What Are The Best Sources For Giving Offerings To Ancestors, Gods, & Local Wights? What Are The Sources
What are the best sources for giving offerings to ancestors, gods, & local wights? What are the sources & what do you do exactly when giving offerings, like you specifically, give us an example pls?
This is a great question but I really have no hope of answering it adequately, this is such a complicated subject that it would take several doctoral dissertations.
There are basically four subcategories of sources for this sort of discussion which are: accounts by contemporary non-pagans, archaeology, Old Norse literature, and folk tradition. Some contemporary accounts of pagan worship include Tacitus’ Germania, The Life of Saint Ansgar by Rimbert (which among other things refers to deification of a dead king), Ahmad ibn Fadlan’s Risala, Ahmad ibn Rustah’s Book of Precious Records, the account by Ibrahim al-Tartushi, De Administrando Imperio by Constantine Porphyrogenitus, Thietmar of Murseburg’s account in his Chronicon, Adam of Bremen’s Gesta Hammaburgensis (part way down the page in the link ; mentions animal and human sacrifice as well as pouring libations, and I’m sure others that have slipped my mind. I’m not sure if it’s contemporary or not but the Life of Saint Columbanus also refers to Suebians gathering to sacrifice a cauldron full of beer to Wodan.
Sacrifice is an extremely common reoccurring feature of the Icelandic sagas. Scholars have been studying the instances in the sagas for literally centuries trying to determine what elements are The best source on representations of blót in Old Norse literature is unfortunately, as far as I know, only available in Icelandic, which is Blót í Norrænum Sið by Jón Hnefill Aðalsteinsson. Some of what he discusses also appears as a chapter in the book A Piece of Horse Liver. The most important sources to his study are Landnámabók, Íslendingabók, Hákons saga góða (part of Heimskringla), and Eyrbyggja saga. These accounts typically deal either with legal proceedings, major holidays like Jól or Winternights, or attempts to gain something by supernatural intervention (such as settlers sacrificing to gods to guide them safely to Iceland). It can be very difficult to tell which elements are genuinely preserved from pre-Christian times and what is post-Christian speculation. Also in many of these instances the actual proceedings of the sacrifice are not described, it’s only said that there was a blót. In many cases there is a reference to wooden idols and especially to blood being poured over them; there is also reference to worship of trees (esp. Heiðreks saga where a tree is called blóttré and reddened with blood), forests, rivers, and lakes. A few times animals are worshiped such as when Flóki Vilgerðarson blóts to three ravens which eventually guided him to Iceland. In Kormáks saga a figure who is directed toward a hill where álfar live and told to redden it with bull’s blood and make a meal of the meat for them and leave it on the hill. Eiríks saga rauða also features a figure, Þorhallr, who sneaks off from the settlement and recites poetry for Thor. Saxo Grammaticus can also fall under this heading. The poem Hyndluljóð also refers to Óttarr sacrificing to the ásynjur although the details of what Freyja is saying about it is a little obscure.
In the archaeological record sacrifice varies wildly over time even in the same places. I’m not sure what your upper or lower limit on time is here, but sacrifice changed so radically over time from the stone age through to the end of the Viking age that it would take a shelf of books to describe each. A book that I read (well, part of) for things that go that far back was Scandinavian Archaeology by Håkon Shetelig and Hjalmar Falk, although it is quite old now and you can probably find something better. Although it specifically concerns Denmark, I also recommend The Prehistory of Denmark by Jørgen Jensen. Around the turn of the century bog deposits of weapons, jewelry, and other equipment are common. As time goes on, gold seems to increase in importance, with Gullgubber coming into play at the end of the Migration age. Glass beads were found among the remains of what’s believed to be a hǫrgr (stone alter) in Norway and were interpreted as having been offerings left on it. Also within this category are grave goods – since burials make up a huge amount of Scandinavian archaeology they are usually discussed in terms of more general studies of material culture rather than directly from a religious/votive perspective.
As far as folkloric tradition goes I am mostly familiar with Icelandic folklore although I understand that bowls of porridge with butter were left out for house- and homestead wights in mainland Scandinavia. In Iceland around Christmas it was believed that it was the designated time for the elves to move (that is, change residences); they left the lights on for them and sometimes left out something for them to drink. There are recordings on http://www.ismus.is/ of interviews with Old Icelanders who had heard stories of people sacrificing a bundle of hay to a bog in order to get better weather. There was a part of a sheep’s heart called Ullareyru ‘Ullur’s ears’ which into modern times in Iceland was cut off the heart when the sheep was slaughtered and buried deep in the earth (I can’t find a source for this, but I was taught this in class).
Here is some further reading:
Terry Gunnell, “Hof, Halls, Goðar and Dwarves: An Examination of Ritual Space in the Pagan Icelandic Hall.”
Preben Rønne, “Horg, hov and ve” (a description of the Norwegian hǫrg and vé complex mentioned above)
Jakob Orri Jónsson, “Food, blood and little white stones: A study of ritual in the Icelandic Viking Age hall”, a master’s thesis on ritual space in saga-age Iceland.
Lilla Ullevi, a pagan cult site that has been the subject of archaeological investigation
As far as what I personally do, it depends entirely on the situation (I have not lived in the same place for more than a year since I became heathen so I’ve had to adapt frequently). If I’m not indoors I try to be near a body of water, at an elevated place, or near a tree. I don’t really worship indoors if I’m alone. When I lived on the east coast of the US I would try to be at the beach either when the sun rises or after it’s set (depending on the situation) and recite the “Heill Dagr…” verses from Sigrdrífumál or something else if it seems more appropriate. At one place there was a rock that looked like a huge Mjölnir sticking out of the sand and I would pour libations over it. When I am with one of my friends we pass a bottle back and forth and toast to gods and/or ancestors and/or whatever until the bottle is empty. There is a certain rock where we have left lamb meat for ravens; we’ve also left meat offerings in the jetty. She has a small bookcase alter with objects relating to Freyja and Thor on it where we leave offerings, especially if we are drinking we pour some of whatever we’re drinking into a small glass and leave it there. I go especially off the rails at Þorrablót and last year actually did the Þorri-welcoming ritual (that I highly doubt has anything to do with pre-Chrisian paganism, btw). I have frequently participated in group settings. It’s my opinion that ritual should really never not be accompanied by music, but that’s just me. If I have something to say I always do actually say it, even if it’s only a whisper (this is inspired by Eiríks saga rauða).
I think that in the sources one can discern two distinct threads, one that emphasizes reuse and reaffirmation of the ritual landscape in which you’re permanently situated, and the other which emphasizes transforming your current setting into one that is relateable to the mythological cosmology (see the Gunnell paper). For better or worse I’ve been stuck with the latter. That means hunting for bodies of water or auspicious-looking trees where I hopefully won’t be seen. Some day when I’m not moving so frequently and maybe even have some actual money I’d like to work out something more consistent that involves permanent structures or landscape elements.
I am still very much still in the process of formulating some kind of praxis and I highly doubt I will approach it for years. At least for now it’s more about experimentation than repetition. We do not have a “right way” and getting comfortable with ambiguity is a necessity.
More Posts from Grimoire-archives and Others
summertime stir fry
- ✨🍜☀️
relatively simple, cheap, and super fulfilling summertime stir fry meal with a really easy side and a tea potion! ofc feel free to modify the recipe to what you have/like especially cause of quarantine, similar ingredients and good intention setting will do the trick~
- 🍜🤍
[ stir fry noodles & veggie ]
1 pk ramen
comfort, grounding
1/4 red & 1/4 green bell pepper
prosperity, communication, happiness, healing, protection, clears brain fog
2 tsp chili paste
energy, confidence, happiness, success, protection
2 tsp soy sauce
grounding, protection, stability, luck, communication, understanding, love
1 tbs teryaki sauce
prosperity, happiness, peace
red chili flake
energy, protection, strength, banish negative energies
garlic powder
healing, protection, strength, confidence, communication
fresh ginger
healing, energy, strength, happiness, prosperity, protection, mental clarity
[ steps ]
- prepare 2 cups hot water & the ramen seasoning packet and put aside
- slice/dice up & begin to sauté your peppers on med heat with some of the ramen liquid, garlic powder, red chili flake, salt & pepper
- begin to boil your ramen in plain water (witch tip; you can add a bay leaf if you want!) cook for 2 min then strain and add back into your cooking vessel
- add in sauces, ginger & chili paste + fully cooked peppers & toss together evenly over low heat
- 🍜🌼
[ fried rice ]
1/2 cup white rice
wealth, good health, happiness, healing, protection, wisdom, kindness, purity
1 cup water
sun water; healing, energy, renewal, confidence, strength, happiness
2-3 tsp soy sauce
grounding, protection, stability, luck, communication, understanding, love
1 egg (scrambled)
luck, happiness, success
1/4 c peas
healing, prosperity
1/2 med carrot (diced)
abundance, joy, kindness
[ steps ]
- cook rice then add in soy sauce with your veg & scrambled egg, season with salt, pepper and garlic powder :)
- 🍜☀️
[ summertime dinner tea ]
1 mug of water
sun water; healing, energy, renewal, confidence, strength, happiness
1 1/2 tsp black tea
grounding, healing, protection, strength, renewal
2-3 slices of fresh ginger
healing, energy, strength, happiness, prosperity, protection, mental clarity
1-2 tsp honey
healing, luck, prosperity, love, abundance, communication, happiness, wealth
[ steps ]
- steep ginger for about 3-4 minutes in boiling water then reduce to a quiet simmer; steep black tea for 4-5 minutes then stir in honey
- 🤍🍜
more recipes coming soon; feel free to leave asks or comments with suggestions for recipes you’d like to see!
• As Above, So Below •
Freya! Ever since I listened to Neil Gaiman's 'Norse Mythology' I've been wanting to draw her really badly- I particularly loved the Freya design created by @irenhorrors on Instagram. Freya is the Norse goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, and death. She's a total badass who never puts up with Loki's shenanigans even when he's convinced everyone else.
"Call on Freya when you need the push to be bold and embark on an adventure to pursue your heart's desire. - Ann Shen, 'Legendary Ladies'
To The Witch Who Doesn’t Feel “Witchy” Enough:
✨You are divine.
✨Witchcraft isn’t a competition.
✨Differences should be celebrated, not lamented.
✨You contain multitudes. Your feelings and perceptions may fluctuate, but you will always be you.
✨What another witch says about you says more about the witch than it does about you.
✨Taking a break from practicing witchcraft doesn’t mean you are taking a break from being a witch.
✨You are what you are, and that is pure magic.
Saw this just now and thought I’d share here :)
This is probably the witch advice you didn’t ask for, but I’ve found it’s much easier to remember to do general periodic maintenance that’s otherwise easily forgotten or put off when tied to milestones such as solstices, equinox, new, or full moons.
For example: Stow your winter blankets or clothes on the Vernal Equinox and take them out again on the Autumnal Equinox. Replace your air and water filters on solstices and equinoxes (every 90 days). Begin new 30-day challenges or do reset/cleaning of your living space on the new moon (every month).
Living cyclically breaks life down into manageable little blocks of time and helps us live in the moment by paying attention to the ebb and flow of the Earth.
Khaire 💫💀🖤
Folk Remedies for Illness
Hey y’all it’s flu season. My mom’s got a little cough/fever going on so I called my grandmother and she gave me a bunch of remedies. She’s a Colombian woman who knows her folk magic so I thought I would share them here.
Lemon Tea:
lemon
water
honey
Can be heated up in the microwave.
Broth:
Main ingredients (add a lot of these):
red onion
garlic
Optional add ons:
chicken
buganvilla flowers (good for a cough)
carrots or anything else that would make it more nutritious and delicious
All cooked together in a pot with water.
Banana Cream:
banana
butter
honey
Mashed together until creamy and smooth.
Gargles:
warm water
salt or baking soda
Gargle it in the back of your throat and then spit it out.
It’s really important to take fluids when you’re sick so it’s also a good idea to drink liquids like orange juice (which has vitamin c), tea, and water.
If you’ve got any further question about how to make these or my personal magical correspondences, my ask is always open.
✨ Sleep sachet ✨
i have chronic sleep deprivation from insomnia and i tend to have a lot of nightmares and since my last spells have worked, i gave this my energy next
ingredients:
bay leaf - protection, physic powers, wish fullfillment
lemonbalm - divination, promote sleep, relieve stress and anxiety
mugwort - promote sleep and physic powers
nettle - grounding, banishing negativity, cleansing
snail shells - peace, protection, meditation
smokey and clear quarts - increase spell potential, awarness, subconsious, dreamwork
sigil for sleeping well
the piece of quartz i had was actually collected by me and has both clear and smokey parts in it, we have a lot of quarts next to my grandparents' cottage and there's wariety of clear, rose, smokey and milk/white quartz ✨
MAGICK BUTTER CHICKEN FOR GAINING BALANCE AND CONTROL
I feel like everything that is happening in the world current time, has really thrown everyones energies off balance. Being an empath, this makes it hard for me to ground myself, when overwhelmed by so much draining energy and negativity. In times like this, sometimes, we can’t control everything that is happening around us. With this acceptance, sit back, and cook yourself some butter chicken. Because you ~ really deserve it.
Ingredients:
Fresh Produce:
1 medium-sized onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp fresh grated ginger
1 ½ pounds cubed chicken breast
Squeeze of lemon
Dairy:
1 cup half and half
¼ cup plain yogurt
6 tbsp ghee (Angels tips. Ghee is healthier than butter, reduces heart attack risk, and helps with the absorption of magick herbs!)
Pantry:
2 tsp olive oil
8 oz can tomato sauce
5 tbsp tomato paste
Pinch of sugar
Magick Spices:
1 ½ tsp chili powder ~ warding, hex breaking, good outcomes, spell booster
1 tsp paprika ~ healing, increases power, comfort
Pinch of cayenne pepper ~ protection, strength, empowerment
1 tbsp garam masala ~ healing, protection, strength, comfort
Salt and pepper to taste ~ Warding and protection
Directions
In a large deep pan, heat extra virgin olive oil. Add in garlic, onions, chicken, and ginger. Mix in with all of your spices.
Now melt in ghee, and cook until it is about ¾ of the way done. Cook on medium heat.
Then pour in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, lemon juice, sugar, yogurt and half and half. Stir to combine fully. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes to allow the sauce to reduce.
Taste the sauce, and add whatever you feel suits your taste. You can even add more magickal ingredients to this recipe to fit your magick needs!
Serve over white rice, and garlic naan.
Magic Correspondences of veggies and fruits (Eng//Esp//Cat)
I’m going to use this post not only as a correspondence guide but also as a traduction guide, since english is not my native language and I need to keep record as to what is what. So I’m posting the original english correspondence and just below the names in spanish and catalan with a spanish traduction of the correspondences.
BTW, the original correspondence list was made by @peachyymama. So all praise be to her.
————————————–
Apples: Love, fertility, marriage, beauty, vanity, wisdom.
Manzanas / Pomes: Amor, fertilidad, matrimonio, belleza, vanidad, sabiduria.
Avocado: Lust, love, beauty (carry pit around to radiate beauty).
Aguacate / Alvocat: Deseo, amor, belleza (puedes llevar un hueso de aguacate para irradiar belleza)
Apricot: Attracts love.
Albaricoque / Albercoc: Atrae el amor.
Banana: Fertility, potency, prosperity
Plátano / Plàtan: Fertilidad, potencia, prosperidad.
Blackberry: Healing, protection, money.
Mora / Mora: Curación, protección, dinero.
Blueberry: Peace, protection.
Arandano / Nabiu: Paz, protección.
Broccoli: Leadership, protection, strength.
Brócoli / Broquil: Liderazgo, protección, fuerza.
Brussels Sprouts: Protection, endurance, protection.
Coles de Bruselas / Cols de Brusseles: Protección, resiliencia, protección.
Beets: Love.
Remolacha / Remolatxa: Amor.
Cabbage: Good luck, money, fertility, lunar magic.
Repollo / Col: Buena suerte, dinero, fertilidad, magia lunar.
Carrots: Lust, fertility.
Zanahorias / Pastanagues: Deseo, fertilidad.
Cauliflower: Protection.
Coliflor / Coliflor: Protección.
Celery: Mental & psychic powers, lust, fertility.
Apio / Api: Poder mental y psíquico, deseo, fertilidad.
Cherry: Love, divination, happiness.
Cereza o Guinda / Cirera: Amor, adivinación, felicidad.
Coconut: Purification, protection, chastity.
Coco / Coco: Purificación, protección, castidad.
Corn: Protection, good luck, divination.
Maíz / Blat de Moro: Protección, buena suerte, adivinación.
Cucumber: Healthy, chastity, fertility.
Pepino / Cogombre: Salud, castidad, fertilidad.
Garlic: Healing, protection, purification, exorcism, guards against negative energy.
Ajo / All: Curación, protección, purificación, exorcismos, guarda contra las malas energias.
Grape: Money, fertility, mental powers, garden magic.
Uvas / Raïm: Diners, fertilidad, poderes mentales, magia de jardín.
Grapefruit: Cleansing, purification.
Pomelo / Aranja: Limpieza, purificación.
Lemon: Cleansing, purification, removes blockages.
Limón / Llimona: Limpieza, purificación, remueve bloqueos.
Lettuce: Divination, protection, sleep, lunar magic, love spells.
Lechuga / Enciam: Adivinación, protección, sueño, magia lunar, hechizos de amor.
Lime: Protections, purification, promotes calmness.
Lima / Llima: Protección, purificación, promueve la calma.
Mushroom: Psychic awareness.
Setas / Bolets: Conciencia psíquica.
Onion: Stability, money, lust, protection, prosperity.
Cebolla / Ceba: Estabilidad, dinero, deseo, protección, prosperidad.
Orange: Love, joy, happiness.
Naranja / Taronja: Amor, felicidad, alegría.
Peach: Fertility, love, wisdom.
Melocotón / Préssec: Fertilidad, amor, sabiduria.
Pear: Lust, love.
Pera / Pera: Deseo, amor.
Peas: Luck, money.
Guisantes / Pèsols: Suerte, dinero.
Pepper (green): Growth, prosperity.
Pimiento verde / Pebrot verd: Crecimiento, prosperidad.
Pepper (red): Energy, strength.
Pimiento rojo / Pebrot vermell: Energia, fuerza.
Pepper (yellow): Creativity.
Pimiento amarillo / Pebrot groc: Creatividad.
Pineapple: Luck, money, chastity.
Piña / Pinya: Suerte, dinero, castidad.
Plum: Healing, peace, love.
Ciruela / Pruna: Curación, paz, amor.
Pomegranate: Divination, wishes, wealth, fertility.
Granada / Magrana: Adivinación, deseos, riqueza, fertilidad
Potato: Healing, money, luck.
Patata / Patata: Curación, dinero, suerte.
Pumpkin: Healing, Prosperity.
Calabaza / Carbassa: Curación, prosperidad.
Radish: Protection, lust.
Rábano / Rave: Protección, deseo.
Raspberry: Love, protection, happiness, stamina.
Frambuesa / Gerd: Amor, protección, felicidad, estamina.
Spinach: Prosperity.
Espinacas / Espinacs: Prosperidad.
Strawberry: Success, good fortune, love, luck, romance.
Fresas / Maduixes: Éxitos, buena fortuna, amor, suerte, romance.
Sweet Potato: Grounding, love, lust.
Batata o Boniato / Moniato: Anclarse a la tierra, amor, deseo.
Tangerine: Protection.
Mandarina / Mandarina: Protección.
Tomato: Healing, love, prosperity, protection.
Tomate / Tomàquet: Curación, amor, prosperidad, protección.
Watermelon: Healing.
Sandía / Sindria: Curación.
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