Closing and opening a household

I'm going to be moving soon, from the space I've lived the longest I've ever lived somewhere, to a place that I hope will be a truly wonderful home.

So, I need to close my current household, notably by closing down my hearth shrine, and then when we move, open the new one.

Closing

I'm going to miss my current place, as much as I look forward to the new one. The spirits here have been very kind to me, even in this last year when all I've known is illness. But I've known no disasters and no violence here, and I like to think the house spirits here had a little hand in that. Part of closing the household is saying goodbye, but in my case it will also be an invitation that any spirits who want to come along are more than welcome to join my new household.

So the first thing I will do, once the animals and packages are made, is make one last offering at my current hearth shrine dedicated to Epona.

My offerings tend to be exceedingly simple, my accompanying speeches usually spoken quickly in my native language. I don't tend to bother with calling out to gatekeepers, at least not at my hearth, in any case. When I'm praying to specific gods or spirits, I'll probably also recite some of the poetry I've written for them (I have a couple in English posted here) as well, so because this is a special occasion, I'll do that here too.

Then, I'll probably say something along the lines of a true farewell – the following isn't the exact text I'll say, because 1) it's not in the language I use for my own religious observances and 2) my speech is probably going to be very personal to the place I've lived and the named and unnamed spirits who live here and all the things I've seen, but I think it will be something a little like:

For all the years you've sheltered me, lived with me, sorrowed with me, and joyed with me, in all the years you have watched over my household and my loved ones, I am awash with gratitude. To all the spirits that call this place home, thank you, thank you, thank you. Rest well, here, after my household departs. Be at peace here, after all the work of protecting us. We leave this place with far more good memories than bad, and that is a true blessing.

To all the kind spirits who will journey with us to our new home, I wish you safe travels. We will see each other again soon. To all the spirits left behind, adieu. Be at peace. Be at peace. Be at peace. And thank you.

And then:

• Dismantle all shrines and take down any offerings, thanking every spirit along the way.
• Remove all the small protective charms hanging in front of every window and door, thanking every spirit along the way.
• (A last act before the move officially begins) Take down my grandfather's old lucky horseshoe that hangs above the entrance, thanking my ancestors in particular for their watchful kindnesses.

Opening

To begin:

• The very first thing I do is formally greet the place. It's not the first meeting, but it is the day of the move, which has its own special significance. I try to seek out what I hope will be the "hearth," of the new home. While the location could change as the move continues and life happens, usually there's a kind of hum that feels right, and that's where I'll "greet" the new household for the first time. This greeting is more meditation than speeches, in my own case.
• Setting up shrines and altars is not on the menu for the opening, but will come later. Instead, after greeting the new home, I'll lay out some offerings and gifts for the spirits, both those that come with my household and the news ones already there. Gifts are important, but the speeches even more so:

There are so many good ideas floating out there when it comes to "house opening" speeches. I particularly like this one from Kunigunde from Skíðblaðnir, called "land-taking":

"I, [name], am new to this land, which I acknowledge as the unceded stolen lands of the [local Indigenous nation(s)]. I come in peace and frith, with intent to become its steward and make it home and hearth for me and mine. Hail to the wights who inhabit it! I give You this [offering] in the spirit of frith. May it be a welcome gift and may it comfort and sustain you. Should You, in turn, be willingly and favorably disposed toward me and my hearth, I invite You to stay in frith and live with us here. If You do not wish to stay in frith, I invite You to leave us be, in peace, and be welcome to the gift all the same."
Leave an offering at a spot on the inside perimeter of the home, the front door if an apartment, the inside of a gate if a larger piece of land. Light a candle (or torch!) and begin to circumambulate, stopping as often as seems appropriate—typically at corners—and say:
"I, [name], am new to this land and come in peace and frith, with intent to become its steward and make it home and hearth for me and mine. If You are willingly and favorably disposed toward me and my hearth, I invite You to stay in frith and live with us here. If You do not wish to stay in frith, I invite you to leave us be, in peace, and be welcome to the gift all the same. If you are bringing wights with you, when you have returned to where you started, install the wight if It inhabits an object, or bury some of your pet, if possible: Be present and welcome, [wight’s name, if known, or just wights Who have come with me to this home], in this home you have never known. I invite You now, back to our home. I ask that you again bestow protection and blessings upon our home."
I follow this with a full regular wightcult, for new and old, and assume those Who have no interest have left.

This ritual is very similar to this one I like in particular, from The Barrow Home:

Once that is taken care of, I proceed to hang up my grandfather's lucky horseshoe above the entrance of my new home. Ideally, this should get done before the moving of any boxes or household items officially starts. (Must be done before people move households, at the very, very least.)

I've got enough Mediterranean heritage in me that no celebration feels right without a feast, but, as it's moving day, the feasting is likely going to be on cheap takeout with my partner and maybe a few friends and family members, once the bulk of the moving is done. And you know what? That sounds perfect to me.

And, later, once boxes have been opened and things put away, it will be time to rebuild the hearth shrine, and that will be its own little ceremony, so that there's somewhere for offerings to go.

How do you like to do to celebrate a move? Do you have any house-opening traditions? And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to write me!

Read more

• Heathenry in Urban Living Spaces by Angelica (May 2019)
• Home Is Where The Hearth Is by Snow (May 2021)