How to Give Offerings

A Non-Denominational Mini Guide

How to Get Started

This guide is intended to be a starting point in how to set up a makeshift altar quickly if you need to give offerings to the Holy Powers, ancestors and/or other spirits.

As such, I’ve made this as non-denominational and simple as possible. I will however encourage you to do some research nonetheless on the various religious practices the Holy Powers might be a part of (eg. looking up Hindu rites for deities like Ganesha, Shiva, Durga, etc). They will appreciate the extra time and effort taken to tailor the offering ritual to the religions and customs they are a part of.

Preparation

For the makeshift altar:

  • Candle (chime candles, taper candles, tealights are all acceptable)
  • Candle holder (if needed)
  • Offering bowl or plate for the food and drinks
  • Picture or statue of the deity/angel/spirit you’re giving the
  • offering to (optional)
  • Offerings: food, drinks and/or incense

For the ritual:

  • Prepare beforehand a set of prayers you can follow
  • Wash and clean up before you do the ritual

On Offerings

For food and drinks, the simplest offering you can give is water. Salt, spices, rice or coffee beans are good offerings to give as well. You can also give a portion of your meals that you cook.

Alcohol is also an acceptable offering for some deities and spirits - though you’ll
need to do your own research to figure out if it will be accepted. For incense, you can use any incense stick as long as it’s not spelled under a god/angel/spirit/etc. Traditional incense like frankincense and myrrh are good choices to start with.

You do not need to give expensive offerings. Keep it simple.

Prayers

Prepare your prayer beforehand. You can use the template below:

“I welcome (insert names of deity/angel/spirit) to my home! Welcome and be present!

I would like to ask for your help in (state what you need help for). In humility and gratitude, I give offerings of (state what offerings you are giving) in honour and goodwill and hope that my petition will be accepted and granted by you.”

Optional: Sit and contemplate for 5-10mins before closing the ritual.

Close the ritual with thanks:

“Thank you (insert names of deity/angel/spirit) for coming to my home! I will now close the ritual. May you depart freely and with my gratitude and thanks!”

Give a short bow. Leave the offerings for at least thirty minutes before disposing of
them and blow out the candles to officially end the ritual.

Prepare a Space

Set up a makeshift altar. Start by clearing a space on a table (or any surface) where you’re going to place the offerings. Make sure the space is clean. It is preferable not to use the floor unless you:

  • Do not have any other available space
  • Are working with a deity/spirit whose idols are placed on the floor (eg. Earth deities from certain East and Southeast Asian customs)

If you have no choice but to use the floor, using a clean mat or a sheet or a raised platform to demarcate the area between the floor and the makeshift altar.

Putting It All Together

  1. Prepare a clean space and set up the altar with the candle(s), offerings and iconography/statues/pictures of the Holy Powers and spirits.
  2. Wash face and hands before starting the ritual. If possible, do the ritual after a shower.
  3. Recite the prayers and give the offerings. Close the ceremony and dispose of the offerings after a minimum of thirty minutes. You can blow out the candles as well - not need to let it all burn unless you want to.
  4. The offerings can be disposed as how you’d normally dispose of food and
    drinks.

Consumption of Offerings

Whether you can eat the offerings depends on which gods you are giving the offerings to. Hindu, Roman, Kemetic (Egyptian) deities all allow their followers to consume the offerings, as per their traditions. For others you will need to do your research or get some divination done.

Otherwise, I suggest to err on the side of caution and not eat them. Even though it
might seem like a waste to throw the offerings, the spiritual energy of the food and drinks have actually been consumed by the spirits. Some have noted a difference in taste when eating offerings given to the spirits.