Deep Space Clearing: Feng Shui for Seasonal Renewal

Michaelangelo Park          Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

The New Moon signals a turn of the lunar cycle, and the Vernal Equinox marks the change from Winter to Spring. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, the new moon signaled the shift from summer to autumn. Both the new moon and seasonal changes happen within just a few days of one another, so if  your find yourself inspired to move furniture around, clean windows, or tackle those clean up and clean out projects that have been waiting for better weather, the time may have just arrived. True to my word, I changed my bed around and changed the linens and bedding as well as completely rearranging the furniture in my office/studio last night. What's on your agenda for preparing for Spring's arrival?

At least once or twice a year (I do this twice a year), it is good to do a deep space clearing and cleansing. You'll need to set aside about an hour of your time for your seasonal space clearing. The steps for the clearing include the following:

• Preparation and Plan. Set aside the best time for you to do this ritual. Feng Shui energy for clearing is best between 11-1:00, and no later than 3 in the afternoon. Pick a time when you won't feel rushed or be too distracted. 
• Gather Supplies and Prepare an Altar.  You will need the following: candles (fire element), cedar/sage/lavender for smudging, incense, essential oils, a diffuser or some way to mist a room(simple spray bottle will do), Music, natural sounds, bells/singing bowls,  stones and crystals, and anything that you consider essential to a blessing of your home and office.
• Prepare Yourself.  Plan to do your space clearing after getting yourself ready (right after a yoga class, a walk, or a morning swim). Take a shower and put on clean clothes just before doing the clearing. Feeling relaxed and balanced helps make this experience more beneficial. Keeps our Chi flowing which is the purpose of this clearing. 
• Prepare an Altar.  Set up an altar to symbolize balance and harmony. Include items from each of the elements (fire, air, earth, water, metal). Create what represents beauty and harmony to you. Light a candle in each room, and put on some music to lift the energy and soothe you through this process. Burn some incense or use an aroma therapy defuser to disperse a pleasant scent throughout the house. Open a window so as to assure that fresh air breaks up any stale air trapped inside. Have some fresh flowers for your altar and different parts of your home/office. 
• Space Clearing: Stand at the front door, clap your hands to begin breaking up energy. Moving clockwise throughout the house and in each room, clap in each corner to break up any stale or trapped energy. Trust your instincts and intuition on this part, and understand that this action helps you recognize where energy may be trapped or stale in different areas of your home. Do this throughout the house and spend as much time as you need in each corner. Notice how you feel as you enter different parts of the house, and just take notice for now.When you are finished, wash your hands, up to your elbows, in cool water. 
• Smudge/Purify Space.  Using a smudging stick/bowl, again moving clockwise throughout the house, smudging the corners and any other parts of a room you feel needs it. You may do this with a mist of an essential oil and water (I use holy water) as well. You may also use bells or some form of percussion instrument too to activate the sound feng shui in the same manner. As you're doing all of these different steps, be aware of your own body and breathing in the process. Keep yourself relaxed and focused on slowly breathing and sensing what you are intuiting about different parts of your house. This is not the time to clean and clear clutter, but it is a time you will notice where this needs to be done, for later. 

This process is meant to be a mindful practice designed to purify and activate the Chi in your home. It's also a time to prepare yourself for doing more deep cleaning and personal preparation for clearing, energizing, and manifesting creative and activating Chi/energy throughout your home and life. You may notice thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, and nagging obsessions that come up as you do this. Rather than trying to keep this from happening, simply notice and take note of what is blocking or calling for your attention. Time to recognize what needs to be done and then prepare ourselves for tackling the work that needs doing.

Next we'll go on to Part Two: Clearing and Cleaning the Kitchen for Seasonal Change.