Contents
Overview
The Gifting Cycle is a contemporary Heathen philosophy of reciprocity. A ‘gift’ is anything that speaks to the wellbeing of an individual. This could take the form of a favor, protection, love, time, space, or even sharing something. Physical or monetary gifts may also be given, but aren’t the focus of the Gifting Cycle.
This runs contrary to our commercialized idea of gift-giving because the Gifting Cycle is about being able to "see" and give a gift to the deepest parts of a person, which they will in turn "pay forward" to the next person on account of the fact experiencing this feels so important to one's vitality. The act of giving gifts is a to delight both the giver and the receiver because of the mutual happiness it brings.
What makes something a gift as opposed to a mere present has to do with how it changes, shapes, and grows a person, not by what the gift is or by the mere fact it was given. The purpose of the Gifting Cycle is to promote a sense of peace and happiness in not just each other, but in the greater social environment around us, which will in turn reflect back onto ourselves (frith). This is also the principle behind the holiday Jül (Yule) and the action of blót.
