In Wicca, connecting with deities properly is very important. If you want the protection, guidance and help form your deities, it really helps to give them something in return that will please them.
And the best way to get their attention is by doing offerings.
To offer something to a deity is to show and profess loyalty, gratitude and love. These are usually given in rituals.
But in doing so, you must remember the following:
- What does my deity want and appreciate?
- How and how often do I have to make offerings?
- What materials will I use on my altar?
- How frequently do I have to do it?
KINDS OF OFFERING
Offerings come in many, many ways. The way spirits, gods and goddesses reply varies, either by your method or form of offering.
Normally, offerings are given by form of food and drink, but some offerings also come as your most valued possession, such as jewelries. However, some offerings come in unique ways. For example, there are fertility god/goddess who appreciates seeing you in pleasure, which is why masturbating or engaging in sex can also serve as an effective offering.
WHAT DEITIES LIKE
Listen. It’s really, really important that you understand your deity.
When offering, you have to understand first what your deity is like, what he/she represents, what kind of gift will suit them and what they surely would accept. Surely it would not be correct when you offer flowers to a war god, right? In offering something to a deity, you have to really pay attention and be alert with your senses.
Searching online about your deity is absolutely helpful for you to know what to offer. Making research and asking for friends also really, really helps.
Here is a list of offerings with their specific god/goddess type that might be useful for you:
Gods/Goddesses of Hearth and Home:
- Food: Bread and grains, cooking oil, salt
- Drink: Milk, wine, cider
- Herbs: Rosemary, thyme
Gods/Goddesses of Love and Passion:
- Food: Eggs, honey, apples
- Drink: Wine, fruit juice
- Herbs: Lavender, sandalwood
Gods/Goddesses of Nature:
- Food: Bread, cornmeal, fruit
- Drink: Milk, water
- Herbs: Bay
Gods/Goddesses of Prosperity and Abundance:
- Food: Grains, dairy products like cheese or eggs
- Drink: Milk, beer
- Herbs: Mint, pennyroyal, catnip
Spirits of Ancesters
- Food: Any meal from your family’s table
- Drink: Drinks from the family table
- Herbs: Sage, sweetgrass
Childbirth or Fertility Goddess:
- Food: Eggs, baked sweets like cookies
- Drink: Milk (including breast milk)
- Herbs: Rose, sandalwood, apple blossoms
Here are some of the items that pleases all gods and goddesses: fresh fruit and vegetables (especially homegrown), grain (cereal or bread), apples, honey, fruit juice, wine, beer, mead, any alcoholic beverage that could be found natively wherever your deity comes from.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD I GIVE OFFERINGS?
The most effective way of offering to the gods is when you do it regularly (like I said, in every ritual). But some of them also follow a certain phase of time, like when your deity is associated with a certain phase of the moon, and you have to follow the particular phase each month. Though, you can also offer them whenever you feel the need to.
Smudging Bundle from The Moonlight Post
WHAT TO CONSIDER DURING THE OFFERING RITUAL
If your offering is food, using a tortilla wrap as a plate (though you can use an actual plate) can be helpful especially when your offering is needed to be placed outside after the ritual.
Always invoke your deity, either by lighting a candle or calling them through a prayer.
In the moment of offering, speak to your deity, silently or loudly. Tell them why you are giving them something, and ask them to accept it. Rest it on your altar, or in front of you. You can also do the “pleasure offering” at this moment.
After the offering, meditate. Do this for as long as you want.
In dismissing your deity, speak in a less demanding voice.
You may keep your offering in your altar for as long as you like, or as long as it’s not disturbed or eaten by a pet.
IF SOMETHING SEEMS WRONG
Time is very crucial in every ritual. If your deity doesn’t respond, usually within one to three months, wait and stop for a while. Spend some time in nature, especially in a place where your deity may rest. When you feel like it’s the perfect moment that you redo your offerings, then do so.
Finally, always think creatively! There are numerous ways you can serve your deity something. Just remember, at the end of the day, it’s always about your good intentions and genuine goal.
That’s it! Offering to your deities isn’t really that difficult. You just have to really remember these things to do the correct offering ritual!
Are there some offering experiences you’d like to share? Share them in the comments below! 🙂
This was EXTREMELY helpful! Thank you!
After I offer bread. What do I do with it after a couple of days?
Bury it…It is bio-degradable and will absorb back into the Earth, which is an excellent offering for your deity… Especially if your deity is a Nature God/Goddess…
Put it at a crossroads
When offering food, how do I get it out of my house after the offering? It doesn’t sound right to just throw it away, but putting it outside would draw ants and might kill an otherwise healthy ecosystem. So how do I dispose of it?
I’ve heard that if you bury it in the earth it’s really effective (returning it to the earth). Plus, if it happens to be something biodegradable, like fruits or eggs it should be ok if it’s disposed of outside. I like to make different kinds of tea for my deities and pour the offering in my plants the next time I change it out.
What do i offer to my god Hephaestus? He’s a crafts and metal working god, and his element is fire. What do i do?
To be honest I know very little about this so far,but I would say a knife. He is a crafts and metal gods, a knife is metal and was crafted in fire. (not a kitchen utensil, I mean like a knife similar to an athame)
Knowing your Deity is important.
For him, (he is a God of great integrity…. He takes pride in his work and never shirks his responsibilities.)
I would offer my sweat, my time, and my skills: create something (sword, dagger, shame, etc) he would be proud of – I would keep it on his alter afterwards always, and would keep it well cleaned, sharpened, and oiled regularly. (Clove oil works well for some blades).
Offer metal, trinkets, or even jewelry. Throw it into the fire and pray to him. Or bury it and pray. Or leave it at your alter and pray. You can also burn herbs and foods you believe he may like. Perhaps herbs with the fire symbol.
For many years I’ve talked to my great grandmother she is a Cherokee medicine doctor I’ve always been big on madical herbs and stones, I carry a medicine bag with me Idk if it’s here our not how can I tell
I offer things from my heart.i don’t know if I doing it completely correct but the intent is of love.
Ok, so I’m new about all of this. Although I’m drawn to Asteria, but there isn’t much about her. I was hoping to find someone who knew more about giving offerings to her. Thanks, loved this article!
What would I give Morrigan? She is a goddess of war and death. She is strong and fearless. What should if offer?
Depends what you’re hoping for, maybe. I know your comment is old but I saw nobody else replied yet. I think maybe a crow feather, some strong alcohol spirits either in a little dish or poured out on the ground, and something that makes you think of victory. And on your altar maybe something personal that reminds you of strength or courage.
What would i offer Morrigan? She is fearless, strong and the goddess of death and war. What would be fitting?
Any kind of weapon would suffice… But with an offering like that, it would be wise to keep it on your Alter… Hope this helps
This was very helpful. Does anyone know what I can offer to the goddes, Hekate? She’s the goddes of magic, the moon, the night, ghosts, and necromancy. She also has a fondness of blood. Thank you.
Lol no blood, blood magic is to dangerous to mess with. I would say moon water or moonstone. Maybe pray to her as you walk along the roadside at night. Meditate in the full moon, make small torches you light at her alter to honor her
How do you know when the deity accepts the offer?
I am offering Dark Chocolate to my goddess Bastet. I am unsure what I should do with the chocolate when I am done, I can’t burn it and I am really nervous about all this.
eat it, ask for their blessing on the candy bar then eat it but if it’s not bar idk
Im worshipping the triple goddess…what should i offer her?
Hello! How do I dispose offerings at an urban area where I can’t dispose of it properly without attracting ants?
I still live with my parents and they’re both Catholic. But i want to practice pagan. How do I do this without them finding out?
Hiding your Spiritual practice out of concern for others’ well being, on the positive: this shows how your concern and compassion for the world around you is often times a priority before maintaining that same respect for yourself; indirectly proving to all the universe that you were born into this era as a genuine child of true paganism and ancient practices🖤 Ironically enough, I feel as if that positive aspect of your soul could potentially be the cultivation of depression and spritual decay… because in Wicca don’t forget(or if you hadn’t known before) that our belief in harming no other living beings ABSOLUTELY includes yourSELF! my family raised me catholic and it’s never been easy and I still find myself in a religiously insensitive debate with my excessively opinionated nana(still my best friend!) and it creates tension from time to time-but when she can regain enough tolerance to genuinely discuss the dynamic of my spirituality, no-she DOES NOT agree with or completely condone my own practices—but she definitely condones supporting me and even though it’s the utmost fragile subject between her and I to discuss, I would’ve never tried to hide it from her-and nor should you from anyone whom you love & care for, because for the record: if you aren’t consistently yourself in the midst of another In order to be loved by them, well.. did they ever even really love the “true you”?? Believe in yourself always
So I just made an offering bottle for Aphrodite (rose petals, rose quartz, cinnamon, aquamarine and sea shells) I lit my rose quartz candle next to it and like 4 mins after I lit the candle, it started making a crawling noise and just went out. Does that mean she rejected it???
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1931d5fabf0c45089da1ea89b538c2bc7deaf07f3c4cd52a1b5dec2e014587ae.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/b1285a78b547f441c1ab34b789e2926599b41bd62e58c7b9242b2e1c74e965f9.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a2b3e78f45a7efeba83901879b8f8cea20a6fcdf48343d0eb85ee266cbd5571e.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/aeb8176118494fbb8c0f85a56785dd9fc04e30e8296dadd3e69ab0c58bc93093.jpg
There’s so many variables it’s hard to tell without more context😿 I can try to help out if you explain the ritual a bit more
Hello dear witches and non-witches or any other out there <3
I am quite new to witchcraft and been working for about 1 year new, I don't really have contact to any other witches yet except for my other 2 baby witch friends!
I would like to share my email here for maybe some older witches who would like to help me out from time to time (pia.m.hartl@icloud.com)
But I actually have a question about deities
I have contacted a moon goddess Selene but i don't really know what to offer to her,
I really like her, because she is very "cool"
I also thought she would be good to work with because I am attracted to the moon and didn't really find anything about the moon as a patron so I chose her!
I would appreciate any advice!
Thank you!
Baby witch,
Pia 😉
Hi Pia,
Im a baby witch myself, I am trying to establish my relationship with Artemis. I usually bake moon and sun shaped cookies for her and her brother. You could try those since Selene is also connected to the moon. Blessed be.
Hii I think the same as you but I think you will have more information on discord or in amino or even tumblr , it’s have many witches who have experienced. Unfortunately I can’t help since I’m at the same point as you but well if you want then I can give you some link to be able to enter in the community ( it’s really helpful and some even have classes to teach you the basics). Hope to see you there .
Clari
if i have cats and sisters can my offerings (sweets) be put in a box with a lid or will my deity not accept it (I’m trying to evoke my deity-do not currently have one-because a Tarot session brought into light that i had a deity hiding and testing the waters)
Dear Kai!
I also have a little brother and a dog, which both like to snoop around in my stuff, I offer my offerings in a box with a lid, but when I light my deitys candle or I am alone at home I open the lid, also I always close my door during the night, so that I can open the box as well!
Generell you should keep any not safe witchcraft materials in a box with a lid!
Also if you have a god/goddess you work with, try to contact them and kind of explain why you have to close the lid, I hope they understand your reasons, maybe you could sometimes leave an extra offering to lighten up their mood, but I am sure it will work out!
Blessed be,
Pia
Can my offerings be placed in a box with a lid (i have sisters and 2 cats)?
Dear Serena!
I saw you already where so kind and helped me out with my question so I will return the favor and share my experience!
I also have a little brother and a dog, which both like to snoop around in my stuff, I offer my offerings in a box with a lid, but when I light my deitys candle or I am alone at home I open the lid, also I always close my door during the night, so that I can open the box as well!
Generell you should keep any not safe witchcraft materials in a box with a lid!
Also if you have a god/goddess you work with, try to contact them and kind of explain why you have to close the lid, I hope they understand your reasons, maybe you could sometimes leave an extra offering to lighten up their mood, but I am sure it will work out!
Blessed be,
Pia
I’m drawn to the greek muse of comedy Thalia ,there’s not much to know about her what can I use as offering?
How about some stage props, or makeup, comedy is a stage performance, so perhaps even a book of play scripts would suffice. It truly is the intent that matters and not always the gift itself, but some association should be made.
I just recently celebrated beltane with my sister…I offered some of my flowers from my gardens young lettuce from my gardens as well.
The next day I smudged my home with white sage and white candles just to clean the home a little. The next day I was hit by a flook storm that completely surrounded my home with downed trees and not one scratch on my home. Upon further inspection of the damn to my yard I find a full grown dragonfly in my young lettuce. The same lettuce I offered 2 days b4. I was obviously protected and the dragonfly was the messenger.
:0
thats awesome
so, I’m a baby witch and have always been drawn to Artemis and Athena, mostly Artemis though. I was wondering if i could make an offering to her even if she isn’t my patron goddess, and what kind of offerings I could make her? If I made moon and star shaped cookies (like someone else suggested) and they were shortbread cookies, how would I dispose of them?
You can offer to any god or goddess you like! If the cookies are safe to be buried into the earth, I would do that.
how do i know when they are done with my offerings and how do i disposes of them ,in the right way?
hey fellow readers!! I’m a baby witch who wants to work with Aphrodite, but I don’t know where to start. My parents won’t let me set up an alter yet either, but I really want to give her something and work with her. Help is super appreciated!!
thank you in advance, Sophie
Could you offer her something outside, making offerings near a beautiful place you think she’d love, a local park maybe near a fountain or pond (especially if swans are near by), a waterfall. I’d personally offer her flowers, bird feathers, fruit associated with love like strawberry, grapes and figs.
After I’m done, like it’s been in my altar for a couple days, what do I do with it? (It’s a rose btw, for Hades)
If i were to make moon water to clean my crystals could I use the extra as an offering to Hecate.