Offering Disposal

In Strategic Sorcery we make offerings to four classes of spirits on a regular basis:
1. Divinities and Ascended Beings
2. Guardians and powerful Allies, including ancestors
3. All beings of the Environment
4. Beings that we owe a debt to or that we have offended with our actions.

One of the questions I always get asked about offerings is how do you dispose of the offerings. If the offering is water, light, and incense it’s pretty simple – liquid to ground, incense to air, and the light just stays on till its out.

But when you offer food, it gets more complicated.

Some people are tempted to eat the offerings after the ceremony, but you should nor do this. It’s about the ONLY taboo. During the offering rite you can have a section set aside for you to eat with the spirits, so that you are feasting with them. Their portion on the altar, or the portion that maybe you take outside for spirits that you don’t want in the house should be left for a time, then get disposed of. You should NOT eat what you give to the spirits.

You can:

1. Leave biodegradable offerings at a crossroads or in the woods.
2. If you live in a city and the offering is wrapped you can leave it at an intersection where perhaps a hungry person will eat it.
3. Leave it in your yard where birds or other animals will pick at it (careful of attracting critters close to the house or you will find yourself getting squirrels out of your attic)
4. Throw it out. I know a lot of people will argue against this, but I do it all the time. I simply go to the altar and say something along the lines of: “Please take your last taste of this offering and be fulfilled. For the sake of hygene and safety I must remove the physical offering and dispose of it. May its essence bring your enjoyment and satiety even after the shell is gone.”

Will there be some spirits that don’t like this? Probably.

As I have said before I tend to interact with spirits similar to how I interact with humans. When I have a large group of friends over there are probably people that don’t like I use paper towels or throw out foil catering trays. If I can accept that some people are displease with my actions and expect them to get over it, I will certainly do the same for the spirits.

I did not become a Sorcerer to live in fear of doing something minor that pisses off the spirits. You shouldn’t either.

Be respectful, be aware of protocols and traditions, but remember whose house it is. Yours.

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Stacey

If people leave offerings in public places — say a crossroads formed by two streets — might I suggest putting the offering in a trash can or dumpster nearby if there is one? Particularly if the offering is something “occult-” or “spooky” looking. I realize there are going to be occasions where nothing will do but to leave the offering at the public site even if this means it’s going to be in view. But if that’s not the case, please consider putting it where it won’t potentially freak out joggers or make more work for maintenance crews. Many Olorishas of my acquaintance do this when disposing of ebbo, to be polite and cut down on the risk of a local satanic panic.

Lacerti

Along with how to dispose of an offering also comes the question of when. How long should an offering be left out before disposing of it?

The offerings I’ve mostly made were to the planetary forces on their corresponding days. Seeing as how I don’t have room for seven altars, my daily practice has typically been to perform the ritual at sunrise and clear the altar later that day. When making the offering I specify how long it will be left out, usually a minimum of four hours. When I return to clean up I thank them once more for their blessings before taking the food to the trash.

I understand that when petitioning for something more specific, the offerings are bigger and are left out until they look stale, which can sometimes take a few weeks. As others have noted, food offerings don’t tend to rot the same way they do under normal circumstances. But what are your thoughts concerning offerings made as part of a daily practice? How long should they be left out?

Deb

. . .except where you have to share. If you don’t prasad in Hinduism, it’s offensive to the gods, if you don’t taste the honey before giving it to Oshun it’s offensive, etc., etc., etc.

Offerings and Etiquette | Charmed, I'm Sure

[…] Jason made a good post about not being moved into inactive with the goddesses due to fear and disposing of food offerings and then Gordon made really great points that offerings shouldn’t just be oh gosh you sure tried, sport and be viewed as a competitive sport. I agree with all of that! I too will throw away offerings because animals shouldn’t eat chocolate in most cases, if you are serious about your intention, offerings is not where you should be half assing it. […]

Offering Disposal

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