Paganism 101: Dedication Rite

[Updated January 31st, 2026]

As mentioned on the previous page, I am taking this from To Walk A Pagan Path and adding my own suggestions.

First, relax. Then light the candle and say:

Spirits who live in this place,

ancestors who have brought me to this place,

gods and goddesses who bless this place,

Know that you are remembered and bear witness to this rite.

A shorter suggestion could be to just address the deity, ie “Thor, son of Odin, I am here to present you with an offering of x.”

Take a few deep breaths and “try to feel the presence of the spirits around you.” Don’t worry if you don’t feel or sense anything, most of the time nothing tangible happens. To directly quote Albertsson, “Very often the adage “No news is good news” holds true when interacting with the spirit world.” Make sure you’re giving them enough time to actually respond though.

Afterwards, present your offering. Albertsson says that offerings “should” be poured/placed on the earth, but sometimes that isn’t actually safe to do so, ignoring that many people (particularly in urban areas) will not have the opportunity to dispose of offerings in nature. If you are going to leave food outside or pour drinks into the ground, you have to make sure it won’t harm the local wildlife. Animals will eat the food and the liquids could harm the soil and make it hard for plants to grow. Sometimes the best option is to simply throw it away or compost it. It is also acceptable in some traditions to eat offerings after some time has passed and burning offerings is also acceptable, provided you make sure it is safe to do so. Be mindful of your impact on the environment, dispose of offerings safely!

After the offering, say:

Accept this offering, freely given with my love and respect.

I come before you and declare my intention

to live more fully as a Pagan,

to take action each day that will attune me to the universe.

I ask for your guidance in my choices,

that through my words and deeds

I might bring honor to the old gods,

bring pride to my ancestors

and bring beauty and well-being into the world around me.

Let my actions keep me mindful of the earth,

from which I was born and to which I will someday return.

So shall I thank you with joy and gratitude.

When I’m offering something, I typically say what my intention is, ie “I hope I am able to perform well on my finals, please help me to remember the material I’m studying.” or “I am struggling with x, please give me the strength to push through it.” and end with “I hope you will accept my offering.” or something to that effect. A short version could simply say “I am going to work towards building a fulfilling pagan practice.”

Sit for a few more moments of silence, then extinguish the candle. Albertsson suggests “so mote it be”, but you can honestly say anything. Often, I just say “thank you” or ask for their continued guidance, depending on the circumstances.