How to Do a Space Clearing

Space clearing is a powerful practice for changing the energy of our physical spaces. Whether homes, offices, or businesses, we can use space clearing anytime we want to remove stagnant energy, bring in new energy, create or mark changes in our lives, or simply freshen up our space. This powerful process will have your home (or office or any space) feeling like new!

​Before space clearing, I recommend decluttering and cleaning your space first. This isn't a requirement for a space clearing, but it helps to get the energy moving and amplifies the effects of a space clearing. It's especially helpful to use decluttering and cleaning as part of the process by turning the cleaning and decluttering into a ritual and setting an intention as you declutter and clean. Setting the intention for the clearing, whether you want to get rid of energy or bring in a particular kind of energy, and keeping this thought in mind makes our space clearing even more powerful. Setting the intention is as simple as answering the question, "Why am I doing this?" Why are you doing this space clearing? There's your intention.

1. To start the space clearing process, I'll first ground myself, address the space, set the intention, & create sacred space by using my drum, flute, calling in my guides, and etc. This often takes places in the center of the space (room or house).

2. Then I move to the door. In my own home, I usually start with the back door, which is used much more frequently than the front door. That's where a lot of energy comes in and goes out, and it's also where I end the space clearing. More on that in a moment.

I start by facing the door and move to the right (clockwise) around the room.

3. As I move, I use my tingsha (I am blessed with an authentic, antique, handmade pair) to clear the energy starting at the floor and sounding them in an upward motion with extra "dings" at the corners. Any kind of bell is great to use, and clapping is also effective. The idea here is to get the energy moving and break up stagnant energy. You could also use a drum, rattle, or anything else that feels appropriate, including, yes, just clapping.

At the door to each room, I sound the bells all around the frame to give that area special attention. Doors are energetic portals with energy frequently flowing through them with our movements in and out of rooms.

If your space has stairs, once you come to the stairs, you can move up them, still rattling, drumming, clapping, or etc. At the top of the stairs, turn to face the stairs and give some extra attention to this entry way, then proceed to the right. Note that this direction to move right is for facing the stairs once you're on the second floor, so you will move to the left as you exit the stairs to stay in clockwise motion.

Note that if your space has multiple floors, you do not have to do all floors, but if you are doing multiple floors, I recommend starting on the lowest floor and always working your way up.

Move around the second floor in a clockwise motion as you did on the first floor and then back down the stairs and around to the left (or right as you are facing the stairs...it's good practice to face the stairs and give the entry way to the stairs more attention before continuing around the room to the right).

Back on the first floor, I continue around until I arrive back at the door where I started. This completes round 1.

4. Once I finish the first round with tingsha in a clockwise motion, I start again and do the same thing with incense or sage or etc. sweeping from the ground up with feathers.

The stagnant energy in the first round has been disrupted and is moving, and now it's time to cleanse the space. I do this with incense or sage, but you're welcome to use whatever calls to you and feels right.

5. On the third round, I send Reiki with special attention to the walls with a focus on the corners again (and always). Energy can stagnate and get stuck in corners, so I encourage slowing down at corners and clearing them more carefully than walls. Because I'm a Reiki practitioner, the third round of space clearing is an important step in my process, but if you're not a Reiki practitioner, just omit this step...a space clearing without Reiki is still powerful and effective. You can also go around a third time sending love, gratitude, and setting intentions. That works just as well!

During all stages, I'm focusing on the intention (the why of the clearing) and sending love and light.

Some people encourage opening a window while space clearing to send the old energy out and welcome in the new. I often do this just because of the smoke, but my windows are always open from April-October, anyway. (I live with the windows wide open!) I love keeping the windows open to bring in the fresh air, and I always advocate bringing fresh air into our spaces.

6. To conclude, I go back to the center of the home where I began and give thanks to the home/space.

This is how I do a space clearing, whether in my own home, a client's, or even a business. It is not the only way to clear a space, so definitely do what feels right to and resonates with you. The truly important things are to set the intention for the clearing, treat it as a special ritual, and honor and respect the space and its inhabitants throughout the process.

​Sending blessings to your space!

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