November is among the most heartwarming pages on the calendar. Perhaps most notably, the month is synonymous with Thanksgiving, the epitome of fall festivities. However, while this holiday falls towards the end of the month, some believe we can set the precedent for a successful November by following an ancient ritual on the 1st – involving a fall staple: cinnamon.
Cinnamon may famously have its uses in the kitchen (especially around this time of year), but according to an ancient ritual, it also has its uses outside the home, especially around our front doors. And, while it may seem surprising that there is a correlation between our front door and this fall spice – the two are, in fact, related.
Spiritual figures explain that the ritual has a meaning beyond the home, where we will experience the cinnamon's effects.
What does blowing cinnamon on your front door do?
'The reason we blow cinnamon into the home at the start of the month is that this marks the beginning of a new cycle, so it is the perfect opportunity for new, positive beginnings,' says May Shorrock, a spiritual wellness expert at Burnt Beech.
The expert explains that many people choose to blow cinnamon through their front door to 'attract abundance and prosperity throughout their entire home – and this ritual has stood the test of time. Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years in wealth-attracting rituals, so it has a lot of historical backing in this respect,' she says.
And she is not alone in her observations. Charlotte Bailey, an esoteric expert and metaphysical practitioner from Typically Topical, similarly reinforces its power, adding that the metaphysical practice represents a gateway between our internal and outer world.
'By blowing it across the door, we’re inviting prosperity and abundance to cross from the outer world into our home, aka the internal world,' she says.
So, while many people enjoy the spice's benefits in their cooking and garden (using cinnamon in soil is a great way to deter gnats, for example, and cinnamon can also help with getting rid of ants in the kitchen), it has a deeper, time-honored meaning for others, too.
Charlotte is a trauma psychotherapist, astrologer and psycho-spiritual writer who uses behavioral psychology to aid her clients' healing. She founded the award-winning spiritual wellness brand Typically Tropical three years ago.
How does the cinnamon ritual work?
The ritual is as simple as the experts suggest – it involves taking a generous pinch of ground cinnamon, at Walmart, in the palm of your hand and blowing it over your front door and into your entryway.
However, while it is common to do so on the first day of a month, Charlotte explains that you can practice it at any point on the calendar. 'This abundance can take the form of any good news: a new career, a job promotion, a sudden financial windfall, or a new connection,' she says. 'Though, as with any spiritual routine, it’s the belief behind the practice that matters most. If you don’t believe in its ability to attract prosperity, you’ll never see it.'
Therefore, while the process will not make your front door more attractive in any way, it may improve the energy in your home – especially when paired with correct entryway feng shui teachings. As well as inviting wealth and good luck, it’s said to help with clearing out stagnant energy.
Some practical advice for anyone trying the ritual: first, avoid cleaning up the cinnamon straight away. Instead, experts say it’s best to leave it for a day or so, as it’s such a small amount of cinnamon, it is unlikely to cause harm unless there are pets around, in which case you may wish to clean it up with a handheld vacuum cleaner. And, of course, avoid breathing it in, as this will be unpleasant.
Some experts suggest trying a visualization technique while practicing the ritual, focusing your mind on a specific area of your life that would benefit from growth and opportunities. Spiritualists also recommend saying a phrase aloud, like ‘I welcome abundance into my home and life’ – or any affirmation that resonates with you.
FAQs
Do you blow the cinnamon in or out of the door?
The ritual involves blowing some of the spice drawer essential into the home, inviting good luck, abundance, and wealth. As well as its festive scent and flavor, it is also associated with abundance and has been used for centuries by Chinese spiritual practitioners.
Is cinnamon toxic to cats?
If you're living with pets, you may inevitably want to follow this ritual with caution. May Shorrock refers to the ASPCA who suggests that cinnamon is non-toxic to cats – but it's still worth taking extra care around any animal.
'As a pet owner myself, I always prefer to exercise caution during these types of rituals and remove pets from the vicinity of powerful aromatics,' she says.
If you've missed the opportunity to spread cinnamon on November 1st, fear not. You can still pick up some (and something to prepare and store the goods) for when the ritual commences once again on December 1st.
No matter how happy we are, we can all use an additional sprinkling of abundance and good luck, and given how incredibly easy it is to do, it's no surprise more people are turning to these homespun ways to make a positive shift – from cinnamon to cleaning out your wallet, cleansing the home with salt or placing a glass of water under the bed at night.
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