I attended a house blessing last Friday, and it was such a lovely experience. I felt very privileged to be part of it.
I like the idea of a house being blessed for the same simple reasons I enjoy styling a home:
The house blessing I went to, was a Buddhist home blessing conducted by 3 Buddhist monks. Many religions, ecumenical groups, and indigenous cultures do house blessings, allowing you to choose one that aligns with a culture or preferred faith. Anyone can organise a house blessing, you don’t need to be religious or a Buddhist to have one. For Buddhists, house blessings are a way of life—a celebratory event shared with neighbors and friends. They also feature delicious food; my lovely girlfriend Ying made some amazing dishes! Friends often contribute food or money as offerings to the monks, eagerly participating because of the blessings they receive in return.
One of the first things my lovely neighbour “Ying” was required to do was make an offering to nature (think Thai curries, fresh greens and incense) . This offering is for all the animals and people who have died alone… so beautiful and thoughtful! Would you agree??
Next, three monks adorned in various shades of orange arrived – They sat down on cushions, prayed and chanted. It was very peaceful!
During one particular chant -they passed a ball of string between them – firstly unwinding it so that they were all connected by twine and prayer and then lastly by rolling it back up. This is a symbol of protecting the house and the people within it! You can watch this moment here on the vimeo below if you would like.
We all took turns filling the monks’ bowls with rice, a gesture of protection for everyone involved. The monks then ate and continued to pray and chant. Typically, a Buddhist home blessing lasts about one and a half to two hours, including lunch. Afterward, one of the monks sprinkled holy water throughout the rooms and placed three dots on the main entrance of the home. I must admit, I would have a blessing just for the gold foiling alone, but it’s also meant to protect the house from any negativity.
If you’re thinking about having your home blessed, it’s a great idea to start by researching local Buddhist centres or Indigenous groups in your local area. The costs involved will vary, therefor it’s also important to understand the proper etiquette and procedures before you begin.
Attending a Buddhist home blessing was a humbling experience for me, and I could definitely see and feel the positive energy it brought into the home.
I love this idea of a Buddhist blessing. I had our house blessed when we bought it. It wasnt a big hoo ha, I didnt even tell anyone we were having it done. But a friends mum did the clearing and the blessing for us and immediately afterwards it just felt more us than anyone else xx
Wow, I love that you have had your house blessed Sonia! ! I think it’s the loveliest idea and one of the most logical ways to make it your own too. I think ours has been blessed with holy water (my mother is handy like that) but I would really like one done on ours too! Xx
Oh that’s very cool. One of my friends had her house blessed in the Catholic tradition. There was lots of holy water thrown about by all accounts. xx
Oh so touched you popped by lovely!! It was cool! Love the idea of a house blessing – not overly fussed how its done, it’s just a beautiful idea isn’t it? xx