Iām thinking of doing something different (and a bit daring, for me) and give some burnt herbal offerings to Tysteal. For as long as Iāve practiced, Iāve been hesitant to burn anything for fear I might set off the fire alarm in my apartment. 
But if I burn a small amount in my fire proof cauldron, it shouldnāt create too much smoke, right?
I still have plenty of plantain left, and as an herb of protection, I think it would perfect for a dragon shepherd goddess.
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Is there a window you can open? It cann help circulate the smoke out so it doesnāt set off your smoke alarm. Or do it over your stove if it has an exhaust fan.
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Well, itās cold now, so opening a window isnāt really an option. Maybe I could do it in the bathroom away from the alarm? 
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@kasandra the bathroom would be good if it also has an fan in there! Good luck with your offering!
@Amethyst I am going to have to think about how to approach this one.
Challenge Entry
When I honor Brighid I leave her offerings around Her statue until either the candle is burnt out or overnight. I leave her crystals, coins, use a copper spoon for Her incense that I made up, & a white candle.
When I release spell remains I empty the contents either in the fire in our fire pit or I burn them on a charcoal disc outside. Depends what was in the spell.
I have also buried a bread that I made for the God Lugh during Lughnasdah. I actually buried this by my garden.
I buried a petition from a spell, I have a spot in my backyard where I tend to bury things.
I have offered the Oak tree in our yard water after it was damaged in a storm. We had also buried a baby bunny at the base of the tree that was exposed to the elements too soon & passed in its nest. I wanted it to be safe when it crossed over because it was so young & planted Nasturtium Climbing flowers at the base.
I actually seem to use quite the amount of offerings being used in my practice.
When I honor the Morrigan, I use her incense that I made up, a red juice or potion, Her statue, acorns, cranberries, crystals & a red & black candle.
Now I save the incense ash, but before I would empty them in my yard & I spill the contents or pour them from the chalice outside too.
If I write a letter to an ancestor or want to release any past tarot readings or journals, I always have a fire in the fire pit & burn the pages/papers so they go where they need to so they are released.
I donāt know if it counts, but we have a place in the corner of our yard where we can leave like, gourds, pumpkins or jack o lanterns 
for the wildlife to eat. Itās out of the way of the parts where people frequent so they can go to it at any time. Then when it con no longer be picked at, if possible we put the leftovers in the compost pile.
I use several different methods, itās usually whatever I feel called to do with them & the urgency. 
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Challenge Entry:
Following along with my thought process from last weekās challenge I really would like to work on learning more about my guides (who or what they are, what they can teach me, ECT) and working with them in my journey forward post narcissistic scumbag. I donāt necessarily want to walk all on my lonesome so I have been looking more into the different Goddesses. Morrigan really struck a chord with me.
I have been really keen to work with Morrigan for a little while now. So I had a looky-loo in the section of Morrigan on the Spells8 website and I decided that a simple offering of crow feathers (humanely collected) and a piece of Black Tourmaline and Black Onyx in offering to Morrigan would be a nice way to start.
Incense used in offering to Morrigan: Dragonās Blood
Candle Colour: Black
I also had a peep in one of my newer books in my collection āDark Goddess Magick: Rituals and Spells for Reclaiming Your Feminie Fireā by C. Ara Campbell
Matters Associated with Morrigan:
- Death and Re-birth
- Finding Courage
- Protection
- Invisibility, shielding and cloaking
- Truth, prophecy and clarity
- Dealing with lifeās battles
- Triumph over enemies
- Dreams, visions and nightmares
- Sexuality, love and passion
Morriagn Invocation:
āMorrigan, I beseech thee, stand beside me in my battles. Give me the courage to make the choices that I need to make and the strength to act upon them. Give me your protection and your guidance as I walk forward. Gift me your sight so I may see the path ahead that serves me best. Oh great goddess, guide me as I walk in the unknown.ā
I also tried enchanting a crystal offering to Morrigan with an affirmation:
While holding a piece of Black Obsidian in my dominant hand I recited the following Morrigan affirmation:
āI am courageous.
I am strong.
I am capable of handling all that comes my way.
I weather all storms that enter my life.
I am shielded from the self-serving intentions of others.
I embrace the messages that flow to me.
I open to my intuition and inner guidance.
I honour the dark mysteries that flow within me.ā
Edit:
I was having a flip through āThe Little Book of Earth Magic: Connect to the Magic of the World around Youā by Sarah Bartlett - yup I take my spell books to work to read on my lunch break - and I found these if anyone would like them: I thought they fit the billā¦
āBasil Ritual of Thanksā
To help balance the cycle of nature by giving back as much as you receive, perform this ritual at night under a Full Moon.
You will need:
- 1 Basil plant
1. Pluck five basil leaves from your plant and place them in a moonlit spot to draw down the lunar energy and also to offer as a symbol of your fidelity to the universe.
2. In the morning, take your leaves to a natural body of water - if this isnāt possible, a jar of spring or mineral water will do the trick - and shred them into the water to enhance your connection to nature.
āLavender Ritual of Thanksā
The best time to perform this ritual of thanks is when the lavender bush is in bud or flower.
You will need:
- 5 stems of lavender or an image of lavender bushes
- 1 small bottle of lavender essential oil
- 1 white candle (if using an image of lavender)
1. Take your lavender oil and anoint the five lavender flowers or buds, five being the magical number of Earth magic. If you are using an image, anoint it with 5 drops of the oil and then place the image beneath the lit white candle.
2. Repeat the following affirmation as you cup the stems in your hands or gaze at your image: āI give my healing spirit back to the herbs of love and protection in all things, and join all of nature with my magic words.ā
3. Bow your head in thanks to the lavender and your positive spirit will be returned to the botanical world.
I think that these would count as offerings as its a ritual of thanks back to nature.
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@jessica72 I have done a lot of research on the Morrigan & have made a couple of posts about her & some really great resources for learning her stories.
There is a great series through Pagan Portals. Available in book & free with Kindle Unlimited by Morgan Daimler. Stephanie Woodfield is also another great resource for her. I did a lot of reading & you will find contradicting correspondences, but if you read her stories through the Tuatha De Danaan & The Ulster Cycle you also have to remember to take her correspondences & modernize them because ancient times was recorded more by word of mouth & it wasnāt until Christianity essentially moved in that the Celts/Druids practiced in secret that didnāt change over to Christianity coming through. The Romans were the first to start writing recordings of the Celts as they were a prominent culture. Itās a little complicated at times. I would just say be careful where you get the information from about the Morrigan & her sisters & find supporting information for anything that is from a secondary or tertiary source.
- Pagan Portals: The Morrigan: Meeting the Great Queen - Morgan Daimler
- Pagan Portals: Raven Goddess: Going Deeper with the Morrigan - Morgan Daimler
- Celtic Lore & Spellcraft of the Dark Goddess - Stephanie Woodfield
Iām happy that she found you.
Off the top of my head:
- black & red candles
- red meat
- pomegranate
- crows/ravens
- Samhain
- Dark Moon
- sequences/the number 3
Iām not trying to discourage you, because I know that call from the Morrigan. If you have any questions or would like to talk about it, just send me a message. I am constantly looking into her & her aspects. The more you learn & Honor her, she will make herself known to you. Itās happened to me more than once & out of the blue when I needed some guidance moving forward & through the holidays.
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@Amethyst Iām sure the creative coven will have lots of offering ideas for you to consider, Amethyst! 
Thanks again for sharing such a great challenge theme! 
@Debra2 May your meditation help to reveal ideas for you, Debra- happy meditating and I wish you good luck! 
@theloneblkwolf I love your practice of having a tea/coffee date with your ancestors and spirits- what a great ritual to do! Thatās a good point about being mindful of how long the offerings stay out for, especially when ants are a concern. And the ongoing money bowl is a great financial practice to have in place! Thank you so much for sharing, Lunairess! 
@Kasandra Good for you for being daring, Kasandra- Iām sure Tysteal will appreciate such a thoughtful offering You are smart to be cautious about burning- start small and make sure there isnāt a fire alarm nearby (sometimes they can be hidden out of sight) that any smoke would set off. Good luck and I hope it goes well for you!
@Susurrus Thank you for sharing how you make your offerings to your different deities, Siofra- it seems like you have unique practices for offerings to Brigid and the Morrigan. And I can tell you put a lot of thought and care into your spell remains and offering disposal- thank you for sharing your methods! 
@jessica72 Congrats on deepening your bond with the Morrigan, Jessica- Iām so excited for you! 
Thank you for sharing the correspondences you uncovered and also for the lovely crystal offering you did- I think adding in an affirmation is a wonderful boost to the spellwork- great job!
(And I smile everytime I read one of your fun words- ālooky-looā is officially going into my vocabulary 
)
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Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Making Magickal Offerings
An offering to your God/Goddess means many things to many people.
Most organized religions ask an offering during their services. In reality this offering is to support the building. Electric, repairs and maintenance plus the support of the priest/preacher. This is in not in any way wrong, just perhaps mislabeled.
An offering, to me, is a sincere gift to your Deity.
When I had a hibiscus hedge, as they bloomed, I would pick the biggest and prettiest flower, offering it with a bow on my altar. When it had withered, it was removed, disposed of and another one chosen.
My son thought it was disrespectful to give back a gift that had been given to me.
I explained, "If Goddess granted me the beautiful flowers, the very least I could do was to offer the prettiest bloom as a thank you to Her. "
When the flowers no longer bloomed, I offered the change in my pocket, a cup of coffee, a cigarette, what ever I had that was meaningful to me.
Again, my son said, āSo what do you do with the change?ā
I told him āNothing, it belongs to Goddess.ā
āWhat if I take it?ā He asked.
āThen it would be gone, wouldnāt it.ā
āThen your offering is void.ā
āNo, sweet boy. If an offering leaves the altar, my opinion is that it was Her will.ā
āBut I stole it.ā
āDid you? Or was it Goddessā Will?ā I told him. āAnd before you ask, when the coffee is cold and old, I remove it and replace it with something else.
Life is a circle, my son, life is a circle.ā
He may not believe as I do, but as I never pushed any specific religion on him, he accepts what I believe. Not for him, but for me.
And you know what? Thatās alright by me.
By the grace of the Goddess,
Be safe, Always
Be blessed, Always
And know you are loved, Always.
So mote it be!
Garnet Trailblazer
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I am the only practicing pagan in the house. I have 1 son in denial, but loves Norse Mythology & reads about ancient/old Norse ways, Vikings, Scandinavia & that area, all of it.
Itās his concept of what paganism is that he isnāt sure about, so I have a book about Paganism for Beginners, just so he has some idea of what it is & how the Gods & Goddesses related to concepts of the Wheel of the Year, Solstices, Astrology/Divination. Iām not pushing him, but I answer his questions honestly & if he does ask about anything on my altar or what Iām doing, I am open with him about what it is Iām doing & why. I told him that itās fine if what I do isnāt what he also does, I told him to do what feels right to him, but to take his time.
I love your entry Garnet, I can really relate to that experience. 
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@BryWisteria 
You are most welcome to add that one! I would say that I could put it down to 16 years of being in the same job - child care. I try and make things fun for the kids. But itās a worry when the kids that I have looked after for years come out with āme mannerismsā. Just yesterday I had one come out with āoh well it isnāt going to fall any furtherā when she dropped something on the floor. I couldnāt help but laugh at that one. I love my kids. I donāt have any of my own - thankfully not to him anyways so itās a blessing really. to do the job I do.
But I have always been a little different and well and truly had my own vocabulary even before I started in this job. I think itās a perfect fit really. Iām a little strange and I donāt mind being a little silly to try and make someone else smile.
@Susurrus Thank you so much for sharing that. I will for sure check out your posts on Morrigan! I donāt feel discouraged, not at all. Iām grateful that you took the time to think of me to share it. Iām still very new to all of this and I would never want to disrespect anyone who works with the deities and has far more experience than I do, or even the deities themselves by not taking full advantage of all the wisdom offered to me.
It was that one line that I found in my Dark Goddess book within the Morrigan affirmation when I was having a flip through āI am shielded from the self-serving intentions of othersā that was my ah-ha! moment . If that one line doesnāt sum up my relationship with Mitch then I donāt know what else can.
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Iām happy for you!
@SilverBear has a meditation for Meeting Macha, she is 1 of the sisters that are part of the Morrigan.
Anything else, please feel free to ask.
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I love baking and I love baking as offering. My favorite go to is Honey Cakes. I have a recipe that is similar tasting to a spice cake. Depending on the Diety I will put different fruit on top or customize in other ways. Gaia specifically loves Honey cakes. When I offer to her I will also leave a cup of milk sweetened with honey.
I am more familiar with the Celtic Gods and Goddesses, but I feel most comfortable with Gaia. Something about being able to step outside of my door and put my hands on her, the physicality of Gaia that is hard to find in Diety.
It is my usual practice to leave offerings out overnight. I am an evening ritual witch. Once everyone is tucked in I can get to work. Also the evening atmosphere gives a magical quality to my spells. My family is very respectful of my space so I do not worry about it being disturbed before I wake up. In the morning I will walk the offering outside to my garden, lawn or usually compost. I will take a few deep breaths and thank the Diety, say a few words to them as friends and bury the offering. One of the links referred to a discussion on how long an offering should be left out. Many suggestions were given and ultimately all the answers were right. Maybe in the future I could bring my pendulum out and consult how long I should or could leave the offering.
I have yet to work with any offering other than food. I totally absorbed all of the links above. Pages of notes were written in my book on this topic. I love the idea of offering to more than God and Goddess, like my house spirit! I love my house spirit, how fun to say thank you to them.
The offering can be more than food. I liked the idea of a kind gesture or planning a date with the Diety, like a monthly nature walk date with Gaia. Yes Please! That is happening from now on. I have a gratitude song that I regularly sing to the God and Goddess. I had no idea that was considered an offering to them. But it makes so much sense! Really anything that shows loyalty and love is an offering.
This was such a fun week. Thank you so much for inspiring me to research a little bit. Sigh, If only I put forth this much effort in high school. 
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CHALLENGE ENTRY
I have a few altars but the altar Iām going to talk about is my Bast altar. She is the daughter of Ra and Isis. (I also worship Isis). I have a Bast statue surrounded by offerings of crystals (jet is her favorite), catnip, 2 candles, 2 incense holders for incense cones, perfumes, balms (specifically healing balms are her fav.), oils and flowers.
I researched before I placed and offerings. She also loves when humans dance, listen to music and I leave her a little bit of whatever it is Iām drinking at the moment.
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@Garnet Beautiful exploration of what offerings mean in your practice, and how important they are in your life as a whole! The interaction with your son was very powerful to read- you are so wise, Garnet! I really admire your strength of heart and faithful love to your Goddess And lovely chant too- thank you!
@Jessica72 Hooray! You have so many really fun words- I ought to start a collection and try to use them more, they add a bit of fun spice to language and yes! Fun words like that do bring smiles for everyone Child care sounds like a great fit for you, and I have no doubt at all that the children adore you- even through just text I can tell you have such a bubbly and fun personality! 
@LadyAuld.ofChico Your Honey Cakes sound amazing! 
Thank you for sharing your methods of giving offerings, and Iām really glad if some of the links proved to be helpful for you! May you enjoy finding fun ways to make offerings (be it food, time, or lovely dates!) and may your deities continue to watch over and smile upon you Great job!
@Christina4 I know youāve been building up your bond with Bast, Christina- thanks for sharing how you like to give offerings to Her! I am sure all of your very thoughtful gifts are appreciated- and I love the note about Bast enjoying when people dance! 
Well done!
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Success!
I took a small amount of plantain, and burned it in my cauldron in my bathroom apartment with the fan on. I put it near my crimson dragon statue that represents Tysteal. As an added bonus, I mixed the burned plantain with all the crushed ends of my burnt matches that Iāve yet to throw away. I lit a red candle, made myself some sweet berry tea and sat by my draconic altar for a few minutes. Lately, the nights have been bitterly cold (in the single digits) and snowy (3-4 inches of snow yesterday), so itās the perfect time to ask the dragons for warmth and protection!
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As a ritual and spiritual practice, I make deity offerings daily. The first deity is my spirit guide Isis. She revealed herself to me as Isis in an oracle reading with my new Gateway of Light Activation oracle 2 weeks ago. Since then I have honored her with rose petals and buds, favorite flower incense and 2 red candles. I printed up her image and put it in a frame until I can purchase her statue. The second deity is the daily deity Bast. Her offering is black tourmaline and amethyst in a small cork jar ( make these myself for each daily deity I honor) and light a white candle that burns all day. I also offer Bastās favorite incense and when it is a special day or if I have received a special gift I offer her one of her favorite foods if I have it on hand. Both deities are honored with mediation and prayer throughout the day and at the end I try to remember to thank them for their guidance and gifts. Below is a picture of my altar today.
Blessed be 
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Entry to Weekly Witchy Challenge ā Making Magical Offerings
This Ritual can be done at any phase of the moon 
during the day 
or during the night 
whenever needed.
Youāll need 1 large white or pink bowl
1 white candle
water
small fresh flowers ( white blooms are best)
1 piece of white cotton cloth
Place the bowl on the altar ( or any surface you desire). If desired, cast a circle. Affix the white candle to the center of the bowl with warmed beeswax or with drippings from another white candle ( so the bowl acts as a candle holder).
Pour water into the bowl. Float the fresh flowers on the surface of the water.
Light the candle.
Visualize your reason for this ritual; remember why youāre giving thanks to the Goddess and God. Touch the water on both sides of the candle with your fingertips, saying these words:
Lady of the moon, of the stars and the earth;
Lord of the sun, of the forest and the hills;
I perform a ritual of thanks.
My love shines like the flame;
My love floats like the petals
Upon you.
Lady of the waters, of flowers and the sea;
Lord of the air, of horns and of fire;
I perform a ritual of thanks.
My love shines like the flame:
My love floats like the petals
Upon you.
Lady of the caves, of cats and snakes;
Lord of the plains, of falcons and stags;
I perform a ritual of thanks.
My love shines like the flame;
My love floats like the petals
Upon you.
Look into the candleās flame, then down into the water. Blow gently upon the waterās surface and watch the flowerās movements. Meditate. Commune. Thank.
When itās time, remove the petals from the water. Place them in the center of the white cotton cloth. Wrap the cloth around the petals. If youāve cast a circle, close it now.
End your rite of thanks by quenching the candleās flame, pouring the water onto the ground, and burying the fowers in the earth.
It is done.
Excerpts are taken from Living Wicca by Scott Cunningham, a guide for the solitary practitioner.
Blessed Be 
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I love this challenge 
I donāt have a full post to write but I still wanted to share my thoughts (and pictures because yes, I actually did stuff too lol)
I give offerings fairly regularly and it always varies. With Brighid, I have a daily offering of a candle as long as I have a candle to give. Iāve been trying to be more attentive to the lands spirits and give them offerings, too. I give my ancestors an offering of water regularly. On special occasions they also get a plate of food or coffee, whatever I feel like offering.
I got my order of candle wicks in the mail today and was finally able to put some candles together from my leftover wax. This candle is a trial run and I will be making some more next week (probably in a video, too).
The red candle is scented and I wanted to melt it down with some non-scented wax to hopefully make the scent lessā¦ smelly? Itās very strong lol it didnāt work that well and itās still very strong but thatās okay. Now Iāve got a lovely red candle in a beautiful candle holder I found at a yard sale. Iām hoping to make a Brighid-specific candle next week.
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Magical offerings happen often in my household. I have a makeshift altar set up for my ancestors, and on it, I have pictures of those who have moved on. Every night, I light a white candle for them, and every Day of the Dead, I lay out food for them. As a child, I often left bits of bread in the rose garden for any fae that may have been there (never asking for anything in return). Unfortunately, I do not have a rose garden at my house now :
. The Goddess Athena sit on my altar. Offerings to her often include water and blue candles. I also made prayer beads for her, and placed them around her neck. From time to time, I use them and then āgiveā them back. I try not to ask for much from her, and most often just thank her.
These are just a few ways I make magickal offerings to my ancestors, deities, and magical entities in my life.
I cannot wait to read what others have posted. I am always looking for new ways to show my thanks.
Blessed Be!
Athena
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