How to Cleanse and Bless a New Home

A new home arrives with someone else's years in it. Their arguments, their parties, their dust in the corners. Most of that is harmless, but almost everyone feels better after giving a new place a fresh start. Here is the order I suggest.

Step 1: Clean before you cleanse

Physical cleaning comes first. Wash the floors, wipe the doorframes and windowsills, and clear out anything left behind. Many witches add a little salt or a few drops of rosemary-infused water to the floor wash. Open every window while you work.

Step 2: Cleanse with smoke or sound

1. Start at the back of the home, at the furthest room.
2. Carry a dish of smouldering rosemary or a bell from room to room, paying attention to corners, cupboards and behind doors.
3. End at the front door and open it for a moment, then close it.

If you cannot use smoke, ring a bell or clap in each corner. The smoke cleansing guide covers safe alternatives.

Step 3: What should I bring into a new house first?

Step 4: Set a ward at the door

Put a thin line of salt just inside the front door, or a small covered dish if you have pets, and say what the boundary is for: "Only peace and kindness enter here." Sweep the line outward the next morning. My guide to simple home warding with salt has the details.

Step 5: Bless the home

Light a white candle in the main room. Say aloud what you want the home to be: "This is a place of rest, laughter and safety for everyone who lives here." Let the candle burn while you sit with it, then put it out safely.

What if the house feels heavy?

Some places feel tense for a while, especially after a difficult previous owner. Repeat the smoke cleansing weekly for a month and keep the windows open when you can. Most homes settle once they are lived in. If you still feel unsettled, a cleansing and purification spell works on what remains.

When I bless a home

Protection starts with salt. I draw a thin line of it around the straw star before anything else is set down, put rosemary in the iron cauldron and ring the brass bell three times to open the work. The new home blessing spell blesses and protects your new place; the family harmony and home blessing bundle adds peace between the people living there.