A Simple House Blessing Ritual

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For a number of years, I have used this simple ritual to bless a new home before or shortly after moving in. The purpose of the ritual is threefold: to clear away any energies or spirit entities that may be lingering in the house from previous inhabitants, to protect the space against unwanted intrusions in the future, and to create a loving, harmonious space in which to live.

At the very least, everyone who will be living in the house should participate in the ritual. It can be very nice to have friends and relatives participate too, to add their own goodwill and energies to the working. It can become a sort of Pagan "housewarming party".

Begin by leaving a window or door slightly ajar to facilitate exit of any unwanted energies. If working at night, put out all lights except a single candle.

With everyone assembled, create sacred space by casting a circle and calling the quarters, or whatever your preferred method is. If you cast a circle around the participants, you should then push the boundaries of the circle out to the perimeter of the property on which the house is set, so that the entire area becomes sacred space.

If you choose to invoke deities for this ritual, a good choice is to pair a domestic or hearth goddess (Hestia, for example), with a protective god (Ares, Ganesh, etc.).

Now proceed around the house deosil (clockwise), going from room to room, and smudging with a burning sage stick. Give special attention to the corners, where energies tend to collect. You might also smudge the people who will be living in the house at this time.

Now go around the house a second time, with burning dragonsblood incense. Stop at each door or window, and move the incense in the pattern of a pentagram, saying

May no harm cross this portal

(I use an "invoking Earth" pentragram, which begins at the top point and proceeds downward to the lower left point.) With these gestures, you create wards of protection at your doors and windows. You could also use an athame for creating the wards, but I feel the dragonsblood incense has good protective properties, and it smells nice too!

For the third pass through the house, burn lavender incense in the center of each room, saying

May love and happiness fill this space

Some people concentrate solely on the cleansing or protective aspects of a house blessing ritual, but I think it is at least as important to create a positive intention for how the space will be used and lived in.

When this has been done, everyone can return to the altar or wherever the ritual began, and share food and drink together. Open the circle however you usually do. A potluck meal is a lovely way to celebrate and socialize after the ritual is completed.

A simple house blessing ritual like this one sanctifies the transition to a new home and sets the tone for your coming life in your new place.

 

Sacred Space is a regular feature of Starweaver's Gems from Earth and Sky

Copyright © 2008 Tom Waters