In this installment of Practical Magic, Lisa Stardust talks about how new year cleaning can make way for magic. Always remember that magic is for believers, but this column can also simply serve as a guide to getting in touch with yourself — magically or not.
As the new year starts, many of us are looking for ways to feel energetically secure and protected. One way to achieve this is by getting rid of any negative vibes that we might have accumulated during the past year — which means it's time for a new year cleaning. Cleaning our homes with intention helps us sweep out the bad vibes, and usher in new, more positive ones.
But you can't just vacuum and call it a day. Instead, you have to clean with intention, setting goals for the upcoming year and actively inviting in good energy. Doing this will help create a living space that promotes ease, positivity, and good energy. Rather than a place of chaos — or even stagnation — our homes should serve as a sanctuary for us, where we can create and move happily into our future.
Before starting any task, it's crucial to set your intentions and have a clear understanding of what you want to achieve. For instance, if you're looking to create a more harmonious living space, take a moment to visualize what that would entail. Picture a peaceful environment and think about the steps you need to take to bring that into your life. Similarly, if you need to set boundaries with your roommates, envision how that conversation would go and what you need to say to achieve a positive outcome. It's always helpful to meditate on your goals before getting started, so clear your mind and let your thoughts flow freely. Pay attention to the messages you receive from the universe and use them to guide your actions. With a clear set of intentions, you'll be able to make progress towards your goals and achieve the outcomes you desire.
To stay focused and avoid getting distracted by other worries, it is best to be in the moment. Instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, try to be centered and pay attention to every detail. This will help you to be more mindful about what you are doing, and you can complete your tasks with ease by taking your time. When cleaning, it's crucial to be kind to yourself and avoid putting pressure on achieving perfection over the task at hand. Your goal is to make your space comfortable and cozy, not flawless, because that's impossible. As you clean, take a moment to appreciate the things you have and be thankful for them. Remember that obtaining the things you own took a lot of effort, and expressing gratitude for them demonstrates your appreciation to the universe.
To declutter your home effectively, it's important to get rid of things that no longer serve a purpose for you. Instead of simply throwing them away, consider upcycling them, donating them to charities or vintage clothing stores, or even having a yard sale to raise money for a good cause. By giving back to your community and those around you, you're able to keep the positive energy flowing both inside and outside of your home. This will create a space filled with love and positivity.
To detoxify your living space before starting, burn Frankincense or Copal incense and open a window or door to let out anything that you no longer want in your home. By doing so, you can ensure that fresh energy enters your living space. While burning the incense, focus on the corners of the room, floors, doors, and other areas where energy can accumulate and usually go unnoticed. This will help to eliminate negative energy and ensure that everything is fresh and clean.
To infuse your home with refreshing energy as you manifest your intentions, try adding lemon peels to a pot of boiling water. Place bowls of this mixture in every room to create an uplifting atmosphere. Lemon is known for its ability to promote positivity, which can help with manifesting your desires. You can also incorporate fresh lemon slices, dried lemon peels and chamomile into potpourri or add lemon oil to your oil diffuser.
Using bay leaves for prosperity, bergamot for protection, lavender for purification and cleansing, and peppermint for health or healing is a popular practice. One can even put these herbs in small sachets around the house to manifest their benefits. Another belief is placing a horseshoe in front of the house for luck and protection, and observing the doorstep to ensure safety. Additionally, black salting the perimeter of the house from the outside is believed to prevent negativity from entering the home and provide constant protection.
Enhance the cleaning process of your home floors by adding crystals to the water while mopping. You can add amethyst for its healing properties, rose quartz for promoting self-love, and citrine for increasing vitality. Along with this, vinegar can serve as a great natural cleaner to eliminate bad vibes from the floor. Ensure to let the floor air dry with windows open in order to eliminate any residual energy.
To infuse your home with the energy you desire, consider wearing certain colors when cleaning. Red can bring in confidence, orange can stimulate creativity, black can offer protection, brown can help with grounding, green can attract wealth, pink can inspire love, purple can bring good luck, blue can promote peace, and yellow can evoke happiness and joy. This can add more power to your intentions.
Starting the new year with this activity is a great idea, especially since winter will be at its peak and we’ll be spending more time at home. This will enable us to begin the year on a positive note and help us achieve the desired energy levels. Moreover, it will give us a feeling of starting anew, allowing us to invite more positivity and good vibes into our lives.
