Home Closing, Home Opening

Moving to a new home can be an overwhelming experience. It can be hard to leave behind a place that holds happy memories and deep sentimental attachment. Packing up material goods is one thing, but how do you transfer the energy and spirit of a place?

This ritual should ideally include everyone who lives in your household. You can expand this to include anyone who is a frequent visitor. It is a fun ritual for kids, and a good one for those non-Pagan folks who may live with you. You don’t need to cast a circle, and you only need a few simple, easy-to-acquire items.

Not all homes are happy ones. Before you begin this ritual, you must focus on only taking with you the positive energy and memories of the place. In an extreme case, you may have nothing you want to carry forward. If this applies to your situation, see the note below.

You will need a candle in a fireproof container you can carry around, a candle snuffer (if you don’t have a candle snuffer, you can use a spoon instead), Incense in a container that is safe to carry around (stick or loose incense work equally well), and Household members or regular visitors to act as helpers.

Start by opening every interior door inside of your home. Open all closets, cupboards, crawl spaces, etc. Weather permitting, open all the windows. Turn on every light in every room.

Gather your helpers together in the room at the highest point in your home that is the farthest away from the front door. For example, if your home has an accessible attic, start there. If you live in a single floor bungalow, or apartment, adjust accordingly. The point is to be as far away from the main door of the dwelling as possible.

When everyone is in the farthest room, stand in a circle and voice your intent for the ritual, saying something like:

Light your candle and incense. Form a procession with the candle-bearer in front, followed by the incense-bearer. Last in line should be the “Closer,” who is responsible for shutting out lights and closing doors behind the group. If you do not have people for each role, adjust accordingly.

Begin your procession by moving widdershins (counterclockwise) through the room. Shine the candle in every corner and follow with the incense, wafting smoke throughout the space. As you pass a window or door, close it. As you pass a light switch, turn it off. The Closer should be the last one out of the room, closing the door behind the ritual team.

As you move through the home, reminisce about good things you remember in each space as you pass through. What did you celebrate there? What is your fondest memory of a meal cooked in the kitchen? Of a guest who slept on your couch? Get your helpers to throw in some fun memories and share some laughs as you move from room to room.

Move in as close to a widdershins pattern as is possible throughout your home. Enter each room, hallway, and any closet large enough to step into, shining the candle and then censing with incense smoke.

As you carry the candle, visualize all the great moments you have celebrated in that space spiraling into the flame of the candle. Visualize the faces of people who have spent quality time in the home with you and the positive things you did together being packed up into the candlelight.

Just like any other process of packing to move, you can select what you want to take with you, and discard anything you want to get rid of. Do not pack anything into your candle that you don’t want to keep.

Move from the highest point in the house to the lowest, covering the basement last. If you have any outbuildings that you have used in a significant way, you should consider processing through those as well.

When you have completed your widdershins pattern, and all the areas of your home have been “packed,” censed, all the lights are turned off, and all doors and cupboards are closed, exit through the main door. Stand outside your former home, and thank it for the shelter it provided, and for the memories.

Use your candle snuffer to extinguish the flame. Visualize the positive things you have gathered being pushed into the candle and stored there. Carefully wrap your candle in cloth and store it safely until you move into your new home.

If the former home holds nothing but bad energy for you, gather any energy you don’t want to leave behind, and store it in the candle. Wrap it in a black cloth and bury it. Alternately, if you have access to a place where you can have an outdoor fire, burn it.

When you arrive at your new home, hold a home opening ritual. This is essentially the same ritual as the home closing, but done in reverse.

You will need the candle you closed your old home with during the Home Closing Ritual, Incense in a container that is safe to carry around (stick or loose incense work equally well), household members or regular visitors to act as helpers, and celebratory food and drink for after the ritual.

Start by closing all the doors and windows and turning off all of the lights.

Walk into your new home through the main door. As soon as you are over the threshold, light your candle and incense. State your intent by saying something such as:

Form your procession with the “Opener” in front to open all the doors and windows and to turn on all the lights. Next is the incense-bearer who will cense the space with the incense smoke, followed by the candle-bearer.

As you carry the candle, visualize the wonderful memories and energy from your old home being “unpacked” and pouring out of the candle, filling your new home with light.

Move in a deosil (clockwise) pattern around each room, turning on lights, opening doors, windows, and cupboards. Cense each area with the cleansing incense smoke and shine the candle in every nook and cranny. Try to move throughout the entire home in as close to a deosil pattern as possible. From the main door, move from the lowest point in the home to the highest (the basement to the attic). As you are moving through the new space, talk about your plans for your new home. Invite the rest of the team to add their hopes and dreams.

When you have opened the entire home up, and all the doors and windows are open, and all the lights on, leave your candle burning as you and your ritual team break out some food and drink to share. This feast doesn’t have to be fancy. The customary moving-day pizza and beer will suffice, or whatever snacks and beverage you happen to have on hand.