Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.

Underground > Temple >

Consecrating Places

11:44 / 12.06.06

In about six months I’m moving to a new home (a condo) that hasn’t been built yet. The place will have no history as a structure and before that it was all a sawgrass plain. Magically speaking it’s a blank slate as far as I know. I was wondering if there was something I could do to, for lack of a better term, bless it. Specifically my own condo, but if I could blanket the whole condo community, before everyone starts moving in that’d be great.

I was thinking of creating a servitor that patrols the area and spreads positive energy… like a friendly ghost or a patron saint, but since nobody else living there would know about it I don’t know how effective it would be. Another idea I had was to envelope the area in a bubble of positive protective energy. Maybe contact local animal spirits native to the sawgrass, but figured they're probably pissed we built condos on their land.

Ideas. Suggestions. Is this stupid?

12:23 / 12.06.06

Not stupid at all. A good idea. I don't really rate your ideas for attempting it though. There are some fairly standard methods for house cleansing and blessing routines that wouldnt take too much effort to research and then modify something to your own aesthetic. I would go down that route. Something that actually deals with the space itself, not an astral imagining of it, would be a good idea.

12:36 / 12.06.06

Cool, that’s another route I was thinking off. I’m of Cuban descent so I know a few Santeros that could probably come in and slap the place down with leaves and splash some water around. But as a magician I really don’t see the point of calling someone in when I can do it myself (and risk having their own impressions recorded in the space).

I’m at work now and can’t do much research so any links you can provide would be appreciated.

I’d also like to hear if anyone here has done something similar (or different). What’d you do and how’d it go?

12:53 / 12.06.06

But as a magician I really don’t see the point of calling someone in when I can do it myself

Except that you don't seem to know how to...

Like I said, look into the various traditional methods of cleansing a space. You will find certain common tropes occuring across several cultures. Look at the bits that resonate with you, that you think are workable, and that you reckon will get the job done. Develop something of your own based on this, and see how it goes.

I'm not going to post links to anything, and I didnt necessarily mean a google search when I said "research" either. Although you seem a bit squeamish about even putting that much effort into it...

13:05 / 12.06.06

No I'm not squeamish at all or lazy, I really can't be online too much here... posting and checking here is bad enough as it is. I'll definitely look into it and come up with something. Thanks for your help.

13:13 / 12.06.06

Fair enough. I'm feeling a bit snarky today cos it's a beautiful day outside and I'm stuck in an office with ye olde english air conditioning.

Basic gear includes things like making up some manner of "Holy Water" for cleansing. Making up a cleansing incense involving ingredients like white sage and whatever other bits seem appropriate. Burning a white candle in the rooms dressed in some cleansing oil, and so on. The incense is the main thing as it really reaches into the physical space. Other ideas might include things like sweeping or floorwashes and so on. All of these things act physically on the property itself.

Treat it like cooking. Understand which ingredients work best together, but don't be afraid to get creative with them. If something doesn't turn out right, then you will know better the next time and can refine your recipes.

16:15 / 12.06.06

We moved into our first place a few months back and did the following in the first month or so, as and when they felt right (ours is an old house so maybe some won't apply):

Lit candles for anything and anyone that was hanging around; asked what/whoever might be present for their blessings; handmade some house incense with sage and other bits and pieces (as Gypsy said, it took a while to get right) and smudged the rooms; went on a walk around the area and collected a few bits and pieces (random tat, interesting stuff, plants), and made a 'connection' altar; made 'nice people in, nasty people out' sigils/veves and marked them on the hidden bits of all the windows and doors; oh, and talked to the neighbours and drank a lot of wine with them.

Not sure how many you could use, but i really do recommend the 'connection' altar, it's a nice way of getting to know your neighbourhood, it brings the outside in a bit, and we found it really builds some links with the place.

And birdfeeders/bugboxes are always good for convincing the last tenants of your land that you're good folk.

16:47 / 12.06.06

I've always found doing the physical cleaning/repainting of a space with sacred intent to be very successful. Washing the walls/floors/counters with a prepared mixture which actual physically cleans as well as spiritually is a very standard practice in many cultures.

here's a bit on it From Potions 101

when painting a space I focus my awareness to the area I'm working on making it an extension of my understanding of the dwelling.
The art of decorating is also a big chunk of this for me, where what goes is a dialogue.

finally house warming parties really are a grand idea especially when you are trying to established a comfortable sense of the space.

Remember empty dwellings are psychologically unsettling, the ways in which you engage the space to make it comfortable are correct when informed with a little insight and tried and true direction.