Sweeping away the germs and cobwebs of winter is a spring tradition for women around the world, but for some, it’s not about washing drapes and steaming rugs. It’s about shaking stagnant “energy” and driving out “bad vibes.”
In an article appearing on Homes & Gardens, Suzanne Roynon, an expert Interiors Therapist, author, and Feng Shui consultant, gives advice on how to clean up the house – New Age style – especially after members of the household have suffered a round of the flu or colds.
She claims that if members of the family can’t seem to get over the winter sniffles, you may need to get to work creating “good Feng Shui” in the home.
For those who aren’t familiar with the term, Feng Shui is a form of Chinese geomancy based on the need to orient buildings and arrange furniture in order to secure the right “vibe” of an alleged universal life force energy known as chi. This superstitious belief dictates everything from where to hang mirrors to what direction the bed should face in order to drive out negative energies and make the home more harmonious and peaceful.
According to Roynon, preparation for spring cleaning and purging those winter sniffles begins with Step One, which is to do at least a quick “wash and brush up.” She goes on to recommend opening a window in every room and then sprinkling a line of salt across the thresholds of all external doors to “repel negativity.”
Step Two is to shake up stagnant energy by employing “sound therapy” which can be anything from clapping your hands loudly to banging on a metal pot with a wooden spoon. This is especially important for rooms where sick people occupied.
“You’ll notice that some areas echo the noise, while others feel more ‘thuddy,’” she explains. “These thick sounds reflect areas of particularly stuck energy, so you might want to repeat the process in those spots. When you’ve covered the whole home, wash your hands and forearms to rinse away any unwanted essences.”
Step Three is to chase our residual bad vibes with smoke or smells of some kind. She recommends burning herbs such as sage, Palo Santo sticks or incense. If you’re not able to use smoke, try diluting essential oils such as citrus or bergamot into a homemade room spray.
Step Four is to set positive intentions for the future. Start by lighting a candle and thanking your home for protecting you, then make positive affirmations about all the good you’d like to draw into your life.
“Manifesting or using the Law of Attraction as part of the space clearing process can be very powerful,” she recommends. “Choose ‘I am’ statements which activate immediately, rather than ‘I will’ which keeps everything just slightly out of reach.”
Step Five is to “seal in the higher vibrational energy” with sound. Ring bells, use singing bowls, chant “om”, or listen to joyful music as a way to seal in the happiness.
Finally, when it’s all done, head out for a walk or coffee break somewhere “in order to let the energy settle.” After 24 hours, sweep up the salt and sprinkle it in nature or, if this isn’t possible, flush it down the toilet.
This house cleansing should be done especially after someone has been ill.
“Feng Shui-wise, allowing tainted energy to hang around in a home will impact all areas of your life, from relationships, through career, family, travel plans, reputation and of course long-term health. By taking a few simple steps, you can evict lurking bad vibes and get on with having fun.”
Aside from the “wash and brush up” and opening the windows, none of the above will protect a home from lingering flu and cold germs, nor will it leave the house very clean. But what it will do, however, is teach people how to make superstition a way of life.
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