I have been going through some things today with a spirit I am trying to work with and it gave me an idea for this topic.
Question what type of offerings do you like to use? Intuitive offerings where you work closely with a deity on discovering what offerings it likes, or do you look up lists of offerings for specific deities.
I ask because I work with deities that are or seem unknown. Like how some feel connected to Anubis, the deities I feel connected to are spirits I encounter. They are not deities specific to any pantheon though some seem to come from differing cultures, but I merely get the feeling of a culture, no specific deities.
This isn't easy to explain. Seeing how I work with non specific spirits I have come to rely on intuition with my offerings.
I wonder if others work with spirits in this way?
What brought this topic up for me today was that I had set out some Ryolite stones for a particular spirit I am trying to forge a relationship with, but it just hadn't felt right and the offering did not seem to be accepted.
I did a spiritual jewelry cleanse and charge today and kept the salt I used in the cleansing.
I relaxed for a bit. Finally I decided to use the Ryolite in a small spell bag to be carried around.
Once the Ryolite had been taken away from the altar and used the space felt empty. This did not set with me.
I gave up and watched a youtube vid and the idea struck me to try and use my leftover salt as an offering and see how that would go.
Now everything feels so much better. I suppose that was all it took.
The spirit is not fond of Ryolite or perhaps stones in general, but is satisfied with salt?
What has been some of your experiences with similar things if you all don't mind?
While the spirits I have worked with in the past are well known with information about the sorts of offerings they like, I always ask. A thought in my mind as I ask and say. Hey, what offering do you prefer? For me it goes back to the best answer you can get is from the source. I also think most spirits like the fact that they are being asked. The answer often comes as a thought form, or a picture in my mind.
I'm also unable to buy some things since it may be too dear for me to get, so there is a limit in what kind of offerings I can give. This way spirit can work with me and give me an answer that is not only something I can actually give them, but something they are happy with.
Offerings that aren't what the spirit may like are fairly common. I always tend to see stories such as these and they are normally crystal relate. Where someone offers a spirit crystals, but it's often turned down. Trees are a little fussy with crystals which may feel like they have not been touched, but give them something different as an an offering then they be much happier with such a gift.
When I approach a new spirit I haven't worked with and they haven't let me know what they like I lay out a glass of water, a candle,and some incense-usually frankincense.
I find this to be a plain offering. But the act of making an offering is the most important part at this stage in my opinion. It's like offering a stranger a cup of tea as opposed to taking them to a restaurant.
Once contact begins and a relationship with the spirit is formed I find they aren't shy about asking what they prefer. I then slowly assimilate those things. Sometimes I find those things are historically accurate. Other times I find they are not. Spirits change, people change, methods change.
Thank you DragonEarth. I find a lot of your posts to be very helpful and this one has helped me a great deal.
Thank you as well HadIt, a lot of what you say rings very true for me.
Great perspectives.
I'm going to proceed through a method of trial and error as well as taking time to thoroughly think these techniques of practice through. Take my time in a way.
