How to Dispose of Offerings and Spell Remains
In witchcraft and paganism, offerings are a sacred way to show gratitude, build relationships with deities, spirits, and ancestors, and infuse your practice with intention. But what happens when the spell is done, the candle has burned low, and the fruit or flowers have wilted? Disposing of offerings with respect is just as important as giving them. Not only does it show continued reverence for the energies you're working with, but it also helps you stay energetically clean and environmentally mindful. Here are some tips for how to properly and respectfully dispose of your offerings as well as spellwork remains. I want to be clear that these suggestions are not only for offerings but this is also a great way to finish up any spellwork or rituals. Keep in mind these are just suggestions, use discernment and consider that what works for you and your personal practice may be different from someone else’s and that is okay.
1. Let the Earth Reclaim It (Biodegradable Offerings)
If your offering is natural and biodegradable—like fruit, herbs, bread, wine, milk, or flowers—returning it to the Earth is a beautiful way to complete the cycle.
Bury it: This is great for ancestral offerings or anything meant to "plant" intentions.
Compost it: If you have a compost bin, this is a great eco-friendly option.
Leave it at the base of a tree: Especially for nature spirits, fae, or Earth-based deities. Just make sure it's not a public or protected area and that animals won’t be harmed.
Tip: Don’t leave food in public parks or natural spaces where wildlife could be negatively impacted. If your item might be toxic to the wildlife in your area that you may want to avoid leaving it out.
2. Burn It (When Safe & Appropriate)
Fire is a sacred element of transformation. Burning offerings—like written petitions, dried herbs, or even pieces of cloth—can be a powerful way to release energy. Use a cauldron, fire-safe dish, or outdoor fire pit. Always follow fire safety rules and avoid burning anything with chemicals, plastic, or heavy fragrance. Burning is especially powerful when you want to send something to the spirit realm or release something energetically.
3. Offer It to Water
Some witches feel called to leave biodegradable offerings in natural bodies of water like oceans, rivers, or lakes. This is especially common in water magic or when working with water associated deities like Venus/Aphrodite, or water spirits.
Important: Never leave anything that isn’t 100% natural and non-toxic. Even glitter, wax, or citrus peels can harm ecosystems.
4. Candle Jars and Wax
Candles are commonly used in rituals, and once they burn down, the remains can pile up. Here's how to handle them:
Glass jars: Clean them out and reuse them, recycle if you can! They make great spell containers, herb jars, or tealight holders.
Wax remains: Burying or composting natural wax (like soy or beeswax) is fine, but avoid burying paraffin wax—it's a petroleum product.
Dispose with intention: If you throw it away in a trash bin, thank the candle for its work before discarding.
5. Trash (As a Last Resort)
Sometimes, you simply have to throw something away—especially if it’s not biodegradable, or if it absorbed heavy, baneful, or protective energies (like in hex-breaking or cleansing spells). Wrap the item in cloth or paper and dispose of it with intention. Say a prayer or spell of release to neutralize the energy. Take out the trash so the energy doesn’t linger in your space.
Disposing magically-charged items in the trash doesn’t make them less sacred—it’s just a practical part of modern witchcraft. Do it with care and consciousness.
6. Cleanse Your Space
After any offering or ritual disposal, it's a good idea to energetically cleanse your altar or workspace. Use smoke, sound, salt, or sweeping to clear lingering energy. You can also invite in fresh energy with flowers, incense, or anointing oils. Feel free to check out my post on cleansing 101 next for suggestions.
How I like to do things
Personally, it really does depend on what type of offerings I give my deities. I’ve given them so many specialty candles because I just love candles! I light these candles when I present other offerings or when I’m doing rituals or spellwork with them. Once the candles are done burning I’ll remove the excess wax from the jars, physically clean them with soap and water and then smoke cleanse them. Then I’ll re-purpose these jars in my space.
When it comes to food offerings, it depends on the food. If it’s fruit, hibiscus water (both Lilith and Venus LOVE hibiscus btw), teas, water and things like that I will dispose of it out in my front yard near my rosemary bush. However, I also enjoy baking and so sometimes I give them baked goods like cookies and cake. Things like this and chocolates or other processed sweets, will not be disposed of in nature. These simply go in my trash bin.
I also love to give them flowers. I like to leave the flowers on their altar until they completely dry out. Once in a while I will save the petals to use in spellwork that aligns with the energy of the goddess. For example, red roses can mean a lot of things, but imbued with Lilith’s energy they can be for self-empowerment and confidence. When they are imbued with Venus’ energy I associate them with beauty and charm. But you can also interpret each deities energy and their correspondences differently. It’s all up to you!
Final Thoughts
Disposing of offerings and spellwork is a continuation of the magical act. Think of it as closing the circle—releasing what has been offered so new energy can come in. Whether you return it to the Earth, burn it in sacred fire, or bury it with a blessing, let it be done with intention and love. Your offerings matter. And so does how you say goodbye to them.
