DIY Spirit Offering Coins

It's no secret that I enjoy making things; after all, I am an artist, and I especially enjoy creating items that can be used in my magical practice.

Offerings are a significant part of deity, spirit, and ancestor work, especially when you are in the process of building a relationship with someone new. You want to provide something of value, and money is often a practical and appreciated gift. That's where these offering coins come in.

Now you might be wondering why I don't just give real money? And I am! Each one of these coins has a real-world monetary value (one dollar).

Your next question is probably, "ok, so why not just use actual coins?" There are a few reasons why I am opting to do this instead:

1. I don't always have actual cash on me. The world has become increasingly cashless, and so I no longer carry it the way I used to.
2. Spirit money is nothing new. A variety of cultures and spiritual paths use a version of spirit money.
3. I want to incorporate symbols that are important to me or the spirits I work with.
4. Making these coins took effort, and that means something. They were created specifically for giving to spirits.
5. These coins will also tell me how much I am showing up. If I reach the last day of a month and only have $3.00, then I haven't put in the work.

As I mentioned, each coin has a real-world value. Every time I'm at my altar, I will take a coin and place it in my designated vessel.

• Thistle: $1.00 – only one finished so far
• Rose: $2.00
• Wreath: $5.00
• Skull: $20.00 – offered only on ancestor death days or important deity days.

At the end of each month, I will tally the total and the real-world equivalent put towards something cemetery-related in honour of the deity I'm working with (more on her another time).

On to the fun part: making the coins

Step 1: Get your supplies. You'll need air-dry clay, paint, brushes, and a stamp or carving tool.

Step 2: Make small balls of clay and flatten them into coin-sized discs. Then, either use your stamp (I used a wax stamp) or carve your design.

You can chant, pray or speak to the coins as you craft them. Some people may find it beneficial to sprinkle herbs or resins in the clay for an extra magical boost.

Step 3: Let your coins dry completely. This step is crucial.

Step 4: Smooth out any rough edges with sandpaper.

Step 5: Paint your coins. I tried two techniques. The first was a metallic gold black paint with straight gold paint on top, and the second was three coats of just gold.

I liked both effects for different reasons, but ultimately, I opted for just the gold paint, as I wanted these to feel truly opulent.

Step 6: Once your paint is dry, use a protective clear coat to finish.

Step 7: Enjoy your coins!

Options: I plan to use the same size and colour for each coin, changing the symbol each time. Alternatively, you could experiment with different sizes and finishes to denote each coin value, similar to real money.

I hope you enjoyed this little tutorial! I'd love to know if you've incorporated spirit money in your magical practice.