We have focused a lot on how to protect yourself against negative energy, but sometimes it is unavoidable. Situations where the negativity is too strong, or the instances are too numerous, can break through even the best shields. In these situations, we need to know how best to cleanse ourselves or negative energy. Below are 11 recommended approaches to cleansing.
Taking a shower: I find this one works best if the negativity you have experienced is causing you to have negative thoughts; maybe a bad experience at work, or college, is leaving you feeling like you're not good enough, or wanting to give up. These negative feelings can stick with you, making you feel drained and unmotivated.
In these instances, I find a cleansing shower works well. You may want to add in some soaps or oils designed to help rid oneself of negative energies; lavender, sage, rosemary, for example, are all good. Or you may not, it's just an added bonus! As you shower, visualise the water washing all of this negativity from your body, flowing out and down the plughole. Take this moment to relax, and let it all go.
Running water is also great for cleansing crystals, by holding them under running water and then leaving them somewhere sunny to dry naturally. Some crystals might start to wear if exposed to water, so make sure you check first.
Taking a shower: I find this one works best if the negativity you have experienced is causing you to have negative thoughts; maybe a bad experience at work, or college, is leaving you feeling like you're not good enough, or wanting to give up. These negative feelings can stick with you, making you feel drained and unmotivated.
In these instances, I find a cleansing shower works well. You may want to add in some soaps or oils designed to help rid oneself of negative energies; lavender, sage, rosemary, for example, are all good. Or you may not, it's just an added bonus! As you shower, visualise the water washing all of this negativity from your body, flowing out and down the plughole. Take this moment to relax, and let it all go.
Running water is also great for cleansing crystals, by holding them under running water and then leaving them somewhere sunny to dry naturally. Some crystals might start to wear if exposed to water, so make sure you check first.
Burying in Earth: This is best for cleansing negative energies out of objects. By burying them in the earth, we allow the earth to soak up any negative energies.
White Light Visualisation: Similar to a shower, but is done using visualisation, rather than a physical act. To do this, first ground and centre. Now, imagine a ball of white light above your head, a ball of positive, loving energy. See this light then cascading down like a waterfall, washing through your body. As it passes through you and into the earth below, visualise all of those negative energies being flushed away with this light, down into the earth, where it can be transformed into positive energy and redistributed where needed.
Using Salt: Salt is a great cleanser, purifier and protector. Like the earth, you can bury objects in the salt to cleanse them. Again, be aware that some materials don't react well to salt, and so best to check before you use this method.
Using Energy Orbs: You can create an energy orb, infuse it with your intent (to cleanse and purify an object), and then 'push' that orb into your object and visualise it being cleansed by this energy. As you may have guessed by this description, it works best with objects you want to cleanse.
Sound Vibration: Sound waves are energy, and the vibration of this energy can be used to cleanse and heal yourself, and also a physical space. Singing bowls, especially crystal singing bowls, are great to create the right vibrations to achieve this. This method is ideal for cleansing the self, and space, but can also be used to cleanse objects (although I personally think one of the other above methods that can be used to cleanse objects would be more effective).
If you can get to a live sound bath session then great! Otherwise there are some fab videos on YouTube; I personally like the one below, I think her voice goes really well with the bowls, but browse through and see if you can find one which resonates with you: https://youtu.be/v0G77opkEk4
You will also find YouTube videos from people using singing bowls to cleanse crystals, which is not something I have personally tried, but give it a go if you want!
Ritual Baths: Ritual baths were one of my favourite ways to cleanse back when I owned a bath! Check out my post on ritual baths here.
Smudging: Smudging is a practice borrowed from the Indigenous peoples. I'll be honest, I try not to get too involved in the appropriation debate, because as a white woman people shouldn’t listen to me - they should listen to those people who are being appropriated from. A lot of people think smudging is just walking around, waving some sage around the place. Actually, there is a lot more to it than that. But in this instance, we are talking about walking around and waving some sage, so I will not be calling it smudging (even though a LOT of people and resources seem to think this is what smudging is).
Just because it isn't smudging doesn't mean it doesn't work. It's like cleansing with incense, but much stronger! Using herbs that are good for clearing and cleansing - sage is a popular one, as is rosemary - you light it, and walk around the room you want to cleanse, ensuring the smoke fills every part. Waft the smoke away, as if you are actively shoo-ing the negative energies out. Make sure you have a fire-proof bowl to catch the ash that will fall. Focus on your intent, clearing those energies away. Make sure you open all of your windows so the smoke (and those energies!) have somewhere to go!
You may also wish to chant, or repeat an incantation as you go, to help you focus on your intent.
You can make your own cleansing herb bundles, or buy them. Below is more info on how to make them if you want to give it a go. I can’t seem to find any instructions which don’t refer to them as ‘smudge sticks’ and this website definitely misses out any cultural significance, but I’m struggling to find a website that does include it:
https://www.littlegreenshedblog.co.uk/2020/04/wellness-make-sage-smudge-stick/
In fact, if you would like a bit more insight into traditional smudging, here are some guidelines issued by the OFL Aboriginal Circle; if you compare the two websites, you should see what I mean about the lack of cultural significance in the first:
http://ofl.ca/wp-content/uploads/OFL-Guidelines-for-Indigenous-Smudge-Ceremony.pdf
Incense: If you cannot make, or buy, your own herb bundles, or maybe the amount of smoke generated from burning herb bundles is too much, then you can use incense. It is definitely a 'lighter' cleanse, but is good if you just need to give yourself, or your space, a little boost.
Ritual: You can hold a full on ritual to cleanse if you wish, invoking the quarters and using the four elements and divine energies to cleanse your space
Floor washes: Floor washes are one of my favourite ways of cleaning energy out of a room; check out my post on floor washes for more information.
I've seen many people recommend putting this sort of mixture into a spray bottle and spraying it round the room. Whilst this idea works, be careful. When you boil up or add herbs to water, it can change the colour of the water. The last thing you want is to be spraying brown liquid around your walls, as that stuff stains (trust me on that - it's not worth losing a security deposit over!)
White Light Visualisation: Similar to a shower, but is done using visualisation, rather than a physical act. To do this, first ground and centre. Now, imagine a ball of white light above your head, a ball of positive, loving energy. See this light then cascading down like a waterfall, washing through your body. As it passes through you and into the earth below, visualise all of those negative energies being flushed away with this light, down into the earth, where it can be transformed into positive energy and redistributed where needed.
Using Salt: Salt is a great cleanser, purifier and protector. Like the earth, you can bury objects in the salt to cleanse them. Again, be aware that some materials don't react well to salt, and so best to check before you use this method.
Using Energy Orbs: You can create an energy orb, infuse it with your intent (to cleanse and purify an object), and then 'push' that orb into your object and visualise it being cleansed by this energy. As you may have guessed by this description, it works best with objects you want to cleanse.
Sound Vibration: Sound waves are energy, and the vibration of this energy can be used to cleanse and heal yourself, and also a physical space. Singing bowls, especially crystal singing bowls, are great to create the right vibrations to achieve this. This method is ideal for cleansing the self, and space, but can also be used to cleanse objects (although I personally think one of the other above methods that can be used to cleanse objects would be more effective).
If you can get to a live sound bath session then great! Otherwise there are some fab videos on YouTube; I personally like the one below, I think her voice goes really well with the bowls, but browse through and see if you can find one which resonates with you: https://youtu.be/v0G77opkEk4
You will also find YouTube videos from people using singing bowls to cleanse crystals, which is not something I have personally tried, but give it a go if you want!
Ritual Baths: Ritual baths were one of my favourite ways to cleanse back when I owned a bath! Check out my post on ritual baths here.
Smudging: Smudging is a practice borrowed from the Indigenous peoples. I'll be honest, I try not to get too involved in the appropriation debate, because as a white woman people shouldn’t listen to me - they should listen to those people who are being appropriated from. A lot of people think smudging is just walking around, waving some sage around the place. Actually, there is a lot more to it than that. But in this instance, we are talking about walking around and waving some sage, so I will not be calling it smudging (even though a LOT of people and resources seem to think this is what smudging is).
Just because it isn't smudging doesn't mean it doesn't work. It's like cleansing with incense, but much stronger! Using herbs that are good for clearing and cleansing - sage is a popular one, as is rosemary - you light it, and walk around the room you want to cleanse, ensuring the smoke fills every part. Waft the smoke away, as if you are actively shoo-ing the negative energies out. Make sure you have a fire-proof bowl to catch the ash that will fall. Focus on your intent, clearing those energies away. Make sure you open all of your windows so the smoke (and those energies!) have somewhere to go!
You may also wish to chant, or repeat an incantation as you go, to help you focus on your intent.
You can make your own cleansing herb bundles, or buy them. Below is more info on how to make them if you want to give it a go. I can’t seem to find any instructions which don’t refer to them as ‘smudge sticks’ and this website definitely misses out any cultural significance, but I’m struggling to find a website that does include it:
https://www.littlegreenshedblog.co.uk/2020/04/wellness-make-sage-smudge-stick/
In fact, if you would like a bit more insight into traditional smudging, here are some guidelines issued by the OFL Aboriginal Circle; if you compare the two websites, you should see what I mean about the lack of cultural significance in the first:
http://ofl.ca/wp-content/uploads/OFL-Guidelines-for-Indigenous-Smudge-Ceremony.pdf
Incense: If you cannot make, or buy, your own herb bundles, or maybe the amount of smoke generated from burning herb bundles is too much, then you can use incense. It is definitely a 'lighter' cleanse, but is good if you just need to give yourself, or your space, a little boost.
Ritual: You can hold a full on ritual to cleanse if you wish, invoking the quarters and using the four elements and divine energies to cleanse your space
Floor washes: Floor washes are one of my favourite ways of cleaning energy out of a room; check out my post on floor washes for more information.
I've seen many people recommend putting this sort of mixture into a spray bottle and spraying it round the room. Whilst this idea works, be careful. When you boil up or add herbs to water, it can change the colour of the water. The last thing you want is to be spraying brown liquid around your walls, as that stuff stains (trust me on that - it's not worth losing a security deposit over!)
