House Blessing
In the spirit of house blessings, and because I’m basically a kitchen witch at
heart, and like little projects over serious ritual, I offer some selections
gleaned from Cunningham’s The Magical Household. I’m typing these without
permission but with the hope that they’ll inspire you to pick up the Cunningham
book, because it’s wonderful stuph… :>
For the doorway:
Suspend over the door a fresh sprig of dill, tied with a blue cord (or red, if
you prefer), to prevent those who mean you harm from entering.
Cross two needles, and stick into or tie onto a corner of your doormat, to
prevent evil from entering.
Grind Dragon’s Blood herb into a powder and sprinkle it on door and window
sills, to protect your house from harm.
“Witch Bottles”
Powder some more Dragon’s Blood herb with a small quantity of sugar and salt,
and place in a small corked or screw-lidded bottle. Shake and seal with red wax,
then place it where it won’t be found (or at least not easily seen). This will
ensure harmony and peace within the house.
Place three new needles, three new pins, and three new nails in a glass jar.
Fill with salt and shake vigorously nine times. Seal with white wax and place in
kitchen cupboard where it will not be seen. This protects your food from
contamination.
Gather rosemary, along with several needles and pins, into a small glass jar
with a tight-fitting lid or cork. When full, pour in red wine and shake. Seal
with black or red wax, and place in an inconspicuous place in the apartment. If
you own your own house, bury this at the furthestmost corner of your property.
The book also adds this:
As you’re filling the jar, say these words…
“Pins, needles, rosemary, wine,
In this witch’s bottle of mine;
Guard against harm and enmity;
This is my will; so Mote it Be!”
Personally, I’m not hip on anything but, “Hey, Gods? It’s me again”, but I know,
I’m CONSIDERABLY less formal than most!
An Anti-Theft Sachet
Mix caraway, rosemary, juniper berries, and elder leaves or mistletoe, and place
into white square of cloth. Tie with white yarn and hang prominently. I’d assume
either at the place you think thieves are most likely to enter–this being an
anti-theft sachet–or at every entrance and doorway. This will require more
cloth and more herbs, but most of the above are fairly inexpensive.
Finally, on Moving Day itself:
Bring two things into the house first: a small amount of salt, half to be
scattered upon crossing the threshhold, and a small loaf of bread. Break the
bread into as many pieces as you have people moving in, with one extra piece for
the gods’ portion. Sprinkle a dash of salt on each piece; share, when you have a
moment. (I’d say have water on hand as well–at the very least, to clear the
salt!) Next, bring in an apple and do the same thing–Cunningham recommends a
fruit and cheese basket–I’d stick with just the apple and maybe a few slices of
cheddar, or something. Lastly, bring in a sturdy chair and place it either near
the apple and bread bits, or facing the door. This ensures that you will never
know poverty, for there is bread and salt, hunger, for there is fruit (and
cheese), and instability (for there’s your stable chair guarding the door. After
that, heave and lift until you’re moved in!
——-
A Note: I think ritual is very important, and I do admire rituals I’ve picked up
here and those I’ve found on my own. In the long run, though, I know myself well
enough to think that if I have to wait for a certain day and have a certain robe
on, or need a special tool or altar lay-out, it’ll never happen. But I can put
my hands on needles, pins, wine and spices at virtually any time, and can easily
make up witch’s bottles for the shelves and cupboards, sachets for the windows,
and incenses for household protection and cleansing. These simple items can have
just as much power as just about any major ritual, and are sometimes easier to
“whip up” for the busy pagan… :
Witches Of The Craft® 