How Do You Bless a House for Peace & Protection?

You have finally moved into your new house. It is perfect in every single way, and you want it to stay that way. House blessings are an ancient practice that usually involves a religious leader or homeowner praying or spiritually cleansing a new home. If you’re a religious or spiritual person, you might find that blessing your home brings you great peace of mind and serenity. This article covers how to perform a house blessing in Christian, Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, and spiritual households.

How to Perform a Christian House Blessing

To bless your own home, use anointing oil to draw a cross on your house’s windows and doors. Each time you make the sign of the cross, say a prayer asking God to bless the room. It can be as simple as, “May Your Holy Spirit flow through and fill this home up with Your Spirit.”

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Protestant House Blessing

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Perform a Protestant blessing to ask for God’s protection. In the Protestant faith, the blessing may be performed by a pastor or the owner of the house themselves. If you prefer to bless the house yourself, use anointing oil (which can be cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil, blessed by a minister) to mark a cross on each of the windows and doors inside the house.
- As you mark the sign of the cross, utter a simple prayer asking God to bless the room.
- For example, "In the name of Jesus Christ, I ask for Your peace and joy to inhabit this room," or "May Your Holy Spirit flow through and fill this home up with Your Spirit."
- Recite an appropriate Bible verse, like Joshua 24:15: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
- House blessings are usually performed when moving into a new residence or annually at Epiphany, a holiday commemorating the first manifestation of Jesus and his divinity.^{[1]
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Catholic House Blessing

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Follow the instructions for a lay minister in the Book of Blessings. Gather the family in front of a blessed crucifix and perform the Introductory Rites. Then, read from the sacred Scripture. After the reading, say the intercessions, which are prayers you make on behalf of your household. Offer a prayer of blessing, sprinkling holy water and blessed salt around your home before performing the concluding rite.^{[2]
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- One reading that is often used is 1 Peter 2: 9-10: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
- Your diocese may have recommended readings and prayers for home blessing ceremonies, so check with your parish priest for additional instructions.
- For example, this prayer might be said at the entrance of your home: “O God, protect our going out and our coming in; Let us share the hospitality of this home with all who visit us, that those who enter here may know your love and peace. Grant this through Christ our Lord.”
- It’s common to ask ordained priests to perform a house blessing during Epiphany.

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Spiritual House Blessing

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Perform a spiritual house blessing to draw in positive energy. Clean and de-clutter your home. Then, invite friends and family to be part of your ceremony. Thank your friends and family for joining you, and ask them to stand in a circle. Light a pink candle and pass it clockwise around the circle. As each person holds the candle, encourage them to share their blessings for you and your home.Example blessings include "May this home be a sacred dwelling for you and your family" or "May those who enter this home feel peace and love."^{[3]
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- After the blessings, enter each room while holding the candle and say the intentions or affirmations you have for the space out loud. For example, in the kitchen, say something like, “May I cook nutritious, wholesome meals for my family.”
- Place the candle in a central location in the house and allow it to burn down naturally. Or allow it to burn for at least an hour, then snuff it or pinch it with your fingers to put it out.
- Dispose of the remaining wax or the leftover candle by burying it in your garden or a potted plant.^{[4]
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- Open your home’s eastern-facing windows to allow the life-giving energy of the sun to stream in, bringing energy, life, and light.
- Pink symbolizes love and kindness and will invite these energies into your home. A white candle symbolizes purity, divinity, and peace, so it’s also a good choice for a house blessing.

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Orthodox House Blessing

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Perform an Orthodox house blessing if a priest is unavailable. Gather your family near the home altar. Offers a prayer service that includes the oldest family member reciting the Trisagion prayers through the “Our Father” section. Then, walk through the house holding candles and the Theophany icon, sprinkling holy water, and singing the Theophany Troparion.
- When moving into a new home, say a prayer for the blessing of homes.
- In the Orthodox faith, house blessings are usually performed by ordained priests annually during Theophany, the name of Epiphany in the Orthodox religion.^{[5]
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- Because the Orthodox Church doesn’t have a central authority, there may be different traditions associated with home blessings. Contact your local clergy for specific instructions.^{[6]
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Jewish House Blessing

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Perform a Jewish blessing and hang a mezuzah in a new home. There are many Jewish traditions associated with moving into a new house or blessing a current one. When moving into a new home, Jewish families are required to affix a mezuzah to each of the doorways in the house. A mezuzah is a parchment inscribed with Hebrew phrases from the Torah inside a protective case. It’s placed on the right doorpost near the bottom of the top third of the post.^{[7]
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- As the mezuzah is installed, the following prayer is recited: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to affix a mezuzah."
- Many believe Tuesday is the best day for moving into a new home.
- Bread and salt are traditionally the first items to enter the house.
- Shortly after moving in a Chanukat Habayit or housewarming party is held to gather friends and family together to speak words of the Torah.^{[8]
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- During the housewarming party, it's tradition to eat the first fruit of the new season while reciting the shehecheyanu blessing, as follows: "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion."^{[9]
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Hindu House Blessing

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Perform a Hindu blessing to welcome Lord Ganesh’s protection. Clean your home and purify it with Ganga Jal, or holy water. On the day you move into your new home, have supplies like rice, mango leaves, ghee, herbs, fruit, and flowers for the priest to use in the ceremony, along with a dakshina or honorarium.^{[10]
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- A Hindu priest sings holy mantras to conduct Haven and ask for blessings.
- The homeowners then light lamps, also called diya, to draw spiritual energies and provide divine protection.
- It’s important to select an auspicious day to move into your new home. Speak with a Hindu priest or astrologer to choose a date that works with your astrological chart.^{[11]
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- Hindu house blessings vary greatly according to the region. In some places, it’s second only to a couple's wedding day.
- Contact a priest at your local Hindu temple for information on how the housewarming ceremony is performed in your region.

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Muslim House Blessing

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Recite prayers to bring blessings and protection to Muslim homes. Upon moving into a new house, perform a two-cycle prayer, asking Allah to bestow baraka (blessing), rahma (mercy), and dhikr (remembrance) upon the home.^{[12]
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Research source} Recite a prayer to protect your home from the evil eye and the envy of others using the following Prophetic Supplication: "I seek refuge for you in the perfect words of Allah from every devil, harmful thing, and accusing eye."
- Muslim people bless their houses mainly by reciting prayers. There is no official ceremony that needs to be performed.^{[13]
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- It is also recommended that you invite your friends and family over for dinner, as feeding others is viewed as a charitable act and a way of showing gratitude to Allah. At this dinner, you and your guests may recite passages from the Qur’an together.
- Aside from blessing your house when you first move in, bless your house every time you step through the door using the following prayer: "I seek refuge in the perfect words of Allah from the evil of that which He has created."
- Repeating this prayer three times will ensure no harm comes to you while you are in the house.^{[14]
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Buddhist House Blessing

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Ask Buddhist monks to perform a ceremony for protection. In Thailand, a group of monks performs Khuan Ban Mai when a new house is built. This ceremony is meant to protect the house and its inhabitants. Invite the monks to arrive at the house in time to begin the meal at 11 AM on the morning of the ceremony. They settle into their seats to chant prayers in the Pali language while passing a white string through each of their hands. When they’re done, offer food to a statue of the Buddha and the monks.^{[15]
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- The vibrations from the chanted prayers are believed to pass through the white string, protecting the houses and their inhabitants.
- The monks must finish their meal before noon. Then, present them with offerings like flowers, incense sticks, and candles.
- After the meal, the monks chant prayers and sanctify the space with holy water.
- In some cases, they write yantras (or mystical symbols) with powder and paste gold leaves above the front door.^{[16]
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FAQs about House Blessings

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Why is it important to bless your house after you move in? Many Catholic people believe that blessing a new home is an opportunity to pray for a home’s prior inhabitants or ask God for forgiveness for any sins previously committed in the house.^{[17]
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- Orthodox Christians believe that blessing a new home designates it as belonging to a follower of Christ. They ask for the Holy Spirit to be there to guide them. Then, they rededicate the home every year on Theophany.^{[19]
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- Jewish people bless a house and hang a mezuzah to designate their home as a Jewish household and remind them of their covenant with God.^{[20]
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- People in the Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist faiths perform house blessings to ask for divine protection of the home and the people who live there.
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Can demons or evil spirits dwell in houses? People of many faiths believe that demons or evil spirits can enter a home. Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians believe that demons are real and will enter a home. The Catholic Church believes they are fallen angels who aid Satan in leading humans into sin.^{[21]
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- Jewish people believe there are two classes of demons, se'irim and shedim. These demons are believed to enter homes to do harm and bring illness.^{[22]
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- Muslims believe evil jinn possess humans and objects in their mission to corrupt the earth.^{[23]
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- In Hinduism, the rakshasas are demons who eat human flesh and drain the milk from cows, but they usually haunt cemeteries.^{[24]
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- While there are no gods or demons in the Buddhist faith, many Buddhists still hold some indigenous beliefs. One of these is Mara, which is a manifestation of spiritual evil, much like the Christian Satan.^{[25]
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What are the signs that indicate you need a house blessing? You start to notice your house is cluttered, and you misplace or lose items frequently. You may start to have regular nightmares, stop dreaming entirely, or feel restless all night long. There’s a general lack of peace in your home, and your family may get into more arguments.^{[26]
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- You get sick regularly or feel exhausted all the time.
- You have a sense that something isn’t right, but you can’t figure out what it is.
- Every time you come home, you feel dizzy or have negative mood swings.
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What does the Bible say about blessing houses? Many feel the Bible refers to a house blessing in Luke 10:5-6: “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house. If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.”^{[27]
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- Another verse that may refer to a house blessing is 2 Chronicles 7:15-16: “Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.”^{[28]
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Is it true that I can bless my apartment with my family members, if a clergy member is not available at the time needed?

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Anyone can bless their home. Religious clergy is not required to bless your home. We were all created by the same creator who created the religious clergy. Therefore all of the creators creations are holy.

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What can I do if I feel my house is haunted?

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Any of the blessings or rituals stated above, usually through an ordained minister or priest with holy water or anointed oil.

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What type of blessing is it when someone walks around a home a few times sprinkling salt or sand?

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Salt covenant. It's a Christian house blessing, wherein you walk the perimeter of your yard or house with kosher salt and ask for protection and anything else for your home.

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The Spanish have an old custom of hanging crosses above bedroom doors, to scare away evil spirits and protect the people in the house. If you are Christian, this is a good idea, if you live in a house with a painful past.

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Smudging is also a great way to increase positive energy in your home. You need a sage smudge stick (or other variation of a smudge stick but sage is most common) to burn and wave the smoke throughout the home.

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It would also be very fitting to have a little party afterward to celebrate the blessing.

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