Day 3 - To Give is to Receive
Your next assignment in this challenge is to complete the ritual again today. You can use this link to find a planetary hour associated with Jupiter. It should be a little easier now and familiar now that you’ve already done it once, and you already have your altar set up.
This time, we're adding a new element that was once an essential component of all real-deal magic:
Giving Offerings
All beings in the cosmos exist in reciprocal relationship with one another. The spirits of the myriad planes of reality share with each other. They like to share, and they want to share with you.
To enter into this sharing circle of mutual aid, you have to give something to join the party and get the ball rolling.
In short, when you give something of yourself to a cosmic figure like Jupiter, you create space in your life to receive something back in return.
This hearkens back to an ancient roman maxim for religious ritual: Do ut Des – I give, so that you may give.
If you really want to call in a life of stable abundance where all your needs are met, where you can wake up each morning without a feeling of scarcity and lack…
…well, you can’t just recite affirmations and visualize your way there, in isolation from the communion of all creatures of heaven and earth.
You must enter into relationship with the beings that want to help you, and give something to them from your heart so that you may receive something from them.
So today, acquire some offerings to give to the planet Jupiter. Give something of your self and your energy to this celestial divinity, so that you may open space to receive something in return.
Traditional offerings to benevolent forces like Jupiter include milk, honey, eggs, and others with symbolism of life and immortality.
For Jupiter specifically, red meat and other rich, calorically dense foods are also traditional offerings for Jupiter. Jupiter also really like wine, especially red wine.
Don’t break the bank purchasing offerings – just get what you are able within your means. It is not so much what you give but what you give relative to your means, and that you give from your heart.
And no, you don’t need to offer or your eternal soul or anything that the fundamentalist religions have lied about.
As always, don’t let perfect be the enemy of good. If you can’t get anything, then you can give a simple offering of your hair – a literal piece of yourself that contains your DNA, and helps the spirits to get to know you.
So go forth, my friend, and repeat the ritual. Place the offerings on the altar before you light the candle. This time, when you say that invocation, name the offerings you have given, and make explicit that you have brought them as offerings for Jupiter.
So, if I were doing this ritual, I would embellish the previous incantation by saying:
“Hail Zeus, it’s me again, Matthew Merlin. I have come bearing gifts for you of red meat, wine, eggs, and honey. I give these to you and your kingdom from my heart, may they bless and nourish the creatures of your sphere.
I am coming to you again, asking for you to reveal my gifts and my talents to me. What am I best at? How can I help people? How can I be of service? How can I transform other peoples lives with my gifts and talents, bringing more flourishing and healing to all involved?
Guide me on how I can best do this, Jupiter. And please, open doors and opportunities that I may be of service and help others. Bring people to me that I can help, and show me how I can best promote myself so I find the right people. Thank you for hearing this request, and for all the other doorways you have opened for me in the past.”
Then sit for a moment just like last time and notice and energetic shifts, or wait to receive any messages from the deity. When you ready, close out by expressing gratitude again and bowing your head in thanks.
After the ritual is done, it is best practice to dispose of the offerings by a tree. If you have to, you can just throw them in the trash, but make an announcement first and invite Jupiter to take any last sustenance from them first.
Here’s another summary of the ritual, including offerings:
light the candle and incense.
Sit quietude to steady your heart and mind.
Recite the magical formula IO ZEUS IO ARISTOS IO MEGISTOS four times
Speak to Jupiter with a greeting, then introducing yourself, then give offerings.
Then asking how you can be of of service and help others and for opportunities to help others to open for you, then express gratitude.
sit in meditation; feel for any energetic shifts and listen for messages that may come through.
Close out.
That’s enough for today. Have fun with this new portion of the ritual!
Merlin