To Invite the Spirits of a House to Join You When You Move Into a New House
This rite is intended to invite the spirits of a home to join you/your family when moving to a new residence. This rite should ideally be started one moon cycle away from your move (or as far in advance as possible). All you will need is a lidded pot (like a cauldron or Dutch oven) that you will not use for anything else until the ritual is complete. You may also choose to incorporate a map from your current home to the house that youβre moving to or a candle that you routinely keep lit next to the pot.
Clean and cleanse the pot however you prefer and take it to a central area of your home (ideally the kitchen, living room, next to the fireplace, or whatever spiritual hearth you have established). Hold the pot (unlidded) in your hands and say:
Hearth-kin, house-kinβgather near!
Good spirits, long residing here.
A new home waits with open door.
Join if you please, and be welcomed once more.
Enter this pot if you would ride
And establish a new home at my side.
I invite you along, with care and with grace.
Linger if you like, or share my new space.
Leave the pot unlidded in a central location in the house either for an entire moon cycle (or as long as possible if you do not have a full moon cycle before your move). If you want to, you may light a candle next to the pot each day. You can also place a map from the old house to the new house in or near the pot. If you have a token the represents your bond to the house spirits, you may place that in the pot as well.
On the day of the move, let the pot be the final thing that you remove from the house. When everything else is gone/loaded into the truck, continue the working with another charm/announcement. Ring a bell, clap your hands to get the attention of the spirits or just say in a loud voice:
The boxes are packed. The way is made clear.
Good spirits of home, of warding, of cheer.
If you would ride, then clamber in,
Into the pot and letβs begin.
Wait for a moment and then lid the pot and carry it out of the house. It must be held/carried and left lidded for the entire trip to the new house. If you cannot carry it yourself, you can also carefully place the pot in a seat and strap it in. When you reach the new house, unlid the pot and say:
Where beam meets beam, let kinship grow.
Where shadows gather, let friendship flow.
Old spirits, new spirits, kindred all.
Hold this dwelling, keep this hall.
Out of the pot! Now the work begins,
To grow new roots and settle in.
Leave the pot in a central location in the new home until all of the other boxes are unpacked and put away. Then you may clean it, cleanse it and return it to normal use.
