Moving into a New Home? Call the Taoist Priest

Did you know that before anyone moves into a newly built house, or one that has been empty for a long time, other “guests” may have already moved in?

These uninvited guests are wandering souls, spirits with nowhere to rest.

On top of that, someone may secretly leave certain “things” in a corner of the house. These “things” can bring the owner wealth, good fortune, and a thriving family, but they can also saddle them with bad luck, ruin their livelihood, or even cost them their lives and destroy their family.

That’s why there’s a custom in my hometown: before moving into a new home, people invite a ritual master to perform a ceremony to drive away evil and bless the house. It’s called soil-cleansing.

Anything that shouldn’t be inside the house is removed, so the new residents can move in without worry.