How to say "hello" to a building

[PoisonPen]

I accepted the responsibility for finding a hall for our union, since I'm going to be the live-in caretaker. I looked at a lot of different places, but the instant I got a piece of e-mail about the place we ended up getting I knew it would be ours. I'd looked at dozens of places, but I knew instantly that there was something special about this one. I knew even before I saw it that this would be the one, and when I stepped inside the first time, I got a feeling of incredible rightness.

The second floor of the building has residential units which are occupied, but the main floor and basement have been abandoned for the last 7 or 8 years. The basement is huge and rambling, filled with old machinery and such. It's where I'll be living. Even though the basement is damp, spidery, unfinished, and full of shadows, it doesn't feel scary or threatening at all. It feels... welcoming. A week ago, a native friend of mine in the union quietly asked me what sex the place feels like. The weird thing is, it should have felt like a strange question, but it didn't. I answered "female" without any hesitation and he agreed, having felt the same thing himself. It just feels feminine. We're currently renovating the space and getting it ready for occupancy. I'll be moving in at the end of July.

My question is, what sort of ritual should we do to formally introduce ourselves to the space? My native friend knows some elders who could do a smudging ceremony, but the place doesn't need cleansing. I don't want to insult a space which appears to have been waiting a long time for us, and has made us feel welcome and safe. I'd like to say "hello" with something formal, and sanctifying or cleansing rituals seem to me to be rather offensive. Any suggestions?

[corvidus]

Typically after cleansing comes revitalizing/enlivening.

Maybe a formal dinner party in honor of the house, with all the food cooked as an offering?

Congrats on the new home

[Desecrated]

I really like to sit down and just listen. Old people like that. Show respect, don't touch their things, listen, pay attention and be polite.

A lot of old schools have tradition of sitting ceremonies. When you sit up for a whole night just listening and watching.

[RoseRed]

Sounds like you have an active house spirit. Good for you.

[PoisonPen]

sitting ceremonies

I did some research, and the only sitting ceremonies I could find were Jewish (sitting shiva for funerals) and some Zen rituals which weren't really applicable. Anything you can recommend in particular?

[Desecrated]

sitting ceremonies

I did some research, and the only sitting ceremonies I could find were Jewish (sitting shiva for funerals) and some Zen rituals which weren't really applicable. Anything you can recommend in particular?

It really is as easy as it sounds. You just sit for a night, listening and watching.

It was practice here in Scandinavia as a way to communicate with trolls or other nature spirits.
I would imagine that most witchcraft and shamanism has something similar.

[RoseRed]

You don't need to sit for a night.

You live in the house. The house spirit lives in the house. You're roomies. How would you treat someone who lived with you?

Say hi, light a candle, pour an extra cup of whatever you're drinking and just chit chat.