It’s not unusual in today’s world for people to refer to the energy of a home: how it feels, how we feel in it, the impressions we get about the people living there, and (my personal favorite) what we would change if we were able to. When it’s our home, of course, it’s easy to put on the blinders and get so used to how things are that it’s almost impossible for us to imagine how the house might feel or look through someone else’s eyes. However, if you have a nagging feeling that something just isn’t right and it refuses to go away, you can either use feng shui to move and balance the energies in your home, or you can use space clearing.
What Is Space Clearing?
No, I’m not referring to dusting and vacuuming your house. Or to clearing out your clutter (although this is always a helpful practice if you’re feeling stuck and overwhelmed). If you've ever walked into a room and noticed tension ("you could cut the air with a knife!") or an awkward standoff ("we need to clear the air"), you can understand how different energies can linger and imprint themselves in a space. This can make us feel uneasy, tense, drained, or generally out of sorts. Space clearing is the process of clearing this stagnant, heavy, old, or unhelpful energies from a room. It is also a wonderful complement to feng shui.
Is Space Clearing For Me?
Probably. Space clearing is important for every space. Whether you're in a new home or office or have lived in your space for many years, energy clearing can help release old energies and bring a renewed sense of freshness and peace. Don’t worry, it’s not a religious practice. It’s about clearing out energies that aren’t serving us anymore and replacing them with a sense of well-being, harmony, and calm (and don’t we all need more of this?)
How Does It Work?
There are many ways to clear a space, including using sound (drums or bells), feathers, and salt. But the most common way (and probably the most well-known) is to use fire or smudging. Smudging is a common practice among indigenous cultures throughout the world and involves burning a combination of herbs, such as white sage or palo santo. The smudge stick or wand is burned and the smoke is fanned out over the area to be cleansed.
An important thing to keep in mind about clearing a space is that it’s all about intentions. It’s crucial to be clear about what your intentions are for the space before you start cleansing; otherwise, the clearing might not work as well or at all. Some general intentions that I like to say are “send all negative, heavy, or old energies to the light” and “bring love, light, and healing into this home.” Feel free to personalize them to something that’s meaningful for you!
The takeaway? Consider using space clearing as a tool to spruce up the energy of your house and to maintain a sense of peace and calm. It’s an inexpensive, quick, and impactful way to move the energy in your space and usher in some new opportunities. It's also a great tool that goes hand in hand with feng shui when you want to achieve peace and calm in your home.