Everything Under the Moon

Hello all! I am moving into a new apartment in the next few weeks in a building from the 1880s or 1890s so I'm sure there is a lot of buildup of energy. I also know nothing about previous residents over the years. I am new to paganism but am interested in getting help with ideas for a basic ritual one with almost no experience such as myself could perform to help cleanse the space for a fresh start.

It is a no smoking building with fire detectors hardwired to the fire department and sprinklers so I'm pretty sure smudging (with which I have no experience) is a big no no. Candles in small doses and other things none smoky are okay. Nothing illegal or complicated or expensive please. Otherwise, I'm looking forward to ideas!

Thanks,

TreeGlow

Hey TreeGlow. Happy housewarming! The really good news is that cleansing doesn't have to include sage or burning. There are a million ways to do it and you will get great suggestions here.

Essentially cleansing in my experience needs a few elements. There is the cleaning piece which removes any negativity, and then you go back in immediately and fill the space with good energy. In cleansing you empty a space and create a vacuum and you must fill that empty space with the good things of your choosing so that any negativity doesn't just rush back into the empty space created.

What you need to cleanse with: something that you feel will clear the space.

You could take water and consecrate it. Steep cleansing herbs like rose or sage...or whatever in it....make almost like a steeped sun tea with it.....the light of the sun will boost the herbs of your choosing and imbue them with cleansing powers. You can then put the filtered cleaning water into a spray bottle and go through the space.

You can use an aromatherapy oil diffuser.

You can cleanse with scent.

You can aspurge.

Literally, do what speaks to you.

Alternately, you can go through the space with a consecrated besom/broom and literally sweep out any negative energy. Or use a feather.....
A chant or Incantation you write can be said while you go through. Be specific about what is and is not allowed in the space and do not waver. Use their herbs that appeal to you for the work. Go online or look in a book...listen to your inner voice. This is your work and you are master of the space. You will know what to do. Have ideas about what you will do and what you will allow. Is there something peaceful there? It's an old building. What will you allow and not allow? What will you share?

To bring energy back into a space you can use a candle to light it up. Annoint the candle with warm loving correspondences. Bring it through the space again....this time feel the love and protection flooding into the space....

Heck, you can even bake a crumble or pie, or bread, and diffuse love into the air that way....


A few things to keep in mind. I open windows to allow for escape of energies. I do the initial cleansing going counter clockwise (widdershins) and start at a point that feels correct like a door or window. This helps get the energy out. I pay special attention to corners, Windows, doors, closets, bathrooms, drains and even power outlets and Internet connection portals. These are ways things come and go from spaces. Also any nooks and crannies energy can pool and stagnate.

When I fill the space I go clockwise (deosil) and pay attention to the same important points.

Does that help? If you have any more specific questions about the techniques I use you can always shoot me a pm.

Know you can do this.....people have special power when the space belongs to them. It is your plane and your space. Knowing and confidence in your ability to create a safe home space is crucial.

I have a feeling this is clearly a newbie question... but you mentioned consecrated items several times. Is this something I do myself?

Could you perhaps recommend a trustworthy website or two I could study? In my degree program I was taught to be distrustful of random Internet search results. Suggestions for sound resources are appreciated on paganism, Wicca, etc.

TreeGlow

Yes, and this is practically easy, consecration can be done energetically and spiritually, you don't NEED tools to do this. They'll be ready for you to use next time.

But even before you bless or consecrate the tools or the materials necessary for the ritual -- I would suggest to cleanse them first. Even brand new items can carry negative vibrations from the maker, from the place where it was sold, the sales clerk or wherever or whoever etc.

Many witches or practitioners like to cleanse on a waning moon then consecrate or bless on a waxing moon.

Okay, so I'm feeling inspired to "sweep out" the old energies with a grouping of dried eucalyptus with a few drops of real tea tree oil on it. Somehow this just appeals to me. Then I'm feeling like filling the space with positive energy via nag champa incense and a blessing I will write. I have always associated nag champa with higher realms of spirituality.

Any thoughts?

Here's a link to my house/condo/apartment cleansing ritual I did a few months ago. FWIW, I also have a place that has a hard-wired fire alarm that automatically calls the fire station (it's also absurdly sensitive), but smudging and incense were fine. I just opened the windows a bit and it blew right out.

Honestly with smudging, I think it's more challenging to keep a smudge stick consistently lit at all -- I had to walk around with a lighter in one hand and the smudge stick in the other and pause every few steps to relight it ... very witchy! Relatedly, if anyone has any tips for how to keep a smudge stick lit, I would appreciate it very much, lol.

Other ideas for cleansing include:

• singing or chanting
  ringing a bell or chime
  sprinkling salt water
  sprinkling salt
  sweeping with a broom
  waving a fan or feather
  boil a pot of water and add your favorite aromatics to get the scent throughout the house

and many more I haven't thought of!

Okay, so my Herkimer diamond came in the mail. He's a happy positive little guy. Just a sense. Anyway I thought we could make a "sun tea" gem essence so I went out and bought a nice glass jar that even has a little chalkboard to label the contents. Well, I cleansed the jar, recleansed my Herkimer pal because I accidentally picked him up after touching the dumpster and I feel germs give off bad energy.

Okay, so anyway, everything cleansed, stone and spring water in the jar, sealed with positive intentions, and I decide to label it with the chalk that came with the jar (forgot to cleanse with water, but did a thought cleanse).

I got the H on the jar okay and then it happened... as soon as I went to write the e the writing process simply took the chalkboard layer off the jar. It just kept happening. I figured it wasn't meant to be labeled and just put it in the sun. But now, sitting about 6 feet away I'm picking up feelings of desperation and beginnings of annoyance and anger. I'm going to take him out. Am I going nuts?

Nope. He probably just wants to shine in his own light. I sometimes cleanse with lavender and other herbs in a spray bottle. My oldest son HATES the smell of sage burning so I do his room with the spray bottle. I also use smudging as I already stated. .. , singing , bells , and my broom to physically sweep things out the door.

My fiance hates the smell of burning sage as well, so when he is home we do blessings with a spray bottle... when he is at work I burn it

When I cleanse and bless my home, I view it as one big cleaning day. I mean I am up on the ladder wiping down the ceiling fan, on my knees scrubbing the baseboards, vacuuming behind the couch, etc. When I am done with a particular room I will spray the corners with my sage water and light a candle while asking my god and goddess to please help bless this area and protect it from negative energies.I feel like this works better for me because I am physically and mentally working hard to make my space my own.

But that is just me. To each their own, really.
I know when I was first starting I would get kinda frustrated because I was looking for really precise answers on how to do specific things, but as soon as I would ask an opinion I would get a million different answers followed by "whatever works for you." But really, it is what ever works for you. You could speak in pig latin while wearing a sombrero while dancing to the cotton eye joe and as long as you are taking yourself seriously and it feels right to you, it will work.

I have a friend who some how incorporates yoga into her home blessings.
It sounds interesting, but not for me. She says it helps keep her grounded and mindful while directing energies throughout her home... personally I'm not balanced enough

And Happy House Warming
Moving is an adventure.