It is no secret that the question of whether it is possible to give gifts from a birthday or other special occasion sometimes takes on a practical character, since not all presentations turn out to be exactly what I would like to receive. Is it possible to get rid of an unnecessary thing without risking to offend the donor or to bring on any other troubles with this act?
Ethical issue
"Can I give gifts to other people?" - This is a question that everyone has to give their own answer based on specific circumstances, of which there may be countless. However, it should be remembered that the solution should primarily be based on the ethical side of the issue.
Even without touching the mysticism so fashionable these days and not touching upon the question of whether it is a good or bad omen - to donate gifts, it should be remembered that the people who chose them spent their energy, time, emotions and, of course, money. This is especially true in cases where gifts - paintings, frames for photographs or any knitted things - were made by their own hands. It will simply be indecent to nullify the efforts of loved ones. That is why you should thoroughly weigh the pros and cons.
Unnecessary things
At the same time, it is by no means a rarity of a situation where gifts are bought on the principle of "well, at least you need to give something." In these cases, we become owners of sometimes very expensive, but at the same time for the most part completely unnecessary things. Over the years, a lot of all kinds of photo albums, figurines, vases and the like stuff accumulate in our homes. Obviously, in this case, the question of whether it is possible to give gifts must have a positive answer, but provided that the previous donor does not know anything and, accordingly, will not be offended.
There are always a lot of arguments in favor of such a decision, especially when it comes to things that already exist in the house. All kinds of pressure cookers, juicers and blenders, of course, can become a good present and please the hostess of the house, but only on condition that she has not had time to acquire them yet. Otherwise, she faces a dilemma: to cede this thing to someone else or to bury it forever in a closet. Here in its entirety, the question arises: "Is it possible to donate gifts, and if so, how to do it without offending the donor?"
A little bit about our prejudices
Now let's touch on the mystical side of the issue. We will do this very carefully, because we will talk about some secret forces, from which it is generally better to stay away. Nevertheless, we all live with an eye on them and, speaking of our disbelief “in all these nonsense,” are far from always frank, especially when it comes to bad omens.
If, for example, it is extremely rare to meet a woman with empty buckets in cities (except during the emergency water outage), then black cats crossing the road are common. It's no secret that they plunge many into confusion, even though we are trying to reduce the meeting with them as a joke.
What do experts say?
Is it possible to give gifts - a question also related to a number of different beliefs, which, incidentally, came from ancient times. The fact is that in the old days every offering had a certain mystical meaning. It was believed that each gift carries what it is nowadays called the fashionable, but very vague expression “positive energy”.
Simply put, our ancestors believed that, together with the gift, they pass on to a loved one a part of their soul, which can be nothing more expensive in the world. Therefore, if a person who received such a priceless gift, had the recklessness to neglect it, he inevitably incurred the wrath of higher powers.
At the same time, positive energy (we will nevertheless operate with this term) could be transmitted only to one person, namely to the one for whom this gift was intended. Later it disappeared. That is why the question of whether it is possible to accept gifted gifts would probably surprise our ancestors. “Of course you can accept,” they would say, “but what's the point? After all, devoid of souls, they are like an empty egg shell. " It is difficult to disagree with such a judgment.
Tribal traditions
However, there are no rules without exceptions. It is known that in ancient times there was a tradition of intra-clan donation. It was expressed in the fact that representatives of the older generation presented their young heirs with edged weapons, works of art, as well as jewelry and various family jewelry. Moreover, this could be done during the lifetime of their previous owner.
For example, the head of the family received a sword from his father as a gift, and then, during his lifetime, handed it over to his own son when he reached the proper age. The grandfather had no reason to be offended: the heirloom passed from him to his son, and then to his grandson - all within the tradition. Grandmother’s diamonds, donated once to her daughter, could even become the property of her granddaughter during her lifetime.
Generational Tradition
In this case, the question "can I give gifts" was resolved positively, by virtue of the established tradition. It was believed that family heirlooms, passing from one generation to another, convey to them the wisdom of their ancestors and the success that accompanied it. Thus, a whole layer of national culture has developed that has contributed to the strengthening of not only material, but also, importantly, the spiritual continuity of generations.
At the same time, it was considered completely unacceptable to donate family heirlooms to strangers who were not bound by blood bonds, no matter how warm feelings they felt. This was considered an open display of disrespect for one's own family and provoked universal censure.
And a drop of mysticism
Among the signs that have passed through the centuries, there are many that have shown extraordinary vitality. Among them is the belief that donating jewelry to other people can cause trouble for both donors and those who receive them. There are no clear explanations for this statement, and nevertheless very many adhere to this point of view. Therefore, it is generally accepted that if the thing received as a gift did not fit or simply did not like, it should be either given for re-melting and then done something else, or simply stored in a box “for a rainy day”.
In addition, all sorts of mystics and other "experts" argue that a gift can, if desired, be charged not only with positive energy, as discussed above, but also negative, which can bring misfortune. For this reason, receiving gifts from unfamiliar people or from those who can harbor hostile feelings is considered dangerous. If for one reason or another it was not possible to avoid receiving them, then it is better not to use these things, but if possible get rid of them in any suitable way.
Afterword
So, summing up what has been said, we note that the question of whether it is possible to give gifts is not a definite answer, it all depends on many circumstances, some of which were mentioned in this article. For some, the ethical side of the matter is decisive, and for some, its mystical component. However, in any case, before making a choice, you should put yourself in the place of the person whose gift, or perhaps part of the soul, you intend to reject and pass into the wrong hands. Once the Savior said: “Do not do to others what you do not want for yourself,” and let these His words help us make the right decision.