Opus 2022-269: Lessons on Libations

Have you ever seen a historical drama or documentary where someone will pour out a bit of wine on the ground and talk about “libations for the gods.”  How did the idea get started?  I really don’t know but that won’t keep me from offering an opinion.  At least it hasn’t stopped me or the media.

Picture yourself a garden variety pagan and you are making a bowl of popcorn for a snack while you watch a bit of Oedipus Rex.  All is going well as you stir the butter around when suddenly for no reason, one kernel jumps out and falls to the floor.  Don’t tell me it hasn’t happened to you unless you always let the servants make the popcorn.  Being a garden variety pagan, I want to know why.

Or lets say you are walking across the living room with a cup of coffee in your hand.  How often does it suddenly decide to climb the side of the cup and deposit a little bit on the carpet.  I get around this by carrying the cup on a dinner plate and don’t have any problems.  It only slops when I think I am in control.  Being a garden variety pagan, I want to know why.

Have you ever gone into the kitchen after you prepared something and noticed food on the floor you don’t remember dropping.  You remember wiping down the counter and checking to see that everything is neat and clean, but there is that green bean looking at you with a twinkle in it’s eye.  Being a garden variety pagan, I want to know why.

So I come up with what a garden variety pagan would understand.  Since every rock, tree, stream, and, yes, popcorn kernel has a spirit in it, it must be the gods.  Maybe they are hungry.  Maybe if I give them a little bit of offering they won’t trip me on the way to my recliner.

And thus you have the tradition of libations for the gods.

You are welcome.

homo unius libri