Feeling exhausted, drained, or stuck? Try this!
November’s topic for #12MonthsOfShui is all things ENERGY, MINDSET & INTENTION and this week we’ll be diving into:
Space Clearings and Blessings.
Let’s start with the basics:
What is this and what’s it for?
The purpose of a space clearing & blessing is to clear out any stuck or stagnant energy and to reset and infuse the space with positive energy and intentions.
Many people think of space clearings when they need to release heavy or negative energy from their space. You can also use this ceremony for a simple energetic reset after a gathering or even to celebrate or welcome something new – like a wedding, birth, housewarming, new relationship or business opening!
You may be wondering…where does this “negative” energy even come from?
Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt there must have been an argument in the space or something just feels off? That’s because living beings are always giving off energetic vibes, and they often don’t just float away. They can hang in a room like smoke, get stuck up in corners or under furniture, or permeate the ground we walk on.
Certain experiences leave a more tangible negative energetic residue behind than others, such as:
energy from fights, arguments or heavy emotions
illness
historic events: battles, cultural shifts, etc
major life changes: divorce, death, job changes, new relationships, bankruptcy, etc
major clutter or inability to let go of things
supernatural energies
Living or interacting with a space that has an energetic residue from something like this can impact you both physically and emotionally in ways like disturbing your sleep or leaving you feeling depressed, anxious, lethargic or confused.
In a space clearing ceremony, all of this energy would be lifted and released back to the universe. The second part of the ceremony – the blessing – would then lift up the energy of the space and breathe into it all of your positive intentions.
So, how do you do it??
Let me start off by saying – there are many different ways to conduct a space clearing and blessing. What I believe is most important is the intention you hold in your heart, and the energy you bring with you into the ceremony. It’s also an experience that can be beautifully personalized to the particular space and the people conducting it.
I’ll share a method I resonate with, and know you can experiment on your own!
First, gather your tools:
Smudging Tools: sage stick or palo santo stick + lighter + something to catch the ashes
Blessing Tools: Essential oil spray, tingshas, bells, music or just your hands to clap!
A few notes – sage and palo santo have been used for centuries in many indigenous traditions to clear the energy of spaces and living things. In addition to being known for their energetic benefits, they’ve been used for their impacts on the physical as well, such as repelling insects, clearing bacteria from the air, improving mood, reducing stress and anxiety and to treat other various ailments. The scent and texture of smoke is different for each, and as you experiment with both you’ll learn which has a more positive impact on you.
Conducting a Space Clearing:
Begin with a check in:
Before jumping in to a space clearing, I take a moment to get grounded and check in with myself and the space. This could look like a seated meditation or taking a few deep breaths. Whatever is needed to bring your attention to the present moment and feel grounded.
Then, check in with the space itself – put your intention out there for clearing the space of any negative energy, and infusing it with positive intentions and love. See if there’s any imagery or messages you get from the space of what may need to be healed or cleared. Ask if you have permission to conduct the ceremony. If you feel an energetic YES, move on!
Start at the front door, move clockwise:
The clearing or “smudging” is done by lighting your sage or palo santo and allowing the smoke to travel to all corners of the space. Before beginning, open as many doors and windows as you can, so that the smoke and energy has a way to exit your space.
You’ll begin at the front door, move around your space clockwise and wave the smoke into all the corners and crevices, behind furniture, in the closets, etc. As you do this, I imagine the smoke collecting all of the energy it touches and carrying it out and releasing it from your space.
Conducting a Blessing:
Visualization & Intention Setting:
Once the clearing is complete, it’s time to fill up the space with all the good vibes. If there’s a specific intention or goal you’re manifesting, I like to write a vision for that, perhaps what it looks like a year from now, and hold that in my mind during the blessing ceremony.
To begin this part, take a moment to sit with your eyes closed, breathe deep and sense all the last traces of negative energy being swept on the breeze out your windows. Then, imagine a ball of golden light growing from the center of your chest and expanding out to wash all corners of the space. See your space shimmering in warm, beautiful, golden light, and you can cast your intentions out – whether that’s with a word like love, community, abundance, or by visualizing your goals coming to fruition.
Start at the front door, move clockwise:
Now you’ll move around the space again, lifting the energy up through sound and scent. Using a spray bottle filled with water + an invigorating essential oil scent, you’ll begin at the front door and make your clockwise around your space. Again directing your energy to all the nooks and crannies. High vibrational sounds like tingshas and bells, or even your hands clapping, can also be used to lift up the energy as you go.
Singing bowls your jam?
Feel free to use whatever instruments you feel create that high vibration!
Bring it to a close:
To end the ceremony, I like to sit in meditation one last time. Take a moment to breathe in all of the beautiful energy you just created and bring your intention back to mind. Thank the space for being a partner in your ceremony and commit to continuing to bring love and care into your space every day. If you wrote up a vision, consider placing it somewhere visible in your home to read every day, or incorporate your one word intention or blessing somewhere you’ll always see it.
Now what?
The energy around us is always shifting and changing. Now that you’re newly tapped into the energy of your space, use this awareness to continue to check in as time passes. Know you can use this ceremony (or some version of it) any time you need an energetic reset or tune up or notice your personal energy being impacted.
If you feel you need support – reach out to me and we’ll design a ceremony around your needs and preferences. It’s often a very powerful experience to hold a ceremony like this in community.
And now…