Sacrifice

I like to think of sacrifice as an offering. Years ago, my late partner Steve, taught me about making an offering of wine or even marijuana when partaking. It was important to let some weed fall to the ground, or spill the wine on the earth in an offering to the goddess. I have come to think of things that I have given away as such a sacrifice or offering as well. It is so easy to hold onto earthly possessions, but when we give freely, or even accept loss when something goes missing, we may strengthen our relationship to the divine. Others may prosper, and in the loss, there is also a gain. When we throw a valuable item overboard, or misplace a piece of jewelry to nature, others may not benefit, but there is still an exchange of energy with the natural world.

What happens when I lose something of value, and I accept rather than get angry? This may be hard for me to do, but I challenge myself to accept the circumstance, and to feel the unsettling feelings that come when something becomes lost or damaged. I suppose this is an acceptance of things being outside of my control. This can resemble a very uneasy feeling that comes in the forms of shame, anger, and fear. What am I afraid of, and why does such a sacrifice feel so unnerving? Is there a journey of transformation just waiting for me if I sit back in these moments of uncertainty, and let the experience wash over me in waves of difficult feelings and in a practice of acceptance?

I feel this way sometimes, being a perfectionist, when I look at my dirty floors or my messy house. I feel such deep sensations if unworthiness reflected in the imperfections that surround me. But it does me a whole lot of good if I can just relax and try to exist just as I am. Instead of becoming overwhelmed, I can take my life moment by moment, and try and build something better. I can find joy in tackling task by task, instead of doing them out of desperation and disgust. Who is the ultimate judge here? Myself. So, there is an attachment between me and the physical world that must be challenged. Sacrificing things of value, encourages a step into the spiritual and metaphysical. Accepting when a piece of clothing gets a burn hole or a bleach stain, and wearing it with with pride, is another way that I practice un-attachment to the physical, and step into a more spiritual existence. My late partner was my greatest teacher in this.

It is easier to sit in a feeling of despair rather than worship. When I lose an earring or a ring, crack the surface on my phone, or even suffer an injustice such as something of value being stolen from me, I can choose what I truly value. Steve used to say that when something was stolen from us or an injustice performed against us, that the person would pay enough for what they did without any action or feeling on our part. This is true. When we do something wrong, we pay a cost in another form. Letting it all go, trusting in the ultimate patterns of the universe and existence, and accepting that all things are playing their part, in the end is a much more comforting way to live life. As the program says, choose to pray for those who are causing harm to us. Trust that they are ill, and choose wellness by not engaging in a confrontation. Things happen for a reason, and we can decide to get spiritual and to try and understand a deeper meaning in our lives. We can even make intentional offerings or sacrifices of our possessions or virtues, in order to bring positive wavelengths and balance to all that exists.