Ritual Space Options

Greetings all,

I practice alone, am not a member of a group, and have a question re: ritual space. For several years I've had the luxury of having an entire room in my home dedicated to ritual use - large and empty, save for window coverings, a ritual circle painted on the floor, and an altar. I have been forced by economic necessity to rent a room out in my home, and my former ritual room is now also my music room and library, furnished with books, antiques, paintings, etc., none of which have occult connotations.

Question: Many (including a former teacher) believe that ritual space should be used ONLY for that purpose, or that ritual tools and the like should be hidden from view if non-practitioners are to be in the room for any reason. Must this always be so? The room is not a place of heavy foot traffic. I keep the door closed. I may at times have friends over for music making (a harpsichord is in the room) but they are aware of my interest in the occult, and are respectful of it and of things related to it. I tried rolling a large rug down over the circle, but it doesn't completely cover it. I've also hidden things from view when others are in the room, even though those who come into the room (not many) have no problem with them. Some might say that even just MY using the room for non-ritual related purposes is "wrong". I read in front of the fireplace for example, or listen to music with a glass of wine. Prior to every ritual conducted in the room, I do cleanse the space.

I suspect the most ceremonial magicians and others, over the centuries, rarely had the luxury of a dedicated room for ritual use. How do you deal with the necessity of having ritual space that must do double duty? In my experience at least, my dual-purpose ritual space is still potent when I conduct rituals, and even when it was a dedicated space, "outsiders" still had to come in at times - landlord and electricians for example - and I just rededicated and purified the space after wards.

Question: Many (including a former teacher) believe that ritual space should be used ONLY for that purpose, or that ritual tools and the like should be hidden from view if non-practitioners are to be in the room for any reason. Must this always be so?

In most cases I would say yes. Unless you really have no other choice.
People will bring in different energies ("vibes") into your space.

The room is not a place of heavy foot traffic. I keep the door closed. I may at times have friends over for music making (a harpsichord is in the room) but they are aware of my interest in the occult, and are respectful of it and of things related to it. I tried rolling a large rug down over the circle, but it doesn't completely cover it. I've also hidden things from view when others are in the room, even though those who come into the room (not many) have no problem with them.

Those who are not in harmony or even sympathetic to your beliefs can interfere with your magickal devlopement. Thoughts do carry power (even if they are not trained).
If someone for example thinks the occult is nonsense this person's mind will send out energies that will cut down your success rate for your magickal workings.

Some might say that even just MY using the room for non-ritual related purposes is "wrong". I read in front of the fireplace for example, or listen to music with a glass of wine. Prior to every ritual conducted in the room, I do cleanse the space.

Its not just about the cleansing. If you drink wine and such thing; the food/beverages you bring
in absorbs all sorts of energies as well.
Even if you "cleanse" your space it may not be enough. Its depends on how prevasive is the contamination and how powerful your cleansing is. Plus when you cleanse you also cast out previous built up energies.