Praise the Gods

As stated elsewhere on this blog, for me, being pagan is something I do, not something I believe. For me, belief is secondary.

I have scared space set up at the back door inside my apartment. On the altar I have the following: incense holder, oath ring, cup for drink/libation, bowl for offerings/libations and in the middle, the three hallows according to ADF: fire, water, and tree. That is, a flame of some sort, bowl of water, and something to represent the sacred tree or central pillar. This altar is sitting on four plastic crates which I use as storage space to store away altar items I am not using. There’s a series of nine stones on the floor–three in front, three in the middle and three in the back of the scared space to make a distinction between the sacred and mundane. I do not enter the sacred space without first showering or at the very least washing my hands.

If I am washing my hands prior to entering the sacred space, I say a prayer? while washing my hands. This idea is not my own, I borrowed it from The Troth.

“By the sacrificial blood of Ymir, I wash away all ill will, all ill thought, and all ill luck in both body and spirit.”

Once I’ve washed my hands and entered the sacred space, I bow three times. Some heathens believe they should not bow to the gods and that is okay. My opinion is, if I think they are more powerful and mightier than myself, I would want to show them respect by at least bowing to them.

I primarily have two different offerings I make indoors. One is honey mead which I make myself and the other is Three Kindred herbs I purchased from The Magical Druid. Although, there’s sometimes a variation, these of the ones I primarily use.

If I need to dispose of the offerings by sinking, trashing, or putting them in my flower bed (for plant matter), I use the prayer from ADF’s Hearth Keepers Way

“Offerings I have made and offerings you have received. I dispose of these offerings now, knowing that you have taken your fill of them. May they be removed from human use so that they may be fully yours.”

This is the basic beginning of spending time in my sacred space.

-Raysdottir