People are blowing cinnamon on their front door on the first day of October – experts tell us why we should be doing it too

The crunchy leaves and crisp air of October are a sign that fall has arrived once again. Many believe we can set the precedent for a successful month ahead by following an ancient ritual on the 1st – involving a staple spice: cinnamon.

Cinnamon may famously have its uses in the kitchen or you may use cinnamon to prevent mold, 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 spice – the two are, in fact, related.

Spiritual wellbeing experts explain that the ritual has a meaning beyond the home, where we will experience the cinnamon's effects.

What does blowing cinnamon at 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.

'Plants and herbs like cinnamon not only have physical properties and benefits but also have spiritual properties that provide for us. Cinnamon is thought to bring good luck and prosperity to the person using it,' adds Sarah Proffitt, spiritual advisor and practicing witch.

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 Bailey

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.

Sarah Proffitt

Sarah is a spiritual advisor who helps clients keep spiritual practices simple. She guides clients with ancient wisdom in a modern way, as well as encouraging use of natural and plant medicines.

How does the cinnamon ritual work?

'To begin your month on a prosperous note you can clean your front door and walkway of any physical debris and any spiritual or emotional heaviness,' says Sarah. 'Once the door is clean, you then open it and begin to think about what you would like to call into your life for that month,' she adds.

The ritual is then as simple as the experts suggest – it involves taking a generous pinch of ground cinnamon, like this available 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.

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.

'As an extra bonus you can add a sprinkle under your doormat with a few coins,' says Sarah.

If you prefer to use cinnamon sticks, try using this cinnamon grinder from Amazon to grind your cinnamon and prepare it for use in this monthly ritual.

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, a spiritual wellness expert at Burnt Beech, 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.

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 – it's always worth a try.