House blessings are as old as the hills, an ancient tradition used all over the world to invite positive energy into your home.
In Buddhism, a ceremony known as Khan Ban Mai is performed when a new house is built to protect the house and all that dwell there, the house blessing ceremony is traditionally performed by a group of nine monks, who must be invited to the house early on the morning of the ceremony. The ritual they perform consists of sacred lustral water and wax candles. As the wax melts and drops into the water, it is believed to wash away evil and sorrow. The monks also chant prayers to protect the house and it’s inhabitants.
An Islamic blessing. Muslim people conduct a house blessing mainly by reading prayers. There is usually no official ceremony that needs to be performed, but certain prayers and traditions are recommended.
A Hindu house blessing varies greatly according to different regions. However, across all regions the house blessing is performed on the morning that the new owners move in. A Hindu priest performs the ceremony. On the day (in some regions) the homeowners supply a tray of gifts, such as mango leaves, raw washed rice, ghee, coins, fruit, flowers and spices. This gift tray is called Dakshina. During the ceremony the house owners will sit in their best clothes in front of the fireplace and recite mantras. The priest will usually recite a prosperity prayer to the Hindu gods, asking for prosperity and serenity to be bestowed upon the house and all who reside there.
There are many Jewish traditions when moving into a new house. Jewish families are required to fix a mezuzah to each doorway of the home, inside the mezuzah there are Hebrew phrases from the Torah (Bible) As the mezuzah is installed a prayer is recited. It is also believed that a Tuesday is the best day for moving into a new home and that bread and salt should be the first items to enter the house. Sometimes a Chanukat Habayit, or housewarming party is held, where friends and family gather and words from the Torah are spoken.
The blessing of a Christian household is an old tradition found in Protestant, orthodox and Roman catholic churches amongst others. The blessing may be performed by an ordained priest or pastor. Normally the priest will walk from room to room sprinkling each with holy water and may recite some passages from the holy Gospel.
The Native American house blessing is very much associated with the use of sacred smoke dried plants, the calling of spirits and chant. Very much as I have described in my previous smudging blog, but of course you could research this further and include the further use of the four directions etc.
One of the greatest things I feel about practising the old pagan ways or Wiccan is that it empowers its practitioners to bestow blessings upon others, themselves and their surroundings. Just as a priest or minister will say a prayer on behalf of another in order to bring about a sense of well-being and peace. Witches and pagans can do much the same. They are practised at tapping into divine energy and directing its positive influence to the home, family or friends. When clearing and blessing a space they will make use of many things, Sage, Herbs, incense, water, drums, bells or singing bowls. A broom for sweeping negative energy away, empowered candles and salt. A ritual and the words of a blessing upon the home and those that live there will take place, often in every room as well as the outside spaces to usher in peace, harmony, health and prosperity, love and protection, sometimes a God, Goddess or divine spirit will be called upon to invoke that particular energy to the space.
My house blessing
I suppose you could say that I have adapted different traditions to achieve what feels right for me and you can too, there is no wrong way or right way, it’s all about the intention. It’s definitely what allows you to feel satisfied that you have created an energetically positive space for you, your family and pets to dwell in, a space that embodies your love and greatest intention for all that is happy, healthy, and good. I like to think that the heart of my home resonates with my heart. I think that I have already mentioned this on my smudging blog, but just to remind you… The first part of blessing any place be it the home, office, therapy room, or even your garage, is to physically clean it. Anybody who knows even a little about feng shui will tell you that clutter and mess are very disruptive to the flow of energy in your home. In addition to blocking the flow of positive energy in your environment, clutter actually adds negativity to your space. So after you have de-cluttered cleansed and smudged your space, you will need :-
A small tray or plate. A white votive candle or Tealight (fire element) A little bowl or egg cup of salt or earth (earth element) An incense stick, frankincense is good but anything will do (air element) A little bowl or egg cup of water (water element) A few flowers or petals in the water to encompass the spirit of nature.
Now you can choose to do this on your own, or you can gather the family together and ask them to choose a poem or a passage each, that they would like to recite that carries a positive or loving message, or you could invite like-minded friends over to have a housewarming ceremony. This could be performed for a new home, or to change the energy where you are already living, to refresh the energy, to lift the vibration because there has been divorce, illness, sadness, feeling blocked or just lacking spiritual lustre . This is what I mean about working with this in your own way.
I always make a house blessing in the spring, along with a good spring clean, why not get your home energetically clean too!
You could play some gentle music in the background or work in silence. Once you have assembled the elements of earth, air, fire and water on your tray and anything else you would like to add to the tray that might be meaningful to you, you’re ready to begin.
I would always say my blessing prayer as I light the white candle, but of course write your own if you wish to or adapt mine, you may well have an Angel, God, Goddess, Deity, or another energy that you wish to invoke, it could be more than one or two, it’s entirely up to you. Some people also like to call in there ancestors. The reason that I like to symbolise the four elements on my tray is that the universe was formed by the four elements, for each contain their own unique properties, which works simultaneously to create one United universe. The Earth, stable and reliable, constantly working and moving. Air is constantly in motion, even though you can’t see it. Fire, provides heat and light but it cannot exist on its own. Water, constantly flowing, cleansing and moving the energy around it. So bringing these elements into the home I feel are symbolic of connecting with the natural world and all that is.
There are many house blessing prayers, this is the one that feels right for me, but as I said earlier research others, or write one that resonates for you.
As I light the candle I say… “I call upon the Divine spirit, celestial realms and my ancestors. Please be present here as the guardians of this home. In lighting this candle I summon love, health, happiness, harmony, peace, positivity, success and abundance. I ask that this space be a sacred home for us, our children, and our pets. May those that visit our home feel the love and peace that reside here. I ask that this home be shielded from any negative energy entering this space. Thank you for bringing your divine light, energy and love into our hearts and our home in it’s entirety. I release this prayer to the universe with love, faith and gratitude AND SO IT IS! ”
I then walk into every room with my tray, blessing every room with a few more words that feel appropriate. I often touch the walls when I do this to really add my energy and love to my home. I am effectively imbuing the bricks and mortar with my energy and intentions.
You will feel an enormous difference in your home if you keep it cleansed by smudging it regularly and blessing it. When people come to my home, I often receive lovely comments about how peaceful, comfortable and restful it feels. And the same is true of my shop.
Crystal Salt Lamps and crystals (see my blog on Salt Lamps) will also help to keep your home free from emf’s (electro magnetic field or force) Likewise using an essential oil diffuser is a great way to create a natural relaxing atmosphere with many health benefits depending on what oils you choose.
I hope that you will enjoy the ritual of blessing your home, please make sure that you do the cleansing and smudging ritual beforehand, as the two go hand in hand.
I am sure that you and your family and not forgetting your pets, will benefit greatly and you will experience how powerful these practises can be and the positive affects that can be brought about. You will be taking control of your space, instead of whatever old energy is hanging around in it from years gone by. Charging it with your love, attention and intension can work wonders!
In Joy!
Dana x
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