☀️☀️
If you do leave things out and forget about them you can always bin, burn or bury them as is appropriate for the offering.
Hope this was helpful and that I answered your question! Please let me know if you have any follow ups! 😀
“When I feel it’s time I start eating” is exactly what I usually do! Sometimes if I have multiple food items, one will be okay to eat sooner than the other. Not sure if it’s because the gods are done with that one, or they prefer the other item that particular day.
When taking something from nature, such as herbs, it is nice to give something back. You can leave these lovely air-dry stones in places such as the forest as a way to say thank you. Leaving these in nature is also totally safe for the environment. You can also offer these to a god/goddess.
Recipe:
2 cups of baking soda
1 cup of corn starch
1 ½ cups cold water
Mix until smooth, then put it in a pan and stir until it boils. Keep stirring until it is the consistency of mashed potatoes.
Let it cool and take the clay out of the pan. It should feel really smooth and you will probably play with it alot before you are even going to make the stones 🙂
I added some herbs and flowers, such as rosemary, lavender, roses, carnations, thyme, cloves, cinnamon, some blue flowers of which I don’t know the name and some orange berries that I found near the park.
I just made a little ball, then made a hole in it and added some herbs.
Now you can decorate it! You can add anything and shape them in any way you want. As you can see I made some squares, hearts, blobs and even an easter egg 🙂 I’ve seen some people use glitter and I recommend you don’t add any glitter since that is actually bad for the environment. I tried using normal white sugar as an alternative, but i noticed that the stones got kind of wet, which I should’ve seen coming. Not sure what’s going to happen when it dries so I’ll keep you guys updated.
I’m so happy with these and I am definitely going to use these for Ostara ^^ Of course you can use this recipe to make anything you want, not just offering stones.
perhaps adorn it with plants/herbs/flowers you think He would like?
you could also dedicate the act of cleaning to Him, announcing your bath as a symbol of purification. maybe show Him your strength by washing away the muck of the day and sharing the new cleanliness with Him?
first things that come to mind for me!
I like these ideas ^-^ I think I will do these!
All good ideas! However if you don’t have any of those things, just the sitting in the water itself is perfectly fine too. He is Lord of Waters afterall.
Other ideas include bath bombs for self-care, or lighting a scented candle that reminds you of Him, or spending your time in the water reflecting on your actions and how you can continue to grow and better as a person! At least in my experience, the type of strength required to really examine yourself and your actions is definitely a Sobek thing.
Research: Reading lore, studying history and focusing on how others have bonded in the past can deepen your own bond.
Offerings: Leaving gifts or foods you’ve made or cooked shows passion and effort that many deities seem to appreciate.
Divination: Using tarot cards or pendulums or writing or dreaming can be way to interpret deities.
Journals: Whether for yourself or for your deity journals are a good way to review past experiences.
Crafts: Whenever making something by hand the time you spend and efforts you put in the details help make connections.
Exploring: Places you discover might feel closer to those you want to know better.
Hobbies: Gardening, writing, or even cooking can be both offerings and activities you share with your deities.
Sharing: Talking to others about their deities can reignite passion and help you realize your own feelings.
Shrines: Having a specific place to do these activities can help you focus on them.
Prayer: It doesn’t have to be formal or it can be a well known prayer simply reaching out is simple and often rewarding.
Clarifying this is my post, I am the source.
: ~Thistletongue
For when you really want to do something out of the ordinary. This none of these are requirements and it’s definitely not a complete list, just something to get the ideas flowing.
Write a song, or a few songs, or a whole album…
Hold a feast in their honor. Invite all your friends. This can be done with subtlety.
Cook a meal for the deity. Incorporate foods and ingredients that are considered sacred to them, or traditional foods from that region.
Devote a period of time (like a week or a month) just to them, studying all you can about them and acting on your best behavior.
Have friends in the faith? Host a libation or ritual in the deity’s honor!
Make a statue out of clay, or another craft in a medium that is a healthy challenge for you.
Create your own devotional jewelry, prayer beads, etc.
Create your own altar items, such as candles, altar cloths, offering dishes, etc.
Go on a journey to somewhere particularly sacred to the deity.
Name something important after them like a pet, original character, or online business.
fair--y backup 