Space Clearing 101 - The Basics

Our homes have an enormous impact on our state of mind. They can be places that uplift us and bring us a sense of joy. And they can be places that drain our energy and create a sense of unease. We’ve all had the experience of walking into a room after an argument and the room felt uncomfortable. The energy in the room felt thick and heavy - the tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. And we’ve also experienced spaces that felt warm, comforting and inviting. Space Clearing raises the vibration, the energy within a space literally liberating old stagnant energy and imprints and replacing them with fresh, vibrant, nurturing energy. Space clearing is a way to instantly shift and transform the subtle, energy or the feeling in your home or workspace. Space Clearing can help you:

• Release old emotions
• After an illness
• After a move or life change
• After an argument
• After remodeling
• Release recurring patterns of behavior
• Increase vitality
• Enhance the quality of your life and living environment

There are four basic steps to Space Clearing. 1. Preparation 2. Purification 3. Invocation 4. Preservation Preparation. It is important to take time before the clearing process to establish your intention, what it is you’d like to achieve or change by clearing your space. Your intention is your most powerful ally and the most powerful tool you can use to re-align your living spaces. With intention your actions have purpose, clarity and direction. There is meaning and power in everything you do. This is also the place to incorporate a bit of clutter clearing. I know, you’re thinking, “Oh no, not clutter again!” Clearing clutter is an on-going process and one that is particularly helpful prior to space clearing. It’s good to release items that are no longer useful, needed or desired. This way we have made space for the change we desire and our space clearing actions will be more effective. Purification. This is the actual clearing or re-alignment process. There are many different methods and techniques you can use to clear a space. Some are:

• Incense
• Smudge or sage
• Sound instruments (drums, bells, etc.)
• Water
• Crystals
• Salt

My personal favorites are sound instruments. I love how the resonance of instruments expands and fills a space, as the energy is re-aligned. You can actually hear the difference! The actual tool you use is less important than establishing your intention - any tool will work. Choose a tool that aligns with you, one that feels comfortable and natural for you to use. Invocation. This is where you put your intention into the space you've cleared. You can do this with the use of an affirmation, a house blessing or dedication or simply by giving thanks for all this is good in your life. Preservation. This is the Feng Shui step! To maintain the energy and clarity of the clearing it’s good to create a physical affirmation. This can be many things, just about anything, as long as the item has meaning for you and represents your intention for your home. Objects hold the energy you give them, positive or negative. It is the power of your association with things that empowers them. So, the actual object chosen is less significant than your association with it. Choose objects that resonate with you, objects that fit seamlessly into your personal sense of style and your spaces. Some things you can use are:

• A written affirmation put into a place of honor.
• An accessory or any object that you LOVE that supports the energy of your intention
• A picture or piece of art symbolizing your intention
• A beautiful, lush plant
• A home altar

10 Simple ways to uplift the energy in your home 1. Clean and vacuum 2. Clear clutter 3. Clean the windows 4. Replace old, burned out light bulbs 5. Open the windows; let fresh air flow into your home 6. Spritz your rooms with essential oils (lemon, lavender, eucalyptus and pine are wonderful for this) 7. Burn incense or use an essential oil diffuser 8. Light a candle 9. Add fresh flowers or a beautiful plant 10. Play inspiring music Space clearing re-aligns the energy in our spaces, creating movement and vitality in place of stuck, stagnant energy. When the spaces around us are nurturing and supportive our quality of life improves. And that’s a good thing!