The concept of making offerings to spirit allies, whether they are gods or from among the fairies, is as old as the humankind itself. However, for some, making offerings to spirit entities seems out of place, awkward, pointless, and even foolish. Is this really so? Does the modern person truly hold the monopoly on truth in deciding, based solely on “logical” understanding, that the practice of making offerings has run its historical course? If the answer is yes, the discussion might stop here. If the answer is no, then let's explore farther.
Our earliest ancestors understood that the fate of human communities was, to its largest extent, at the mercy of forces controlling the environment. Land fertility or infertility, clement or inclement weather, presence or absence of game and that bit of hunters’ luck, meant either life or death. Aside from skill and astuteness humans needed the assistance of those powers beyond their direct control to ensure survival. Propitiatory action took on diferent forms. Extreme situations called for extreme forms of exchange, which often times meant a life-for-a-life. Sacrificial offerings, animal or humans, were thus means to bargain, appease, and sometimes express gratitude for a request met with favor.
What was offered changed over time. Offerings followed the evolution of beliefs and relationships people had with nature and other forces governing aspects of human life. Human sacrifices were gradually abandoned but animal sacrifices persisted.[1] . Offerings of food have supplemented and in many cases replaced animal offerings for both economical and, later on, ethical reasons.
Stories tell about denizens of the Otherworld asking for their share and human communities having no other choice but to comply. For example, An Dagda, god and king of fairies in Ireland, asked the human kings for a tribute of dairy and grains in exchange for fertility of land and cattle. People gave away portions of highly valuable resources, and from later texts we learn that sacrificial items were of premium quality: best animals, best dairy, best grains and/or baked good, votive items, etc. Findings at Ard Mhacha in Northern Ireland show that offerings made at that site included various animals like horses, dogs and even a monkey. In modern times, the custom of making offerings is encountered across various religions in conjunction with honoring the ancestors [2]. Pagans, usually [3] offer or sacrifice to the deities and spirit allies to whom they feel connected.
I mentioned in previous posts that in many cultures the lines between fairies and gods are oftentimes blurred. Back to the example of An Dagda. In the lore he appears as a god of incredible power and skill, one of the chief deities in the Irish cultural pantheon. He is also and the king of fairies in Ireland. Macha is mentioned as a goddess, a warrior and sovereign [4] , and a woman of the fairy mounds. In Norse mythology, god Freyr or Fro Ing is connected to elves. In Romanian fairy traditions several fairy queens and kings are actually ancient deities relegated to Fairy. This relegation doesn’t diminish their actual power but changes perception about their roles and how they fit along various other beliefs present in an otherwise Christian culture.
Fairy is not populated with fairy queens and kings only. Many folk medicine women and men receive their knowledge from fairy allies who may or may not hold special ranks. Fairy familiars [5], as the name implies, are very close to their human partner. They provide support and impart various kinds of knowledge. Offerings are made to them in sign of gratitude, but also to balance the ongoing exchange of energy.
Whether addressed as gods or fairies, the denizens of the Otherworld receive offerings in various forms today as they always did.
Fairies are powerful entities who can and do intervene in people’s lives. Some among fairies are in many ways similar to humans, with the added bonus of magical abilities. Some others, the Liminal Powers [6], are decisively more akin to gods, and connect to various aspects of nature.
Firstly, it is believed that fairies, like gods, only take the vital substance from offerings, not the actual bulk of food. In making sacrifices on their temple altars, the priests of ancient Greece explained that the gods feast on the aroma while the gathering of people feats on the flesh of the sacrificed animals. According to this perspective the community provides the animal that in the process of being cooked releases the energy in form of the arome that gods feast upon. This is offered in exchange for help to be received or as gratitude for help already received. Offerings could also be made as an act of devotion, for the sheer joy of having those spirit allies as part of one’s life.
Second, corporeal or non-corporeal beings need to replenish energetically much in the same way as humans need to replenish their resources through eating, drinking, and sleeping. Sending energy in whatever form is appropriate and inviting the fairy allies to partake is the equivalent of us, people, being offered a treat. How could one not feel grateful to the co-worker who cheerfully walks in the office with snacks or coffee for everyone ? It is not just about the food or the coffee being brought but the very gesture of bringing those threats which counts.
Third, even when offerings may not be explicitly needed it doesn’t mean they are not appreciated. Think of a friend who comes in to visit with you. Where I come from, it is a fundamental rule of hospitality to offer something: a cup of tea, a bite of food, a glass of water, just anything that would signal the visitor that their presence is welcomed. It show good manners and it is also a statement about your desire to maybe have them visit more often. Now extend this to the fairy allies that you have as partners or teachers. Why would anyone, fairy of human, feel drawn toward us if we do not make any effort to make our guests feel welcomed? Let's not act entitled as if it is a duty of their's to come around. If we do, then we should not be surprised getting a cold shoulder next time when, in dire straits, we call on them for help.
Fourth, the practice of making offerings also works for the giver's own benefit. In offering food, the conscious mind acknowledges them, the fairies, as real and endowed with both agency and power to intervene in our life. This in turn reinforces in the subconscious mind the belief in their existence. The doubt surrounding fairies’ corporeality, agency, and power may dilutes one's ability to experience their presence. Many children, if not all children, have experienced the numinous. With "help" from adults and the education system, children are taught to deny having had such experiences. In time, the child convinces themselves that they had only imagined, dreamed, or it was just play-pretend. Making food offerings and setting up altars and spaces for fairies help reverse the induced numbing and blinding to the numinous. It doesn't matter whether as adults we see fairies 3D or not at all in order to trust their existence. They will find ways to reveal their presence and in time we will develop our perception. Let's start by creating the right premises for a relationship to form, basically learning to be good neighbors.
Offering: hot drink and study time. Art credit Melissa Munez, 2022, pexels.com
What qualifies as an appropriate offering?
We see that offerings do have a sacrificial character in that that people don’t give what they don’t need or have a surplus of. Offerings were never things humans wanted want to get rid of. Whatever people have offered traditionally to fairies were goods of value, items typically destined to sustaining life or enhance the quality of life. I nkeeping with the tradition, offerings can be food that is fresh and prepared especially for the occasion, but any food that one would enjoy is suited for fairy allies, too. In cultures across Europe, milk and dairy along with baked goods are staple items. I found out from other people’s experience as well as my own that fairies appreciate fresh fruits, fresh water, and at most of them won't turn down a sip of beer, wine, or whisky. Aside from foods, artistic creation and certain types of action make great offerings. One can offer them a song, a poem, or a ritual dance performed exclusively for the fairy allies. One may be tasked with work to complete on fairies' behalf such as taking care of a piece of land, planting something, learning various skills, study the fairy lore of a specific culture, etc. Offerings can take many forms.
If you leave food and drinking offerings outside, make sure that it doesn’t harm local fauna. Do not pour alcohol on or near herbs because it will damage them. At sacred sites, DO NOT pour anything on stones, and DO NOT leave food offerings on the premises. Present the offerings during ceremony or ritual, but then take them away and dispose appropriately. I am not going into the details of how exactly to make offerings, because various traditions follow different approaches but common sense and a respectful attitude are common denominators.
Don’t offer anything that you would not eat such as spoiled food or tastes bad. Do not give scraps that you plan to throw away. If you are a guest in someone’s house, how would you like to be treated? Or imagine that you have your favorite person in the entire world dropping by: how would you show your joy and gratitude for their visit? Certainly not by pouring out for them spoiled drinks in dirty glasses.
Conclusion
Making offerings as part of modern spiritual practice is anything but a relic. Same as thousands of years ago, offerings are means to strengthen the connection with spirit allies, in this case, fairies. The act of inviting them to partake of that which we want to share adds yet another layer to the personal connection and bridges the gap between our world and the theirs. It is a way to show gratitude and joy for their presence in our life. After all, aren’t fairies the reason for us to be on this path?
[1] Not as often as they were in the historical past, animal sacrifices are still part of reality. Whether it has survived in form of the Christian custom of pig slaughtering around Christmas or lamb slaughtering for Easter, the black rooster or hen killed on Michaelmas or in Voodoo rituals, the practice of animal sacrifice is still alive.
[2] Dumb supper on Samhain in Ireland, the feast of Rusalii in Romania, and around Yule in Norse traditions.
[3] I am aware of many Pagan traditions who honor deities and spirit guide with offerings, but I cannot speak for all Pagans of all traditions, because many of these are outside my knowledge and expertise.
[4] In this hypostasis Macha fulfills the social attributes of a king, not those of a queen. For more details of gender stereotypes in Irish history see “Uncovering Ireland’s Secret History” with Dr. Gillian Kenny at https://irishpaganschool.com/p/queer-history
[5] Fairy guides who have become very close to the human partner in a relationship that is long term and involves a high level of commitment. When present in animal shape, fairy familiars are NOT pets but go-between a human and a fairy monarc or group of fairies. Fairy familiars are assigned to humans by fairy queens or kings.
[6] The post “Liminal Powers: Fairy Gods and Gods of Fairy” coming up next.
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