Sacrifice/Offering – Concept Statement

“There are three basic concepts underlying qorbanot [offerings]: giving, substitution and coming closer.” (Judaism.com)

This project is intended to explore what it means to sacrifice something and/or give an offering. Our modern Western society is very disconnected from the idea of sacrifice. This is not only in spiritual terms, but also in every day life.  There has been an amazing cultural shift. Only a couple of generations back, people were regularly asked to sacrifice for the greater good of society, or just their own families. Imagine if the government of today asked us to ration a single product like coffee, let alone everything that was rationed in WWII.

In ancient and Eastern religions, physical offerings and sacrifices were a core part of the experience. But in modern Western religions this concept of individual sacrifice, especially from the idea of giving a physical offering of some kind to enable the receipt of something else, is mostly forgotten. There are some vestiges of this in modern life.  In Jewish tradition there are true sacrifice rituals that are still observed by some such as the kapporot ritual of Yom Kippur and Pidyon HaBen (redeeming of first born) ritual, and it was a core part of the ancient tradition.  Catholics have a remnant of this concept visible in the lighting of prayer candles, at least to outside eyes.   But for many people raised in modern America physical religious offerings are truly a foreign practice.

Many people may look at money or time as what is offered now, but for many people it’s not really a sacrifice.  A wise friend has always told me, “for it to be a sacrifice – it has to hurt a little.”  So what does it mean that so many people give offerings now that are not a sacrifice. And is it possible that people are making sacrifices, but they are not acknowledged or respected?

To understand what the difference between an offering and a sacrifice is, we should start at the beginning with the definitions.  Offerings are fairly easy to define.  This definition from Websters Unabridged Dictionary is fairly consistent with most definitions.

Offering: “That which is offered, esp. in divine service; that which is presented as an expiation or atonement for sin, or as a free gift; a sacrifice; an oblation; as, sin offering.” (Websters Dictionary)

Sacrifices, however seem to have some range in definition. The range is really an issue of nuance, but the nuances in this case are important. For the sake of this project, the follow definitions, from the Websters Unabridged Dictionary, will be used.

Sacrifice:  “Destruction or surrender of anything for the sake of something else; devotion of some desirable object in behalf of a higher object, or to a claim deemed more pressing; hence, also, the thing so devoted or given up; as, the sacrifice of interest to pleasure, or of pleasure to interest.” (Websters Dictionary)

“Anything consecrated and offered to God, or to a divinity; an immolated victim, or an offering of any kind, laid upon an altar, or otherwise presented in the way of religious thanksgiving, atonement, or conciliation.”
By utilizing both of these definitions, the project can be inclusive of many cosmologies, world-views, and spiritual paths.

For the first phase of this project a series of fiber-art embroidery pieces will be designed and executed, each with a unique theme or intention.  The pieces will be designed with a careful eye to color, and primarily using abstract or highly symbolic imagery to allow people to make their own associations as to what type of offering it should be.  Natural materials will be used, and herbs and spices may be stitched into the offering to enhance both the visual and visceral experience of the offering as a sacrifice. The designs will be intricate enough to ensure that, even though these pieces are intended to be destroyed, they are true examples of artistry and workmanship.  Along with this a ritual will be designed that will allow each piece to be given as a sacrifice/offering.  Some offerings may be burnt, some buried, some left to the elements, given to someone else, etc.

Each offering will be photographed before and after (if possible) its sacrifice.

The first piece created for this series was an Oroboros offering.  It was used as a burnt offering in a Samhain ritual on November 6, 2010.

Updates:

• 12.16.10: What is the Shape of an Offering?
• 3.29.11: Flickr Set, Work in Progress and Completed Pieces
• 3.29.11: Shame Offering 1

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