Ok, here are some important things to consider before reading further; 1. Everything is energy. Humans, animals, minerals, plants, thoughts, emotions. All aspects of existence, no matter what it is … is the same energy.
2. When energy impacts an environment, it changes it. For good or bad --- it will change it.
3. Everything has some form of consciousness. Everything is a ‘spirit’ thought form. Created by higher forces to exist in the form that it is; to function in the form that it is; to interact it the way that it does.
4. You are part of everything else. What affects one part, affects all other parts.
5. Like attracts like.
6. Cleansing is healing.
From the above, you should glean the importance of cleansing the energy fields which make up you and your environment. Although we might not always be able to sense an energy imbalance; we are nevertheless affected by it. Some areas/buildings feel comfortable to us, while others may make us feel edgy, depressed or anxious to get out.
After there has been a heated argument in a room for example, the atmosphere may feel heavy and dismal. You may even begin to feel irritable yourself. This negative energy, if allowed to exist and even grow (like attracts like), can adversely affect all the inhabitants in that area. In your house, it can even make you, your family, your pets and your plants sick. It will actually make your house sick. Animals are especially vulnerable as they act as buffers for us, and will absorb this negativity until they get physically sick.
When we cleanse, we're replacing undesirable energy (aka negativity) with desirable or positive energy. Anything can be cleansed and probably should be from time to time..
If you do a cleansing ritual or procedure with anger or fear of the negativity you are trying to release, you will only exchange one kind of negativity for another. You gain nothing. Always enter into any cleansing process with an attitude of love. Negative energy is not bad or evil; it is simply energy that does not sustain you. Nothing is inherently evil --- it is our judgement of it that labels something good or bad.
There are numerous cleansing methods available, but one which is particularly reliable is Smudging.
Smudging, (passing through smoke,) is an ancient method of cleansing that works quite well. I've used it to cleanse my house, and it's very good for smaller items and for cleansing your aura. When smudging a room, work in one direction, spiralling to the center. Which direction you use is up to you - try both. Counter clockwise is usually considered banishing; clockwise is invoking.
Use White Sage, but garden sage works equally well. Pine, of any kind, is generally thought to bring in desirable positive energy; while the sages are more for banishing the negative. Both can be used during the same smudging ritual. Use powdered sage or pine on charcoal, or a smudge stick or even a small wad of the leaves. Carry a heatproof container (ashtray) in the left hand; the smudge in the right.
For a room, try to start near, but not in front of the door, sweeping the smoke into all corners; up to the ceiling and down to the floor. If you use leaves or a smudge stick, knock the ashes off often, so you won't catch anything on fire. It's a good idea to keep a container of water close by, just in case.
Repeat the following, if you wish, during the smudging:
From the Element of Fire
Comes this smoke, which is Air.
From the Element of Earth
Grows this plant, which is Water.
I call upon the Elements and the Blessings of Spirit
To please cleanse this (area, space, being, etc.)
For the good of all.
Continue until every inch of the area has been touched by the smoke and you it has been finished. As with any magickal rite, intent and visualisation are important. Visualising the movement of energy adds the power to the cleansing procedure.