Making Offerings To The Gods

Now, this question has been with me for a while; what do the Gods consider offerings??? What do I do with them afterwards?  Do not panic! All is perfectly well, you are safe. The Gods will not smite you because you have not offered them lavish riches or a tasty treat; they love you far too much.

What Do The Gods Consider Offerings

A number of things! You can give them food, you can burn incense, you can play music for them if you worship a God of music, put fresh water for those who preside over water, a beautiful and lovely scented candle, practically anything. EXCEPT FLESH! DO NOT SACRIFICE! DO NOT OFFER ANYTHING WITH FLESH AND A SOUL AS AN OFFERING! I understand that it was believed - and possibly true - that it happened in the past, but think about the Bible. The standings of their God is old and part of the past, and those that follow their God have done everything in their power to stick to his word by the letter. They have not evolved from tradition and created a new tradition. The great thing about our Gods and the people who worship them is that we can flow with the times, and that means that the Gods will understand that offerings of the flesh - unless you give yourself to them in a spiritual-sexual manner - cannot be done anymore.

Mainly, think about what your God/Goddess represents. Hathor is a Goddess of beauty and music. For her, I sing! I may not be very good and in the spiritual realm she may shun from my horrible voice, but at least she knows that I love her enough to show her that she means so much to me. Anubis? Decorate your altar with skulls - at least that's to what my thinking is. Poseidon? Lay a bowl of water on your altar, some sunglasses, starfish, beach stuff! Always remember that whatever offerings you lay down, make sure that the God/Goddess you are offering to KNOWS about it. Just laying on your altar will have small significance and will only make it look pretty or cluttered.

How To Get Rid of Offerings

Now, if you want to put offerings of food on your altar, that's kind of a different story. You can! You most certainly can! Remember to think about the culture your God/Goddess comes from  and think about them personally as to what they like. Hathor may like sweet things, being a Goddess of love. Poseidon must love fish! Of course there's the whole grapes, cheese, and crackers that you can put down when in doubt! The Gods will surely feel pampered.

Now, getting rid of your food offerings? What ever shall you do?

It all depends on your type of worship. For Hellenic polytheism, food can be eaten afterwards or burnt for the Ouranic deities. For Khthonic deities, it's usually traditional to bury these, do not eat them. Kemeticism allows for the food to be eaten so not to waste anything. It also goes that you are sharing a meal with the Gods as if they were family.

P.S. For those who are poor, do not fret! Like I said, you can keep it simple! Incense, things of symbolism, etc.

I hope that this has helped, it did with me. Also, I am always looking forward to questions, and if I do not have the answers, I will move mountains to ensure you of good information that will help you in your time of need!

Blessed be!

Information for this post came from http://pagan-positivity.tumblr.com/

Goddesses of Fertility

It's that time of year when we give thanks to our mother Goddesses and our father Gods for happiness and fertility to our wonderful home. I hope this list is sufficient in who you all are looking for to give thanks. Blessed be!

Fertility Goddesses

Ala (Nigerian) - Mother Goddess responsible for fertility of both animals and man.
Ajysyt (Siberian) - Mother Goddess. Her name means "birth giver".  She visited every mother and provided a soul for the new-borns.
Aka (Turkish) - Ancient, Mother Goddess.
Alemonia (Roman) - Goddess responsible for feeding of the foetus in the womb.  Her name may also be spelt Alemona.
Aphrodite (Greek) – Represented fertility.
Arianrhod (Welsh) - Associated with fertility.
Aveta (Gaulish) - Goddess of fertility, childbirth and midwives, also linked to fresh water.
Bast (Egyptian) - The cat headed Goddess was associated with both fertility and childbirth.
Bendis (Greek) - One of several Greek fertility Goddesses.
Bona Dea (Roman) - Goddess of fertility, healing, virginity, and  women.
Brigit (Irish) - Was the Goddess of home, hearth, feminine aspects, healing, and fertility.
Ceres (Roman) - Goddess of crops and agriculture.
Corn Mother (Native American) - Responsible for the fertility of the land and people.
Cybele (Roman) - Cybele was the goddess of fertility based on Anatolian Goddess Kybele.
Demeter (Greek) - The Goddess of grain and bringer of fertility to the earth.
Freya (Nordic) - Often confused with Frigg, Freyja was the Norse goddess of sexual activity.
Frigg (Nordic) - Frigg was the Odin wife she protected a man's marriage and made him fertile. Her name was invoked to bring children into a conjugal union.
Gaia (Greek) - Ancient Greek mother goddess who gave birth to the land and the Titans.
Gefjon (Teutonic) -She was one of Frigg's handmaidens and associated with fertility of both man and the land.
Haumea (Hawaiian) - Haumea was perpetually reborn, allowing her to continually mate with her offspring.
Juno (Roman) - Often called upon by infertile women.
Macha (Irish) - Fertility goddess who primarily concerned with male virility.
Lakshmi (Hindu) - A mother goddess who represents the feminine aspect of God.
Mastor-Ava (Russian) - Earth Goddess.
Nile Goddess (Egyptian) -One of the prehistoric fertility Goddesses worshipped in the Nile Delta.  She had the head of a bird.
Rainbow Snake (Aborigine) - She represented the fertile rains, and sea she flows through her people's lives bringing children.
Rhea (Greek) - Replaced her mother Gaia as the earth and fertility goddess.  She gave birth to the first Olympians.
Tlalteutli (Aztec) -Goddess of Creation.  The Universe was made of Her body.
Urd (Teutonic) - Norse Earth Goddess.
Venus (Roman)  -Roman equivalent to Aphrodite. She represented one of the main fertility Goddesses.

Pregnancy and Childbirth Goddesses

Artemis (Greece) - Despite being a virgin goddess she also presides over childbirth due to the ease of her own birth
Bast (Egypt) - Bast was the cat headed goddess was associated with both childbirth and fertility.
Carmenta (Roman) - Goddess of prophecy and birth. Pregnant women used to offer her rice for an easy delivery.
Candelifera (Roman) - She was invoked at the beginning of childbirth.  Her name means candle bearer and she used this light to help guide the baby into this world.
Diana (Roman) - Queen of Heaven.  Patroness of childbirth, nursing and healing.
Deverra  (Roman ) - Goddess who protected midwives and women in labour.  Her broom was used to sweep away evil influences.
Eleithyia (Greek) -Was the Goddess of childbirth and labour.  She was shown as a woman wielding a torch, representing the burning pains of childbirth, or with her arms raised in the air summoning a child to the light.
Frigg (Nordic) - Associated with easing child birth. A plant called Freya's grass was traditionally used as a gentle sedative during a difficult labour.
Hathor (Egypt) - The seven Hathors blessed the new-born and set a child's destiny.  She is also associated with nursing infants.
Hekate (Greek) - As a midwife she carried a sacred knife to cut the cord at birth.
Hepat (Egyptian) - Goddess of Midwives.
Hera (Greece) - The Queen of the gods, Hera presided over all things feminine especially  maternity and marriage.
Isis (Egypt) - Isis had many roles including the protector of motherhood.
Ixchel (Mayan) - Role included Goddess of childbirth, lunar cycles, and pregnancy.
Juno (Roman) - She protected pregnant woman as well as at birth, bringing the child into the light.
Lucina (Roman) - Goddess of Childbirth.
Meskhent (Egyptian) - Egyptian Goddess who presided over the delivery of babies.
Mylitta (Babylonian) -Mylitta took special interests in the process of childbirth.
Nephthys (Egyptian) -Stood at the head of the bed encouraging the mother whilst her sister Isis acted as the midwife.
Ngolimento (Toga) - Goddess who cares for the spirit of a child before it is born.
Nixi (Roman) - The Nixi were a triad of Goddesses associated with birth.
Nintur (Sumerian) - Her name meant "Lady Who Gives Form".  She was represented as a woman holding a midwife's pail of water.
Nona (Roman)- Goddess of pregnancy.  Her name means nine relating to the ninth month of pregnancy when the expectant mum would call upon her.
Pi-hsia-yuan-chun (Chinese) - She protects women, children, and presides over birth.
Prorsa Postverta (Roman) -Goddess of women in labour she was associated with the position of the child in the womb.
Pukkeenegak (Eskimo) - Feminine Goddess who gave children to the Eskimo women.
Renenet (Egypt)- Goddess who presided over a baby's suckling.  She bestowed both a name and a personality on a new-born infant.
Shasti (Indian) - Feline Goddess, depicted riding a cat. Goddess of childbirth and protector of children.
Saint Catherine of Sweden (Roman Catholic) - Patron saint of miscarriage prevention.
Saint Gerard Majella (Roman Catholic) - Patron saint of pregnancy and expectant mothers.
Saint Raymund Nonnatus (Roman Catholic) - Patron saint of midwives.
Tamayorihime (Japan) - Ancient sea Goddess who watches over the birth waters to ensure a safe delivery.
Taueret (Egypt) - Protected infants by taking the form of a pregnant hippopotamus to frighten demons away.
Uma (India) - Her primary function was femaleness in all forms, particularly active ones like childbirth.

http://www.goddess-guide.com/fertility-goddesses.html