Somewhere between Imbolc and Ostara, the urge begins.
We’ve all been too long inside. We haven’t smelled the freshness of earth and grass for too long. We are able to go out into the world and feel the air on our skin in a way that is kind and warm, rather than hard and cold. But the earth is waking from the slumber of winter and the sun is staying in the sky longer. Spring is coming.
And with the beginning of a growing season comes the need to make space for all the new things that are coming into our lives. It is hard for new things to grow if the old and dead things are not cleared away. Being inside for so long we’ve let things build up. We’ve burrowed ourselves in with the things that make us comfortable when it is cold and dark. It’s time to clean things up, clear things out, make space in our space and in our lives for what’s coming.
Remember that magical cleaning is only part of what needs doing. Doing the magical part without the mundane part means that what you’re doing won’t be near as powerful. So start with the places in your home where you spend the most time. Is there clutter? Have you accumulated things you do not need or which you are finished with? Are there important tasks that are hanging over your head? As stack of bills, maybe, or your tax return documentation? I know it sounds weird to begin a discussion of magical house cleaning with a question about tax returns, but I promise it matters. Now is the time to put things in order, and that includes everything from your unfolded laundry to your tax documents to the remnants of spellwork that is long finished but still taking up space on your altar. New things cannot come into your life if your world is still cluttered up with old, dead things from your past.
It doesn’t need to be perfect, but you do need to make an effort in that direction.
And then you will be ready so that you can chase out the old spiritual energy as well. There are lots of magical tools that can help to do that, but the one that I find is most helpful is smoke cleansing.
You can use incense or a bundle of herbs or a wood bundle. Please avoid “smudging” with white sage and sweetgrass, as these plants are considered sacred to Native American cultures. There are lots of different herbs and plants that you can use for smoke cleansing. Rosemary, thyme, dragon’s blood, lemongrass, and mugwort all make great cleansing smoke. Avoid any plants that are endangered or overharvested.
Smoke cleansing is simple, really. Take the bundle of herbs or wood and light it on fire, and then blow out the flame, leaving behind an embered end that is actively smoking. Wave the smoking herbs so that the smoke settles across the area you want cleansed. As a witch, I will often seal that cleansing operation by drawing a banishing pentagram with my finger or with a wand or athame. If you don’t have herbs, you can also use incense smoke as well.
Here's a house cleansing ritual I like to use. It's a bit involved, and you can do parts of it and still get good results. I find, however, that the time and energy involved in doing it this way can be worth it.
Start first with an altar set with a vial of salt, a bowl of water, your bundle of herbs and a candle. You will also need a broom or besom close at hand.
Center your energy and set your intent to cleanse your home of any and all negative energies that may be lingering, and to fill the home with blessings.
Stir some of the salt into the bowl of water. Light the candle and use the flame to set the bundle of herbs smoking. Pass the smoke over the business end of the broom while reinforcing your intent to consecrate and cleanse. Use your fingertips to spray drops of salt water on the end of the broom.
Start at the front door of your home and begin sweeping the old energy, gathering it and pushing it towards the back door if you have one (if not, you can use any door really), chanting, “Bless this home and make this home a blessing. Protect this home that no harm my dwell here.” Make sure that you get into corners, into closets. Go up high as well, sweeping things down from above. Visualize the negative energy balling up as you sweep it towards the door. Open the door, and push all the negative energy out. Once you have fully pushed the mass of energy you’ve collected with the broom out the door, shut the door.
Then take the smoke bundle, which should be relit if it has gone out. Cleanse the door opening all the way around with the smoke, and then using your right index finger (or an athame if you like), draw a banishing pentagram, saying “shield these walls and make these walls a shield. Protect this home that no harm may enter here.” Focus your intent here on creating a covering barrier over the opening that will keep out bad energies. Do the same over every opening that leads to the outside in your home. Every door. Every window. Do it to fireplaces and to toilets and drains. When you are finished, place the smoke bundle back on the altar.
Then take the dish of salt water and dip your fingertips into the water and then flick the water in droplets at the baseboards all along the walls, chanting, “Shield these walls and make these walls a shield. Bless this place and all who dwell within.” Visualize the salt water as spreading cleansing and blessing energy all throughout the home. When you are finished with the walls on the inside, go outside and do the walls from the outside. When you are finished, place the dish with the salt water back on the altar.
If you have a friend or a spouse or a child who is old enough, you can have one of you manage the smoke cleansing and have the second person follow behind you with the salt water. This makes things go faster, especially if your home is larger.
Once you have finished cleansing and blessing, give thanks to the land spirits that guard your home. Ground out the energy you’ve been accumulating and extinguish any flame and grind out any remaining smoke. Take any remaining salt water and any ashes and take them outside and offer it to the land spirits.
This is obviously not the only way to do a house cleansing or a house blessing. There are lots of ways to do it. This is one that I have used with good result. I have found that this only needs to be done once a year, and makes a good ritual to do as you usher in the springtime and makes plenty of space for the new growing season to fill your home (and your life) with good things.
Blessed be, y’all.