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House Cleansings & Blessings:
Beyond the Basics

By Stachia Ravensdottir
(Written for Ecclasia)

 

When cleansing or blessing your home, you start by getting rid of the negative. I suggest you set an altar in the center of the home and burn a blessing candle. Then start in one room and work your way through the house as you cleanse with the powers of Earth and Water. With a bowl of Salt and Water, go through the house room by room sprinkling all thresholds, doorways, windows and all the corners. Say something like "Salt and water by casting thee, no spell or unknown purpose be, except in true accord with me, and as my will so mote it be" as you sprinkle everything.

The second time through, you will cleanse with the powers of Fire and Air (incense). Traditionally, Sage would be used. Personally I prefer a blend of Cedar (for purification), Sage (for cleansing & protection) and Lavendar (to bring in peace, love & happiness). The blend doesn't set off my asthma the way pure sage does. If you prefer the smoky incenses, here are two other choices:

To Clear a Home (make sure you leave all the doors and windows open!)
1 part Frankincense (exorcism & protection)
1 part Copal (exorcism& protection)
1 part Myrrh (exorcism& protection)
1/3 part Sandalwood (exorcism & protection)

Celtic Fires
Frankincense (exorcism & protection)
Dragon’s Blood (exorcism & protection)
Ginger (love & catalyst)
Lemon Verbena (love & purification)

As you smudge all the thresholds, doorways, windows and corners, say something like"Creature of air this charge I give, no evil in thy presence live. Creature of fire, this charge I lay, no evil in thy presence stay."

A smokeless alternative to the incense would be to use a Purification Simmering Potourri. The one I like to use blends 6 Tbs peppermint (protection), and 1 Tbs each of spearmint (protection), rosemary (protection & purification), lemon peel (cleansing) and lime (cleansing). I also like to use a simple rhyme, such as “Scented breeze blow pure and clear, Blow unwanted gunk far from here.”

Your third time through, you will cleanse with the powers of Spirit. Take your lit candle and very carefully draw a protective symbol at each entrance, threshold, doorway, window & mirror. Use whatever symbol of protection works for you: pentagram, cross, rune of protection, etc. As you draw each one, say something like “Only good can enter here, No negatives can enter, All harm is sealed out.”

When you are back at your central altar, make sure you welcome the good -- invite it in! Say something like "Forces and powers, around me do spin, If thou art good, I welcome thee in" or "With love and Light, I charge this space, To work my magick within this place." Then Claim the space as yours! I usually say “Love lives here, Health lives here, Abundance lives here! (Name self and loved ones) live here! We claim this space for ourselves, For the mutual good! So Mote It Be!"

I like to recharge my house blessings too. Once a month, light a candle and offer a Prayer for Protection of your Home:

Goddess of the hearth, beat strong and pure in the heart of my home.
Lord of the threshold, keep vigilant guard over the entrance to my home.
Spirits of the land, keep watch throughout the yard of my home.
God of the borders, stand ready to repulse all disorder from my home.

If you are in need of a Banishing (not just a cleansing) then set up an altar in the center of the home. Standing in front of the altar, say:

Naked come I into this sanctuary
With love and faith from those who have gone before.
Innocent am I in understanding
Holy and pure in my love of all good and blessed things.
Supreme Goddess, ruler of light, Lord of all
Hear my prayer.
Help me now to dispel this thing of unholiness
This creature of darkness
Who dooms itself to shame and unhappiness.
Save him if it is thy will to do so.
Send him to the light.
Mercy is the song I sing
Forgiveness the word most precious.
In thy everlasting grace I say this.
In humility I ask this.
So Mote It Be.

Then take up the chalice of salt-water, face the east wall, dip your fingers into the water. Raise you hand and say:

Powers of the east
Powers of the day star rising
And all fresh beginnings
I purify you with salt and with water
For good vibrations of friendship, warmth and love
.”

Proceed to the south and say:

“Powers of the south
Powers of the summer sun
Which warms our bodies and our minds
I purify you with salt and with water
For good vibrations of friendship, warmth and love.”

Repeat in the west:

“Powers of the west
Powers of the purifying and cleansing waters
From which all life comes.
I purify you with salt and with water
For good vibrations of friendship, warmth and love.”

Say in the north:

“Powers of the north
Powers of the earth
The ground on which we stand.
I purify you with salt and with water
For good vibrations of friendship, warmth and love.”

Then proceed around the room, sprinkling water over all the thresholds, windows and doorways, and in all corners. REPEAT IN EVERY ROOM.

Take the incense and do the same thing, using the same verses, substituting "fire and air" in place of "salt and water." As before, proceed around the room censing all the thresholds, windows, doorways and in all corners. REPEAT IN EVERY ROOM.

Then take a candle (lit) and starting at the main entrance, walk slowly CLOCKWISE through the house, through each room, pausing at each door, window and mirror and moving the candle across it. Draw a pentagram/cross/protective symbol over each window, doorway and mirror. Proceed room by room spiraling clockwise. All the while chant the following:

“By the one power
I hereby consecrate this space to the Goddess and God
According to free will
And for the good of all
I hereby release
In all time and all space
Any negative cause, effect, manifestation, form or essence
Any negative event, thought, energy, idea or vibration
And transform it to
And replace it with
Only positive, joyous good
In keeping with the universal harmonies
Of the Goddess and God.
This space is divinely protected
This space is perfectly safe.
Nothing and no one can enter this space
Unless I (or my loved ones) allow them to.
This space is sacred
Consecrated and dedicated to positive living
For myself and my loved ones
And for the work of positive magick
No harm can come to this space or anyone in it.”

As you draw each pentagram, say:

“Only good can enter here
No negatives can enter
All harm is sealed out.”

When you are back at the entry point, conclude:

“Love lives here
Health lives here
Abundance lives here
(Name self and loved ones) live here
We claim this space for ourselves
For the mutual good
And So Mote It Be!”

 


For Incense Recepies:

The Complete Book of Incense, Oils & Brews by Scott Cunningham
Embracing the Moon by Yasmine Galenorn

For Verbage Inspiration and other Nifty Stuff:
Everyday Magic: Spells & Rituals for Modern Living by Dorothy Morrison

 


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This page last updated April 22, 2008