Using Blood in Ritual

[Lark]

Do you use blood in any magical workings?

If so, do you use your own or that of other people? How do you get it (e.g. collect it from an accidental wound and store or deliberate cuts)?

What do you use it for? Why?

-Lark-

[Lark]

I have used my own blood as offerings on occasion.  I work primarily with Sekhmet for whom offerings of blood, red beer, or water were traditional.  When it is a working that is very important to me and I really, really want her assistance I will use blood sacrifice to obtain her aid.

This summer when my mother had open heart surgery and had such a rocky recovery I was really concerned that she would not survive.  I promised Sekhment offerings of blood and water if she would help pull my Mom through.  When it was apparent that she was going to make it, I took a bowl of water into which I placed nine drops of my blood taken from a cut I made in the tip of my finger and gave it to Sekhmet as an offering.

I have no problem with the idea of using my own blood as a sacrifice to my Gods.  What more potent sacrifice can one make than to give up a portion of one's own life force?  And when I do it I take the blood from an intentional cut since that is also part of my sacrifice.

-Lark-

[Gryphon]

I have used blood in ritual. My own, from my courses. I have never felt a need to cut myself to obtain blood, but then none of my gods require blood sacrifice.  

[Picador]

I've never used blood, but I suppose thats mostly because of the negativity I connect to self-harm, even in the name of Gods and Goddesses. However, I don't have a problem with it, as long as the practice is safe and the donor is willing.    

You two should keep your energy up - here, have some cookies. =3 *Hands virtual cookies*

[Zenon]

I have used my own bodily fluids (blood or etc.) in charging my tools.  I agree with you Lark, I can't think of anything more potent than that type of offering.  My deity does not require blood, but it is important to take into account that when useful, blood or other fluids can add a lot of power to workings.

[Night_Raven]

I have used my own bodily fluids (blood or etc.) in charging my tools.

Same here!(though just blood :wink: )

I only ever use it in my workings when I feel I really need to. I don't believe it is self-harming or anything, as self-harm is an act of negativity towards yourself, and this is not about that!

[Picador]

I know that using one's own blood for ritual isn't really self-harm - its just something I'd rather avoid, at least until I can forgive and forget the past. I don't mean to sound all angsty here. =P Thats just my perspective I definitely agree that blood can be a potent tool.

[Night_Raven]

I know that using one's own blood for ritual isn't really self-harm - its just something I'd rather avoid, at least until I can forgive and forget the past. I don't mean to sound all angsty here. =P Thats just my perspective I definitely agree that blood can be a potent tool.

Forgive but don't forget, you forget and you invite it back. Just do what you believe you need to, and only when you are ready!

[Rowan CedarWolf]

I have never used blood as an offering or anything else in ritual. I never thought to. This is part of the version of the charge of the goddess we use  "Nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth." If you combine that with "harm none"which I take to include one's self, so this is why I haven't or plan to use blood in my rituals. I'm not saying that it is wrong to do so, by all means what ever works for you and your Gods, go for it! This is just my view.

[Shadow]

I've used blood a couple of times but both times the blood belonged to someone else. Once was when someone stole my car stereo and found that I attached razor blades to the case before I installed it. He left enough blood on the dash and floor for a nice ritual.

The second time someone broke into my house and cut himself on the window as he was climbing in. He left a nice blood trail all over, but still managed to steal a couple of things.

Funny thing is, the first buy was caught when he was trying to pawn the stereos he had stolen.

The second time the things that were taken were left  on the door step about a week later. No note, or anything. The stuff was just left there. Apparently the guy wanted to get rid of the stuff for some reason.

I used urine in a ritual once. Some kid thought it would be funny to urinate through the open window of my parked car. Turns out that my niece knew the kid and told me that he had ended up with a nasty urinary tract infection about a week after the incident.

If you are going to do something to anger someone who can work magic, don't leave your own body fluids around for that person to use against you!

[Night_Raven]

If you are going to do something to anger someone who can work magic, don't leave your own body fluids around for that person to use against you!

Never a good thing to do is it? lol

At least you got your stuff back too

[Lark]

I have never used blood as an offering or anything else in ritual. I never thought to. This is part of the version of the charge of the goddess we use  "Nor do I demand sacrifice, for behold, I am the Mother of all things and My love is poured out upon the earth." If you combine that with "harm none"which I take to include one's self, so this is why I haven't or plan to use blood in my rituals. I'm not saying that it is wrong to do so, by all means what ever works for you and your Gods, go for it! This is just my view.

I think in my case it is less of a feeling that my Gods "demand sacrfice" as it is a case of my offering it freely.  It has long been known that the post potent offering is the willing sacrifice.  Sekhmet can traditionally be satisfied with offerings of red beer, but if you really need her attention to something offering a bit of yourself as a willing sacrifice is, to my mind, a more powerful act.

I also believe that we have become too wound up in "harm none".  The Rede, which is advice and not a law, actually does not tell us to harm none.  It says that those things which do not cause harm we are free to do.  On those things which do cause harm the Rede is silent, leaving it to the ethics of the particular situation to chose the right action.  So I don't see performing a willing sacrifice of my own blood as "harm" to myself.

But you are correct.  One should chose those acts with which you feel comfortable and which feel right to you.

-Lark-

[Lark]

I used urine in a ritual once. Some kid thought it would be funny to urinate through the open window of my parked car. Turns out that my niece knew the kid and told me that he had ended up with a nasty urinary tract infection about a week after the incident.

If you are going to do something to anger someone who can work magic, don't leave your own body fluids around for that person to use against you!

Yes, I've used urine as well.

Long ago I made a Witch bottle which is buried outside our home.  I constructed it in the traditional way with lots of sharp nails, pins, etc.  And then I filled it with my urine.  It has worked well these 24 years in keeping unwanted people and entities out of the house.

-Lark-