Myst
March 20th, 2002, 04:26 AM
Spiritual and magical cleansing are also an essential part of ritual and spellwork. Cleansing oneself physically and spiritually removes negative vibrations as well as indicating that it's "time for magic". You will want to cleanse a magical area before meditating or spellwork to remove the busy energies that might interrupt your working. Similarly, you cleanse your body.
It might be easier to clean the area first. To do so, you will wish to thoroughly physically cleanse your work area. You should dust and vaccuum with the intent to cleanse the area. Imagine the little grey dust bunnies of dirt and energy being sucked away into your vaccuum. Scrub as necessary, and try to do so with positive intent - think of it not as work, but as of a crucial step in your spiritual growth. This will make it more enjoyable. Better yet, turn up some music; consider having all your cleaning tools at the ready, and a garbage bag available close to you. Another popular magical method of cleansing is to use a broom or besom to literally sweep negative energy out. You might travel in an everwidening circle counter clockwise to push negative energies out (see deosil and widdershins info here (http://mynewageshop.com/articles/display_article.asp?aid=126)).
Toss out anything you haven't used lately or don't like - there's no point in keeping that crystal figurine your Aunt Flo gave you if you hate it! Box it up, or give it away. Your environment should be harmonious for you!
You may also choose to use salt or blessed water, fire or special incense to cleanse the area. You could go around with each, cleansing and blessing the area with associated elements (earth, water, fire, and air respectively). You may also wish to use noisemakers (drums, bells, etc.) or clap or sing/chant to dispel negative energies. As you move around the room try to 'feel' what areas need special cleansing, and adjust as necessary. These will usually be the darker corners, or where you've had a fight recently etc. - don't worry, with practice this will come naturally!
You may even wish to invite deities or spirits into your home - perhaps one for each room to bring their special components to it. For instance you could invite Poseidon in your bathroom (king of the sea and water), Hera in your living room and kitchen, and Aphrodite in your bedroom. Don't restrict yourself to one pantheon if you don't want to, but do carefully research your choices - you don't want to put conflicting deities in your house to duke it out! You may also want to do a small meditation to fill each room with your personal energy, and afterwards to set a permanent circle of protection around your home. You could ask dragons, guardians of watchtowers, fae folk, or spirits who dwell in your home to help bring peace and love. If you are worried about someone, you might even set up wards (this to be covered later perhaps).
To cleanse yourself, you will wish to have a shower or bath. You may choose to use a special ritual soap, sea salts, and/or light incense and candles by the bathtub. In an emergency you may just wish to wash your hands. Cleansing one's physical self regularly can help you keep from stressing out and harbouring negative feelings. Imagine the spray of the shower rinsing all the nasty energy that's accumulated during the day down the drain. You might also choose to add some herbs in a bag to your bath, or a few drops of oil into the tub. You can find more information on herbs and their uses (energizing, relaxing, cleansing) in our Green Room, or find the recommended herbal books in our Books forum for some texts to borrow from the library.
There is some interesting ideas on creating a magical environment in Silver RavenWolf's To Light a Sacred Flame which you may find useful. You can also find ideas to create holy water on many websites and in beginner books (again, check out our Books forum for ideas). The easiest things to use for purification of self and environment are salt, sage (or other incense and herbs as you like), and visualization. You can visualize that nasty stuff going away like in the shower, or of white light from above and below encompassing you and removing all negativity.
Cleansing is a good practice to partake in before grounding and centering, and will help you perform the latter. One has to get out of the mundane worry mindset and into the magical! It is also good to reduce clutter in your home, thereby reducing where negative energy can build up (like dustbunnies), and in turn also reducing "cluttered" thoughts. You will want to be in tip top shape physically, mentally, and spiritually for meditation, ritual, and spellwork. This is because doing so removes stuff that detracts your mind from your focus. So take some time to enjoy cleansing!
It might be easier to clean the area first. To do so, you will wish to thoroughly physically cleanse your work area. You should dust and vaccuum with the intent to cleanse the area. Imagine the little grey dust bunnies of dirt and energy being sucked away into your vaccuum. Scrub as necessary, and try to do so with positive intent - think of it not as work, but as of a crucial step in your spiritual growth. This will make it more enjoyable. Better yet, turn up some music; consider having all your cleaning tools at the ready, and a garbage bag available close to you. Another popular magical method of cleansing is to use a broom or besom to literally sweep negative energy out. You might travel in an everwidening circle counter clockwise to push negative energies out (see deosil and widdershins info here (http://mynewageshop.com/articles/display_article.asp?aid=126)).
Toss out anything you haven't used lately or don't like - there's no point in keeping that crystal figurine your Aunt Flo gave you if you hate it! Box it up, or give it away. Your environment should be harmonious for you!
You may also choose to use salt or blessed water, fire or special incense to cleanse the area. You could go around with each, cleansing and blessing the area with associated elements (earth, water, fire, and air respectively). You may also wish to use noisemakers (drums, bells, etc.) or clap or sing/chant to dispel negative energies. As you move around the room try to 'feel' what areas need special cleansing, and adjust as necessary. These will usually be the darker corners, or where you've had a fight recently etc. - don't worry, with practice this will come naturally!
You may even wish to invite deities or spirits into your home - perhaps one for each room to bring their special components to it. For instance you could invite Poseidon in your bathroom (king of the sea and water), Hera in your living room and kitchen, and Aphrodite in your bedroom. Don't restrict yourself to one pantheon if you don't want to, but do carefully research your choices - you don't want to put conflicting deities in your house to duke it out! You may also want to do a small meditation to fill each room with your personal energy, and afterwards to set a permanent circle of protection around your home. You could ask dragons, guardians of watchtowers, fae folk, or spirits who dwell in your home to help bring peace and love. If you are worried about someone, you might even set up wards (this to be covered later perhaps).
To cleanse yourself, you will wish to have a shower or bath. You may choose to use a special ritual soap, sea salts, and/or light incense and candles by the bathtub. In an emergency you may just wish to wash your hands. Cleansing one's physical self regularly can help you keep from stressing out and harbouring negative feelings. Imagine the spray of the shower rinsing all the nasty energy that's accumulated during the day down the drain. You might also choose to add some herbs in a bag to your bath, or a few drops of oil into the tub. You can find more information on herbs and their uses (energizing, relaxing, cleansing) in our Green Room, or find the recommended herbal books in our Books forum for some texts to borrow from the library.
There is some interesting ideas on creating a magical environment in Silver RavenWolf's To Light a Sacred Flame which you may find useful. You can also find ideas to create holy water on many websites and in beginner books (again, check out our Books forum for ideas). The easiest things to use for purification of self and environment are salt, sage (or other incense and herbs as you like), and visualization. You can visualize that nasty stuff going away like in the shower, or of white light from above and below encompassing you and removing all negativity.
Cleansing is a good practice to partake in before grounding and centering, and will help you perform the latter. One has to get out of the mundane worry mindset and into the magical! It is also good to reduce clutter in your home, thereby reducing where negative energy can build up (like dustbunnies), and in turn also reducing "cluttered" thoughts. You will want to be in tip top shape physically, mentally, and spiritually for meditation, ritual, and spellwork. This is because doing so removes stuff that detracts your mind from your focus. So take some time to enjoy cleansing!