Springtime Space Clearing and Energy Clearing

     Springtime, with its explosive new life and regeneration, draws us out of our homes. We crave the light, the color, and the abundant life force and energy of Nature, or chi.  Coming back inside,  we feel the dissonance, the energy stagnation inside that has built up over winter, or even longer, and the absence of flowing chi as we see in the blooming world around us.

     This is a perfect time to go deeper with your spring cleaning, and to clear the energy of your home.  Then you can bring vitality back into your home, and enhance the lives of everyone within it.   

     Space clearing and energy clearing are both names for the techniques and rituals designed to remove stagnant energy from personal spaces, and bring in new, vibrant energy.

     Perhaps you have had the experience of walking into a room where there has just been an argument, and feeling the weight and density of the atmosphere.  Strong negative emotions leave their imprint in physical space, such as in the walls, furniture, etc.  Everyone’s daily life also leaves energetic waste. Practitioners tell us that the key areas that these energetic residues build up are corners, nooks, and crannies.  What happens over time is that these stagnant energies weigh on us and can have negative effects on us.    

     Space clearing truly is a highly developed practice, with experts and professionals available for consultation.  Many cultures and most religions have their own methods of doing it.  For example, smudging, or burning bundles of sacred herbs, is a traditional Native American method of purifying.  Well known experts in this field of space clearing, whose helpful books are available at the library,  can also teach you how to do it yourself, and some of these experts are:

Denise Linn,  Sacred Space, Enhancing the Energy of Your Home and Office with Feng Shui, 1995    

Karen Kingston, Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui, 1996         

Jane Alexander, Spirit of the Home, How to Make Your Home a Sanctuary, 1999.

     Jane Alexander says “it can take time to build up expertise in space clearing.  Remember that the experts often take years of training.  Karen Kingston says that in Bali, it can take a whole year just to learn how to ring a bell properly!  But don’t let that put you off.  You will probably find that your intuition will take over once you try these techniques, and you will discover that you know these rituals somewhere deep in your psyche. Even if you don’t feel you’ve quite got the hang of it, rest assured that your efforts will be rewarded.”  (quoted with permission from Spirit of the Home.) 

     These energy experts practictioners say that if you are inspired to revitalize your home, a first step is to form an intention for your space.  That intention may be to contribute to the health of the occupants, to promote creativity for work, or to clear out negative or harmful energy from past events.  Writing down the intention helps to clarify it.     

     Preparing yourself for energy clearing by purifying yourself is also important, and this can be done many ways, through bathing in a salt bath, doing yoga or meditation, or praying.  Other preparation consists of basic house-cleaning beforehand, and removing clutter and neglected items.    Then,  with your personal intention for the clearing in mind,  walk through your space with pen and paper, and write down simple, easy tasks that seem to need your attention.  Resist the intellect and rational voice, and connect with the emotive and intuitive parts of yourself that feel the energy more.   

     People use different techniques for clearing the stagnant energy, such as clapping, or bells, or smudging.  Denise Linn, in her book Sacred Space, describes many ways of clearing energy, including using your hands to sense the energy and move it.   Sometimes you can use your right hand to perceive the energy and your left hand to clear it or hold the clearing tool.   Jane Alexander, in her book The Spirit of a Home, says that the bell ringing or clapping in a stuck area eventually will change the sound,  once the space is cleared.   Karen Kingston, who coined the phrase “space clearing” in 1989 has studied Balinese culture and its techniques of clearing with bells.  She describes a 21 step process in her book, and says that many people report that the light in a house will also change when it is cleared, and the colors become more vibrant.

     Once you have cleared the space, you will want to fill it with new radiant energy.   Denise Linn talks about using the same tools as for clearing, but with an intention of a different flow of energy.   Consecrating the space involves declaring it as sacred and performing some kind of ritual that dedicates the energy of the space to the purpose you have chosen, such as healing, joy, or radiance.  Simple acts can be meaningful, and there are many ways to do this as the books describe.  Your instincts will lead you to the ways that fit you.  A few examples are to dedicate an object, such as a plant or piece of art, as the holder of your intention.  Then you can reaffirm, each time you water the plant or look at the piece of art, your intention for radiant, flowing energy in your home.

     Jane Alexander recommends that even if you are not up to the entire process of space clearing, try experimenting with little steps, like wafting a smudge around your house, or keeping a candle lit, or burning incense.   So much of space clearing is about intent so even just visualizing your space as being filled with gorgeous vibrant golden-pink light (or whatever color you are drawn to) can make a big difference.  Any of these small steps can make a huge difference and possibly lead you on to more.