A New House

A New House

"A blessing upon your new home,
A blessing upon your new hearth,
A blessing upon your new dwelling,
Upon your newly kindled fire."
   __ Scots Gaelic blessing (trans CM)


   When we move to a new house or apartment, it is always good to give a blessing to the place. Most of us move into houses or apartments that have just been vacated by other occupants. Before we can move in and settle down, we need to cleanse the house of old influences and unhappinesses, just as much as we need to clean off the previous occupants' layers of grime and dust. Open doors and windows, let in light and air, and take the broom and mop to floors, walls, and ceilings. All the elements can be included in this process. If there are rooms that feel particularly unhappy or disturbed after a simple cleansing, then we need to pray that these influences be lifted by the help of our spiritual allies, and we may want to light some incense to permeate the room. '

   Then we greet the spirit of the land upon which our residence is built - even if we have a fifth-floor apartment. Every region of the earth has its own indwelling spirit, and it is good manners to greet it and tell it who we are and why we have come to live there, offering the peace of our heart, and a small gift of food or a song. Then, starting at the hearth, we give blessing to the structure, going sunwise through the house, through each room, with a verbal or sung blessing, taking light or incense into every corner until we arrive back at the hearth again. At the hearth, we can bless the occupants of the house and the activities that will take place within it.

  Lastly, we can have a housewarming party at which everyone is asked to make a blessing for the future happiness and blessedness of the dwelling.

"Make a blessing for your own home, whether it be old or new."
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]