Spiritual Home Cleansing Tips and Tricks

A common phrase is "a clean home is a happy home." The reality, however, is that sometimes no matter how physically clean a home is, something still feels off. This "off" feeling may be perceiving the air as dense, the house is "haunted" by emotions, or otherwise just something negative that drains away the peaceful, homey atmosphere. The following information provides techniques and tips for cleaning your home of negative energy to promote that happy, peaceful atmosphere you are seeking.

A common technique for cleansing energies in an area is smudging. This can be done by lighting incense or herbal bundles such as sage or sweet-grass. The incense used can vary. Frankincense is a popular favorite. Some herbs and incense mixtures are used specifically for their cleansing and protective qualities. However, the most important factor is your personal preference for the scent. Sage is very effective for cleansing negative energies, but if you cannot stand the smell of burning sage, you will have trouble creating the peaceful atmosphere you want in your home. Pick a scent you enjoy that gives you the sense of a clean and happy home. (Note: If you or someone in your home has an allergy to incense smoke, oils make an excellent alternative.)

To cleanse the home, you can simply light the incense and allow the aroma to fill the room. However, if you feel the house could use a little more attention, take the incense around room to room. In each room, be sure to allow the smoke of the incense to touch all areas of the room. If you are doing a thorough cleansing, be sure to focus on corners, closets, and other areas that energy may be "trapped." While you are taking the incense around, be sure to keep the intention of cleaning the energy in mind. You can visualize the incense cleaning away "dirty" energy or "see" the energy being transformed into positive, peaceful energy. When you are done, you can put the incense out or place it in a fire-safe dish and allow to burn out on its own.

Similar to the technique for smudging, you can use water, salt, or both to cleanse the energies in your home. In some traditions, salt is considered naturally cleansed. Simply sprinkle (not pour!) salt around the inside of your home and the salt will cleanse the area. If using water, the general consensus is it should be blessed first. This can be done by praying over the water or by infusing it with your own peaceful, loving energy. Sprinkle the same as with the salt. The third method is to combine the salt and water. According to some traditions, the addition of salt into the water will naturally bless it, or you can bless the mixture as with the water. As with the smudging, as you are sprinkling your choice of salt, water, or a mixture around your home, be sure to keep your intention of cleaning out the negative energies in mind.

Perhaps the simplest (and surprisingly rather effective) method of cleansing the energy in the home is through music. This may be music that you make yourself by singing, playing an instrument, or a combination of both or music playing on the stereo. This method, of course, is only as effective as how loud you can play your music. If you must keep your volume to a very low level, this technique is not as effective as if you can have it loud enough for the sound waves to touch every inch of the room. At a medium volume level, it is best to take the music room through room. Give enough time for the music to move the energy in each room. Choose music that you resonate with. "Angry" music may not seem like something you want to promote peaceful energy. However, if the negative energy is a build-up from a problem you have been facing, music that allows you to express those emotions will help move the energy out of your life, and subsequently out of your home. Thus, the music you choose will depend upon your needs at the time of the cleansing.

No matter what technique you choose to use, the key to spiritual cleansing is your intentions. If your personal beliefs prevent you from using these and other forms of spiritual cleansing, you can always invite a spiritual leader of your faith into your home to bring blessings to it or simply hold your spiritual intentions during the physical cleaning. Either way, the most important aspect is to remember you are cleaning out pent-up and negative energies that are keeping your home from feeling as clean as you believe it should be. Once the energies are cleared out, you can fill your home with wishes and blessings of positive energy to give your home the atmosphere you want it to have. A home that is clean both physically and spiritually can truly be a happy home.