A Quick Cleansing Ritual

Our houseguest of eight months moved out this past weekend and it feels bittersweet. On one hand, we have our extra room back and more privacy which is great. But, I also feel sad that one of my favourite people will no longer be around as much. Either way the home feels different - a little unbalanced actually - and I wanted to correct it.

My standard approach to this kind of thing involves burning sage (also called smudging) and sprinkling rosemary water. This can be as elaborate or as simple as you want. The white smoke from the sage bundle drifts upwards and wafts throughout the house, eventually finding it's way out the open window and taking those unbalanced energies with it. Then I take a branch of fresh rosemary (preferably wet with dew or rain, but if not then under the tap it goes!) and sprinkle it throughout the house. I don't have a specific chant or song, but I do say things aloud or hum as the mood strikes me.

 

Sage bundles are easy to make, and fairly inexpensive to buy. I have one with the branches still attached which makes it easier to use. Remember the goal is not to actually light the sage on fire - you only want it to gently smoke. It's nice if you can carve out a quiet moment in which to do this, but if your life is anything like mine the phone will inevitably ring, an unexpected guest will drop by, or a car alarm will suddenly go off! Urban Paganism at it's finest!

I like having a specific focus as I do this cleansing ritual, although it's not strictly necessary. Today I focused on what I learned over the past eight months thanks to my houseguest. I experienced a variety of feelings as I walked through the house . The whole thing ended up being a lot more intense than I anticipated. I suddenly remembered all the things that had annoyed me or made me angry - quickly followed by all the things I would miss, such as the hilarious moments we shared, and the companionship. Whew what a ride! The overall experience was awesome, and my home really does feel ready for the next stage - whatever the heck that is! Does your living space feel in need of "clean slate" type of feeling? Give it a try!