cleansing
The Spiritual Healing Power Of Water
Have you ever noticed how being in or around water can transform your mood? How calming and soothing water can be?
The sound of the waves rolling in and out on the shore or the sound of rain, for example, can evoke a state of relaxation. Being in the water is even more relaxing, calming, refreshing and cleansing.
Depending on what we need at a particular time and how we use it, water can offer us an energetic reset, so to speak.
Given that water can have such a profound effect on our state of being, it is a powerful tool that we can incorporate into our spiritual practice.
Throughout many spiritual traditions and cultures, water has long been revered as a symbol of renewal, rebirth, release, purification, and tranquillity. The flow of rivers, the gentle fall of rain, the sacredness of springs and the vastness of oceans all remind us of life’s natural cycles.
Water teaches us how endings can wash away the old and create space for new beginnings. Just as water nourishes the Earth and sustains all living things, it also represents the continuous movement of transformation within our spiritual and emotional lives.
In many cultures, ritual bathing or washing with water is a sacred act of purification. Whether it is immersing yourself in a holy river, blessing a newborn with water, or simply washing one’s hands before prayer, these practices all symbolise the release of our burdens and the clearing of stagnant energy. Water invites us to let go of what no longer serves us, helping us to return to a state of inner balance and clarity.
The Real Secret To Smudging Is Your Intention
The secret to smudging isn’t just in the smoke alone. It is powered by your intention. The herbs may help to cleanse the air, but it is your focused energy and mindful purpose that makes the real difference.
This is what I learned from my mentor when I undertook my Ukuthwasa as a shaman initiate many years ago in Southern Africa. An initial part of my rigorous training as a Sangoma, or traditional healer, was a self-cleansing ritual using Mphepo, made up of herbs indigenous to Southern Africa.
“Smudging,” simply put, is the burning of certain herbs to create a cleansing smoke bath. The smoke is used to cleanse areas used for rituals and ceremonies, as well as any tools or objects used for such cleansing, as well as to cleanse people.
The practice of burning incense or herbs is held sacred by many indigenous cultures. It is aimed at protecting, cleansing and purifying the spiritual and physical bodies, with the smoke being the key to rid one of negative energy.
The intention behind any smudging ceremony is a very significant part of its success. With the focus and intent of the “smudger” fully aligned, spiritual, emotional, physical and mental balance can be achieved.
It may be a good time to smudge yourself, or your environment, when you feel depressed or angry, or feel that any exterior negative energy is affecting you, your surroundings or your possessions. Or you may just wish to ensure or enhance positive energy in spaces used for meditation or healing. Continue reading
Crystals Can Revive Your Spiritual Brilliance!
Life these days can be very demanding and it is often a challenge to successfully balance all aspects of mind, body and soul.
Busy work days, financial responsibilities, and the demands of our social and family life, can make it so easy to allow our spiritual practice to slip.
Fortunately, the metaphysical power of crystals can help us keep our spiritual motivation going. Here’s how.
Ask For Support
Should you feel the need for support from a particular crystal, then all you need to do is simply ask for it.
For example, do you think you need to increase your self-discipline, or that your resolve should be strengthened?
If so, gently hold some malachite in one hand and request that it helps and supports you to this end. In fact, you could carry it with you at all times whenever you sense the need of its help.
Meditate With A Crystal
Before getting up in the morning, lie quietly for ten minutes with your amethyst positioned on the third eye – that being the middle of your forehead. While breathing deeply, visualize the energy this purple stone contains permeating every cell in your body and thus spiritually motivating and invigorating you.
Feng Shui Your Home For A Happier, Peaceful Life
I am very much into how our thoughts and feelings help create our future. However, it needs to be asked what external factors affect those thoughts and feelings in the first place, such as our environment, for example. Therefore, the ‘Queen of Clutter’ (that being myself) would like to discuss how Feng Shui could help you attract better fortune into your life. Feng Shui is an ancient art from China, which involves balancing energies in any particular place. Here is how you can do it.
Begin With The Bagua
A bagua map (also called pakua) consists of nine squares, each one symbolizing an essential part of a balanced life. This map can be used in any room in your house, as a guide to finding the right area for positioning things.
You see, particular spots in any given room and particular objects contain the best energy possible, and a Bagua map will help you pinpoint these spots. All you need do is align the bottom part of your bagua map with the entrance to your room, and arrange things in their proper place thereafter.]
Get To Know Your Map
Should you be serious about using Feng Shui effectively, then understanding the bagua and what each section of it represents, is vital to your future success with this science. Quite simply, there is no other way than by taking your time and applying due consideration to the process of learning. In doing so, you should reap immense rewards, achieving a balanced and happier environment, and therefore a happier more balanced you.
Your Sacred Center Of Self-Love
We all thrive on being loved. This is natural, of course, if you look back at humanity in history on an evolutionary level. Ancient people came together in tribes, families, and groups, to cultivate a place of safety, security, nurturance, and love.
If you were different or stood out in any way, or even left the tribe, you were literally putting your own life at risk. This topic can be viewed from so many arenas, including psychological, spiritual, scientific, and psychic.
I often wonder how and when did we start defining ourselves by how others felt about us, and why did we believe that other’s thoughts about us were true? At what point in time did we allow others to define us? It’s as though we as humanity went into a deep trance.
We all know the phrase, “Love thyself first”. When did we forget this vital piece of information?
There are many ways we can come back in touch with this essential truth, but for the most part, our society does not support a lifestyle that would naturally lead us back to our sacred center of self-love.
How often do you take a moment to look in the mirror, or tell yourself, “I love you?” Most of us feel silly doing this, but it is very healing.
Have you ever met an older person who behaves in ways that are foolish or who just doesn’t give a hoot what anyone else thinks? My paternal grandfather used to throw dinner rolls across the table at me in fancy restaurants. While my parents and other family seated at the table would roll their eyes at my Grampy, I used to laugh hysterically!
How To Cleanse And Charge Your Crystals
If you use crystals in your spiritual practice, it is important to periodically cleanse and charge them.
For example, when you first purchase or receive a crystal as a gift, clearing it can ensure that you are working with a ‘clean slate,’ and are able to both fully connect with that crystal and set more powerful intentions for its use.
Beyond this, charging a crystal ensures that we are able to use it most effectively for our purpose.
So, how can you go about charging and cleansing your beloved crystals?
The good news is that this process is quite simple and easy, and you can use the same method to both charge and clear a crystal:
Moonlight
Place your crystal in a place where it can bathe in the light of the moon overnight. Full moon is, of course, the best time to do this, and one night is enough to both cleanse and charge your crystal.
That said, if I am using a crystal for manifestation, I will sometimes leave my crystal for the full waxing period of a moon cycle, from new moon to full moon.
Making Space For New Blessings To Arrive
At the beginning of a new year many people feel pressured to set big new goals, make major decisions, and “get it right” immediately.
But for the spiritually aware person, the real work of new beginnings starts somewhere simpler and quieter. It starts with clearing. It means releasing what no longer serve you, so there’s room for what’s next.
Over time, we all accumulate energy that is no longer ours to keep: old emotions, outdated beliefs, and stale patterns that once were protective but now just feel heavy.
If these things are not acknowledged and addressed, they tend to follow us into the every next chapter. That’s why the start of a new year can be a powerful time to pause and intentionally create space.
One simple place to begin is your physical environment. Just opening the windows can already shift the energy in a noticeable way.
Fresh air helps move stagnant mindset and stale energy out and brings in a sense of renewal. As you do this, take a moment to set an intention to release what feels old and invite in clarity, ease, and support.
Some people also choose to cleanse their space with sage or palo santo. This doesn’t need to be elaborate or ritualized. Slowly move through your space, paying attention to areas that feel heavy or overused, such as corners, entryways, and especially places where you often sit with your thoughts. As the smoke moves, silently name what you’re ready to let go of and the kind of energy you want to keep.