"In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision."
Dalai Lama

I like to focus on the positive. Glass half full, white light, "most benevolent outcome", good intentions for all. However, sometimes I still find myself exposed to negative energy, because frankly, that's life! We all have had experiences with negative energy, whether we are aware of it or not.

So how do you know when you have some negative energy hanging around? Have you ever walked into a home and it just felt heavy? Have you ever had someone come into a room, and you felt uneasy for no apparent reason? Felt the energy shift due to someone's presence? Have you moved into a new house but felt as though there was something keeping you detached from declaring it "yours"? Sometimes when I enter a space, I feel as though the air is thicker or there is something that I can't seem to put my finger on makes me unsettled. Any of these instances are great opportunities to do a clearing of energy no longer serving you, and start anew.

There are a great variety of techniques you can use to cleanse a space of negative energy, including physically cleaning it, opening up all the windows for fresh air, hanging feng shui balls in the sunshine to move stagnant qi, and spraying the air with essential oils. One of the most popular ways, however, is to smudge your home with sage.

Smudging your home with sage originates from Native North American traditions to cleanse a space from negative spirits, emotions, and energy. As the smoke rises and is pulled out of the home, it is believed to also carry your positive intention to the Spirit World along with it, therefore blessing the house and the people within.

Before I smudge my home, I like to physically clean my space. Pick up any items lying out, wipe down surfaces, and make sure all of the furniture is set up in a way that promotes flow. Open all the windows in your home, and consider turning on any fans you may have to pull the smoke and negative energy out.

Gather your sage and a tray. (Traditionally, a large abalone shell is used, but a small bowl or tray will work as well.) I also recommend that you fill a glass of water to keep nearby.

Light your sage stick, blow on it to put out the flame, and let the sage molder and smoke.

Beginning in the room of your choosing (if you have multiple stories, begin upstairs), state your intention. You may have a different intention for each room, or you can maintain a general intention throughout the house. I like to use "Cleanse this home of all negative and stagnant energy, fill this home and all who enter it with light, love, and positive energy of the highest vibration." Your intention can be worded however feels right to you, as long as it is strong and for the highest good.

If you are experienced with reiki or energy-work, this is a great opportunity to incorporate reiki symbols and visualization work to add some extra "oomph" to this spiritual cleansing.

Typically done in a counter-clockwise movement around the room, use a feather or your hand to waft the smoke into all spaces of the room, all while keeping your positive intention in the forefront of your mind. Work your way throughout the whole house, repeating your intention in each room and paying special intention to doorways, windows, and corners.

Once you have finished, smudge yourself from head to toe, repeating your intention and allowing any negativity you have personally collected to be carried away with the smoke as well. Keep the windows open for as long as you can, and enjoy the wonderful light feeling your home and you now carry!

Many people ask: How often should I smudge? A good rule of thumb on when to smudge is simple: if you are feeling uneasy in your space, it is time to smudge! Otherwise, some people like to create a ritual of it and cleanse during the full or new moon. My friend recently smudged her house after a bad breakup, and felt immensely lighter and less bogged down with heavy emotions. Additionally, if you are moving into a new home, it is always a good idea to cleanse physically and spiritually to start a new!

Have asthma or sensitivities to smoke? Follow the smudging ritual without lighting your sage! Sage's energy and aura can help cleanse without the smoke.

Have you ever smudged before? What was your experience?

"There must be quite a few things a hot bath won't cure, but I don't know many of them."

Sylvia Plath

Over the past year, I have experienced a lot of "life" (career changes, moving, medical emergencies, family death, etc.), and it was easy to find myself occasionally overwhelmed with stress.

Have you ever noticed how when you have a lot weighing on you emotionally, your body feels physically weighed down as well? It almost feels as if you are wearing a heavy coat of negativity. Not so fun...

When you are stressed, it can be hard to carve out time to just sit down and meditate. Therefore, I have found a quick solution that lets you (literally) scrub off some of those heavy thoughts: shower-time or bath-time meditation!

Since it is something that everyone does everyday (give or take), it can be a great way to squeeze in a little mental tuneup. Many times, people rush through washing up on autopilot: shampoo, soap, scrub, shave, done. This basic meditation allows you to bring a little mindfulness to your day, and do a little good for your emotional self as well. Depending on whether you prefer showers or baths, you can chose between the two meditations.

If you are showering: As you stand under the stream of water, envision it washing away all of your negative thoughts, as if they were mud stuck to your skin. Some emotions might take a little extra scrubbing, but as you lather up, release all of your fear, anger, and regret so that it may go swirling down the drain.

If you are soaking in the tub: Allow all of your muscles to sink into the hot water. Using a loofa or wash cloth, massage your skin from head to toe, visualizing any negativity within being released into the water. Once you feel truely relaxed and surrendered, unplug the drain and send the water that now carries all that detrimental energy away.

By the time I dry off after a shower or tub meditation, I always feel a lot better, both inside and out!

I always like bringing a cup of yummy tea in the tub with me as well!

I love to use natural bath and shower products, such as Epsom salts, essential oils, Jason shower gel, and my favorite homemade sugar scrub. What are your favorite natural products? Have you ever meditated in the tub before?

As we all know, crystals and gemstones can carry fantastic positive energy that can benefit our lives and the world around us. However, crystals absorb a lot of negative gunk over time, so it is beneficial to cleanse and recharge them!

There are multiple ways to cleanse crystals, like letting them bask in the sunshine, tossing them through a candle flame, burying them underground, or washing them in a flowing stream. However, some crystals will fade in sunlight, like amethyst, and others will dissolve in water, like selenite. Therefore, one of my favorite methods is using the full moon! The full moon is known for its power and the wonderful energy it brings, so it makes a great tool to re-energize your crystals.

Firstly, go on a scavenger hunt for all the crystals in your house, including jewelry! This took me quite a while to find all the crystals hiding on random shelves and in drawers, but if a crystal has been sitting around for a while, it especially could use a cleanse!

Once you have everything you want to cleanse, I start off by rinsing my crystals in running water. From there, I place them in a bowl of water and sea salt (I usually put a few spoonfuls into a big bowl and stir until it dissolves). Leave them in the bowl for up to 24 hours. I like to do the cleansing the night before the full moon, so the following evening I pat all of the crystals dry and then put them in a place they will be exposed the most moonlight (like a window or outside).

Remember, if you have selenite or other gemstones that can dissolve in water, skip the water steps and just put them in the moonlight!

By morning, you will wake up to find new life in your crystals! I have noticed a big difference not only in the energy of my cleansed crystals, but in their shine and color as well.

Time to enjoy your newly refreshed crystals!

Do you have a favorite way to cleanse your stones? Have you ever done it before?

PS:

Check for the next full moon here!

 

This summer, I decided to take on a new challenge: a container herb and vegetable garden. Among my large, random variety of plants (I went a little overboard at the plant nursery), my mint plant is the first to produce enough to harvest!

With my abundance of mint begging to be used, I decided to make a refreshing drink to combat these toasty summer days that would have detox benefits as well.

With three ingredients, it is so easy that I can barely call it a recipe. All you need is half a lemon, 4-6 mint leaves, and water.

Slice up your lemon into wedges or slivers and add to your jar. Rinse your mint, crush it slightly to release the flavor, and add to your jar. Top off with tap, filtered, or Vitajuwel water, and you are good to go!

Mint provides delicious flavor, but it also has some wonderful health benefits as well. It soothes the stomach and digestive tract, is believed to relieve hiccups, sinus congestion, and is an incredible antioxidant.

Adding lemon to your water gives you a vitamin boost, aids your digestion, cleanses toxins, and balances the pH in your body.

I create a large jar of this in the morning to enjoy when I first wake up, because it jump-starts your metabolism and helps you wake up after a night of sleep. Once my initial glass gets low, I continue to top of my jar all day, until the lemon and mint completely lose their flavor. It has become my go to beverage for the summer, and although right now I keep it cool to beat the heat, I imagine it will be really tasty with warm water in the winter!

Enjoy your new tasty beverage!