Protection and Clearing

Halloween really isn't supposed to be about scary things that go bump in the night, but it seems that it has migrated in that direction.  It's all in good fun and who doesn't like a good scare.  Today, I thought that it would be fitting to talk about how to keep things that you don't want in your living space- out.  Whatever your reason is for putting protection around your home, it isn't a bad idea all around.


There are many ways to keep spirits at bay, one of my favorite ways is to use a smudge stick.  A smudge stick can be made of a single herb or a combination of different herbs.  White sage is most commonly used in the North American Native tradition, and is the one that I favor.  The herbs are tied together with cotton, linen, or hemp.  These have been used for many years to clear negative energies and are used in Shamanism.  You can pick these up at your local new age shop or find an online spiritual store.


When using a smudge stick to clear the energies in your home, first make your intention clear.  Also, make sure to have your windows open for the smoke and negative energies to exit.  Light the smudge stick and let the flame go out to let it smolder.  This will give off quite a bit of smoke.  Fan the smoke into all the corners of your home and make sure to open all the doors, closets, and let the smoke linger in any nook or cranny that you are drawn to.  You can say either to yourself or out loud that you are clearing any negative energies present, or if you believe there are unwanted visitors- tell them that they must leave now.


After you are done smudging your home, I like to imagine a brilliant white light filling every room.  This light is a way to seal what you have just cleared.  I like to do this on a somewhat regular basis, either as the seasons change or if there is negative energy in the air- someone experiencing anger or sadness.


 This has been a proven method of clearing a space or person.  My two year old daughter had once told me that her friends in the closet didn't like the smoke.  They went away and did not come back.  Anyone can use this method for clearing and protection, just make sure you don't set off any smoke alarms!