Julian Cope presents Head Heritage

I've written for some pagan magazines, and when I suggested an article on this topic recently, even the biggest UK one said they had written on the subject many times, usually getting a hearty response that they wouldn't dream of defiling the countryside. I'll write my own article and submit it to some and see if it can be brought up again though.

I tried writing to a couple of new age type groups on the subject, and recieved replies such as "we ARE the folk and if we do it - its a FOLK custom. DONT YOU UNDERSTAND" and "I'll have you know I'M A CHRISTIAN and entitled to contact angels any way I like". I'm not sure what kind of magazines they read or if it would be welcome, but I'll try sending an article to one or two of those too.

Obviously there's a deep psychological need that leaving offerings fits, the increase in leaving flowers at sites of tragedies is on the increase too. Perhaps people need to connect to a the spiritual world that modern life makes one feel increasingly divorced from, but older cultures did the same thing too. Perhaps its a feeling of being afraid then, mother nature is turning into a bitch and we feel the need of guardians from human madness more and more as well.

Perhaps the only way to get the message across in the modern world would be to open a stall and scream "get your biodegradeable offerings here" and charge a fortune for them - the mentality of commercialism being what it is. (I wanted my offering to be bigger, better, faster, more - fine - make it bigger priced, better suited, faster to degrade, and more aesthetic - buy this 5mm square rice paper miniature blessing from me for a £10 ).

I'm descending into a rant so I'll stop now.

Your not ranting Branwen, sounds to me that you are trying to understand 'why' people feel the need to make offerings to the earth. I wonder if it is the same psychology that made people buy 'indulgences' in medieval christian times. Several posts ago I played devil's advocate and said I sometimes leave berries as an autumnal offering at a discreet country spot. In truth, I haven't done that for years (though I do leave something similar for the birds in my local nature reserve).

There are lots of ways someone can leave the 'spirit of an offering' without even going into the countryside - my favourite one is to go through my books, cds, wardrobe and take a bag along to a charity shop. Beneficial all round as de-cluttering always gives a good feeling.

Several posts ago I played devil's advocate and said I sometimes leave berries as an autumnal offering at a discreet country spot. In truth, I haven't done that for years (though I do leave something similar for the birds in my local nature reserve).

I've written for some pagan magazines, and when I suggested an article on this topic recently, even the biggest UK one said they had written on the subject many times, usually getting a hearty response that they wouldn't dream of defiling the countryside....... I tried writing to a couple of new age type groups on the subject, and recieved replies such as "we ARE the folk and if we do it - its a FOLK custom.

As for them having an innate need to leave stuff, I have an innate need to nick stuff from Tescos. It goes back thousands of generations longer than their need. So what? Should I?