By OakWyse
Even the most peaceful of home sanctuaries receives the negative energies
brought back to it by family members who encounter conflict in the world.
To maintain the home as a safe haven of peace and health, it may be necessary
from time to time to do a cleansing and healing ritual.
Preparation
A time should be chosen when all family members would be home and be
able to participate. A celebrant known to the family may be asked to preside,
or the family may lead the ritual on their own.
On an altar prepared in a central location, place three white candles
signifying the blessing of the divine, as you understand it to be. As
an alternative, colors may be used for specific qualities you wish to
instill with the rite: green for healing, pink for love, brown for grounding,
etc. Include a white sage smudge stick (or other available incense) for
Air and Fire, and a bowl of salt water for Earth and Water. Finally, a
plate of bread, and a cup of wine. Add other items to the altar as you
wish. For example, pictures of family ancestors will add a depth of history
to the rite. If it is night, turn lights on in each room of the house.
Modify these preparations as is meaningful for you.
Invocation
All standing before the altar, a female elder of the family lights the
candles, with a prayer for light and an invocation of the family's Deity,
such as:
We light these candles in honor of the Goddess, our Mother.
As they bring light to our home, may she enlighten our lives.
We honor the spirits of _____________ (this place),
Our Ancestors who dwell in our hearts,
And the Earth Spirits who surround us.
May they all bless this rite of cleansing and healing for our home.
Another elder says:
Let us give peace to the four Quarters for the blessing of our
work.
Elder: With the blessing of the Hawk of Dawn and the element
of Air,
We call upon the Powers of the East. All: May there be Peace to the East.
Elder: With the blessing of the Virile Stag and the element of
Fire,
We call upon the Powers of the South. All: May there be Peace to the South.
Elder: With the blessing of the Salmon of Wisdom and the element
of Water,
We call upon the Powers of the West. All: May there be Peace to the West.
Elder: With the blessing of the Great Bear and the element of
Earth,
We call upon the Powers of the North. All: May there be Peace to the North.
Elder: May there be peace in all the Earth. All: May our harmony
be complete.
Note: Because this rite takes place throughout the home, a circle is
not cast here. The intent of the calling of the quarters is to encompass
the entire home in sacred space.
Elder: Let us join together in the Gorsedd Prayer.
All: Grant, O (God, Goddess, Spirit)
thy protection,
And in protection, strength,
And in strength, understanding,
And in understanding, knowledge,
And in knowledge, the knowledge of justice,
And in the knowledge of justice the love of it,
And in the love of justice, the love of all existences,
And in the love of all existences,
The love of (God, Goddess, Spirit) and of all
goodness.
All: Awen. Awen. Awen.
A female elder blesses the salt water, saying:
May these elements of Water and Earth be blessed,
For the cleansing of our home.
Another elder lights and blesses the sage, saying,
May these elements of Air and Fire be blessed,
For the cleansing of our home.
Cleansing
The bearers of the water and the sage lead a procession around the home.
Begin at the highest place, and descend to the lowest. Finish at the front
door before returning to the altar.
In each room, the blessing bearers say:
With the power of Earth and Water
May this space be cleansed and blessed. (sprinkle water around)
With the Fire and Air
May this space be blessed. (wave burning sage around)
When reaching the front door, open the door and stand outside on the
steps.
An elder says:
We offer all that has been harmful in our home
To the care of the Goddess (or other)
That it may return to the elements
To be cleansed and made whole.
All: So may it be.
Scatter the water and sage in the soil of the yard/garden, and return
to the altar.
Note: If it is felt the front of the house is too public, a back door
certainly may be used.
Grounding
All will gather again around the altar.
An elder lifts the plate of bread, saying:
Blessed are you, (__________),
For you give us bread to sustain our lives.
Another elder lifts the cup of wine, saying:
Blessed are you (__________),
For you give us wine to make our hearts glad.
Pass the bread and wine to each other, with words such as:
Grain becomes bread, may your body be blessed.
Grapes become wine, may your spirit be blessed.
All share the symbolic meal together.
Note: Other food may certainly be used, such as mead or ale in place
of wine (or a beverage without alcohol), cakes in place of bread.
Closing
An elder leads the family in a pledge of unity, such as,
We swear by peace and love to stand,
Heart to heart and hand in hand.
Mark, o Spirit, hear us now,
Confirming this, our sacred vow.
Another person thanks the Powers of the four Quarters:
Thanks be to the North (then West, South,
East)
The person who lit the candles extinguishes them, saying:
Now is the hour of recall.
As the light on our altar is extinguished,
May it live on in our home and hearts.
All: As it is, so may it be.
It is especially appropriate to follow this rite with a family meal.
The rite may be adapted for families who follow any faith tradition.
