The home can be considered as our temple. A place of worship, harmony, peace & Love. When preparing the home for a festival or celebration it is best to start with a clean slate. This can be done over a few days - complete some larger jobs, the nitty gritty jobs, your ordinary housework, & lastly perhaps on a brand new day, prepare yourself, bathe, adorn, say a little prayer, state your intention for the celebration.
In a small basket collect;
vapouriser, small bowl of salt or barley, smudge stick, prayer/singing bowl or bell, matches, white candle.
Play or sing some music/chanting/mantra. Go around the house in a methodical way - you might wish to start from the inside out or vice versa. Go into each room & spray with a vapouriser of essential oils - i.e. a spray bottle with purified water & a few drops of oil, carry a small bowl of salt or barley & throw it into every corner, sanitising the room. You might wish to clap in every corner which will move any stagnant energy out of the room. A prayer bowl can be struck to create a sublime vibration. You may feel more comfortable with a smudge stick. These can be both made or bought. To make - collect a large number of meaningful herbs, dry them, string them together & light. Carry this around the house & with your hand waft the smoke up into the corners of each room. Work in any other ritual you like to suit yourself. Move around the home like this until you are satisfied that every space has been 'touched.'
Children like to be involved in this ritual - especially throwing around the barley.
When finished sit still in the space, light a white candle & once again state your intention for the celebration. Here in the stillness, state your sankalpa/positive intention.
Photo; Dazla - Himalayas, Ladhak; India.
