Blessing a New Home

[Zephyrstorm]

Since I'm moving into my new place this weekend and this week, I have the opportunity to start this off with a foundation all ready in place. So I'm doing research on magic for the home and for moving in.

Some of it I already knew - like the lore that one should bring a new broom into a new home, but others, like scattering protective herbs on the doorstep, are new.

so I thought I'd share some of what I've come across:
Moving at the new moon is considered lucky, and moving during the waxing of the moon is said to bring you prosperity.

One should clean the fireplace of a new home as one of the first tasks (from this I assume that one could do this with the stove). Additionally, you can bless the hearthstone by making a bed of salt on it and tracing a pentagram in it.

For windows, clean them with vinegar and water and then trace a pentacle on them in an appropriate oil. Also you can put salt along the sill to protect them.

Cunningham says that it's wise to have a minimum of three protective amulets around a home. (Seems like a decent number to me :shrug:)

And for those who are interested, the Carmina Gadelica by Alexander Carmichael has this Scottish Blessing for a Home (it's no. 340 for those who have it)

Be Christ's cross on your new dwelling,
Be Christ's cross on your new hearth,
Be Christ's cross on your new abode,
Upon your new fire blazing.

Be Christ's cross on your topmost grain,
Be Christ's cross on your fruitful wives,
Be Christ's cross on your virile sons,
Upon your conceptive daughters.

Be Christ's cross on your means and portion,
Be Christ's cross on your kin and people,
Be Christ's cross on you each light and darkness,
Each day and each night of your lives,
Each day and each night of your lives.

----
And naturally, if anyone wants to share other such things, feel free! :)

[Nitefalle]

Of course, there's always smudging, which one is supposed to do before putting any actual furniture in the house. Also, along with the broom, bring some salt and a loaf of bread, for prosperity and abundance. I've also read somewhere (can't remember the source) that one is also supposed to get rid of all old dish towels and buy a new set for the new house - the idea behind it being you don't want to bring any old "dirt" or negativity into the new house.

Oh ya, and getting salt water and asperging every room, then drawing a pentacle of salt water over every "opening" to the house, such as windows, doors, outlets, plumbing (sinks, toilet, etc), dryer vents, et.al.

[Zephyrstorm]

I made sure to bring salt, bread and wine in first. I also put bay leaves and salt at the windowsills and doors.
We also made introductions to the wildlife right outside the place, and left a gift of bird seed and rich soil and bread for the things that live in the trees and amidst the undergrowth.

I'm really pleased with what I did, I could tell a real difference in the space afterwards.

[Mahren]

I feel like I read somewhere that wind chimes are good for protection. The sound scares away harmful spirits and the like. Is this true or did I just make that up?

[MariThorn]

No, the part about wind chimes is correct. Also, opening a window on the East side of the home while moving in protects it from storms. Also, make sure the first piece of furniture you bring into the new home cannot be blown away by the winds. Protects your belongings from wind damage. I also always leave money behind for the new occupants and sweep out my energies with my old besom before it gets consigned to the trash or a fire. :)

Congrats on the move!

[Lolair]

I made sure to bring salt, bread and wine in first. I also put bay leaves and salt at the windowsills and doors. We also made introductions to the wildlife right outside the place, and left a gift of bird seed and rich soil and bread for the things that live in the trees and amidst the undergrowth.
I love the idea of gifts and offerings to the new house, land and animals in the area!

There's also the old custom of putting a new broom over your door when you move into your new house - especially if it's with a significant other. It brings protection, happiness and love to the occupants.

For wards you can place four charms at the four corners of your property or the four corners of your house. I don't think you'd like the old Scottish practice of killing a cock on the doorstep and burrying it under the house so instead charms that can be used for the same purpose include placing a bull or horse skull in your house or burrying it on the property (Cornish custom), stringing Rowan berries and tacking them under the doorframe, placing either an upright horseshoe or slotted iron spoon over the front door, rubbing fresh garlic on your doors and windows to keep away burglars...

I always recommend both a cleansing and a blessing for a new home - who knows what the previous owners did in there! For the cleansing the waning moon is preferable, get some strong exorcising incense (cinnamon, clove, frankincense & myrrh, sage, cedar...) - salt water is also good. Walk counter clockwise around the home wafting the incense, you can scream or shout chasing out any bad influences, mischevious or evil spirits, negative energy. When you've done the rounds leave the incense in the center of the home and just let it burn out. Make sure no one and no pets are in the house at them time. Then when the waxing or full moon comes along give it a good blessing spell and a good protection working perhaps incorporating any charms you have made for the house.

After these workings I've found that a house feels 'clean' (uncluttered) and relaxing, almost peaceful. Every house I've cleansed and blessed has never had a break-in or a ghost or even much fighting between the human residents! Mind you people have a lot of trouble finding my house... might have something to do with all my protection charms _inabox_

[Xirian]

All of these ideas are fantastic and there are many things I hadn't even thought of. We won't be moving until the end of next month, but I will definitely be prepared now. This thread couldn't have come at a better time. I really have nothing to add currently, but perhaps when I move and see how things go, I'll have more to share.

Thanks everyone for such wonderful posts!!!!

[Zephyrstorm]

Yay! I'm so glad it's helping you, Xirian. :)

I'll post some pics of the kitchen before and after once we get settled in.

[MariThorn]

Don't forget the garage and closets in the house, they are often overlooked, and strange things like closets. :O Just a heads up.

[Lolair]

Don't forget the garage and closets in the house, they are often overlooked, and strange things like closets. :O Just a heads up.
Agreed! There was something nasty living in my temple room closet for a few months. It was so mean I just didn't use the temple until it went away - although it could've been the smell of the valerian root in my herb basket that eventually made it decide to leave *peeeee ewwwww*

[Tigerlily]

Thanks for this thread! I'm going to be moving to a new place sometime this summer as well. :)

Silly question but...
How would I hang up a broom above the door? My new place is going to be an apartment and I don't know if they will allow nails, etc.

[Crysiira]

I just moved into a new apartment. I didn't even think of doing any blessings or cleansings... and we've already had problems here! We had problems from the moment we walked in the door. I don't think any amound of cleansing or protecting would stop our landlord from being such a dumb***, but it might help some of the other problems a little.

I don't know if we'll be staying here very long, though, so I doubt I'm going to do any complicated spells. Maybe some smudge cleansing and a few protection charms. This place is extremely temporary as we're trying to find a house right now. I will definitely have to keep this thread in mind when we do find a house we want to move into! These are great tips! Hopefully it will ensure a much better experience than with most of these apartments we've lived in....

[Xirian]

Well, good luck with whatever you end up doing to the place where you are living currently. But mostly I hope you get a house soon!!

I know that when I move I will be looking at this thread regularly.