ENERGY CLEANSING
In my personal practice before every healing session or ceremony I call in the energy from the four directions and I cleanse the energy of all present using Palo Santo ( spanish for holy wood) This clears my mind, emotions, soul and the space of any negative or hindering energy before proceeding. There is alot of information available on cleansing / smudging on the internet, what I would like to speak specifically towards is an Energy Cleansing ceremony ideal as a post new moon ceremony as with the new moon comes the setting of intentions it is good to clear all aspects of your being prior to this event. (See here for info on moon phases and energy).
Coming up to a new moon is the waning phase which is ideal for transmutation, similar to the compost stage with plants the release of what does not serve being used to support the new energy we choose to accept into our lives.
The ceremony is as follows:
1. OPEN SACRED SPACE you can use a prayer or simply set your intentions asking for your higher self/ creator to enter your space and allow all that will be done to work towards the benefit of yourself firstly and all around you.
2. ENERGY OF 4 DIRECTIONS AND ELEMENTS Set up 4 items representing the 4 directions and the 4 aspects of self that we will be cleansing :
* Stone / Crystal or simply the floor to represent earth this is connected to our physical body.
* Incense, scented candle any sweet aroma that creates smoke this will represent air, our mind and thoughts.
* Water this represents our emotions.
* fire / candle - this represents our soul / heart , passions and desires.
3. WHAT DOES NOT SERVE We now create a list of all the things we desire to release that are connected to our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual body.. some suggestions are ; judgement, suffering, fear, doubt, jealousy , sickness, sadness, conceit.
4. WINDS CLEAR MY MIND starting with the incense ask the energy you called into the sacred space to blow away your negative thoughts, to cleanse your mind so it may be renewed , blow this desire into your paper and hold it over the incense.
5. WATER WASH AWAY MY FEARS move to the water, dip your finger in the water and sprinkle it over the paper, asking the energy you called into the space to wash away all your worries, doubts, and fears to renew your emotional body, blow this desire into your paper as well.
6. EARTH GROUND MY CONVICTIONS move to the stone/ crystal or simply place the paper on the floor, ask your spirit guide( energy you called into the space) to cleanse your body of all toxins removing from your being what does not serve and returning it to the earth as compost to create new life.
7. FIRE PURGE MY SOUL move to the candle and ask your spirit guide to purge from your being all that is not of the light, as you place this paper into the flames so too shall all that serves no more be transmuted.
blow into the paper light it on fire with the candle and then place it in a metal container.
Observe as it burns and feel the release in your being, when it is finally consumed observe the smoke that rises so too shall your spirits be lifted.
Upon completion throw the ashes outdoors and pour the rest of the water you sprinkled it with ontop of the ashes.
Give thanks to your spirit guide / creator and close your sacred space.
This is an ideal time to meditate for insights.