A house contains a litany of shared meals, memories of friends and loved ones, and the celebrations of life’s milestones. When babies are born, we bring them straight here. When loved ones die, we gather in our homes to grieve and remember.
Hinduism Today writes, “The building of a house ... is not just a matter of masonry or of business. It is a liturgical act, in which human lives as well as the powers above and below are involved. A house is not real estate, but a human dwelling place, the prolongation, in a sense, of a Man's body; it is the first extension of Man's real world.”
The world’s religions recognize the holiness of our dwelling places, and each has a rubric for blessing them.
1) Buddhism
In one version of a Buddhist house blessing a monk, or many monks, will come to the home, to chant prayers and strew rice in the rooms. In another monks sprinkle “lustral water.”
In Thailand, there is a thread ceremony. A length of string leads from the house Buddha, through the hands of the monks gathered in prayer. The monks' prayers vibrating through the string are said to protect the house and its inhabitants.
2) Catholicism
A Catholic house blessing can be a casual affair, such as when I grabbed our neighborhood priest who was out for an evening stroll, and with youthful enthusiasm, fast-talked him into my house.
In his incomprehensible Irish brogue, he cheerfully blessed some water and then our home, and was out the door in five minutes.
Recently, I had a housewarming party with a more formal blessing. At the opening of the party, the priest gathered the guests in the entry way for communal prayer, then I led him alone through the house as he blessed the rooms.
A Catholic tradition also exists of blessing the home on Epiphany, January 6th. Read here.
3) Hinduism
Indian custom requires a house blessing, on an auspicious date chosen by a priest, before moving in. Vasthu Sastra, described as Indian feng shui, teaches, “all dwelling spaces are alive with unseen entities and prayers are necessary to purify the space from negative energy and to allow the flow of positive energy into the property.”
An excerpt of a house blessing from the Atharva Veda says this, “From the eastern direction I summon a blessing to the glory of this House. Praise to the Gods, the praiseworthy, forever and ever!
“From the southern direction, the western direction, from the northern direction, from the depths below, the heights above, I summon a blessings to the glory of this House. Praise to the Gods, the praiseworthy, forever and ever!”
~ Atharva Veda IX, 3
4) Islam
The Koran teaches, “"And Allah has made for you in your homes an abode ...” ~ al-Nahl 16:80
It is considered “mustahabb”, a virtuous action, to have a feast and fill the house with guests after purchasing a home, as a way of warding off evil. Read here on the Muslim etiquette of moving into a new home.
5) Judaism
When dedicating a new home, and on other mitzvahs, such as lighting the menorah on the first night of Chanukuh, the shehecheyanu blessing is recited.
Baruch Ata A-do-nai Elo-heinu Melech Haolam she-hech-e-ya-nu v'ki-ma-nu v'hi-gi-ya-nu li-z'man hazeh.
"Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion."
A mezuzah in the doorways confirms the Jewish identity of a household. The mezuzah isn’t the actual vessel tacked to the thresholds, but rather the parchment scroll inside the vessel. On it is written Hebrew verses from the Torah: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21.
6) Native American
Many native tribes practice smudging, the burning of native plants to dispel negative energy and create healing. Dried plants such as tobacco, sage, juniper or cedar are tied together in bundles, called smudge sticks, and burned.
The smoke ascending skyward symbolizes the prayers of the worshipper being carried to the Creator.
It is customary in most religions to reward whomever performed the ceremony with at least a meal, and sometimes a small stipend. And always send a thank you note.
Do you have a tradition of house blessing not listed here? Tell me about it in the comments below.
Be holy and be well.
Sources:
Moving to a New Home. Chapad.org. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/472142/jewish/Moving-to-a-New-Home.htm
Smudging by Elaine Lunham. Ewebtribe.com. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
http://www.ewebtribe.com/NACulture/articles/smudging.htm
New house. Thaiworldview. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
http://www.thaiworldview.com/bouddha/ceremon3.htm
Reviewed April 17, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith