Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Rites & Offerings

See this link for some solid insights and historical background on Rites & Offerings from Religo et Pietas.

The quotes are from the link above.
"A relatively simple rite is called the adoratio. It may involve a simple greeting such as saying “Ave, Ave, Di parenti.” This greeting is coupled with a gesture where in one kisses the back of the right hand just behind the knuckle of the index finger, and then touches the finger tips onto an altar or an image. It is specifically used when addressing one’s ancestors, so one approaches a family member’s tomb, or the family lararium within the home, or sometimes it might be a tree or other outdoor shrine."
Or blowing 3 kisses to the moon.

"Ritus Romanus was performed in the Latin fashion with the toga pulled tightly around the torso (cinctus Gabinus) and drawn up to veil the head (capite velato). "
This posture is often used in Streghe rituals.

"Other kinds of offerings were likewise selected according to the particular deity or the particular festival. Milk was used as a libation in the oldest rites. Generally Goddesses received milk libations, although there are exceptions here too. Venus is one Goddess Who usually receives wine as a libation. Where wine is the libation commonly used in Roman ritual, wine is prohibited in some rites."
Think about the energy and the god or goddess you are reaching out to.  Align the offering, its color, smell, composition with these characteristics. It is the essence of sympathetic magic.

"Every family, every clan or gens, every temple, shrine, and altar had their own traditional rituals, many of which changed over time."
And this aspect is captured in the very imporatnt Lare/Lasa Shrine of Stregheria.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice, Nola. Thanks for those pearls of wisdom. Were the quotes from the link posted above? You have a reading list posted somewhere on your blog too, right? I guess i could have looked, but it's early, heheh...

Nola said...

Yes the quotes (italic) are from the link. And the comments below each quote are mine based on what I've been taught and learned as part of my own practice.

Nola said...

Look under Teaching Tools for a "reading list" and movies.