Tidying up offerings

close
more_vert
Alfrede A
Alfrede May 20, 2010 13:20:29
Replying to Creyr

hmmmm - Preaching indeed.

I would be interested to hear who gives you the authority to decide another human beings personal offerings are 'detritus' and 'rubbish'?
And the presumed right to move in and 'tidy up' a location where their religious practices are taking place?

If you ever go to another part of the world, like India for example - would you take a bin bag and tidy up all the 'rubbish' offerings at their sacred sites too.
Or maybe thats different? not 'British'?

It would be very easy to see a degree of arrogance and ignorance in your post - lets hope thats not the case. But it might also be worth considering that there may be things going on that you are totally unaware of - next time you reach for the knife and binbag. Perhaps a heartfelt healing ceremony for a friend or relative with cancer (prayer rags on trees etc) ... just perhaps?

The fact the farmer cut down the thorn tree is the most disgraceful part of this. A tree that has taken years to grow in that special place and yet you sympathise with him? - curious indeed.
As for the pottery cow, where is he now ? in a land fill site?

Alfrede

S Squid Tempest
Squid Tempest May 20, 2010 13:25:42
Replying to Alfrede

Alfrede wrote:
hmmmm - Preaching indeed.

I would be interested to hear who gives you the authority to decide another human beings personal offerings are 'detritus' and 'rubbish'?
And the presumed right to move in and 'tidy up' a location where their religious practices are taking place?

If you ever go to another part of the world, like India for example - would you take a bin bag and tidy up all the 'rubbish' offerings at their sacred sites too.
Or maybe thats different? not 'British'?

It would be very easy to see a degree of arrogance and ignorance in your post - lets hope thats not the case. But it might also be worth considering that there may be things going on that you are totally unaware of - next time you reach for the knife and binbag. Perhaps a heartfelt healing ceremony for a friend or relative with cancer (prayer rags on trees etc) ... just perhaps?

The fact the farmer cut down the thorn tree is the most disgraceful part of this. A tree that has taken years to grow in that special place and yet you sympathise with him? - curious indeed.
As for the pottery cow, where is he now ? in a land fill site?

Alfrede

If people really feel the need to offer up something at a site, there is always the option of a simple prayer or song, as suggested in the original post. Anyone who thinks that leaving bits of rubbish around by way of an "offering" is a good idea is not only deluded but is destroying the natural appearance of a site for others. Looked at like this it is a selfish act, and one to be discouraged. Sorry, but that is how I feel about the practice.

R Resonox
Resonox May 20, 2010 18:47:40
Replying to Alfrede

Alfrede wrote:
As for the pottery cow, where is he now ? in a land fill site?

Alfrede

"Where is SHE now?"...surely
Also pottery would surely be biodegradable...earth to earth...even in a land-fill, so it's offering as a "sacrifice to the earth" will work regardless of where it now lies...and who is to say that the landfill site isn't over what was once a sacred site to someone.
I dare say there will be some who claim that a can of drink(or even an empty drink can) is a sacrificial offering just because they have chanted a few words over it then slung it with great reverence at a stone circle.
I don't think of myself as arrogant, perhaps a little ignorant of the practices involved, and as such don't understand why a physical offering(aka litter) is any more appropriate and spiritual than an invocation!

T tomwatts
tomwatts May 21, 2010 11:15:15
Replying to Alfrede

Alfrede................So you'd leave the old settee recently left at "The Bullring"?

T TheStandingStone
TheStandingStone May 21, 2010 12:49:41
Replying to Alfrede

It is rubbish when it is left on someone's land without their permission. The farmer is perfectly within his rights to cut down a tree on his land if he wants to.

M MisteryWaters
MisteryWaters May 24, 2010 03:22:22
Replying to Alfrede

Alfrede wrote:
hmmmm - Preaching indeed.

If you ever go to another part of the world, like India for example - would you take a bin bag and tidy up all the 'rubbish' offerings at their sacred sites too.
Or maybe thats different? not 'British'?

Traditionally, in India, it is food that is offered to the Gods. This is of course 'biodegradable'. If all offerings were of 'biodegradable' natural material there would not be a problem with litter louts.

R revnox
revnox May 30, 2010 10:20:28
Replying to Alfrede

Here Here!