The Eating Of The Sacrifice, teeth of the gods Options

Just had a wonderful conversation with an elderly korean lady at the chinese food place

They have a tiny altar built into the wall with oranges or apples and some incense and some words of empowermwnt and things

We were discussing the dissolution of the altar fruit, and she said the coolest thing

She said the dissolution is how the spirit being served the fruit eats it

I had done many sacrifices in my day, but it had necver before hit me in the way she described it - the fruit being 'burnt' more or less swiftly

E.

By what means, does the dissolution take place? Natural decomposition inside a sacred container? A chemical? Fire?

bacterial i guess, same way just putting it on the shelf would normally cause it to rot, but in this instance the energy released by the rotting fruit is directed toward an entity

the longer it lasts, the more powerful the fruit was

when they replace the fruit (about every 2 weeks, or when it starts to stink) they light the incense and say a little mantra-like chant (i suppose to link the fruit to the entity)

the food stuffs placed outside the ancient egyptian tombs, along with a symbol of the action desired (as in protection, wealth, etc) is so similar it makes me think of it being based on the same thing

e.

I have many Chinese friends, mostly cross Taoist Buddhist (this is most common!) The practice (one I've adopted, too), is twofold. The New Years offering, which are the small oranges (symbolic of gold and good fortune), are allowed to completely dessicate. They stay orange, but harden. It's quite wonderful. I have dozens of years-old dehydrated good fortune oranges all over my temple and house.

The daily offerings are general water, incense and oranges (favored over other fruit). However, most people will eat the blessed fruit after a few days when they replace the fruit. It is considered quite lucky, fortunate and a blessing to eat the offered fruit after a few days (presuming you add new fruit to the altar.