#deity things

And yet be blindsided when you arrive someplace you never expected to be but which you should have expected because in hindsight you were headed there all along.

And still be scared of what's in front of you while being strangely at peace because it's New and it's Different, but you are Prepared, you've BEEN preparing, you just didn't know it was for THIS.

And still be a little surprised when you feel the hand of your goddess on your shoulder on some random otherwise-unremarkable day and the voice that speaks without words says *this,* this is what you were meant for, you are exactly where you need to be and doing exactly what you need to do.

And then you sit where you are and hold space for that feeling and maybe cry about it just a bit because it's too big to keep inside. And you look at the bend in the path ahead and you don't know for certain what's around it, but you feel like you can almost guess.

And then you get up and take a deep breath and just say, all right then.

A little worship never killed nobody 😇🙏🏽

I tend to dispose of the water I give my deities in either my water fountain or a plant, often this one. On Tuesday I noticed the very tops of these vibrant yellow bois popping out of the dirt. Wednesday they were about an inch tall. Thursday y morning, they were fully grown, and by the time I took this picture Thursday night, they were already starting to wilt and die.

Life and death, hand in hand.

In my case I was thinking a milk/yogurt offering for Brighid, who seems willing to help but not to be my main patron (so long as directing a question at her and seeing if I get the chills in answer is a valid way to tell these kinds of things?), and I live in a house with two cats and a dog... Would the cats eating the offering count as a proxy, or as a failed offering? (Of course if having the cats eat it is a valid path, I would take the time to ferment the milk into yogurt, I'm not looking to make my little princesses sick.)

First and foremost - There is no such thing as a stupid question. There are only questions, and asking them is how we learn. So you keep on asking and NEVER be ashamed to do it. An inquisitive mind and a desire to learn will serve you well in any life. 💜

As for offerings, it really depends on what it is you want to offer. Some shrines will leave a food offering out for the length of a ritual or church service or a day, depending on perishability, and then distribute it to the clergy or congregation to eat, or donate it to the local community. (I can recall a number of Sundays when times were rough that the pastor quietly slipped my mother other half of the loaf they'd cut up for communion bread. As I understand it now, this is something that lots of churches do.)

For home offerings, I tend to choose things that I can either reuse for the household or use to feed my neighbors or the local wildlife. Both of these are things that honor Brighid's aspects as a caretaker of animals and a provider of charity. My go-to's are usually dry oatmeal, milk, and honey (or a drop of honey in a shotglass of milk). The oatmeal becomes breakfast or bread and the milk and honey get mixed in.

In the case of the situation you describe, I'd put out a little cup of milk as an offering when you mean to ask your question and sit for a while in quiet contemplation. Give your thoughts time to settle, think on your question and the possible answers, and see if you feel a little spark or a nudge in a particular direction. Sometimes the answer won't come right away while you're sitting there, but letting it marinate can help your mind untangle things a bit. The nudge might come later.

Since you have the concern of pets drinking the milk, I'd suggest drinking it yourself once the period of contemplation is done. When you set it out, you can say or think something that indicates it's an offering, something shared, something given with respect and gratitude. When you drink it, you can lift it in a toast and say or think something along the lines of, "Thank you for your guidance."

I've done this in ritual settings before, with milk or whiskey, and it seems to work well. Brighid has been firm but patient in my experience with her and personally, I feel like she appreciates that desire to learn. Of course, all of this is my personal experience and your mileage will certainly vary. I think that as long as you come with a spirit of sincerity and respect, you'll be all right.