A house blessing can be a beautiful gift for a family moving into their new home. The blessing ceremony can be non-religious or include a more religious theme depending on the owners.
Planning a House Blessing
A house blessing can be planned and conducted in a similar fashion to any other ceremonies such as a wedding or baptism. The event can be orchestrated by a friend or family member, or a religious officiant such as a priest, minister or preacher.
A sample outline of a house blessing:
- Gather friends and family in the central room of the house (living or family room or den)
- Begin ceremony with a prayer, song, reading or poem
- Present a physical item(s) for the blessing – oil to anoint the lintel, sage smudge to cleanse the energy, sea salt to represent “salt of the earth” or to ward off evil spirits, or a symbol of peace or protection to mount near the front door
- End ceremony with a prayer, song, reading or poem
Conclude the house blessing with a meal between friends and family filling the house with laughter and well-wishes.
Prayers and Readings to Bless the Home
The Navajo house blessing includes informal prayers or songs coming from wishes of “happiness, long life, peace, and immunity from misfortune” according to Charlotte J. Frisbee in “The Navajo House Blessing Ceremony” by Michelle L. Biehl.
Sample readings:
- “May you always be blessed; with walls for the wind, a roof for the rain, a warm cup of tea by the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all that your heart might desire.” – Old Gaelic blessing
- “God bless the corners of this house and be the lintel blessed: and bless the hearth and bless the board and bless each place of rest; bless each door that opens wide to strangers and to kin; and bless each crystal windowpane that lets the sunshine in. And bless the rooftree overhead and every sturdy wall. The peace of man, the peace of God, the peace of love to all.” – Irish house blessing
- “Bless this house, O' Lord we pray, make it safe by night and day; Bless these walls, so firm and stout keep want and trouble out: Bless the roof and chimney tall, let thy peace lie over all. Bless the door that it may prove ever open to joy and love. Bless these windows, shining bright, letting in God's heavenly light; Bless the folk who dwell within, keep them pure and free from sin. Bless us that one day we may dwell, O Lord with Thee.” – Irish house blessing
- “We believe in living deeply, laughing often and loving always. We believe we were brought together to support and care for each other. We believe in celebrating together -- our faith, our heritage, our traditions. We believe that everyone's feelings count, and that the uniqueness of each of us strengthens all of us. We believe in the power of forgiveness to heal and the power of love to carry us through. We believe in one another, in this family, in this home.”
Gifts for a Housewarming
There are many beautiful gifts that can be given at a housewarming or house blessing ceremony. Some unique gift ideas include:
- Subscription to a local farm share.
- Voucher for neighborly service - offer to babysit one evening, or volunteer to help plant the garden. Gifts of service are few and far between and are always welcomed by a busy couple or family.
- Give a plant chosen for the benefits of purifying the air inside a new home.
- Handmade or personalized gifts are never out of fashion and the sky's the limit!
- Gift basket of selected items for the ceremony itself or for the family's first dinner in the new house.
References:
The Navajo House Blessing Ceremony by Michelle L. Biehl, accessed online November 2008.
Amy Kreydin - Amy Kreydin, NBCRT, CCAP, BD is a Board Certified Reflexologist and Clinical Aromatherapist.
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