Witches’ Spell: House Cleansing and Purifying

As any witch will tell you, cleansing, purifying and blessing your home on a regular basis will help with all facets of your life. You will get rid of the old and draw in the new with every ritual cleansing. Most witches have their own special methods of cleansing their houses, but when you combine your typical house cleaning with a house cleansing, you will be amazed at the difference you feel in the space afterward.

Even while living in my parents’ home as a child and later as a teen, I had a seasonal ritual of cleansing my living areas and reorganizing them completely. It did not get rid of everything I would have wished, but it got rid of most of it. When I moved out on my own, I continued the process as I cleaned out closets, cabinets, and drawers, leaving no place untouched. It always made me feel so much better, lighter, and happier, even before becoming a witch. The process of cleaning was working its magick in my life. Since I always had lots of green plants around the apartments and always has windows cracked at every opportunity, there was always a fresh flow of air and energy in my places.

Now that I am older and my sons rule the majority of the roost though, I am not the one doing the majority of the cleaning in the household (my sons clean all the areas they use and I clean the two areas I use) it is a different process and a different feeling within the house, now.

I discovered a few years ago, partly by accident and partly by sage advice, it is a simple matter to cleanse the house at the same time we clean the house. One method removes the dirt and grime that we can see, the other removes the psychic dirt and grime that we feel in the form of negativity, harmful, and depressive energies. It is amazing how different the house feels afterward.

Some simple things you can do to accomplish the most for your efforts with the least physical repetitions and effort is to start with a plan.

First, take a nice ritual cleansing bath and work in some targeted deep breathing before you begin, following up by anointing a black candle and a white candle, with ritual cleaning oil and invoking the power of deities or the elements, etc, whatever the individual witch prefers.

God’s and Goddess’ (Elementals) divine power
Join with my own in this hour
Harmful magicks to disarm
Guard our home from any harm

Floors to ceilings, walls to walls
In the bedrooms down the halls
Kitchen, restrooms, yards and more
Every window, every door

From both mundane and arcane
Safe within we will remain
By these powers I decree
As I will so mote it be

Personally, after this I suggest passing all the cleansing additives to be used through the smoke of the anointed candles. On passing them through the smoke, focus on their absorbing the power to cleanse and purify from the candles and the powers or deities represented, if any, for the job at hand. Then, all oils, herbs, waters, etc, passed through the smoke and charged with the ability to cleanse and purify should be set aside to await their individual use.

In invoking deities to join with the witch in the cleansing and purifying of the home is a personal choice. I have always felt that Ma’at particularly enjoys working with me to get my house in order, and Thoth does not mind helping out due to the magickal nature of the enterprise as we do it.

Next is organizing the clothes washing, especially the efforts to get the blankets, sheets, and bedding taken care of, in addition to their bi-weekly washing. Getting them into a wash and add some indigo blue water, New Moon Water, maybe even a few drops of Purification Oil blend to the wash water every season, in order to properly cleanse and purify the items.

While those loads of laundry are going, organize the areas of the home. Make certain that everything has a place and is in its place. As loads complete, hang or fold laundry and put it away. Add sachets of lavender to drawers with clothing for ones who prefer femininity, or cedar for clothes of the masculine witches amongst us.

Adding some New Moon Water to the water for washing the floors and windows, perhaps even a bit of freshly zested lemon rind, a tablespoon each of hyssop, and burdock tied into a small bit of cloth and dropped into the water bucket is a good choice. Barely spritzing this mixture onto microfiber cloths used to dust household areas will keep from damaging wood or other tender materials while picking up the dust.

For witches who vacuum, add a few drops of pine oil, cedar oil, or a few drops of frankincense to some baking soda and mix well with mortar and pestle, and then sprinkle over carpets in order to purify them and make them smell nice. Personally, I enjoy a blend a lemon and lavender for the carpets, then a drop or two of straight peppermint on the filter of the vacuum for purification. At the heat of the vacuum and the movement of the air through the filter, the entire house begins to smell wonderfully minty.

Create two-inch squared bags from thin linen; stuff them with thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and pine needles. Charge them for your purposes and use a piece of white yarn to string them together. Hang them in a window that is often open to allow the wind to carry their scents and magickal purpose throughout the rooms.

For outdoors, killing many purposes with one application, mix and magickally charged sea salt, powdered cayenne pepper, and diatomaceous earth, and spread it around the foundation to your home and the perimeter of your property. Not only will this work to cleanse and purify your property, but also the diatomaceous earth will help prevent many types of harmful insects from invading your property and your home, as well.

As you can see, using these methods, the busy witch can cleanse, purify and protect their home and in multitude of ways with one days effort.

Should a witch choose, they might add the more common smudging with sage, or writing protective runes or sigils onto windows and mirrors, after the fact. However, technically, these are not necessary when the house is cleansed and cleaned in the manner explained above, as the surfaces are handled on an individual basis with the charged cleaning items. Only the intent during the cleaning process is needed. If you want to add one more layer, get some active music with a great beat and a positive message blaring as you work. After all, don’t forget, sound cleanses as well.

Of course, if there is illness in the air, witches may get a few large white onions and cut them into halves or quarters, leave a large piece in each room for no less than twelve hours, or preferably over night. This will draw the illness from the air. Throw the onions away the next day or leave in place for a few days, if there is illness spreading in the community. Remember, if you have small children or animals, to put the onion where they cannot access it for their safety as the onion draws bacteria and is poisonous to some animals.

Be certain to add your favorite house blessing spell after the cleansing and purification is complete. After all, nature abhors a void, so it you do not fill it, something else will. Be a smart witch… fill the void for yourself!