Using ritual in your ceremony

Ritual is a term used to describe a ceremonial act. It is accompanied by words spoken by me or by you. Examples of rituals include a wine ceremony, sand ceremony, handfasting, candle lighting, tree planting, water ceremony.

The use of rituals and participation by guests can enhance the intention and purpose of your ceremony - for example, a candle ceremony can be used to ask for light to surround the house. For health purposes, I recommend using beeswax candles as these are made from natural substances and are not petroleum based.

Other rituals depend on your spiritual orientation or preferences - you may wish to use sea salt to purify the house, or crystals as anchor points around your house, incense or smudging or blessed water. You may like to ask for protection from all directions - east, south, west, north, above and below. Using sound in your ceremony can be very profound - music or chanting or bells can raise the energy almost palpably. The most important thing is that the rituals you use feel right for you.

Acknowledgement of Country

In Australia, an addition to your house blessing may be an acknowledgement of the traditional indigenous owners of the land. In many areas, the energy has been disturbed by past history. This acknowledgement may not shift the energy but it is a step on the path to reconciliation and healing of all that happened just a short time ago in the history of this ancient continent.

If you live on acreage, it can be a good thing to set aside a small bit of your land for the wild and for the spirits of the land. It is a place that you respect and do not intrude upon.

"In keeping with the Spirit of Reconciliation, we acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are conducting our ceremony today and the important role indigenous people continue to have in this land and our community."

Preparing for your ceremony

Before you conduct your ceremony, you might like to prepare in a number of ways. Clearing clutter, if any, is a good way to start.

If you are conducting the ceremony yourself, you may like to take a ritual bath first. It is good to thoroughly clean the house as well.

Reflect beforehand on what it is that you want for your life in this house. What are the important qualities in a home for you?

If having guests to a house blessing/house warming, you may like to ask them to take their shoes off and wash their feet before entering.

A group meditation or chant, if you are comfortable with this, is a good way to focus energy and intention on the blessing.

House Blessings

You can use a traditional blessing or create your own blessing, or, if using a celebrant, ask the celebrant to write a blessing based on your beliefs and your intentions for the house blessing.

Traditions and symbolism

There are many subtle ways you can add meaning and energy to your ceremonies - the use of colour, flowers or plants, candles, smudging, sea salt, gems, the use of essential oils or flower essences, the day of the week you hold your ceremony, the time of day and the astrological profile for that day. House Blessings may be done when the Moon is in a fertile sign, or in a sign that lends a certain essence to the house's energy, for example, Moon in Gemini to give a house of lively discussions and lots of parties and people coming and going! You may wish to hold the blessing at the New Year or new moon or on a day that is sacred to you. Guests may like to bring along a plate of food to symbolise abundance and always having enough food on the table.