Disposing of offerings

[ZombyFrogg]

I have made a couple of offerings..they were pieces of bacon. I was cooking and something told me to put a piece on my altar tile and light some incense, so I did. After a few hours I removed the bacon, but instead of leaving it outside I gave it to my dog. Was this disrespectful? I felt like something told me I should, my Goddess is affiliated with dogs. My dog most likely would have gotten it if I put it out side anyway because it would have been put under the tree in my backyard.

[TangledMarionette]

I have made a couple of offerings..they were pieces of bacon. I was cooking and something told me to put a piece on my altar tile and light some incense, so I did. After a few hours I removed the bacon, but instead of leaving it outside I gave it to my dog. Was this disrespectful? I felt like something told me I should, my Goddess is affiliated with dogs. My dog most likely would have gotten it if I put it out side anyway because it would have been put under the tree in my backyard.

 
Wow, that's great! I shouldn't laugh, but what an interesting experience lol. Just do whatever feels right, and comes natural. There's not a one and only way. Especially considering all the many traditions, and practices. If nothing feels right then do what you just did and put two and two together. I think deities have a sense of humor too, so why stress over it?

It doesn't always have to be structured, or formalized. So long as you do it with respect.

[Rhyshadow]

I have made a couple of offerings..they were pieces of bacon. I was cooking and something told me to put a piece on my altar tile and light some incense, so I did. After a few hours I removed the bacon, but instead of leaving it outside I gave it to my dog. Was this disrespectful? I felt like something told me I should, my Goddess is affiliated with dogs. My dog most likely would have gotten it if I put it out side anyway because it would have been put under the tree in my backyard.

I don't see a problem with that at all - since your patron is associated with dogs, giving the bacon-offering to yours is actually a very appropriate way to send the energies of the offering to Her

Inspired and imaginative - my hat is off to you :thup:

[RandallS]

I have made a couple of offerings..they were pieces of bacon. I was cooking and something told me to put a piece on my altar tile and light some incense, so I did. After a few hours I removed the bacon, but instead of leaving it outside I gave it to my dog. Was this disrespectful?

In ancient Greece, animal offerings were usually consumed by people (often the priests) and only the inedible remains were actually burnt for the Gods. At least from the Greek Pagan POV, what you did is pretty much spot on.

[Octember]

I have made a couple of offerings..they were pieces of bacon. I was cooking and something told me to put a piece on my altar tile and light some incense, so I did. After a few hours I removed the bacon, but instead of leaving it outside I gave it to my dog. Was this disrespectful? I felt like something told me I should, my Goddess is affiliated with dogs. My dog most likely would have gotten it if I put it out side anyway because it would have been put under the tree in my backyard.

 
No, that is not disrespectful at all! In fact, it's quite appropriate seeing that your Goddess is affiliated with dogs.

[monsnoleedra]

I have made a couple of offerings..they were pieces of bacon. I was cooking and something told me to put a piece on my altar tile and light some incense, so I did. After a few hours I removed the bacon, but instead of leaving it outside I gave it to my dog. Was this disrespectful? I felt like something told me I should, my Goddess is affiliated with dogs. My dog most likely would have gotten it if I put it out side anyway because it would have been put under the tree in my backyard.

I can't say if it is right or wrong as you have not indicated who your goddess is in this thread.  Even if you did say who your goddess was i'd still not be able to do anything other than say it is right or wrong according to my practices.

For me Artemis is the goddess I honor and am bound to that most would reflect an association to dogs in the manner you describe.  Hekate / Hecate is also associated to dogs but usually Black dogs specifically and then also as a sacrifical offering to her (ie slaughtered) or as part of her hunt driving the restless spirits of the dead in the wilderness.

As an offering to Artemis I'd think the appreciation and acknowledgment of the offering is more important.  Granted as a celestial goddess her offerings would usually be transmuted via flame upon a raised altar or dias but that is just my way based upon the records and mythologies.

Hekate / Hecate would be more based upon which aspect one was offering to.  As a celestial in her capacity as goddess over the heavens and waters I make offerings via transmutation through fire on a raised altar.  In her capacity as a chthonic goddess of the Earth I make offerings through transmutation in a sunken cavity in the earth.  Libations would be done via either method for me.

Yet one can also look to things such as Hekate / Hecate's Depinior (sp) and those offerings of the remnants of her sacred meals.  The flesh of the animal is consumed by the household but the leftovers are left in offering to her.  leftovers being seen as bones, skins, internal organs even the very waters the animal was washed in and cleaned in preparing for the meal.  Recorded as being made by placing it in a stratapolis (sp) and alighted with it being spun about the head to cause the fire to consume it or the liquids placed in it then spun about the head to scatter it upon the landscape.  Granted more to it than just that but you get the idea.

Diana being Roman followed more of the sacred offerings via flame in my research.  Many times in a brazier of some sort or bonfire type setting. Some of the meat being consumed by the priest / priestess or given as a supper for all the attendee's.

Yet how you describe it very much supports the Egyptian concept of offerings.  In my research of Bast and Pahket offerings of food are made by placement upon a plate or similiar container.  Where it differs was that the offering was for the essence of the food being offered to the god / goddess.  The actual food itself was later eaten by the people making the offering or feed to something else.  So for instance an offering to Anubus might make perfect sense to give the essence to the god then pass the meal to ones hound to consume or be consumed by the person themselves.

But in the end its ultimately between you and your goddess and what she desires you do with it.  In that capacity you cross over into the UPG arena and can not be proven right or wrong.