Lemuria Rituals: Bean Spitting and Ghost Banishing Ceremonies

BY NICOLE LAU

The rituals of Lemuria are solemn, protective, and designed to create firm boundaries between the living and the restless dead. From the midnight bean-throwing ceremony to the ritual washing and noise-making, from barefoot walking to the careful avoidance of looking back, these ancient practices teach us that spiritual protection requires intention, precision, and the courage to face the shadow. Lemuria rituals remind us that banishment is sometimes necessary, that boundaries are acts of self-preservation, and that peace often requires actively removing what disturbs it.

The Traditional Lemuria Ritual (Detailed)

The complete traditional ritual, as described by Ovid and Roman sources:

Preparation (Before Midnight)

1. Gather materials: Nine black beans, spring water in a bowl, bronze vessels (or metal objects to strike together)
2. Prepare yourself: Fast after sunset, maintain silence, focus your intention on protection and banishment
3. Wait for midnight: The ritual must begin exactly at midnight

The Ritual (At Midnight)

1. Rise at midnight: Wake precisely at the witching hour
2. First washing: Wash your hands in spring water (or clean, pure water)
3. Remove shoes: Walk barefoot throughout the ritual
4. Make the protective gesture: Form the mano fica (thumb between index and middle fingers) with your hand
5. Walk through your home: Move through each room, maintaining silence
6. Throw the beans: At nine different points in your home, throw one black bean over your shoulder, saying each time: "With these beans I redeem me and mine." (Haec ego mitto; his redimo meque meosque fabis.)
7. Do not look back: As you throw each bean, do not turn around or look behind you
8. Second washing: Wash your hands nine times in spring water
9. Make noise: Strike bronze vessels (or metal objects) together loudly
10. Speak the banishment: Say nine times: "Ghosts of my fathers, go forth!" (Manes exite paterni!)
11. Look back: Only after the ninth repetition, turn and look back
12. The ritual is complete: The spirits have been banished

Modern Adaptation of the Lemuria Ritual

For contemporary practitioners, here's an adapted version:

Simplified Lemuria Banishing

You'll need:

• Nine black beans (or any dark beans)
• Bowl of clean water
• Bell, singing bowl, or metal objects to strike
• Optional: salt, protective herbs (mugwort, rue)

The practice:

1. Set your intention: "I perform this ritual to banish unwanted energies and protect my home."
2. Wash your hands: Cleanse yourself physically and energetically
3. Walk barefoot: Remove shoes to ground yourself
4. Throw the beans: Walk through your home, throwing one bean over your shoulder in each room, saying: "With this bean, I banish all unwanted energies. This space is protected."
5. Don't look back: Keep moving forward, trusting the process
6. Wash again: Cleanse your hands nine times
7. Make noise: Ring a bell, strike a singing bowl, or clap loudly in each room
8. Declare banishment: Say firmly: "All restless spirits, all unwanted energies, depart now. You are not welcome here. This space is mine, and it is protected."
9. Seal the work: Sprinkle salt at doorways and windows, or burn protective herbs

The Bean Spitting Ritual

An alternative or additional practice:

The Practice

1. Place nine black beans in your mouth (one at a time, not all at once)
2. Walk through your home barefoot and in silence
3. Spit out one bean in each room or at each threshold
4. As you spit, say: "I spit out negativity. I spit out unwanted spirits. I spit out all that disturbs my peace."
5. Do not look at the beans once they're spit out
6. After all nine are spit, sweep them up and dispose of them outside your property

The Washing Ritual

Water purification is central to Lemuria:

The Nine Washings

1. Prepare a bowl of spring water (or clean water with a pinch of salt)
2. Wash your hands nine times, each time saying: "I cleanse myself of spiritual contamination. I am purified and protected."
3. Let the water air dry on your hands (don't towel dry)
4. Pour the water outside after the ritual, away from your home

Full Body Purification (Optional)

For deeper cleansing:

1. Take a ritual bath with salt and protective herbs (mugwort, rue, hyssop)
2. Visualize all unwanted energies washing away
3. Emerge feeling cleansed and protected

The Noise-Making Ritual

Sound is a powerful banishing tool:

Bronze/Metal Striking

1. Use bronze, brass, or any metal objects
2. Strike them together loudly in each room
3. Move clockwise through your space
4. The noise should be sharp and assertive, not gentle

Alternative Noise Methods

• Bell ringing: Ring a bell nine times in each room
• Clapping: Clap loudly and firmly
• Drumming: Use a drum to create powerful sound
• Singing bowl: Strike a singing bowl for cleansing tones

The Salt Circle Protection

While not part of the original Roman ritual, salt is a powerful addition:

1. Sprinkle salt at all thresholds (doors, windows)
2. Create a salt line at your main entrance
3. Place salt in corners of rooms where energy feels heavy
4. Say as you place salt: "This salt creates a boundary. No unwanted energy may cross."

The Barefoot Walking

Why and how to walk barefoot during Lemuria:

The Purpose

• Grounding: Direct contact with the earth/floor
• Humility: Showing respect to the spirits you're addressing
• Silence: Avoiding the noise of shoes
• Vulnerability: Acknowledging the seriousness of the work

The Practice

• Remove shoes before beginning the ritual
• Feel each step, staying present and grounded
• Notice the temperature and texture of the floor
• Use the physical sensation to anchor yourself in the present

The "Not Looking Back" Rule

This is crucial to the ritual's effectiveness:

Why Not Look Back?

• Looking back shows doubt in the ritual
• Eye contact with spirits can invite attachment
• The spirits are gathering the beans behind you; don't disturb them
• Forward movement symbolizes moving away from the past/dead

How to Resist

• Focus on your intention and the words you're speaking
• Trust the process completely
• If you feel the urge to look, take a deep breath and keep moving forward
• Remember: looking back breaks the spell

Timing Your Lemuria Ritual

When to perform these rituals:

• Traditional dates: May 9, 11, and 13 (perform on all three nights for maximum effect)
• Midnight: The traditional hour, when the veil is thinnest
• Dark moon: Any dark moon is good for banishing work
• When needed: If you feel your space is disturbed, don't wait for a specific date

After the Ritual

Disposal of Materials

• Beans: Sweep up and dispose of outside your property (bury them or throw them in running water)
• Water: Pour outside, away from your home
• Salt: Can be left in place or swept up after 24 hours

Grounding and Closing

• Eat something grounding (bread, root vegetables)
• Drink water
• Thank any protective forces you work with
• Get good sleep

Signs the Ritual Worked

How to know if your Lemuria ritual was effective:

• The space feels lighter and more peaceful
• You sleep better
• Strange occurrences stop
• You feel more grounded and protected
• The energy in your home shifts noticeably

Troubleshooting

If the ritual doesn't seem to work:

• Repeat it: The Romans did it three times for a reason
• Check your intention: Are you clear and firm in your banishment?
• Strengthen boundaries: Add salt, protective herbs, or other methods
• Seek help: Some situations require professional spiritual cleansing

Next in the series: Lemuria Magic: Banishing Spells and Protection Work.

As you integrate the ancient wisdom of these cleansing and releasing rituals into your own practice, consider deepening your connection to other forms of energetic transformation — perhaps by exploring the structured path of the 30 day tarot practice workbook to uncover hidden patterns, or by using the sacred space cleanse printable energy clearing ritual kit to maintain a luminous environment for your spirit work. For those drawn to aligning with celestial currents after such intense banishing, the cosmic alignment ritual kit for syncing with the celestial flow offers a beautiful way to recalibrate your energy with the stars, allowing you to move forward in perfect harmony with the unseen forces that guide your journey.