Each day when I enter my home, I remove my shoes. Am I a germaphobe? Sort of, but not really. The main reason I remove my shoes—and ask my guests, both at home and in The Awen Room, to do the same—is to create a moment of transition, a pause to leave the energy of the day outside.
Our shoes carry us through an array of adventures each day. They hold us in stressful conversations, help us make hard decisions, support us when we're rushing, and often accompany us during moments that don’t serve our higher purpose. Not to mention the yuck factor of walking through public bathrooms! So, as I return home to my sanctuary, I pause, take a breath, and make the conscious decision to leave the world behind. Among many other things, this is part of the reason why my home feels calm, centered, and nurturing.
My family does the same. While they sometimes forget, and the intention behind this ritual may slip their minds, it’s a house rule. I know they feel more relaxed without their shoes on. They can put their feet up on the lounge or their beds without hesitation. They pad around in slippers, socks, or barefoot, feeling more connected to home. I first learned this practice from my best friend’s family when I was a little girl. They were Korean, newly arrived in Australia, and didn’t speak English. But their rituals, including removing shoes, had a profound impact on me—so much so that it became second nature. Now, whenever I see someone on TV lounging on a bed with their shoes on, I almost want to yell out, “Take your shoes off!” It’s kind of comical, really—shoes on a bed just make no sense at all!
And yet, this simple act of removing shoes also brings back another memory: when I was a girl, my grandpa and I would visit a farmhouse out in country NSW. Mrs. Hanrahan, the farmer's wife, would cook a hot meal every day for the farmers and workers. At lunchtime, they'd enter the hot kitchen with its huge wooden table and leave their shoes at the door. I remember how exhausted they looked when they came in, but as they sat down in their socks, they'd stretch their feet, sigh a huge sigh of relief, and relax. It was like they knew there was a mindful meal coming, and that for that one hour, they could restore themselves.
Was Mrs. Hanrahan a witch? Quite possibly. Did she know it? Probably not. But there was something magical about her—the way she created a space where everyone felt safe, comfortable, and special, even if they barely knew her. I’ve never met a woman with a more positive outlook, and her kitchen was a place of peace, nourishment, and comfort. Looking back, I realize that her rituals—like having the workers leave their shoes at the door—were imbued with the kind of magic that only a true hearth witch can create, whether she knew it or not.
The Magical and Practical Benefits of Removing Shoes
By consciously taking off our shoes before entering a home, we’re not just practicing good hygiene—we’re casting a spell of care, protection, and grounding for ourselves and those we love.
Honors the home as a sacred space: Shoes carry the energy of the outside world, filled with stress, distraction, and external demands. By removing our shoes, we honor the home as a sanctuary, leaving behind the busyness of the day and inviting in peace, stillness, and harmony.
Supports grounding and mindfulness: Walking barefoot or in soft slippers connects us directly to the earth, helping us to ground our energy and become fully present in the moment. It’s a quiet ritual that invites us to slow down and feel more rooted in our space.
Cleanses and resets energy: The act of leaving shoes at the door creates an energetic boundary. We symbolically cleanse ourselves from the emotional and mental weight of the day, stepping into a space of renewal and light.
Enhances comfort and relaxation: Removing your shoes at the door is like switching into ‘home mode.’ It’s a physical and energetic release that invites comfort, signaling the start of relaxation, rest, and nourishment.
Reduces germs and bacteria: Shoes can bring in harmful bacteria like E. coli, which can accumulate on floors where we sit or play. Studies show that shoe soles harbor hundreds of thousands of bacteria, and taking them off helps keep these pathogens outside.
Creates a cleaner environment: Our shoes pick up dirt, debris, and chemicals from the streets. Removing them ensures that we’re not tracking these contaminants inside, keeping the home fresher and cleaner.
Protects children and pets: Kids and pets often spend time on the floor, playing or lounging. A shoe-free home offers a healthier space for them to move around freely without exposure to the grime from outside.
In this simple practice of leaving shoes behind, we are engaging in a mindful, magical act—one that cleanses, protects, and invites peace. And who knows, maybe you’ve been practicing a little witchcraft all along, without even realizing it.
A Spell to Welcome You Home
To add an extra spark of magic to this ritual, try murmuring a spell as you cross the threshold. Here’s one I like to use:
"As I step across this line,
I leave behind what’s not mine.
Home’s embrace, warm and clear,
peace love and happiness dwell here."
This spell sets the intention for the energy you want to welcome into your space, helping you let go of the day’s worries and create an atmosphere of calm, love, happiness and comfort."
With this small act, you’ll find that your home becomes a more sacred, nurturing space—a place of intentional magic where you can leave the world behind and truly settle into the present. So, next time you come home, take a moment to pause, slip off your shoes, and invite the magic in.
Below I have included a free download for you to print and place my little spell outside your own front door.
Blessed be
Angela
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