This is a repost from one of my most honoured fellow Animists. Please visit her original post on her website at: http://sarahannelawless.com
As with most re-posts, I may not follow Sarah’s choosen Animist/Shamanic path, but I do believe in the sisterhood of spirit and helping bridge the gap between our differences, while embracing the similarities. In this instance, feeding the spirit and bones is very true to most shamanic based paths, especially mine.
This is a reposted with a deeply given Namaste in gratitude for her words that feed ones spirit, and her photos which feed ones imagination. Kayla Alyssa, the Shakti Shaman.
“FEEDING SPIRITS AND BONES”
Posted by Sarah on Monday, February 3, 2014
They slept in total darkness for a month, carefully wrapped in soft cloths and furs, hidden away in a box. Quiet and patient spirits inhabiting skulls, bones, feathers, teeth, claws, horns, antlers, stones, fetiches, and a witch’s tools. Then one day light flooded in and gentle hands descended to remove them one by one, laying them out first on a blanket and then arranging the spirits on top of a antique dresser nicknamed “the beast”; a massive, solid wooden creature with hidden drawers, ancient keyholes, and intricate barley twists. Skulls grinned, feathers ruffled, and blessed water shone blue through a holey stone and a silver ring – all on a softly spotted tawny deer hide layered with the fur of a black wolf. 
Old Man and Old Woman settled their ancient bones back into the remnants of creatures native to their wild domain, no doubt having missed their shrine and the once regular offerings to be found there. The Moon’s candle was restored to its place above breasts and belly carved from stone, surrounded by offerings. She eats beeswax greedily like blood offerings, leaving nothing behind. A candle lit to welcome the spirits back with sweetest incense burned and fresh water poured to sate their hunger. The spirits sigh happily, the new house sighs like a person with a once empty belly filled. Even breathing feels easier now with the altar and all its spirits in their proper place of reverence.
