Before performing a cleansing of a space, it’s best to cleanse yourself, mentally, emotionally, and physically. For the physical cleansings, take a shower and use a sea salt scrub with peppermint or take a hot bath with sea salts. For the mental and emotional aspect, as you bathe, picture all frustrations, annoyances, and disappointments leaving you and pouring down the drain along with the dirty water.
Put on fresh, clean clothes that are comfortable. Light-colored, natural fabrics work well in most cases. If you are performing the cleansing ritual as a result of highly negative activity, its best to wear black clothing to protect yourself from whatever is causing the disruption.
See yourself surrounded by white light and beam it out as far as you can. This protective shell will serve to allow you to complete the ritual safely.
Picture whatever force will be helping you with the cleansing (God, gods, goddesses, watchers, elemental forces, etc.) and ask for assistance.
When you arrive at the space you will be cleansing, take a moment to meditate on your purpose for being there. Take several deep breaths and let all tension leave you.
Upon entering the home or space, sprinkle Holy Water and say, “God’s peace be in this home and in all who live here.” – Optional, but recommended.
Light the sage, sweetgrass braid, and incense (cedar or sandalwood). Once they begin to glow, blow out the flame. Put them in a shell or fireproof bowl to avoid burning anything.
Pick up the sage wand and beginning at the entrance of the house or other space, move counterclockwise through the space. This direction is called “wittershins” and is the direction used for banishing unwanted energy. If you feel so compelled, you may also clear the space moving in a clockwise direction. Try it both ways and see which feels right to you. Move along the entire perimeter of the home, waving the smoldering sage wand up and down or in a circular motion to allow the smoke to permeate the area. Outline windows and doorways, open closets and cabinets, to insure that there is no place for the negative energy to hide. As you wave the wand, say the prayer that appears at the end of this section. If you have a favorite psalm or prayer you feel comfortable with, then feel free to use that instead.
If the home has more than floor, cleanse the main floor first, then proceed to the other floors.
Once this is complete, pick up the sweetgrass braid and move around the perimeter once again, this time in a clockwise direction. Imagine light reaching to every corner of the space.
At the end of this portion of the cleansing, thank whatever Powers helped you to clear the space and declare that this space is now filled with love, light, peace, and happiness.
Cleansings can be done whenever you feel it needs it. Symptoms that tell you the space needs to be cleared include a heavy feeling in the air, unusual or more frequent moodiness of the people living in the space, a stretch of “bad luck,” or any other type of disruption taking place.
In between cleansings, the area can be kept clear by burning cedar or sandalwood incense and by being thankful for the many wonderful things in your life.
Source: ForestWitch
