Another great video, more great puns. 🤌 Thank you for the shout-out too! I really appreciate the emphasis on being environmentally friendly. More creators need to talk about it!
Environmental preservation is something everyone talks about but nobody actually does anything with. It saddens me to see things like pollution or litter or things like that because I know that the spirits connected to the lands being defaced are suffering as much as the things living on that land. It's just heartbreaking.
i've heard of people treating blood donation as a sacrifice, they'd pray to their god before going or as they're donating, put the appointment card or the 'i donated' sticker on their altar and burn it at the end of the day.
Sounds good, but is that any different from cutting yourself for your own blood? You're just going to grow your own blood again, and didn't really do anything but sacrifice with the slight pain and your time.
@@benjalucian1515 yeah except one also helps people who needed this donated blood for emergencies. You lose blood to help someone and worship your god 👀
@@juniperastor531 - OK, but how does that help the god? Gods like burnt offerings, meaning the blood is burnt and goes up to the gods in the smoke. Giving it to someone else doesn't help them. The option you're speaking of sounds like something out of Christianity.
Ocean Keltoi: "Just because human sacrifice was made in the past, does that mean that we should?" Me: "...Yeeeeeeeee...?" Ocean Keltoi: "No." Me: "Yeah! No. Absolutely not."
Inevitably when my conference calls get into the rut of talking about bad weather I *joke* that people of old would make virgin sacrifices to change the weather. We all have a good laugh, but I am sure some nervously... and it likely has not helped me move up the corporate ladder.
@@hartwarg3051 That's a lot of work, and I just got brand new galoshes but no slicker.... Funny thing is early in my career (also frustrated about the lack of movement - I reported to a supervisor that been a supervisor for 15 years) I joked (and again probably shouldn't have) that I'd have to resort to the ol' Roman way of getting ahead.... I am starting to see some of my problem here though... I guess if I can't be an example at least I am a warning - kids don't jokingly threaten the lives of your bosses or coworkers as most people don't have a funny bone.
@@PutoMedicoBrujo i know but i was making a joke by using the quot of the wish master. Bu i do offer too frigg and odin. Yep i gave a offering to frigg then the next day it rain. Both times when i did a offering and my phon said it was not supposed to rain them Two days. Some say it was a coincidence. But i don't believe in coincidence.
Describing Witch burning as human sacrifice threw me through a loop, but makes total sense! (Gonna have to try that one on some Christian friends later :P )
Jesus is a human sacrifice. The Hebrew bible has God asking for Abraham's boy Isaac as a sacrifice, which didn't seem to disconcert Abraham as he was going to go through with it. And of course poor Jephthah's daughter. What is a Hebrew doing offering as a sacrifice "the first thing he sees"? When did people end up on the list of acceptable sacrifices? Apparently they always were on the list.
@@benjalucian1515 Theres a difference between offering yourself to save others and being forced into ritual murder. Jepthaths story is not condoning what he did its a cautionary tale and God had said many times not to swear on anything because nothing is yours its Gods. Now the Hebrews did do human sacrifice since they were (majority of them) pagans. They worshiped Baal, Dagon, Tammuz, Remphan, Moloch...all which required human sacrifice
@@jesusisking9035 - yes, there is a difference. But considering Jesus tried to back out ("let this cup pass me by") but god wouldn't let him tells me that he was at heart unwilling. God had every chance to deny Jephthah's sacrifice, but he didn't. Why not? He did with Isaac's sacrifice. He didn't punish Jephthah afterwards, so what can we conclude but that God was OK with human sacrifice, in both Jesus and Jephthah's daughter cases. Please note the Hebrews were still doing human sacrifice AFTER they started worshipping Yahweh-El solely.
@@benjalucian1515 That was to show the humanity of Jesus not that Jesus didnt want to do it of his own free will John 10:18 “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” Jesus was God manifest in the flesh 1 Timothy 3:16 and the Word in John Chp 1 so he was God and he was also in the flesh of man being born of Mary. It was to demonstrate that he was come in the flesh and still had human emotions like fear. God doesnt have to do anything he wants to do, if he stopped you from every wrong you committed would he be seen as a just judge on Judgement day? God said over and over not to swear yet Jephthah did it anyways and the fruits of sin are shown. Not every action in the Bible is an endorsement. Its a history book that details Gods commandments and the history of men. They did still sacrifice but they did it to other gods, not to him. Nowhere does God ask for or commend human ritual sacrifice. He did mention many times of human sacrifice but it was in condemnation to idol worship. Thats why they were kicked out of Israel 3 times cause they never stopped
@@jesusisking9035 - no, it sounds like a human who REALLY doesn't want to be sacrificed. The guy was sweating blood. Does that sound like a willing participant to you? And he 's not being "asked" to do this, he's being COMMANDED to do it as your bible verse just proved. God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. That didn't affect anything for judgment day, did it? So why didn't Jephthah's daughter get the same courtesy from god? Considering Abraham didn't balk at god wanting Isaac sacrificed, I'd say that points to the Hebrews thinking there's nothing wrong with human sacrifice.
Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you will be saved. John 3:16 (Share the good news of the gospel around the world!)...... ,,.. Have a wonderful rest of your day/night everyone, may the LORD bless you all, and farewell!.,,,,,,.....,.,,,..,,
My first "offering" was a joint roach to Odin. I left it out on my porch next to a small alter I had made expecting nothing of it, a couple hours later I walked by the door and found a crow on the porch who upon making eye contact grabbed the roach and flew away. I was just starting to learn about modern paganism in general but this quickly helped me decide where my focus lie.
By the way, christian witchcraft is 100% true. Here in Brazil it was extremely common. My grandma was a "benzedeira" ("blesser" or something along these lines), it consists meinly of prayers and songs said/sung to one or a group of people by one of these "blessers". This is one of the motives i want to become a Seidr.
Também sou neta de bezendeira... e criada em um berço assemblano, por muitos anos vaguei de religião a religião e sempre nunca me coube. Me achei retornando as minhas raízes de benzedeira e tenho cultivado este amor por wiccan/pagan e só nas últimas semanas fiquei sabendo sobre Deus Norse. Estou amando como se fosse uma filha roubada voltando ao lar.
@@ingriderbert5959 per acaso você já morou em marietta, Geórgia, USA? Eu procuro uma amiga de high school a anos. Estudávamos na wheeler high. Aliás foi ela uma das pessoas que me apresentou a Imanja e deste então uma sementinha de curiosidade tem crescido em meu coração. 🤞
Dude, Just yesterday I was reading a book with an author who basically said if you didn't make animal sacrifices you weren't a real pagan. Thanks for the video.
My husband bought pigs blood from the store for an offering to Odin and he said it was the most magic he has ever felt! I love the way you described what to choose "whatever you would offer a welcomed guest" I've never thought of it that way!
My grand parents made offerings of chickens and my grandfather would use blood from deer when a successful hunt had been made. The difference is that these were given to the "house spirits"
My grandparents on my mom's side did the same thing, but usually with bread or crackers Edit: And also green beans the time they had too many green beans and wound up eating just green beans for a week before they expired. It was deemed that the house spirits should participate in the green bean disposal as well since they lived there too...
“A libation offering today is what’s reasonable within your budget and what you’d offer to an important guest,” time to start offering the gods some baja blast
Part of the wildlife health portion is general safety as well - if you live near the smokies Do Not be a reason the bears are too curious around people
One of the things that my late father who's family practiced Druidism for 35 generations ( in secret for at least 30 of those generations ) was how to communicate with the Spirits/ Gods. So even though I looked at written sources and learned from my father what was acceptable as an offering for various Deities I also used the methods of divinitation etc I learned to ask the God/Goddesses and various Spirits ie Elves and faeries what they would accept and/or preffer as an overing. And while the list is as varied as the Gods and Goddesses themselves, there are two things that are common among all the God and Goddesses. The first is that depending on the Tradition there are some offerings that all the Gods/ Goddesses will accept. That is to say, that all of the Gods and Goddesses within a certain tradition will accept certain things as offerings. Those things will vary from Tradition to Tradition. And secondly any offering however small or large is appreciated when the offering is accompanied by sincerity from the heart of the person making the Offering. And so a penny given with sincerity from the heart will be as valued as gold and gold given without sincerity will be regarded as not even worth a penny, and may even be seen as a bribe. And many Gods and Goddesses see a bribe being offered as a sign that the one offering it thinks that the Gods and Goddesses are corrupt and can be bribed into doing one's bidding even though the request of the briber is corrupt and unjust.
As a late teenager heavy into paganism, trying to see which gods I wanted to work with. I spent over 15 hours working on a painting to be a burnt offering to a war goddess, I just told everyone it was my .. bribe. Two of my girl friends got into a wrestling fist fight over who was going to get the painting and there was no way in hell I was going to burn such said painting. Some woman I never seen before came out of nowhere in my circle laughed and said, " Finally some entertainment ! " 2.) I tried, to .. work with .. said god/ angel/ demon/ unclean spirit, just to see if I could call them to see what they were like and if I could send them away without help. Sneak something/ one into the house without .. grandma knowing. She really didn't like some of my visitors, well she had problems of her own to deal with. One time I called the Finnish god of decay, not much on them/ him/ her. More or less just a camp fire ghost story to explain some natural event in life. Then there were some of the Dungeon & Dragon spin off books on world myth regarding the Finnish spirit of decay with added fluff. Mostly regarded as a monster for heroes to defeat. A glorify zombie with blow flies. I met some spirits I will Never let back into my living area ever again. Besides my bed room was the most heavy warded place there was. I politely offer Finnish Decay some mead and a chair in the room's corner circle under the right lighting conditions. Decay show up after a few days of just talking to .. him .. with polite question and Decay was just happy people are talking about him again in stories. Well as for .. bribes .. go, a gift given is a gift require to be given, " never take gifts from the Fae/demons." A favor given is a favor owed. So I set up a couple of bottles of mead, wine on my table for the next night to pour out and road kill on a coup of offering outdoor spots. I could swear the Finnish Decay came out my closet that night drink half of my two other bottles and walked away with the other three. Guest Decay didn't want to wait for a normal offering, then again when you visit someone, you are to bring drink, go figure. The next day coming home from work off the back roads being a country boy, took a different road home, cause of reasons, felt that .. urge .. again, helps to find side jobs. Other than helping people just change flat tires, there was enough dead road kill raccoons less than a day old to fill six 5gal buckets to pickle as coyote & bird food that winter, with the pelts to cure. I just thank Decay for dropping by, I did not ask for a few hundred dollar gift back in pelts and dog/ bird food. To be on the safe side I took the money I made from curing the pelts and give it to the local food shelter.
I LOVE that your family has been practicing for so long! Do you mind me asking where they lived? I often try to reconnect to my European ancestors (Scottish, French, English, Welsh) to tie me to my pagan beliefs, but I find myself disappointed that all those countries were heavily Christianized, so it brings me joy to hear of families who practiced ancient traditions that have survived thoroughly to this day. It’s really an amazing thing. You’re part of something historical!
The night before my first deer hunt, I drew a crude picture of me standing triumphant over a dead buck, then burned the paper out on my balcony and let the wind carry the ashes and smoke away. The next day, I was the only one out of my hunting party to kill a deer, and it was a buck. After I field dressed him, in thanks, I buried his heart in the woods and said a prayer for his spirit.
I tend to offer things that I find or define as useful or important. As a hunter, I routinely take the life of animals to make meat for my table. Before a hunt, I give offerings and prayer to multiple gods. If I am successful in killing an animal, I do a ritual at the site honoring the animal and then the gods. My favorite cut of meat is the heart and I always leave half as an offering in a makeshift alter constructed on site to give thanks for the nutrition provided to my family. Not sure this counts as animal sacrifice but I suspect it is seen as a similar practice in some circles.
Oh, and with food offerings, my ancestors on the Siouan side would've had two forms of this. The first is taking a pinch of what you're eating & casting that into the fire. This also applies to foraging for fruit, in which you deliberately cast away the first piece you pick. The second was our version of a Day of the Dead ritual, where you would serve an entire meal to the ancestors, I would assume, at a mound. Whites saw some tribes do something similar when holding vigil after a chief died & they asked them how they knew that the spirits of their ancestors were enjoying the meal & not wild animals or the homeless who had been cast out of the villages for one reason or another. The representatives of the tribe in question responded "The food belongs to him/ them, so they can share it with whoever they want."
When you put it like that, offerings are rather simple in a way - treat the gods like you would important guests: like a farmer in the past offering livestock for a feast sounds like something they would also do for people like nobility or such. (that's the vibe, I don't know much about norse culture yet) I still have yet to figure out how to build an altar in a closet, but I'll definitely give it consideration. All I know is that if I do give an offering than throw it out back, it's 50/50 between a Crow and a cat.
My family just treats Them as grandparents or elder family members, Loki is the uncle who has a musing tale full of dirty jokes that goes over most people's heads.
So, feeding the stray cats outside my house could be seen as an offering? 🤔 it would make me super happy if that could be part of honoring the gods (I already do this).
This was so well done. Thank you for mentioning the environmental impacts, and how they need to be considered. Also thank you for mentioning wildlife, a major issue regarding outdoor offerings. And finally, I appreciate that you point out, that not all of our practices in antiquity, deserve a place in modernity. Spiritual, emotional, and psychological evolution through relationship with the gods, and in the world in which I live is the objective. I do this with respect, acknowledgement, and honoring certain aspects of my heritage, and traditions of my ancestors. They have painted on the canvas of my life, and they influence me, deeply, but I am not them. To the table, I bring my own thoughts, ideas, practices...and I do hope that I would make them proud, of who I am, in my own time in history...not their time.
I've come to associate certain incense with certain deities. I had some profound experiences with a spirit while burning sandalwood and patchouli, so when making ather offering or prayers I burn that blend of incense. To me it's similar to buying my fiance's favourite desert if he's cooking dinner on a given day; it's something they seem to like and I bring it out to say thanks (or if I want something!). Also, during lockdown I've taken up baking small loaves of bread during the week. Some I use for soup and other's I leave as offerings when I'm out hiking. I did feel some anxiety about how to start making offerings when I first started out; but I've come to realise it's essentially giving gifts to someone dear to you: get to them and choose gifts that they would like, give something that's precious to you (even if it's only some of your time!)
I usually try to keep my offerings as natural as possible, like fruits or vegetables. Or home made when I can, like home baked bread or home brewed mead.
Ocean ive been watching these and ive gathered books on this and I have introduced your channel to a few people all I really want to say to you is thank you and may the Gods bless you
I am from the Midwest so I was taught how to give offerings buy my Native American friends. Although the land may be different the methods are much the same. I was taught to give an offering that means something to you and to give it with a full heart. I personally save a bit of my meal, the juiciest piece of a steak or something as simple as my last bite of ramen noodles gifted to my gods with a simple prayer and a full belly.
Man your corny jokes in the beginning are actually awesome. This is helping make ALOT of sense of the tales and stories. I'm the type of person who likes to fully understand what i follow or beleive in.................and these help make very clear lines. Thank you
I am a polytheist who is also sober. As a lot of sober people, I rely on my Higher Power to help me stay the course, which means my connection with the Gods is nothing less than vital. A lot of the times I practice what can be called a “behavioral offering”, doing something I don’t want to do but I know will be an act of service, and doing it as an offering to the Gods, as a way to honor them and strengthen my connection to them. This includes from simple stuff like cleaning the house, to actions like helping others by listening to them, to volunteering, and so on.
I'm a homebrewer and gardener, so I regularly make offerings of a beer or mead (in a horn and also spread around my garden), and whatever flowers, fruits and veggies are in season for me. In both cases, it is a gift of my production or labor, and, particularly in the case of Thor, it seems favorably received ( I live in a microclimate where the rainstorms often just go around me, so if I hear thunder or see stormclouds, I will ask for a blessing and pour a drink, and nine times out of ten, I will get rain)
So far I've only given libations when on my own, so food and such is only when in a group. When giving food we've usually had a fire, so everything solid goes in there. I understand that this may or may not (I'm honestly not sure) be entirely historical, but if nothing else it's certainly practical. With drink it really doesn't matter much what else you have around since you can just pour it on an appropriate area on the ground (when I do that solo it's at specific spots on a graveyard, i.e. family). Another thing I do that I'm not sure of the historacity of is that whatever I give I'll have some of myself. If it's liquid I'll have a sip before pouring out the rest, if it's solid I'll break off a bit to eat as I give the rest. I don't give anything I wouldn't eat or drink myself.
When I lived in th country I would put out food for the Gods, land spirits and elementals. But in the city the only food I can put out would be bread. I also give other things not just food. I've thrown change into a pond, left herbs on my altar. Giving one's own blood is different than trying to offer someone else's. I've read that one way we can offer to Freyja is to improve soil quality and also growing flowers are ways to gain her favor. For Odin we could sacrifice free time and gain knowledge through studies and research. For Thor I'm sure lifting an insane amount of weight safely might earn his attention.
I'm so glad you made this video! I have always loved the idea of offering a portion of a meal I've made. I love to cook, and my hearth is a focal point of my craft. So when I offer a portion of something I've cooked, I feel like I'm offering the best thing I possibly can. I have offered alcohol because it always seemed like the "right" way to do it. But going forward, I think I'll offer tea instead. I don't drink alcohol, so offering alcohol doesn't make sense for me. But I love tea and it takes time to make. So tea would be a much more personal offering. I'm very glad you touched on the controversial topics too. I think you spoke perfectly of it and what you said is what needs to be acknowledged more often, I think, especially for new comers. Onto the video about disposing offerings!
I've been having fun sharing my sweets and coffee with Loki. I have a small dish I will put some gummies out sweet cereal or cookies in, and a mini moonshine jar for drinks. I leave them for a day or 2 or until I no longer get that "I'm not done with this yet" sensation, depending on the items. Things that can go moldy easily I put in the compost quicker than simple stuff like gummy bears.
Some times I just have a ritual meal where I invite a god to participate in the meal but consume the meal myself so that I don't leave environmental waist. It's a bit of a mock offering and I'm not sure if there is historical precedent for that, but it makes me feel better about not littering.
The way i usually do my "offerings" is by pouring my sauna beer to the "kiuas" ( no idea what that is in english its kinda like the oven that heats up the sauna). The smell of the beer (which is good) goes up in the steam and creates a nice feeling. This practise is done all around Finland but its not really a ritual, its just for the smell, but it feels kinda like sharing my drink as a offering and it feel nice.
The animal sacrifice before serving in a feast is new information for me. But it makes sense in that context, like offering and having a good meal with an honored guest.
I would love to see a video on reconstructionism and revivalism, explaining the nuance that separates the two. As I understand it thus far, revivalism is reconstructionism adapted to modern sensibilities and circumstances. For example, as a vegan I will avoid using animal products in my praxis, except for the hyacinth macaw feathers I use which were molted naturally and the cashmere scarf I use as an altar cloth which was a Christmas present.
There was this elderly nun on tv I use to what. She was full of wisdom and was teaching people every week. Something happened to her eye and she wore a black patch on is. She said people in her parish and others in the area would bring her broken statues that could not be thrown away. So she accumulated a lot of these not knowing what to do with them. She saw a new church built. She decided to unload all of it in to hollow pillars the builders just put up. I thought maybe this may give everyone ideas.
I worship a force of change, there is very little it views as having any meaning at all. who knows what would even happen if change itself smiled upon you. :( having a tail would be cool, but like getting turned into a bug would suck; and I can't really imagine a god would care much for my opinions once she's been summoned and pissed off real good. so I just live.
I personally do make animal sacrifice as I raise rabbits and chickens for meat. Whenever I go to slaughter, I offer some to the gods as I believe they help me in rearing the livestock and so are entitled to their fair share as well as a thank you for their assistance.
I’ve noticed that what I do with offerings when I’m done with them usually depends on the deity or entity I made the offering to. With Freya I usually feel the most comfortable consuming them myself. With Thor I often just leave it outside, dump it outside, or bury it. With Odin, I’ve found it depends. Etc, etc.
I bury my offerings at the foot of my altar and in my garden, it's shared with the God's that way and makes fertile soil for planting, which helps grow more the next year to offer, a very nice and clean cycle that benefits everyone equally.
I read and thoroughly enjoyed Ibn Fadlan a few weeks ago in the mountains of New Mexico, and then re-read Eaters of the Dead after finishing the more fantastical accounts of the other guys in the book. Sometimes I’ll make a sacrifice of half a bowl of bud and half a cup of wine, if I paid for them both.
I love watching your videos for they are both educational and comically entertaining. The humor like the "Yeet" there at the end are why I stay, and it is also the humor that is why whenever I see one of your videos pop up in my recommended I click on it. All and all, I just really enjoy your content and hope you keep making more. P.s. I like your saying at the end of each video of "To either find a way, or make one". Where did you get it, or what inspired you to use that?
When Hannibal Barca was crossing the alps with his elephants to attack Rome, there was a point when his men objected to him, saying it was impossible. Hannibal responded that they will "Find a way or make one" It's been a phrase said between me and my brother to reflect our determination over the course of a lot of really sucky situations. Someone told me I needed a tagline for my channel, and I just adopted the phrase, not because I can put it on a t-shirt or anything, but because it was helpful to me, and I think it can be helpful to others as well.
@@OceanKeltoi That is honestly extraordinary, truly fascinating. I like both its use and history, from both history it's self to the use of it between you and your brother. I've just been curious because every time I heard you say that at the end of your videos, I've always thought to myself "I bet that has an awesome back story to it". Now knowing that it does, I like it even more. 👍
Many people claim Loki likes Tequila in his coffee or strain in a glass. My brother liked as a teenager .. if .. he could get the tequila at that given moment, pickle juice, hot sauce, coco powder & cholate syrup mix as a drink.
...At the same time? Or seperately? I feel like chocolate and pickle juice wouldn't go togeather, but who am I to judge? I made sandwiches out of yogurt and parmesan cheese as a kid, so I'm in no place to question the others unconvintional food combinations...
@@Amy_the_Lizard Children being children, some how a plate of pickle, cheese & crackers got covered with cholate syrup, and he just ate away on them. So after that he would cover his pickles with cholate. As for your sandwiches, there is an Italian chicken dish where they cover chicken with sour cream & yogurt, age over night and grill with parmesan cheese. It is not too bad, more of a woman's meal in regards to taste. But if you slow bake it on a grilling rack for 3 to 4 hr at 400 F. cover with tight press foil, it steam pressure cooks where the chicken will flake apart like fish.
@@Amy_the_Lizard separately, not together. When I’m eating chocolate I’ll dedicate my enjoyment to Loki. When I finish off a jar of pickles I’ll toast to Loki and take a swig of pickle juice. However, I never do the two at the same time, that’d be gross.
Because of where my altars are, the space given, and the fact that I have a nosey, clever dog, I tend to offer small things in regards of food, and fill their respective cups with water or alcohol (if I'm drinking that night). Other times, when I'm preparing a meal, I allow the gods to take 'first pick' from my plate while I wait for it to cool. It isn't much, but it's what I can do. If I have meat scraps, I offer them to Odin's wolves and ravens to eat from before I toss them. Vegetable scraps for Freyjas boars, etc.
Rise a glaze yeast donut in warm water, then take the yeast water to made bread, or add a bit more sugar and start your own yeast culture by using different types of fruit juices. Then it is mead/ beer/ wine time.
@@MyositisMedic In my area back in the 1980's in grade school was the way teenagers would make their own homemade wine for underage illegal drinking. Dutch/ Irish, Sicilian - Germans mix breeds tend to start grabbing half empty cans of beer around the ages of eight or nine years old, then there is so many different types of sugar fruit wines to make, beet juice is great too.
@@krispalermo8133 Man, that must've been an interesting time for sure! My grandmother is full Sicilian and she can power through so much wine you'd think she makes her own.
I think any food stuff you offer should be enough to feed a person. Not necessarily a meal, per se, but if you're going to offer a cookie, offer a whole cookie, not just a piece of one, offer a whole glass of wine, not just a few sips, etc. If they are offerings as you would offer a guest, offer as much as you would eat or drink, so your guest doesn't feel less than by receiving less than you.
I could see that if it's an important sacrifice. If it's a daily sharing of your meal with them, there is no need to set another full place for them. A portion from your own plate is sufficient.
I've always felt drawn to offerings that preserve or help life grow, such as starting a garden and tending to the plants or helping the local fauna feed (such as leaving animal specific foods out for them) a gift to the Earth in addition to the gift to the gods for taking care of us :)
You said that the witch trials were a form of human sacrifice. Witches were burnt to appease the Christian God, which is similar to sacrificing a human in order to appease Odin or Huitzilopochtli or other gods... Very interesting point!
Another sacrificial comment to the algorithm gods. Seriously, though the part that got me was the caution to be cognizant of the local envoronment when disposing of offerings.
You blowed my mind when u said the coffee could be a good offering to god and is true, i always offer coffee or tea to my guest in my home and why not to the gods? They are my guest too, IS WONDERFUL 🥰 and about grains i think If the grains nourish my body then they nourish the gods, that is the way I understand the offerings, if it is good for me it will be good for the gods. Thank u sooo much for share this information, greetings from Colombia 😊
My practice is Celtic focused but for daily offerings I use water libations and incense, once a week I offer juice, token food /bread offerings. I tend to eat the offerings (with a pinch of the food being placed outside along with the libations ) and in the evenings when I can I light candles on the altar . Oh and instead of blessing my meals I offer it first to my Deities , wait a few moments then eat
Sacrificing humans or animals (animals without eating them) is not only giving a gift wich is not yours to give but also taking a gift away witch is not ours to take. Life is a gift and we should all cherish it.
When I left food and even herbs I noticed the entities would take the spiritual sustenance from the offering and many times I would see raccoons or another wild animal eating the food, when I lived in the country. And yes I too see it as the Gods accepting my offerings.
I feel like they would prefer alcohol over soda lmao but one can offer anything as long as it has meaning to the person. The higher value you put on it the higher value the Gods will too.
Some of the demons I worship want me to take part in consuming the sacrificed items as if to be included in the ritual. Belial, for example, would have me eat brown foods and consume a bottle of beer while doing work with him, and then he goes on to explain in a "tough love" way where I'm being classless, guiding me through clever deceptions to his lessons. He's really good at getting his worshippers to go off the beaten path.
Where i begun was researching through youtube, then afterwards, i knew enough that odin was the god of wisdom. And i asked him for help in getting information to grow my relationship with the gods. A week later i met a satanist whos parents would buy me a stack of books if i paid them back. This way i could avoid my parents knowing. I later offered to him again in thanks, since then ive made offerings to thor and had conversation with land vaetir to grow my knowledge. So far it has worked out well knowing who to pray. Then gaining a bond with said god/goddess
The first thing i noticed about learning about pagans is the environmental thoughtfullness. i couldnt imagine someone burning plastic in libation, that just sounds kinda counter intuitive with a nature based faith.
@@OceanKeltoi oh for sure!! im so new to the pagan path im still in the learning phase and since you responded to my comment i want to take a moment and thank you for all your videos i have enjoyed so far on my journey. Find a way or make one. love it:)
Just wanted to add that putting salt on soil makes plants unable to grow there! So don’t pour our any salt offerings to the earth, or make salt circles!
As an ex christian, and as still trying to figure out belief in general, I have really enjoyed finding your channel. I'm struggling as I start to explore and incorporate both Norse traditions, as well as simply animistic and land based ritual and traditions... I'm struggling with this strange affect from my post christianity, where ritual and performative religion is SUPER difficult for me to engage in, yet, I think that it's important and the pathway to the connection that I am seeking with the gods, or the universe, or God, or..... whatever is there. I've felt it before, but only fleetingly. Anyone have this experience, or any words for me?
We pagans connect directly with the gods, and we don't need priests for example. We feel a connection, we talk to the deities, do rituals and make gifts for the gods. We are very small humans and the gods are high above us. The offerings are important to get attentions from the gods. It is a bond, and it took years to consolidate it. The easiest way is just to start, if you have found your deitie, god, spirit and so on. Good luck and sorry for my bad english. 😉
Have you watched Ocean’s video on Latent Christianity? It explains a lot about the difficulties in connecting to pagan gods after being Christian for so long. I have been a Heathen for about 10 years and at times still find I have to stop myself from ‘thinking like a Christian’ when it comes to making offerings and interacting with the gods. Recognising the differences between what actually is latent Christianity and then what is normal for pagan spirituality is important and can take time. Hang in there, it gets better.
@@cafra11972 I have seen that video for sure. I took a really deep dive into Ocean's older stuff when I discovered the channel and it's sort of what has got me thinking about... Am I just still casting about and rebelling? Or am I actually seeking and believing? I have absolutely felt divine presence and connection, as a christian; but it was often outside of and apart from orthodox (though not always). As part of my deconstruction from christianity I started down the celtic christian path, like Ocean has described... and I definitely find value in some of those ideas still. I absolutely value to real teachings of Jesus, as a radical teacher of love and care for each other, but I realized very quickly that I had "met" other people through their writings who felt like they knew the divine, even though they weren't christian, so the search continues. My most profound and clearly divine connections have come though out in the land, and I feel most connected when I'm observing the points on the wheel of the year, it's just ritual that is seemingly difficult for me as I suppose it feels eerily like the christian focus on ritual, and I instinctively recoil from it. I do understand however that heathen ritual isn't the same sort of dogmatic and performative focus that what I learned from christianity so... I still continue. Thanks for responding.
I've been weary about food offerings because living in Mexico a grackle (or a swallow, or a dove, or a ground dove) might pick it up, which would be nice, but it'll most likely invite swarms of ants and cockroaches for a feast, which I definitely don't want. Also, in Mexican tradition, the spirits "eat" the essence of the food and it's "spiritually poisonous" to partake in it afterwards, so while I think it's more eco-friendly to consume the items I'd be weary. I'll be sticking to incense and drinks for the time being, and maybe my practice will evolve later on. Thanks, Ocean!
Very interesting, I've been practicing polytheism for 5 years, and recently got upset for my dog eating bread offerings from my altar. Maybe the gods made me watch this video to understand that it was a good omen of acceptance.
Actually a further ( now that I finished the video ) comment on offerings. A post ritual feast (with the place for one or more gods/spirits that are a part of the ritual) is a great way to both give an offering as well as to ground yourself. Food in the stomach draws blood from the brain. Similar reason I fast before the ritual. Thank you for making these videos. Great food for Thoth…
I loves this video and helps alot trying to explaim this to people in my life about offerings/ sacrifice. What i mostly do for my offering is mead or beer. And i dont go to the store pick up a bottle of mead lr beer i brew it myself at home. Sometimes its with yeastyou buy at home brew shops but recently after some brewing reasearch im doing wild yeast batches. Under the philosophy of the gods are gifting me the yeast to ferment said mead or beer. What i do is i habe a peice of wood i carved runes into, when my batch is ready for yeast i stir the batch with the stick, say a prayer while stiring. Then let it ferment. Once its ready to bottle i pour a glass of the finished product when bottling for the gods and then i store the bottles for everytime i do an offering
Another great video, more great puns. 🤌
Thank you for the shout-out too! I really appreciate the emphasis on being environmentally friendly. More creators need to talk about it!
Also needs more cow bell!
(It's a reference)
Environmental preservation is something everyone talks about but nobody actually does anything with. It saddens me to see things like pollution or litter or things like that because I know that the spirits connected to the lands being defaced are suffering as much as the things living on that land. It's just heartbreaking.
i've heard of people treating blood donation as a sacrifice, they'd pray to their god before going or as they're donating, put the appointment card or the 'i donated' sticker on their altar and burn it at the end of the day.
Okay thats kinda cool
That’s actually a great idea, might try that myself.
Sounds good, but is that any different from cutting yourself for your own blood? You're just going to grow your own blood again, and didn't really do anything but sacrifice with the slight pain and your time.
@@benjalucian1515 yeah except one also helps people who needed this donated blood for emergencies. You lose blood to help someone and worship your god 👀
@@juniperastor531 - OK, but how does that help the god? Gods like burnt offerings, meaning the blood is burnt and goes up to the gods in the smoke. Giving it to someone else doesn't help them. The option you're speaking of sounds like something out of Christianity.
Ocean Keltoi: "Just because human sacrifice was made in the past, does that mean that we should?"
Me: "...Yeeeeeeeee...?"
Ocean Keltoi: "No."
Me: "Yeah! No. Absolutely not."
Inevitably when my conference calls get into the rut of talking about bad weather I *joke* that people of old would make virgin sacrifices to change the weather. We all have a good laugh, but I am sure some nervously... and it likely has not helped me move up the corporate ladder.
XD
@@bruisedhelmet8819 Not moving up the corporate ladder you say? I reccomend a compelling blood eagling!
@@hartwarg3051 That's a lot of work, and I just got brand new galoshes but no slicker....
Funny thing is early in my career (also frustrated about the lack of movement - I reported to a supervisor that been a supervisor for 15 years) I joked (and again probably shouldn't have) that I'd have to resort to the ol' Roman way of getting ahead.... I am starting to see some of my problem here though... I guess if I can't be an example at least I am a warning - kids don't jokingly threaten the lives of your bosses or coworkers as most people don't have a funny bone.
@@bruisedhelmet8819 At least you didn't say "the ol' Greek way of getting ahead"....
Pretty sure offering Freya some brownies is how I ended up with a pregnant cat
Offering Freyja expensive wine is how I wound up with a pregnant girlfriend.
Will be careful what you wish for
Tonight on things I never thought I'd read...
@@wyliecoyote173 mmm i think its more like, be carefull whom you offer to(?)
@@PutoMedicoBrujo i know but i was making a joke by using the quot of the wish master. Bu i do offer too frigg and odin. Yep i gave a offering to frigg then the next day it rain. Both times when i did a offering and my phon said it was not supposed to rain them Two days. Some say it was a coincidence. But i don't believe in coincidence.
Describing Witch burning as human sacrifice threw me through a loop, but makes total sense! (Gonna have to try that one on some Christian friends later :P )
Jesus is a human sacrifice. The Hebrew bible has God asking for Abraham's boy Isaac as a sacrifice, which didn't seem to disconcert Abraham as he was going to go through with it. And of course poor Jephthah's daughter. What is a Hebrew doing offering as a sacrifice "the first thing he sees"? When did people end up on the list of acceptable sacrifices? Apparently they always were on the list.
@@benjalucian1515 Theres a difference between offering yourself to save others and being forced into ritual murder. Jepthaths story is not condoning what he did its a cautionary tale and God had said many times not to swear on anything because nothing is yours its Gods. Now the Hebrews did do human sacrifice since they were (majority of them) pagans. They worshiped Baal, Dagon, Tammuz, Remphan, Moloch...all which required human sacrifice
@@jesusisking9035 - yes, there is a difference. But considering Jesus tried to back out ("let this cup pass me by") but god wouldn't let him tells me that he was at heart unwilling. God had every chance to deny Jephthah's sacrifice, but he didn't. Why not? He did with Isaac's sacrifice. He didn't punish Jephthah afterwards, so what can we conclude but that God was OK with human sacrifice, in both Jesus and Jephthah's daughter cases.
Please note the Hebrews were still doing human sacrifice AFTER they started worshipping Yahweh-El solely.
@@benjalucian1515 That was to show the humanity of Jesus not that Jesus didnt want to do it of his own free will John 10:18
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.”
Jesus was God manifest in the flesh 1 Timothy 3:16 and the Word in John Chp 1 so he was God and he was also in the flesh of man being born of Mary. It was to demonstrate that he was come in the flesh and still had human emotions like fear.
God doesnt have to do anything he wants to do, if he stopped you from every wrong you committed would he be seen as a just judge on Judgement day? God said over and over not to swear yet Jephthah did it anyways and the fruits of sin are shown. Not every action in the Bible is an endorsement. Its a history book that details Gods commandments and the history of men.
They did still sacrifice but they did it to other gods, not to him. Nowhere does God ask for or commend human ritual sacrifice. He did mention many times of human sacrifice but it was in condemnation to idol worship. Thats why they were kicked out of Israel 3 times cause they never stopped
@@jesusisking9035 - no, it sounds like a human who REALLY doesn't want to be sacrificed. The guy was sweating blood. Does that sound like a willing participant to you? And he 's not being "asked" to do this, he's being COMMANDED to do it as your bible verse just proved.
God stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac. That didn't affect anything for judgment day, did it? So why didn't Jephthah's daughter get the same courtesy from god?
Considering Abraham didn't balk at god wanting Isaac sacrificed, I'd say that points to the Hebrews thinking there's nothing wrong with human sacrifice.
Love how he disgusted himself with his own puns there at the beginning.
I am the problem
@@OceanKeltoi that's ok we love you anyway
Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you will be saved. John 3:16 (Share the good news of the gospel around the world!)...... ,,..
Have a wonderful rest of your day/night everyone, may the LORD bless you all, and farewell!.,,,,,,.....,.,,,..,,
@@1CT1 uh guy? My comment was literally about puns. Maybe take your copy/paste proselytizing elsewhere?
@@1CT1 with all do respect my friend you are preaching to the wrong crowd since most of us were Christians at one point
My first "offering" was a joint roach to Odin. I left it out on my porch next to a small alter I had made expecting nothing of it, a couple hours later I walked by the door and found a crow on the porch who upon making eye contact grabbed the roach and flew away. I was just starting to learn about modern paganism in general but this quickly helped me decide where my focus lie.
By the way, christian witchcraft is 100% true. Here in Brazil it was extremely common. My grandma was a "benzedeira" ("blesser" or something along these lines), it consists meinly of prayers and songs said/sung to one or a group of people by one of these "blessers". This is one of the motives i want to become a Seidr.
Também sou neta de bezendeira... e criada em um berço assemblano, por muitos anos vaguei de religião a religião e sempre nunca me coube. Me achei retornando as minhas raízes de benzedeira e tenho cultivado este amor por wiccan/pagan e só nas últimas semanas fiquei sabendo sobre Deus Norse. Estou amando como se fosse uma filha roubada voltando ao lar.
Que legal achar brasileiros aqui!
@@ingriderbert5959 per acaso você já morou em marietta, Geórgia, USA? Eu procuro uma amiga de high school a anos. Estudávamos na wheeler high. Aliás foi ela uma das pessoas que me apresentou a Imanja e deste então uma sementinha de curiosidade tem crescido em meu coração. 🤞
I'm listening to this in the living room. Those puns made my partner audibly groan from the other room 😆
Success
Dude, Just yesterday I was reading a book with an author who basically said if you didn't make animal sacrifices you weren't a real pagan. Thanks for the video.
Im pretty clueless about European paganism, but even i can tell whoever wrote that book is a total fool.
🤨 No.
My husband bought pigs blood from the store for an offering to Odin and he said it was the most magic he has ever felt! I love the way you described what to choose "whatever you would offer a welcomed guest" I've never thought of it that way!
So, "Carrie" was a welcomed guest? What a big misunderstanding!
That is how pujas or Hindu rituals are done.
My grand parents made offerings of chickens and my grandfather would use blood from deer when a successful hunt had been made. The difference is that these were given to the "house spirits"
My grandparents on my mom's side did the same thing, but usually with bread or crackers
Edit: And also green beans the time they had too many green beans and wound up eating just green beans for a week before they expired. It was deemed that the house spirits should participate in the green bean disposal as well since they lived there too...
“A libation offering today is what’s reasonable within your budget and what you’d offer to an important guest,”
time to start offering the gods some baja blast
Ocean that Tyr pun was well done but I still face palmed when it happened.
At least you have a palm 😭
@@OceanKeltoi Well played sir well played. I hate you for this but I have to respect you for it too,
Part of the wildlife health portion is general safety as well - if you live near the smokies Do Not be a reason the bears are too curious around people
One of the things that my late father who's family practiced Druidism for 35 generations ( in secret for at least 30 of those generations ) was how to communicate with the Spirits/ Gods. So even though I looked at written sources and learned from my father what was acceptable as an offering for various Deities I also used the methods of divinitation etc I learned to ask the God/Goddesses and various Spirits ie Elves and faeries what they would accept and/or preffer as an overing. And while the list is as varied as the Gods and Goddesses themselves, there are two things that are common among all the God and Goddesses. The first is that depending on the Tradition there are some offerings that all the Gods/ Goddesses will accept. That is to say, that all of the Gods and Goddesses within a certain tradition will accept certain things as offerings. Those things will vary from Tradition to Tradition. And secondly any offering however small or large is appreciated when the offering is accompanied by sincerity from the heart of the person making the Offering. And so a penny given with sincerity from the heart will be as valued as gold and gold given without sincerity will be regarded as not even worth a penny, and may even be seen as a bribe. And many Gods and Goddesses see a bribe being offered as a sign that the one offering it thinks that the Gods and Goddesses are corrupt and can be bribed into doing one's bidding even though the request of the briber is corrupt and unjust.
As a late teenager heavy into paganism, trying to see which gods I wanted to work with.
I spent over 15 hours working on a painting to be a burnt offering to a war goddess, I just told everyone it was my .. bribe.
Two of my girl friends got into a wrestling fist fight over who was going to get the painting and there was no way in hell I was going to burn such said painting.
Some woman I never seen before came out of nowhere in my circle laughed and said, " Finally some entertainment ! "
2.) I tried, to .. work with .. said god/ angel/ demon/ unclean spirit, just to see if I could call them to see what they were like and if I could send them away without help. Sneak something/ one into the house without .. grandma knowing. She really didn't like some of my visitors, well she had problems of her own to deal with.
One time I called the Finnish god of decay, not much on them/ him/ her. More or less just a camp fire ghost story to explain some natural event in life. Then there were some of the Dungeon & Dragon spin off books on world myth regarding the Finnish spirit of decay with added fluff. Mostly regarded as a monster for heroes to defeat. A glorify zombie with blow flies. I met some spirits I will Never let back into my living area ever again. Besides my bed room was the most heavy warded place there was.
I politely offer Finnish Decay some mead and a chair in the room's corner circle under the right lighting conditions. Decay show up after a few days of just talking to .. him .. with polite question and Decay was just happy people are talking about him again in stories. Well as for .. bribes .. go, a gift given is a gift require to be given, " never take gifts from the Fae/demons." A favor given is a favor owed. So I set up a couple of bottles of mead, wine on my table for the next night to pour out and road kill on a coup of offering outdoor spots. I could swear the Finnish Decay came out my closet that night drink half of my two other bottles and walked away with the other three. Guest Decay didn't want to wait for a normal offering, then again when you visit someone, you are to bring drink, go figure.
The next day coming home from work off the back roads being a country boy, took a different road home, cause of reasons, felt that .. urge .. again, helps to find side jobs. Other than helping people just change flat tires, there was enough dead road kill raccoons less than a day old to fill six 5gal buckets to pickle as coyote & bird food that winter, with the pelts to cure. I just thank Decay for dropping by, I did not ask for a few hundred dollar gift back in pelts and dog/ bird food. To be on the safe side I took the money I made from curing the pelts and give it to the local food shelter.
I LOVE that your family has been practicing for so long! Do you mind me asking where they lived? I often try to reconnect to my European ancestors (Scottish, French, English, Welsh) to tie me to my pagan beliefs, but I find myself disappointed that all those countries were heavily Christianized, so it brings me joy to hear of families who practiced ancient traditions that have survived thoroughly to this day. It’s really an amazing thing. You’re part of something historical!
The night before my first deer hunt, I drew a crude picture of me standing triumphant over a dead buck, then burned the paper out on my balcony and let the wind carry the ashes and smoke away. The next day, I was the only one out of my hunting party to kill a deer, and it was a buck. After I field dressed him, in thanks, I buried his heart in the woods and said a prayer for his spirit.
I tend to offer things that I find or define as useful or important. As a hunter, I routinely take the life of animals to make meat for my table. Before a hunt, I give offerings and prayer to multiple gods. If I am successful in killing an animal, I do a ritual at the site honoring the animal and then the gods. My favorite cut of meat is the heart and I always leave half as an offering in a makeshift alter constructed on site to give thanks for the nutrition provided to my family. Not sure this counts as animal sacrifice but I suspect it is seen as a similar practice in some circles.
Oh, and with food offerings, my ancestors on the Siouan side would've had two forms of this. The first is taking a pinch of what you're eating & casting that into the fire. This also applies to foraging for fruit, in which you deliberately cast away the first piece you pick. The second was our version of a Day of the Dead ritual, where you would serve an entire meal to the ancestors, I would assume, at a mound. Whites saw some tribes do something similar when holding vigil after a chief died & they asked them how they knew that the spirits of their ancestors were enjoying the meal & not wild animals or the homeless who had been cast out of the villages for one reason or another. The representatives of the tribe in question responded "The food belongs to him/ them, so they can share it with whoever they want."
I really love that response, it hit me in the heart! ❤
Thank you for sharing that, I like it a lot
An offering to the youtube algorithm!
The real god of us all
Hail Jutübr
When you put it like that, offerings are rather simple in a way - treat the gods like you would important guests: like a farmer in the past offering livestock for a feast sounds like something they would also do for people like nobility or such. (that's the vibe, I don't know much about norse culture yet)
I still have yet to figure out how to build an altar in a closet, but I'll definitely give it consideration.
All I know is that if I do give an offering than throw it out back, it's 50/50 between a Crow and a cat.
My family just treats Them as grandparents or elder family members, Loki is the uncle who has a musing tale full of dirty jokes that goes over most people's heads.
So, feeding the stray cats outside my house could be seen as an offering? 🤔 it would make me super happy if that could be part of honoring the gods (I already do this).
Drop $20 or $40 on little stuff toy kittens and hand them out to people that need an emotional pick up.
That makes me really happy. I always feed the stray kitties around and the idea of it also being an offering sounds really nice
Freyja would approve.
This was so well done. Thank you for mentioning the environmental impacts, and how they need to be considered. Also thank you for mentioning wildlife, a major issue regarding outdoor offerings. And finally, I appreciate that you point out, that not all of our practices in antiquity, deserve a place in modernity. Spiritual, emotional, and psychological evolution through relationship with the gods, and in the world in which I live is the objective. I do this with respect, acknowledgement, and honoring certain aspects of my heritage, and traditions of my ancestors. They have painted on the canvas of my life, and they influence me, deeply, but I am not them. To the table, I bring my own thoughts, ideas, practices...and I do hope that I would make them proud, of who I am, in my own time in history...not their time.
I've come to associate certain incense with certain deities. I had some profound experiences with a spirit while burning sandalwood and patchouli, so when making ather offering or prayers I burn that blend of incense. To me it's similar to buying my fiance's favourite desert if he's cooking dinner on a given day; it's something they seem to like and I bring it out to say thanks (or if I want something!). Also, during lockdown I've taken up baking small loaves of bread during the week. Some I use for soup and other's I leave as offerings when I'm out hiking.
I did feel some anxiety about how to start making offerings when I first started out; but I've come to realise it's essentially giving gifts to someone dear to you: get to them and choose gifts that they would like, give something that's precious to you (even if it's only some of your time!)
I usually try to keep my offerings as natural as possible, like fruits or vegetables. Or home made when I can, like home baked bread or home brewed mead.
Always love your sarcasm. Thank you for keeping our animal friends in mind.
Ocean ive been watching these and ive gathered books on this and I have introduced your channel to a few people all I really want to say to you is thank you and may the Gods bless you
You know I was always worried about doing an offering and I might be doing something wrong but you really helped me out so thanks man
Once dumped some mead that didn’t ferment correctly out In my yard and it made for some very drunk squirrels.
A week late, but I just wanted to say that I love your content, as someone who’s new to practicing Norse Paganism, I appreciate the time and effort.
I am from the Midwest so I was taught how to give offerings buy my Native American friends. Although the land may be different the methods are much the same. I was taught to give an offering that means something to you and to give it with a full heart. I personally save a bit of my meal, the juiciest piece of a steak or something as simple as my last bite of ramen noodles gifted to my gods with a simple prayer and a full belly.
Man your corny jokes in the beginning are actually awesome. This is helping make ALOT of sense of the tales and stories. I'm the type of person who likes to fully understand what i follow or beleive in.................and these help make very clear lines. Thank you
I am a polytheist who is also sober. As a lot of sober people, I rely on my Higher Power to help me stay the course, which means my connection with the Gods is nothing less than vital. A lot of the times I practice what can be called a “behavioral offering”, doing something I don’t want to do but I know will be an act of service, and doing it as an offering to the Gods, as a way to honor them and strengthen my connection to them. This includes from simple stuff like cleaning the house, to actions like helping others by listening to them, to volunteering, and so on.
I'm a homebrewer and gardener, so I regularly make offerings of a beer or mead (in a horn and also spread around my garden), and whatever flowers, fruits and veggies are in season for me. In both cases, it is a gift of my production or labor, and, particularly in the case of Thor, it seems favorably received ( I live in a microclimate where the rainstorms often just go around me, so if I hear thunder or see stormclouds, I will ask for a blessing and pour a drink, and nine times out of ten, I will get rain)
Also, my wife set up an altar for our cats under a tree in our yard: any birds 😢 or voles ☺ they kill are placed here, and are gone in the morning
So, watering the trees and feeding half-wild cats living in my district seems to be a good offering to the gods (:
not wrong
So far I've only given libations when on my own, so food and such is only when in a group. When giving food we've usually had a fire, so everything solid goes in there. I understand that this may or may not (I'm honestly not sure) be entirely historical, but if nothing else it's certainly practical. With drink it really doesn't matter much what else you have around since you can just pour it on an appropriate area on the ground (when I do that solo it's at specific spots on a graveyard, i.e. family). Another thing I do that I'm not sure of the historacity of is that whatever I give I'll have some of myself. If it's liquid I'll have a sip before pouring out the rest, if it's solid I'll break off a bit to eat as I give the rest. I don't give anything I wouldn't eat or drink myself.
Give the Gods a more than fair portion, then consume the rest yourself. They appreciate that you share with them.
When I lived in th country I would put out food for the Gods, land spirits and elementals. But in the city the only food I can put out would be bread. I also give other things not just food. I've thrown change into a pond, left herbs on my altar. Giving one's own blood is different than trying to offer someone else's. I've read that one way we can offer to Freyja is to improve soil quality and also growing flowers are ways to gain her favor. For Odin we could sacrifice free time and gain knowledge through studies and research. For Thor I'm sure lifting an insane amount of weight safely might earn his attention.
I'm so glad you made this video!
I have always loved the idea of offering a portion of a meal I've made. I love to cook, and my hearth is a focal point of my craft. So when I offer a portion of something I've cooked, I feel like I'm offering the best thing I possibly can.
I have offered alcohol because it always seemed like the "right" way to do it. But going forward, I think I'll offer tea instead. I don't drink alcohol, so offering alcohol doesn't make sense for me. But I love tea and it takes time to make. So tea would be a much more personal offering.
I'm very glad you touched on the controversial topics too. I think you spoke perfectly of it and what you said is what needs to be acknowledged more often, I think, especially for new comers.
Onto the video about disposing offerings!
Yooooo! I literally just asked for a video explainer like this, and here it is! Such a huge, huge thank you!!
I've been having fun sharing my sweets and coffee with Loki. I have a small dish I will put some gummies out sweet cereal or cookies in, and a mini moonshine jar for drinks. I leave them for a day or 2 or until I no longer get that "I'm not done with this yet" sensation, depending on the items. Things that can go moldy easily I put in the compost quicker than simple stuff like gummy bears.
Some times I just have a ritual meal where I invite a god to participate in the meal but consume the meal myself so that I don't leave environmental waist. It's a bit of a mock offering and I'm not sure if there is historical precedent for that, but it makes me feel better about not littering.
The way i usually do my "offerings" is by pouring my sauna beer to the "kiuas" ( no idea what that is in english its kinda like the oven that heats up the sauna). The smell of the beer (which is good) goes up in the steam and creates a nice feeling. This practise is done all around Finland but its not really a ritual, its just for the smell, but it feels kinda like sharing my drink as a offering and it feel nice.
The animal sacrifice before serving in a feast is new information for me. But it makes sense in that context, like offering and having a good meal with an honored guest.
I use both incense and libations in my ritual work; For harvest or autumn rituals, i make bread from scratch and place it on my altar.
I would love to see a video on reconstructionism and revivalism, explaining the nuance that separates the two.
As I understand it thus far, revivalism is reconstructionism adapted to modern sensibilities and circumstances. For example, as a vegan I will avoid using animal products in my praxis, except for the hyacinth macaw feathers I use which were molted naturally and the cashmere scarf I use as an altar cloth which was a Christmas present.
There was this elderly nun on tv I use to what. She was full of wisdom and was teaching people every week. Something happened to her eye and she wore a black patch on is. She said people in her parish and others in the area would bring her broken statues that could not be thrown away. So she accumulated a lot of these not knowing what to do with them. She saw a new church built. She decided to unload all of it in to hollow pillars the builders just put up. I thought maybe this may give everyone ideas.
I never get further than the intro before I hit like because the puns always get a *rise* out of me.
I worship a force of change, there is very little it views as having any meaning at all. who knows what would even happen if change itself smiled upon you. :( having a tail would be cool, but like getting turned into a bug would suck; and I can't really imagine a god would care much for my opinions once she's been summoned and pissed off real good.
so I just live.
I personally do make animal sacrifice as I raise rabbits and chickens for meat. Whenever I go to slaughter, I offer some to the gods as I believe they help me in rearing the livestock and so are entitled to their fair share as well as a thank you for their assistance.
Loved this video was helpful and informative and loved the Tyr hand joke had me dying!!!
I’ve noticed that what I do with offerings when I’m done with them usually depends on the deity or entity I made the offering to. With Freya I usually feel the most comfortable consuming them myself. With Thor I often just leave it outside, dump it outside, or bury it. With Odin, I’ve found it depends. Etc, etc.
Tyr might not like that off handed comment, Ocean
Can't go wrong with sunflower seeds. Most critters love them.
Eventually I will share my garden.
Oh I use those! My dad caught the neighborhood possum eating them - I didn't even know they ate sunflower seeds
@@Amy_the_Lizard they're omnivores. They'll eat almost anything. I caught one eating leftover sweet potato and burger bun from my garbage bag.
I bury my offerings at the foot of my altar and in my garden, it's shared with the God's that way and makes fertile soil for planting, which helps grow more the next year to offer, a very nice and clean cycle that benefits everyone equally.
I read and thoroughly enjoyed Ibn Fadlan a few weeks ago in the mountains of New Mexico, and then re-read Eaters of the Dead after finishing the more fantastical accounts of the other guys in the book.
Sometimes I’ll make a sacrifice of half a bowl of bud and half a cup of wine, if I paid for them both.
Found this to be a rather huge help, as I have been rather curious in this topic. Didn’t have an alter, but gave my first offering of Spruce Essence.
You are my favorite speaker online for Norse Paganism. Thanks for the great videos.
The video I needed. Always a pleasure viewing your channel Ocean !
I love watching your videos for they are both educational and comically entertaining. The humor like the "Yeet" there at the end are why I stay, and it is also the humor that is why whenever I see one of your videos pop up in my recommended I click on it. All and all, I just really enjoy your content and hope you keep making more.
P.s. I like your saying at the end of each video of "To either find a way, or make one". Where did you get it, or what inspired you to use that?
When Hannibal Barca was crossing the alps with his elephants to attack Rome, there was a point when his men objected to him, saying it was impossible. Hannibal responded that they will "Find a way or make one"
It's been a phrase said between me and my brother to reflect our determination over the course of a lot of really sucky situations. Someone told me I needed a tagline for my channel, and I just adopted the phrase, not because I can put it on a t-shirt or anything, but because it was helpful to me, and I think it can be helpful to others as well.
@@OceanKeltoi That is honestly extraordinary, truly fascinating. I like both its use and history, from both history it's self to the use of it between you and your brother. I've just been curious because every time I heard you say that at the end of your videos, I've always thought to myself "I bet that has an awesome back story to it". Now knowing that it does, I like it even more. 👍
For Loki I consume my offerings to him. I’ll offer chocolate and pickle juice (yes pickle juice), offer it to Loki and consume it in his name.
Many people claim Loki likes Tequila in his coffee or strain in a glass.
My brother liked as a teenager .. if .. he could get the tequila at that given moment, pickle juice, hot sauce, coco powder & cholate syrup mix as a drink.
...At the same time? Or seperately? I feel like chocolate and pickle juice wouldn't go togeather, but who am I to judge? I made sandwiches out of yogurt and parmesan cheese as a kid, so I'm in no place to question the others unconvintional food combinations...
@@Amy_the_Lizard Children being children, some how a plate of pickle, cheese & crackers got covered with cholate syrup, and he just ate away on them. So after that he would cover his pickles with cholate.
As for your sandwiches, there is an Italian chicken dish where they cover chicken with sour cream & yogurt, age over night and grill with parmesan cheese. It is not too bad, more of a woman's meal in regards to taste. But if you slow bake it on a grilling rack for 3 to 4 hr at 400 F. cover with tight press foil, it steam pressure cooks where the chicken will flake apart like fish.
@@Amy_the_Lizard separately, not together. When I’m eating chocolate I’ll dedicate my enjoyment to Loki. When I finish off a jar of pickles I’ll toast to Loki and take a swig of pickle juice. However, I never do the two at the same time, that’d be gross.
My kids have offered their first s’more of the night, besides that we do more traditional fruits, mead and bread.
This video shows up on my subscription page just after HISTORY Ancient Aliens: The legend of Valhalla Tied to Space Travel (Season5) History
oh no...
🤣😜👍
There are FIVE SEASONS of Amcient Aliens!?
@@emiliobustamante2401 Don't be ridiculous. Of course there's not 5 seasons of Ancient Aliens. . . There's 16
Because of where my altars are, the space given, and the fact that I have a nosey, clever dog, I tend to offer small things in regards of food, and fill their respective cups with water or alcohol (if I'm drinking that night). Other times, when I'm preparing a meal, I allow the gods to take 'first pick' from my plate while I wait for it to cool. It isn't much, but it's what I can do. If I have meat scraps, I offer them to Odin's wolves and ravens to eat from before I toss them. Vegetable scraps for Freyjas boars, etc.
offerings are personal and need to be important to you, so you are sacrificing!
Thank you for the great content and answering my questions about disposal of offerings before I even asked.
I try to keep my offerings to stuff my wife and I grow in our gardens and special occasions get some form of alcohol.
Rise a glaze yeast donut in warm water, then take the yeast water to made bread, or add a bit more sugar and start your own yeast culture by using different types of fruit juices. Then it is mead/ beer/ wine time.
@@krispalermo8133 That sounds lovely! I'll have to give it a try, thank you!
@@MyositisMedic In my area back in the 1980's in grade school was the way teenagers would make their own homemade wine for underage illegal drinking.
Dutch/ Irish, Sicilian - Germans mix breeds tend to start grabbing half empty cans of beer around the ages of eight or nine years old, then there is so many different types of sugar fruit wines to make, beet juice is great too.
@@krispalermo8133 Man, that must've been an interesting time for sure!
My grandmother is full Sicilian and she can power through so much wine you'd think she makes her own.
I think any food stuff you offer should be enough to feed a person. Not necessarily a meal, per se, but if you're going to offer a cookie, offer a whole cookie, not just a piece of one, offer a whole glass of wine, not just a few sips, etc. If they are offerings as you would offer a guest, offer as much as you would eat or drink, so your guest doesn't feel less than by receiving less than you.
I could see that if it's an important sacrifice. If it's a daily sharing of your meal with them, there is no need to set another full place for them. A portion from your own plate is sufficient.
ROFL, "Wheat, Pray, Love"
I've always felt drawn to offerings that preserve or help life grow, such as starting a garden and tending to the plants or helping the local fauna feed (such as leaving animal specific foods out for them) a gift to the Earth in addition to the gift to the gods for taking care of us :)
Penitential handbooks are fascinating as a glimpse into what people actually were doing (but the church preferred that they didn't).
You said that the witch trials were a form of human sacrifice. Witches were burnt to appease the Christian God, which is similar to sacrificing a human in order to appease Odin or Huitzilopochtli or other gods... Very interesting point!
That "Higher Tyr" line was great!! I'm generally used to your puns, but that one got me!
Another sacrificial comment to the algorithm gods.
Seriously, though the part that got me was the caution to be cognizant of the local envoronment when disposing of offerings.
You blowed my mind when u said the coffee could be a good offering to god and is true, i always offer coffee or tea to my guest in my home and why not to the gods? They are my guest too, IS WONDERFUL 🥰 and about grains i think If the grains nourish my body then they nourish the gods, that is the way I understand the offerings, if it is good for me it will be good for the gods. Thank u sooo much for share this information, greetings from Colombia 😊
The best offering you can give is Love, your Time(prayer) and Yourself. Also to give to others who are in need
My practice is Celtic focused but for daily offerings I use water libations and incense, once a week I offer juice, token food /bread offerings. I tend to eat the offerings (with a pinch of the food being placed outside along with the libations ) and in the evenings when I can I light candles on the altar .
Oh and instead of blessing my meals I offer it first to my Deities , wait a few moments then eat
I groaned at the Tyr joke
I read Ibn Fadlan in college. Great to see it referenced here.
Very well put, thank you for sharing
Sacrificing humans or animals (animals without eating them) is not only giving a gift wich is not yours to give but also taking a gift away witch is not ours to take. Life is a gift and we should all cherish it.
When I left food and even herbs I noticed the entities would take the spiritual sustenance from the offering and many times I would see raccoons or another wild animal eating the food, when I lived in the country. And yes I too see it as the Gods accepting my offerings.
Incense, food, liquor I think are all good offerings. Anything of value to you, even just your time.
“Higher tyr ways of losing ur hand”😭😭
"the giving of a gift which is not yours to give" ahhh so that's why they had to be willing sacrifices
Came for the puns, stayed for the good educational content
I feel like they would prefer alcohol over soda lmao but one can offer anything as long as it has meaning to the person. The higher value you put on it the higher value the Gods will too.
I got an idea why don't you offer them a Red Bull which can either be the animal or the energy drink. LOL
Some of the demons I worship want me to take part in consuming the sacrificed items as if to be included in the ritual. Belial, for example, would have me eat brown foods and consume a bottle of beer while doing work with him, and then he goes on to explain in a "tough love" way where I'm being classless, guiding me through clever deceptions to his lessons. He's really good at getting his worshippers to go off the beaten path.
Thank you for making a video that is informative, well thought out and relevant to this modern yet traditionalist heathen. 👍
Thank you so much!
Where i begun was researching through youtube, then afterwards, i knew enough that odin was the god of wisdom. And i asked him for help in getting information to grow my relationship with the gods. A week later i met a satanist whos parents would buy me a stack of books if i paid them back. This way i could avoid my parents knowing. I later offered to him again in thanks, since then ive made offerings to thor and had conversation with land vaetir to grow my knowledge. So far it has worked out well knowing who to pray. Then gaining a bond with said god/goddess
The first thing i noticed about learning about pagans is the environmental thoughtfullness. i couldnt imagine someone burning plastic in libation, that just sounds kinda counter intuitive with a nature based faith.
You’d think. But its always good to say just in case.
@@OceanKeltoi oh for sure!! im so new to the pagan path im still in the learning phase and since you responded to my comment i want to take a moment and thank you for all your videos i have enjoyed so far on my journey. Find a way or make one. love it:)
Just wanted to add that putting salt on soil makes plants unable to grow there! So don’t pour our any salt offerings to the earth, or make salt circles!
As an ex christian, and as still trying to figure out belief in general, I have really enjoyed finding your channel. I'm struggling as I start to explore and incorporate both Norse traditions, as well as simply animistic and land based ritual and traditions... I'm struggling with this strange affect from my post christianity, where ritual and performative religion is SUPER difficult for me to engage in, yet, I think that it's important and the pathway to the connection that I am seeking with the gods, or the universe, or God, or..... whatever is there. I've felt it before, but only fleetingly.
Anyone have this experience, or any words for me?
We pagans connect directly with the gods, and we don't need priests for example. We feel a connection, we talk to the deities, do rituals and make gifts for the gods. We are very small humans and the gods are high above us. The offerings are important to get attentions from the gods. It is a bond, and it took years to consolidate it. The easiest way is just to start, if you have found your deitie, god, spirit and so on.
Good luck and sorry for my bad english. 😉
Have you watched Ocean’s video on Latent Christianity? It explains a lot about the difficulties in connecting to pagan gods after being Christian for so long. I have been a Heathen for about 10 years and at times still find I have to stop myself from ‘thinking like a Christian’ when it comes to making offerings and interacting with the gods. Recognising the differences between what actually is latent Christianity and then what is normal for pagan spirituality is important and can take time. Hang in there, it gets better.
Get the book Futhark and learn the Holy Runes. Helps with communication to use the tools of our ancestors
@@cafra11972 I have seen that video for sure. I took a really deep dive into Ocean's older stuff when I discovered the channel and it's sort of what has got me thinking about... Am I just still casting about and rebelling? Or am I actually seeking and believing? I have absolutely felt divine presence and connection, as a christian; but it was often outside of and apart from orthodox (though not always). As part of my deconstruction from christianity I started down the celtic christian path, like Ocean has described... and I definitely find value in some of those ideas still. I absolutely value to real teachings of Jesus, as a radical teacher of love and care for each other, but I realized very quickly that I had "met" other people through their writings who felt like they knew the divine, even though they weren't christian, so the search continues.
My most profound and clearly divine connections have come though out in the land, and I feel most connected when I'm observing the points on the wheel of the year, it's just ritual that is seemingly difficult for me as I suppose it feels eerily like the christian focus on ritual, and I instinctively recoil from it. I do understand however that heathen ritual isn't the same sort of dogmatic and performative focus that what I learned from christianity so... I still continue.
Thanks for responding.
@@graspfire9764 Thanks! I will look... I have meditated on the runes using Wardruna rune poem songs which has been very helpful at times.
I've been weary about food offerings because living in Mexico a grackle (or a swallow, or a dove, or a ground dove) might pick it up, which would be nice, but it'll most likely invite swarms of ants and cockroaches for a feast, which I definitely don't want. Also, in Mexican tradition, the spirits "eat" the essence of the food and it's "spiritually poisonous" to partake in it afterwards, so while I think it's more eco-friendly to consume the items I'd be weary. I'll be sticking to incense and drinks for the time being, and maybe my practice will evolve later on. Thanks, Ocean!
Comment offering to the algorithm gods, as this came up at exactly the time I needed it to. Thanks for making this video!!
I'm glad it was useful!
Very interesting, I've been practicing polytheism for 5 years, and recently got upset for my dog eating bread offerings from my altar. Maybe the gods made me watch this video to understand that it was a good omen of acceptance.
Actually a further ( now that I finished the video ) comment on offerings.
A post ritual feast (with the place for one or more gods/spirits that are a part of the ritual) is a great way to both give an offering as well as to ground yourself. Food in the stomach draws blood from the brain. Similar reason I fast before the ritual.
Thank you for making these videos. Great food for Thoth…
I follow one guy who filmed himself pouring Pepsi into a Coke glass and posted it on TikTok as an offering to Loki.
@Ocean Keltoi thank for your video . I am new to Norse Pagan And watching your videos helps out a lot so thank you
I am formally canceling the August 30th virgin sacrifice to offer Odin
I loves this video and helps alot trying to explaim this to people in my life about offerings/ sacrifice. What i mostly do for my offering is mead or beer. And i dont go to the store pick up a bottle of mead lr beer i brew it myself at home. Sometimes its with yeastyou buy at home brew shops but recently after some brewing reasearch im doing wild yeast batches. Under the philosophy of the gods are gifting me the yeast to ferment said mead or beer. What i do is i habe a peice of wood i carved runes into, when my batch is ready for yeast i stir the batch with the stick, say a prayer while stiring. Then let it ferment. Once its ready to bottle i pour a glass of the finished product when bottling for the gods and then i store the bottles for everytime i do an offering