Something came up at our Full Moon ritual this past week, and it got me thinking. If I’m thinking about it, that means it is probably a good topic to share about here!
At the end of our rituals, we share food and drink with each other with a blessing. This part of the ritual is called “cakes and ale”, though it can be any kind of food or drink. “Sharing” is also a bit misleading in these times of online rituals – we all eat and drink of our own provisions rather than passing a common plate and cup around the circle. One day, we will get back to that…
The traditional blessing when we offer the food is, “May you never hunger.” The traditional blessing when the drink is offered is, “May you never thirst.” This is the way we blessed and shared our cakes and ale for many years.
At first, they seem like lovely blessings. These “blessings” don’t jive with the principles of magic or the laws of the Universe, though.
They aren’t really blessings at all!
When we talk about magic or manifestation (which are basically the same thing), we tell people to focus on what you want, not what you don’t want. We’re wishing others to never hunger or thirst, though. Isn’t that a good thing?
The intention is good, however, the other law of the Universe is that it does not “hear” a negative. Kind of like telling a two-year-old not to jump on the couch, all they really hear is “jump on the couch”.
In other words, when we “bless” another with these words, what the Universe hears is, “May you never hunger. May you never thirst.” It actually calls both hunger and thirst on the recipient.
A few years ago, we changed these blessings in our Circle to the following:
May your cupboard always be full. May your cup run over.
A friend commented that a cup running over is wasteful. I disagree, though. When I wish for someone’s cup to run over, I am wishing for them to have enough with extra to share.
It goes back to a lesson another mentor shared with me: to always give from your saucer. When we give to others – of our time, our knowledge, or our resources, including our energy – we empty our cups bit by bit. After a time, there is nothing left to give. We need to fill our cups to overflowing, so we can give from the excess that spills over to the saucer. Then we are not depleting ourselves.
My wish for you is that your cupboard is always full, and that your cup runs over.
Blessings,
Mary