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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.
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