Offerings
Offerings and offering are an important part of Senchus and make up one of the main ways Senchus members connect with and worship their deities. To make an offering is to give something up without retrieving it, meaning it is specifically for the deity, this can be done out of devotion but also as a form of prayer, giving up to the gods to achieve a goal or to help you. If one practises this kind of offering they must hold through with the deity or else break their oath, which is a sin against the gods.
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There are many kinds of offerings, the following is a list:
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Libations:
Libations are the pouring of liquid (Normally alcohol or milk) for a deity, these are normally done at a idol or an Altar. This is one of the most common kinds of offerings given to the deities. When giving a libation it is possible for the worshipper, if privately done, to drink the offering as it has already been given up. If not they may pour out the drink after its already been devoted.
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Skull Cups:
The Skull cup, akin to a Kapala was used in rituals by the Gallic Boi tribe. However the presence of Head hunting amongst the Gaels would suggest that it had use in Ireland as well. We know of its use by a quote from Livy:
‘Afterwards they cleansed the head according to their custom, and having covered the skull with chased gold, used it as a cup for libations in their solemn festivals, and a drinking cup for their high priests and other ministers of the temple’
(Livy, History of Rome, book 23, 24:12).
As such we have a vague understanding of what its purpose was. It used by the 'High Priests and other ministers of the temple' (Likely Druids) as a drinking cup and also for their libations in 'Solemn festivals'. The reason behind its use likely had to do with the Celtic understanding of the soul and its connection to the head, perhaps the soul serving as an intermediary between the gods and the worshippers or possessing magical qualities.
It is unknown what a Celtic Skull cup would've looked like, however it is likely that the top part of the head was used and decorated. Like that of a Indian Kapala rather than using the face of the skull as the top part holds libations better.
As it is sadly no longer in fashion to carve a cup out of your enemies skull, the skull cups will likely be few and far between. However if a person should so choose to offer up their skull to the Society for this purpose, they will receive the proper rites needed.
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Food:
This is the offering of food to the deities such as grain, it is a lot similar to libations and if done privately can also be eaten after offering.
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Votives:
A votive offering is giving up a physical item, such as a sword, a smaller idol or artworks to the gods. In order to achieve this the person may give the offering to a temple or sacred grove, throw it into a lake or a river after proper destruction (See Below) or deposit it in a ritual shaft. Setting up Altars to a god also counts as a votive offering.
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Garlands:
The historical offering of Garlands on Crom Dubh Sunday, it is further present in the Galatian festival to Artemis with the gods being decorated in Garlands. Also the comparative presence of Garlands in both Hellenic and Indian religions hints towards the use of garlands in religious art and as offerings in Gaelic Paganism.
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Reeds:
Recorded in the Chronicle of Mann, it seems that Mannan Mac Lir at the very least was offered Green Reads. The Offering of special plants however is not uncommon, therefore it is possible other gods received offerings of Green Reeds.
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Incense:
The Offering of incense is recorded in almost all comparative Indo-European traditions, it is likely that Incense of some sort was also offered to the gods historically.
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Types of Offerings:
This covers how you make offerings
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Fire Offering:
This is the burning of the ritual item in a divine fire, started by the Druids, the person must first ensure that their offering is ritually clean before offering the item so it doesn't cause the fire to be impure. The item must be burned completely so that nothing remains of the offering.
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Water Offering:
Since places of water, like lakes, rivers and wells are considered connected to the gods, one can make an offering to the gods there as well. However, as in accordance to tradition the offering must be ritually destroyed before hand. The thing offered must also be ritually clean, otherwise it would make the water impure.
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Pit Offering:
This is normally for food and drink, but one can make a shallow pit and use it to make offerings to the gods of the underworld or the dead. The pit should afterwards be covered up completely so that nothing digs it up.
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Shaft Offering:
This is the depositing of an item in a ritual shaft, this is different than pit offering because it requires a structure.