There’s a common tradition that the first things you bring into your new home should be representative of what you want the home to generate and hold, as well as good luck and abundance.

I love this tradition and have used it each time I’ve moved or entered a newly renovated space. I don’t move often, but when I do, I make sure to do this.

However, it’s a bit more tricky than the folklore sounds. The reality is that you might go in and out of your future home half a dozen times before you “move in”. If you’re buying a house there’s open houses, showings, house inspections, house appraisals, and final walkthroughs. Never mind any times where you have the keys but haven’t moved in yet so you can clean or whatever. So the first time through the door might not actually be the first time. 

When to move in varies too. Thursdays on the waxing moon is considered ideal, but a new moon is also good. (However, Thursday is considered to be a more expensive day to move, especially if hiring movers.) Some people say Fridays and Saturdays are terrible days to move because you won’t settle in the home, but others say it’s auspicious. Rainy days are an absolute no-go, but as someone who’s moved in heat waves and snow, all I can say is avoid extreme weather conditions if possible. Finally, you should finish moving before sunset for the best of luck (and also for safety reasons, I imagine.)

For me, I do this moving ritual in stages. Here’s my routine:

Phase One – Cleanse and Clean

Before I move in, I take a few hours to walk through the home and energetically cleanse it. I do it with sounds, energy, incense, magic powders, and enchanted water.

Then I clean the space, even if it’s been cleaned previously. Kitchen, bathroom, floors, doorknobs, light switches, keys get washed.

Now, obviously I have to bring in stuff to do all that with. Plus, I’ll haul in my purse, water, probably some sort of chair, snacks, etc. This phase takes a while and I might not be the only one there.

If I have to do any work on the place in question, this is the time to do it. Painting, changing door locks, new light fixtures or appliances should be done now. 

Tasks I consider at this time are:

Light a fire in any fireplaces to drive out the darkness and warm the home (check the flue first!)

Fennel stuffed into keyholes keeps out malicious witches and other maliciousness beings. You can also hang the fennel over the door.

Paint the ceiling of the porch pale blue to ward off spirits

Air out all closed / contained spaces, such as crawl spaces, basements, closets, cupboards, etc. Even better, make sure light enters each of these spaces.

Open an east facing window to help light, air, sunrise, and energy move. Close it at sunset.

Ring bells to clear the air and shift energy

Scattering rice and coins across the floor comes from specific cultural traditions (Philippines). Sprinkle blessing powder or moon water or some other type of positive energy bringing across the floor and in each corner of the house.

Go out the same door you came in through.

Basic warding spells to keep everything out if you’re going to come back another day before officially moving in.

Phase Two – First Ins

I take the time to be the first one in. This might mean I go to the new place early and bring the stuff in or I might immediately do it right after cleansing and cleaning. What I bring in first varies entirely on what I feel like the space needs. The more permanent the stay, the more stuff I bring.

• Bread
• Rice
• Water
• Salt
• Sugar
• Books
• Honey
• Candles
• Wine or chosen alcohol
• New broom
• Handful of coins and money (not debit or credit card)
• Citrus fruit and/or any fruit (a citrus or fruit plant works too). I like bringing oranges and strawberries, but depending on what you want to introduce to your home, pick accordingly.
• Basil plant or some other sort of kitchen herby plant associated with luck and money
• Fresh cut flowers
• Icons of luck such as clovers, fish, other animals, horseshoes, stars, acorns, turtles, 
• Crystals and stones
• Letting a cat walk through the door first should bring good fortune – and the cat may become the target of any ill will.  (Pets should be introduced to a new environment slowly anyway, so when I bring my cat with me while I’m working in the new home and then put her where ever she’s going to be for the furniture moving bit.)

Things to NOT bring with you the first time you’re ritually entering the home.

Bring these in a bit later. You probably have a car load of stuff to carry in anyway, so bring this stuff in the next time or whatever.)

• Your old broom or stick mop (should be left at old place or tossed out)
• Ritual brooms (doesn’t count to the throw away rule unless you feel like they do)
• Your mail
• Credit cards or anything with debt attached to it. 
• Vacuums, roombas, swiffer style mops, and similar devices (especially if they haven’t been both ritually and mundanely cleaned.)
• Mattresses or pillows (especially if they haven’t been ritually cleaned)

In your second load of stuff to bring in, I’d recommend:

• Toilet paper
• Cleaning supplies (all purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, scrub brushes, etc)
• Disinfectant 
• Paper towels or kitchen towels
• Dish sponge or cloths
• Trash bags 
• Dust pan for the broom (after it’s been cleaned and cleanse)
• Duster
• Vacuums, roombas, etc.
• Hand soap
• Laundry detergent and dryer sheets
• Air fresheners of some kind
• Step ladder
• Light bulbs
• Measuring tape
• First aid kit including disinfectant and bandages
• Phone charger
• Pen and paper and permanent marker
• Tool kit
• Scissors
• Shower liner
• Duct tape
• Flashlight / lantern
• Bucket
• Snacks and drinks that don’t require utensils or dishes
• Your paperwork and any documents or items that you didn’t bring in before (ie, credit cards)
• Some sort of pain management for the soreness or headache that you almost certainly will have

Your third load is recommended to be these items, especially if you’re spending the night at the new place.

• Spare clothes
• Pajamas
• Clothes for the next day
• Toiletries
• Bedding
• Air mattress or similar (if furniture is not in place)
• Bath towels
• Something to do if the internet isn’t in place (board game, movie on laptop or TV, book, etc)
• Coffee maker, mugs, coffee items
• Pet food and accessories
• Cups, plates, and utensils (one set for each person)
• Folding table and chairs
• Food for breakfast or a solid plan for getting food in the morning
• Take out menus for dinner or solid plans for dinner
• Bottle of wine or appropriate beverage with a bottle opener. 
• Pot to cook in

Tasks to do at this time:

• Open an east facing window and keep it open for the duration of the move, especially if you’re using movers. Close it when everyone but the household residents have left
• Pick a single room and designate it as the dumping ground for random boxes. Ideally, this should be a room that is out of the way and doesn’t have a lot of large furniture in it or that furniture should go in first.
• Place large furniture pieces first and worry about the smaller stuff that doesn’t require two people to lift and move later. 
• Pour a libation or make an offering to the spirits of the land, the house, or your deities are appropriate. It don’t need to be fancy, it just needs to be.

Phase Three – Settling In

First things first, do a light cleansing to clear out any negative emotions that rose during the move.

• Put away your kitchen and bathroom stuff first, then work on the bedrooms. Don’t try to fully unpack. Instead, get stuff in place that needs to be in place to feel like more comfortable. Then go room by room.
• Keep a running list on the fridge on tasks that need to be done. A loose doorknob, a window that doesn’t open or close right, a piece of furniture that got damaged in the move, etc. This helps you remember to do those tasks when you get a chance as you unpack.
• Put a box aside to put random things you’re going to donate. You always find stuff that you don’t really want, need, or like while unpacking and having a box set up just for that kind of thing is extremely helpful.
• Invoke a guardian spirit or servitor to protect your new home. Start working with the local land spirits and the spirit of the home itself.
• A housewarming party is a great way of bringing life, laughter, and abundance into the home. That might not be on the docket right now, given the pandemic, but it’s something to consider for the future.

This is something that will be individualized to your needs and specific move. I was still moving around kitchen drawers and unpacking boxes three months after moving into our new house. It happens. Just go with the flow as much as possible while keeping up a positive attitude. It can do wonders.