Cleansing Rituals to Try for The New Year
It hardly bears repeating that 2020 felt like the longest 365 days ever recorded. And the fact that this was the first year of a new decade stings all the more. On December 31, 2019, we were all filled with hope; it was going to be our year. Suffice to say, it didn't turn out that way. Nevertheless, we soldier on.
As the days creep by towards the start of 2021, one can't help but wonder... is there anything we can do to make next year less horrid? There's nothing like a global pandemic to make one toy with the notion of something metaphysical like making a simple energetic change. We simply cannot leave anything up to chance. Look what happened this year!
Cleansing rituals to clear out bad energy (and perhaps some self-care) are in order before we usher in a brand new 365; which, if all goes according to plan, will be much better. It is Capricorn season after all: efficient rituals with purpose are the name of the game.
Cleansing Scents
For the most non-committal amongst us, there are ways to start small. Just about the easiest way to change the energy in your own space is to change the way it smells. Sure, it may not alter the way things are going outside the four walls of your home, but what better way to bid the year adieu than with a sensory cue that grounds one in positivity. Think: citrus scents with top notes like orange zest, which promote a positive mentality and imbue your space with an uplifting energy.
Shavaun Christian, founder of Spoken Flames Candles, tells us, "Scent impacts how we experience our space. It can trigger our brain receptors to respond calmly, or even with excitement or vigor. When we curate our space through scent, we align our senses and, ultimately, our whole being with our goals. It's like getting our mind and our body on the same channel so we can manifest with ease and greater intention." According to Christian, you can elevate this practice by not only burning a candle with these notes (for example Spoken Flames Pinewood Crisp) but by also repeating a mantra or positive affirmation while you light it. "We've matched that particular scent with a strong affirmation: 'I Can, I Will I Did.'; but such a refreshing scent fusion can work for any positive intention," says Christian.
Burning, Smudging, and Smoke
Lighting a candle brings burning sage—or perhaps palo santo—to mind, but tarot reader and all around spiritual guru Anna Toonk explains the complexities of practicing such a ritual to clear one's space. "Smudging is a sacred way to clear someone of negative thoughts and energy using smoke by burning herbs or plants practiced by Native Americans. It’s worth noticing this is considered religious to the Native American and they weren’t allowed to practice it freely until 1978, so it’s important as a non-native to not dilute this practice." In other words: if you are not Native American or Indigenous, you want to smoke bathe or smoke cleanse, which do not have religious connotations, opposed to smudge.
Toonk continues, "If you don’t understand or know what you’re doing it can’t really function how its supposed to. Waving a smudge wand around without any intention, prayer, or gratitude to the earth isn’t going to give you anything." According to this pro, it's best to look to ones own culture and background. "Pretty much everyone has some kind of smoke or burning ritual for clearing or inviting different energies. Think about Catholic mass, for example, often incense is burned." At its core, the idea with a lot of smoke based practices is that it cleanses with fire and smoke to purify and protect.
Her advice? Experiment with it. "Some love to light a cinnamon stick and cleanse their home and spice up their love life. In Italian cultures often rosemary was burned to clear, protect, and make you more memorable. There’s something for everyone, so burn away!"
But if you do want to burn sage or palo santo, Toonk has some important notes. First, if you are going to burn sage, use one leaf, because a little goes a long way. "Undo that bundle and burn a leaf and then donate to an Indigenous cause and thank the earth for its offering. The same goes for palo santo, which is also being over harvested. Investigate your source. We are using the tools to clear and bring goodness into our homes and lives, so know who you are buying or acquiring it from so the energetic chain feels good," she advises.
The easiest way to clear space, though, according to Toonk is somewhat unexpected. Sound. "No joke, you can use fancy singing bowls and chimes if you want, but clapping and laughing anywhere the energy feels stagnant is super helpful."
Some more helpful advice: pay attention to the corners of rooms. "Think of clearing spaces with sound and setting an intention. In the bedroom, clear and say 'this space is for rest and rejuvenation.'"
If you want to get more literal with your clearing, take a page from Toonk's book. "Another thing I love to do is mop my floors with an herbal wash, I love rosewater to invite love, sweetness, and abundance into my home. I also keep a very thin line of salt across my door for protection. You can also sweep your floors with an open window thinking of sweeping all that does not serve right on out the window."
But if you really want to rid yourself of some of the baggage of this year, Toonk advises (safely) harnessing the power of a flame. "I’m a big believer in fire and using its energy of transmutation. I’d make a list of everything I want to leave in 2020, write it all out in as much detail as you can muster, and then burn it." When you do this, think of release and asking the fire to transmute it into energy that serves and supports you.
Cleansing Self-Care
Next step? Either take a super salty bath or scrub away the year. Tending to your physical self could also be a ritual you carry into the new year with purpose. "Without warrant, self care can hold a tinge-ring of indulgence. Cleanse that thought. Self care does not equate selfishness. Rather, it strengthens your ability to be giving," says Juhi Singh of the Juhi Ash Center. In her words: flip the list and prioritize taking care of your health.
In an ideal world, Singh suggests, a great way to cleanse your system and partake in a bit of physical self-care is a Ayurvedic massage at the end of each season. But in lieu of that in the COVID-era, she suggests a warming essential oil massage that can be done from the comforts of your own home. Some suggestions for warming scents? Cinnamon, clove, ginger, orange, peppermint and sandalwood. Pick whichever speaks to you and helps you feel grounded and calm. "Begin at your feet working up to your heart. That strong and lovely heart that saw you through this past year," says Singh.
Whichever ritual or routine you pick, though, remember this very important nugget of wisdom from Toonk: The New Year means more to us than the universe. "We humans are way more plugged into clearing out the year before and starting a new one, but energetically we can start over or reset whenever we want."
You Might Also Like
