Offerings are very closely tied in to the concepts of sacred space and spirits of place. To build a strong relationship with your allies and the spirits where you live and wish to do your magickal work, you should leave regular offerings in the same place, at the same time, and in the same way. If you have a garden, then it would be a good idea to have a special part of that garden put aside for your offerings. Ideally you can build a simple shrine, but of course that is not possible for everyone, nor is it essential. Faery is a path that does not require trimmings or tools but integrity, truth, and purity of intent.
If you do not have a garden, then find a particular area, tree, or plant within the land around you where you feel the energy of nature most strongly, then spend as much time there as you are able and use that space for your offerings and as a meeting point in this world between you and the Faery realm. Be aware that if you do set yourself a regular routine, it is important to maintain it or you may inadvertently cause offense. To begin with it is best to start with a regular monthly offering that is easy to remember, perhaps at the full moon. As you develop, you will find that your relationship with different beings at different sites will grow, and your way of leaving offerings will adapt according to the responses you receive.
Some Suggestions and Important Dos and Don’ts
A Bowl of Cream or Milk
This is a traditional household offering, particularly at the full moon, as the offering mirrors the appearance of the moon. Always use fresh full-cream milk, and give them the first of any bottle/carton if you can. This is an easy routine to maintain, and any remaining milk can be poured directly onto the land the next day.
Alcohol
Always a welcome offering! You may choose to give a whole bottle (or more) on a special occasion—for example, if you wish to ask permission for the spirits of place on a sacred site to perform a ritual. As a regular household offering, though, it is a good idea to give a portion of the alcohol that you are consuming as an act of sharing with your Faery cousins. Again, try to give them the first of the bottle if you can, and avoid drinks with too much artificial or chemical content. For example, a good wine, ale, or mead would make an excellent offering, but not an alcopop!
Cakes and Bread
Again, always welcome. Ideally these should be made by yourself so that they are imbued with your energy. Like the alcohol, you may wish to develop a household tradition of giving the first share to the faeries. Shop-bought is okay if it’s not full of yucky preservatives, so if you must use shop-bought, do try to make sure that it is simple and wholesome fare. Consider that if you do not bake yourself whether there might be something else you could give or do that would be more personal.
Incense
The burning of carefully chosen herbs, barks, and resins on charcoal is an excellent offering provided you do not leave it to burn unsupervised (in case of fire) and that you remember to clear the ashes afterwards. Of course it is preferable that the incense is blended with an appropriate magickal focus, and it’s particularly potent if sourced and blended yourself. If you are a keen gardener, you can grow and dry your own herbs for this purpose, thus connecting you and your offerings intimately with the land. Stick incense can be used, but try to make sure that it is all-natural and not full of artificial chemicals.
Music and Song
If you play a portable instrument, this is a wonderful way to express your dedication to the Faery path and pay tribute to your allies and the spirits of place. As already discussed, song is an excellent offering and way of connecting with their realm. Different beings have a particular fondness for certain instruments or types of music, and that is discussed in more detail elsewhere in the book. You may find that tunes and words come to you as you play and sing; this is the Faery beings sharing their gifts with you, and this becomes a two-way exchange and potentially a powerful connection. When you start to receive such inspirations, this is a good sign that a being wishes to form a relationship with you as an ally.
Dance
You might feel a bit silly going out into nature and dancing to no music! However, if you do find yourself moved by a sense of the rhythm of nature and the music that emanates from all living things and the otherworld itself, then dance can be the purest gift of all. Dance is an expression of energy that, like song, comes straight from the heart. You don’t need to be a great dancer if you are open and pure of intent. Dance is also a very good way of keeping energized and grounded in your body when dealing with the Faery realm, which can at times be draining and disorienting if we lose our balance.
Candles
Burning a candle either in
