koalalice asked this question on 4/20/2000:

do you know any cleansing rituals for a newly aquired old house?

cheyenne64 gave this response on 4/22/2000:

There are many ways to make your new home yours. Most rituals of this ilk resemble a "cleaning out" of the old energies, and bringing in your own new energies. So, you could do a rite in which you spiritually "clean" the house by sweeping the old out (literally and figuratively as well). That being said, there is an old belief that if you were to ever completely sweep out your house that all the luck (good or ill) would be swept out with it. So, keep a little tiny corner of the house unswept (decide where beforehand). When you have gone around having "cleaned" the house of all unwanted energies, you must immediately fill that space (remember, nature abhors a vacuum, if you take something away, you need to put something in its place). Some will go around with the symbols of the elements, asking them to bless the home (incense for air, a candle for fire, salt water for water and salt or soil from the premises for earth). The only problem with that is that you end up having to clean up again AFTER the rite. I have done simple things like using my athame and drawn pentacles in the cardinal directions (ESWN) as well as above and below and before any windows or doors (any point of entry) having stated beforehand that it is a blessing of the space, a protection for those who live within etc. Remember to thank the gods and goddesses you call upon to help you in the rite, and make certain that they know they are welcome again to visit with you in your home. Heck, if they are your patron god/dess, set up a shrine for them in a space in your home and they will be sure to return.

koalalice asked this follow-up question on 4/22/2000:

Thank you for your response. I am rather new at this and don't have any local support. I am having trouble visualizing in general (grounding, candle magick) Can you offer any tips?

cheyenne64 gave this response on 4/23/2000:

Actually, I don't "see" very well when it comes to doing rites either.. people have told me that my circles are "there" and that they can "see" them.. I "feel" their presence as either a sensation of hot or cold (depends on the purpose of the rite).

Anyhow,as for *any* visualising exercises, it isn't always necessary to "see" what you are told to, but that you have to be able to sense it somehow. I have, through meditation, become part of a plant and sensed how light felt to it. Some see, others feel. Maybe you just feel. There's nothing wrong with that.

So, that being said, maybe you need to focus more on the skill of being able to sense (feel) through your other senses.

One of my favorite exercises for sensing your own energy follows:

Sit on the floor, cross legged (alright, let's modify this.. get comfortable, you're going to be here for a while). Breathe deeply and slowly, focusing on your breath, relaxing you, with your arms lying relaxed on your lap. When you feel your mind is stilled, gently lift your arms up, bringing your hands about to chest level, and quickly clap them together, hold them there together, and then begin to rub them together slowly in a circular motion. Continue to do this until your palms feel tingly. At this time, while slowly pulling your hands apart, continue to move your hands in a circular motion (as you were before). Continue to do so, never letting your hands get so far apart that you can not sense them. At some point during this exercise, and look at your hands.. you will discover that they are about 2-4 inches apart.. if you open your mind to it, you will also likely see something else..

BTW, this exercise works best in a dark room (for the visual stuff) with a single candle burning.

Let me know how you do.. and what you see when you do this exercise. And also, don't despair if you don't get it the first time out.. keep working at it.. :)

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