Heathen in the City

A lot of what I do, working-wise, involves land, and trees.

I make offerings to the gods, and the land wights, and that usually involves somewhere to make offerings.  Of course you can do this with an altar if you choose to, but I’m far more fond of using the natural land around me to do such things.

I run into problems with this, however, because I live in a large city, and while there are plenty of open spaces around me (and really nice live oaks), it could be awkward when my neighbors come outside to ask me why the hell I’m pouring out beer or milk on their tree.  My places has a 2ft by 1ft planter, empty of all plants, and that is all the dirt I can use without being on public land, or someone else’s land.

So what is a nature-lover who wants to offer to the land to do???

City parks can often be a really good space to do what you like to do.  I recommend going at night, unless it’s against park rules, in case I suggest going anyway, stealthily. If your city has curbside trees around the sidewalks, those may be good offering points, if your neighbors aren’t too nosy.  Nature preserves are excellent places.  Really, any place you can find a bit of land and plants where you feel safe, or where you won’t be disturbed.

Some of you may live in terribly liberal places, and it won’t matter if people ask you what you’re doing.  I live in the South (Gulf Coast, y’all), so if people catch wind of what I’m doing, there just might be an impromptu exorcism if I don’t watch it.  And even though I live in a city where Voudoun practitioners flourish (at least conceivably), if they believe I’m doing Voudoun, the neighbors might not like that all that much, either.  I know for a fact one of my neighbors holds church services in his house.

For these reasons, I try to be inconspicuous with my workings.  I am NOT ashamed of who I am, or what I believe, but in some cases, it’s best to avoid confrontation.  There’s a lovely city park that I can drive to, and it holds one of the seven oldest live oaks in the South.  I can offer there.  Or, I can use that tiny patch of land in my back concreted patio.  If all else fails, have an offering bowl, where you can offer to the land and the gods.  Periodically, you can take the contents and bury them or leave them somewhere that is significant to you.

The important part is that you practice your beliefs.  The more you observe your faith, the stronger it will be.  The more you study, and the more you perform workings, the more your faith will start permeating your everyday life.  This is how it should be.  Our faiths, as ways to live, instead of things to do on special occasions.  Let every day be filled with ordinary workings and respect for the wights and the gods, and you will find your life changing, for the better.

Velsignelser,

Muninn