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Votive offerings
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Littlestone
Littlestone
5386 posts

Votive offerings
Aug 31, 2009, 20:48
Apologies if this is a bit off topic.

The question of votive offerings left at places like the Swallowhead Spring and West Kennet Long Barrow has been discussed on TMA and elsewhere before. Heritage Action's recent feature on its Journal here - http://heritageaction.wordpress.com/2009/08/29/votive-offerings-and-dondo-yaki/ compares the Western, neo-pagan tradition of leaving offerings at places like the Swallowhead Spring and West Kennet Long Barrow with older, similar traditions in the Far East. "The leaving of ribbons, dolls, articles of clothing, crystals, t-lights, even food and drink, at such places is now generally frowned on and regarded by many as an unwelcome blot on the environment, or at the site of historic interest where they are left. There are, however, countries where the leaving of offerings in the form of ribbons, prayers written on paper which are then tied to the branches of trees or left at the base of stones, is commonplace and forms part of that country’s religion or cultural tradition."

People will want, and will continue to leave, votive offerings at places which are important to them - satisfying some and infuriating others. What's the answer? The Heritage Action feature suggest that the Japanese Dondo Yaki ceremony, where votive offerings are burnt annually to herald in the New Year, might be one way round the problem - embracing the idea of votive offerings while at the same time encouraging people who leave them to either think a little more carefully before doing so or, if they do leave such offerings, to adopt a more responsible attitude to their later disposal.
Replies:
Re: Votive offerings (tiompan)
Re: Votive offerings (Psychostevouk)
Re: Votive offerings (FourWinds)
Re: Votive offerings (hotaire)
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