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Color I Interior Design I Architecture & Layouts I Feng Shui I Smudging & Cleansing Rituals l Style

Creating Your Own Cleansing Ritual

Rituals have been going on since the beginning of recorded history and beyond that, and are found in each and every culture, throughout are world. During this time period, for the most part, we rely on organized religions to create and perform our rituals. Many people do not realize that they empower themselves when they first: process the need for a ritual or even a celebration and then second; design their own own celebrations / rituals. No longer is it necessary to repeat the same old celebrations / rituals over and over - year in and year out. It certainly is more empowering for you to preform your own rituals.

A cleansing ritual is one of the starting points for Feng Shui practice, but also the most basic ritual to keep everything clean and clear before you even think of going to the next phase of: manifesting work, healing work, etc. As you clean your sacred physical space regulary, you should also cleanse the "unseen" counterpart to that physical "seen" portion of your home. If you bring in new (to you) belongings from someone else's house (e-bay, garage or estate sale, etc.) the items should be smudges or cleansed of the energy of the previous owner in the same manner that you wash off and clean the object. When moving into a new home always cleanse the space and even the entire property before you move in. Cleansing is starting fresh. If you experience arguments, fights, illness, or a bout of negative thinking, in your home always cleanse the space. In the recent past, most churches would send the priest / minster out in the spring to bless each member's home. Your home should be cleansed / blessed on a regular basis. Remember everything is stagnant or moving energy.

The cleansing bundle in the photo above has five (5) cleansing herbs and a stick of frankincense incense. The herbs are: fern, horehound, mugwort, rue, and juniper. As I pick then I ask for their help (showing reverence). Even one of the above listed herbs alone is capable of cleansing your sacred space. Many people have juniper shrubs just out side their home.

If you pick or purchase fresh herbs allow them to dry out (so they are burnable), and you will be using the power of the fire element to help in the cleansing. You may light the dry bundle, hold it over a pie tin or any non-flamable artifact, wave it around until it is just smoking or you may crumble the dry herbs and put them in a metal incense burner or on a plate, using a charcoal disk (sold at metaphysical or religious shops). Light the charcoal disk - get it going and add pinches of the herbs.

You can write your own ritual or use one found in a book, or even a prayer from your religion. You are asking the plant with cleansing properties to aid you in the cleansing, using your focus and attention to cleanse the space. You want to send away all negativity including anything else which may be residing in your home. Start by cleansing yourself, by holding the smudge in front of you and scoop up the smoke and then pull it toward you with your free hand. Intend that anything attached to you be removed and sent away. (That could include ill feelings, spirit entities, or negative thoughts that other people have had of you). Smiudge you home in a clockwise direction, do each room in a complete clockwise circle.