Have you ever walked into a room and suddenly felt ill or sad? Have you ever been to a basement or a dark room and felt fearful? Have you ever walked into a cozy home and just wanted to curl up under a blanket and take a nap? Have you ever visited someone and felt so good in their space that you never wanted to leave?
These experiences are examples of how we interact with the places where we visit. When we show up someplace, we pick up on the feeling – the energy – of that place. Some people are quite sensitive to this, and if they happen to be a place that feels off or uncomfortable, it can be pretty unbearable. They need to find a way to make the energy of the place feel better.
One way to make a space feel good is to simply clean it. We can make sure everything is wiped down, organized, and clutter is put away. We can arrange furniture so the energy around it flows and feels right. We can adjust lighting, add plants, and place beautiful objects around to make a space feel good.
If someone mentions doing a ‘space clearing’ however, they are talking about doing something to make the energy of the space more positive. Space clearing rituals can take out heavy, sad, and difficult energy that might be lingering so the space can feel lighter, more peaceful, and more comfortable.
You might wonder how a space gets a heavy, sad or difficult feeling in the first place. Energy basically transfers from things or people and integrates into the energy of the place they were in. For example, if someone sits in a room day after day and is angry or sad, the space around them will also feel that way. That happens in hospitals, for example, where many people are sick, or frightened, or sad and they are in relatively close quarters. A lot of people do not like visiting hospitals for that reason but can’t really explain why.
Big public spaces can hold a lot of energy too. Think of train stations or music halls or busy shopping malls. They can be chaotic, confusing, and drain people who are sensitive to the energy of places. Old buildings can hold quite a lot of energy from the past as well, so people frequently have space clearings performed on them.
Clearing a space can make any place feel much better and people perform a clearing process in several different ways. We mentioned that doing a proper clean up and organization is very helpful. Spaces can also be cleared by smoke (incense, sage, and palo santo sticks are very popular), by sound (using meditation bowls or chimes or music), by prayer or meditation, by lighting candles, or spraying perfumes or mists infused with cleansing oils and plant essences. These are just some examples.
If learning about space clearing sounds interesting to you, we invite you to explore the topic more on our site. There are books and articles you can read and professionals you can hire who can teach you more about space clearing or perform a clearing for you.
