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7:47am June 12, 2014

➸ Letters from Gehenna: The World on a Slant: G is for Gifts

deshretandkemet:

One of the things that’s common in a lot of discussion of ancient religions is the phrase “do ut des”, which means something like “I give so that you may give.”

The idea goes something like this: the stuff of being, particularly food, would not exist if it were not for the gods who embody those processes doing Their work, and thus it is appropriate for the people to return some of that which has been provided to the gods so that the cycle may continue. In ancient Egypt, this was amazingly recursive: the crops were harvested by the people, who paid a fraction of their crop to the church/state complex, which would use that to provide offerings to the gods, and after the “main” gods in a given temple had taken their share the offerings would go around to lesser shrines until, at last, they were given back in a process called “reversion of offerings” to provide the pay for temple officials, each according to their rank. (Who would then trade some fraction of their take for goods and services within their community.)

This sanctified version of gifting, however, is simply an example of what is, fundamentally, a natural process.

It is fundamental to the energy of life that it moves…

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Since I don’t know if I’ll have my words together for Kemetic Round Table…

I feel that this article shows the patterns *behind* offerings - and is really useful for figuring out how to do them and what’s important.

To me, giving offerings to the gods is also about giving something back, showing respect, showing the connections between what creates and maintains all life, I can’t put it into words easily though.  I generally prefer if it’s something I’ve baked myself.  And then I share it with Them.  It’s harder to share things now that I can’t eat, though, but I’m sure They understand.