Small Rituals for a New Home

I'm moving into my new home this weekend, and among the packing, random errands and various things causing me stress, I find myself getting excited about the new house. It feels like an occasion that requires a slightly formalized ritual. Nothing major, because I have enough things to worry about, but something that will really say "This is now my home".

I plan to start with cleansing and home blessing. For me, this means dusting, wiping surfaces in kitchen and bathroom, vaccuming and mopping. Maybe I'll walk around the house with white sage afterwards, if I manage to find white sage before the weekend, but for me the important part is the cleaning itself. I despise home blessing rituals that don't include and clean house.

By the time we are moved in and everything is clean it will probably be late afternoon. I'll take a long soaking bath in the new bathtub. Consentrate on feeling the worries and problems wash away in the tub, leaving me open to a new beginning.

After that, I'll ask my husband to make us Margaritas. We'll drink these in the garden, maybe watching the sun set. Toast to the new house.

Go to sleep in the new bed.

Wake up to first breakfast in the new home.

The best part about planning rituals is the anticipation the create. Suddenly the move date is no longer dreaded - it is something I look forward to.