Spring Clean the Energy of your Home
By
Photo by Neve, Spring Flowers
It’s that time of year again when the days are getting longer and warmer, and spring is in the air. There is a sense of new growth, renewal, and fresh beginnings. Many people feel naturally drawn to spring clean their homes at this time of year. Most people who spring clean only focus on clearing out clutter and cleaning the physical environment. While this is good, it’s equally important to remember to clean the energy in your home.
“There are a multitude of realms within your home. In addition to the purely physical realm of your home’s structure and the physical objects within it, there are emotional energies and a multitude of spiritual and etheric energies constantly moving and swirling within your home” Denise Linn, Author and Soul Coach
We all recognize the energy of a physical space even if we are not aware we have this ability. Have you ever entered someone’s home for the first time and felt welcome, relaxed and peaceful? Have you ever been uncomfortable somewhere and just wanted to leave as quickly as possible? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions, you have already sensed the energy of a particular physical environment. Think about when you argue with someone in your home – the air feels stagnant, heavy, and dull. We use expressions like “you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife” to describe this type of situation. On the other hand, when you have a party and everyone is happy, cheerful and in a good mood, the atmosphere is totally different.
Your home is very important in your life and you need to make it your sanctuary and a refuge from the outside world. It should be a place that you look forward to returning to at the end of a long work day. It should nourish and sustain you and your family’s health, goals, and dreams. Cleaning the energy in your home is an important part of your overall health, especially your emotional and spiritual health.
Cultures worldwide have unique rituals to bless the energy of a physical space or environment. Think of temples or churches and how they always feel peaceful and nourishing to your soul. This is not an accident since the energy is maintained at high vibration levels due to daily rituals and cleansing ceremonies. Most cultures use something connected with the four elements of earth, air, fire, and water in their purification rites. Think of burning incense (fire and air), choirs, mantra chanting, and ringing bells (air), sprinkling of holy water or bathing idols (water), lighting candles and homa rituals (fire), and making fruit offerings (earth). It is clear that it is important to cleanse and upkeep the spiritual or emotional energy of a physical space
It is beneficial to cleanse the atmosphere in your own home because this will enhance your life in general. Especially if you are moving into an older home (or even a previously lived in apartment) it is very helpful (and I would add necessary!) to cleanse the energy of the previous occupants. I generally clean the energy in my home at least twice a year, and sometimes more, depending on what is happening in my life at that point in time. You can always hire a professional such as a feng shui expert, or someone trained in space clearing techniques, but why not try it yourself and see the results!
Clean the Energy of Your Home in 3 Easy Steps:
Step 1: Prepare
You need to prepare the physical space and yourself before you can clear the energy in your living environment. This might take a little planning and could take a week or possibly more time.
a. Clear all your clutter. This is self explanatory, and there are many resources you can investigate if you need help getting organized. The main reason to clear clutter is that you are getting rid of what no longer serves you currently in your life. Also you are physically and psychologically preparing to receive what would best serve you in your current situation. You may need to allocate a few days or a week depending on the amount of clutter you have accumulated.
b. Thoroughly clean your physical environment (using eco friendly products is always a plus!). Dust areas you would not normally clean, sweep under tables, clean windows etc. Maybe allocate one full weekend and give yourself a treat when you are finished. Or if you really hate cleaning, pay someone else to do it! I always like to open the windows (weather permitting) and use fans to have some fresh air flow through the house. Even if you only do these two things, you will already feel a shift in the energy if you are sensitive!
c. Decide what tools you will need to clear your home’s energy and find or buy them. I recommend salt (preferably sea salt), sage, a bell, a drum, mister, aromatic oils, and music – Gregorian chant, drumming, or sacred mantras are all great for clearing energy.
d. Plan to clear the energy in your house on a day when your home is empty and no one else is home. That way you can be more focused when you clear the energy and the result will be better.
e. On the day of the clearing prepare yourself by taking a shower or bath beforehand so you get rid of any energetic “debris” you may have accumulated. You could also meditate before you begin.
Step 2: Clear
The next step in the process is actually clearing the energy in your home. There are many different techniques to use, but I have just listed what I normally do and what works well for me. This is by no means the only way to clear a space. Experiment, do some more research, and see what works for you.
a. Set a specific intention for your clearing. Denise Linn, author of Sacred Space says “Your intention is very important in any clearing that you do. …Your inner intention will determine the outcome of your house clearing and it is important to consider what your intention is when you are clearing a space”. Decide what you would like to see as a result of the clearing e.g. “My intention is to have a serene, peaceful atmosphere that encourages artistic and spiritual growth” or whatever you want to manifest in your life.
b. Sprinkle salt (preferably sea salt) in all the corners of your home. Stagnant energy gathers in corners (think of all those cobwebs that you find in corners!) and salt has great purification properties because it absorbs energy. Think of when you were a kid at the seaside. If you cut yourself, you parents probably told you to go swim in the ocean.
c. Make some noise! You can do this by putting on your favorite music and clapping in each room, because clapping or noise breaks up stagnant energy. Otherwise you can drum away to your heart’s content! I bought a beautiful bodhran (Celtic hand held drum) on one of my trips back to Ireland to hang on the wall to decorate my home. It now serves a dual purpose and is also a great house energy clearing tool!
d. Use sage or juniper to purify the atmosphere. Burning sage is a great way to cleanse negative or other energies. You can find it at Renaissance fairs, pow-wows, offbeat bookstores or boutiques, or you can even order it online. It has a beautiful aromatic smell and your home will really feel vibrant and full of energy after you do this. If you’re not into sage, try burning some juniper (if you can find it) or some incense.
e. Spritz aromatic water throughout your home, instead of using air fresheners. You can buy one of those travel sized spray containers or misters and mix some water with a few drops of essential oils and spray it everywhere. Different oils have different properties, and you can match the oil with your original intention for your clearing. For example ylang-ylang oil is supposed to sensualize the body, expand the mind, and elevate the spirit, whereas lavender oil is good for calming the spirit and cleansing energy. Match your oil with your intention!
Step 3: Seal
After you have physically cleaned your home and cleared the energy, you want to seal in the positive vibrations and intention. There are a number of ways to do this, and again, experiment and find what suits your taste.
a. Walk throughout your home and ring a bell. According to Denise Linn, author of Sacred Space, “My Zen master told me that the sound of a bell continues to resonate far beyond the time when you can hear it. He said that it carries into eternity as it resonates throughout the universe”. Some people recommend using bells for clearing energy, but I personally like to use them to seal in the energy. They have a beautiful sound that is very pure. On a personal note, my Mother used to collect bells, and I remember the beautiful collection we had in the front room of our house in Ireland. I would often go and ring all the different bells to hear the different sounds they would make.
b. Sprinkle salt around the perimeter of your home to protect it. (If the neighbors ask what you are doing, just tell them you are sprinkling some pest control formula!).
c. Find some “guardian” or totem to place by your front door. The totem that is placed by your front entrance sets the tone for the rest of the house, so find something that has meaning for you and feels protective and powerful. For example, I have an upside down horseshoe hanging over the front and back entrance of my home (an old Irish superstition says it is supposed to catch the bad luck and stop it from entering the home). I also have a little statue of an angel by my front door. Even if you think this is all a load of mumbo jumbo, go ahead and try it anyway just for fun! When you see these symbols even on a subconscious level they will work on you and affect your energy.
So this year in addition to your regular spring cleaning, try some holistic housekeeping and also clear the energy in your home!
Have you ever cleared the energy in your home before? If not, would you be willing to try?
What techniques do you use to add beauty, energy, and serenity to your home?
Resources:
Books
Sacred Space: Clearing and Enhancing the Energy of Your Home by Denise Linn
Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston
Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston
Websites
Space Clearing and Clutter Clearing
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