The Art of Spring Cleaning
Harnessing the Rejuvenating Power of Spring to Cleanse the Home
Feb 28, 2009
Spring is a traditional time of change and renewal. Up until recently people would take the opportunity to give their home a thorough clean, but such activity has dwindled in modern times. Such extensive cleaning might seem daunting to many, but if carried out with the correct intent and mindset, it can become an extremely potent ritual for cleansing not only the home, but the people who live in it as well.
Clear Out Clutter
The first thing to tackle when spring-cleaning is to clear out unwanted clutter. Divide items into boxes labelled:
- Keep
- Throw or Recycle
- Charity or Sell
- Undecided
With the undecided box, think carefully about each item and how it makes you feel. Only keep the ones which:
- Are still used or are realistically practical
- Have genuine sentimental attachment
- Bring you pleasure
Once the clutter has gone, make sure each room is tidy. It is now time to get cleaning!
Make Cleaning Fun
Spring-cleaning, inevitably, must of course include plenty of cleaning. However, there are many ways to make housework more enjoyable!
- Listen to uplifting music while you work
- Have fun dressing up in frilly aprons or a "cleaning crown"!
- Put some drops of essential oil in your cleaning water to boost your mood and create beautiful aromas
- Imagine how clean and beautiful your house will look when you are finished!
Remove Negativity
The act of cleaning each room can be used as an effective ritual for cleaning away much more than dirt. Visualise all negative thought patterns, unpleasant situations, draining relationships or unwanted ideas being swept out of the house with the dust. Open all the windows to refresh the house and let in new ideas, the manifestation of dreams and increased abundance.
Cleanse the Home with a House Blessing or Space Clearing
House blessings, or space clearing, tackle the build up of "dirt" that cannot be seen. Energy can stagnate in areas such as corners or seldom-used rooms, and can also become negative after incidents such as an argument, an illness or a death.
Space clearing involves stirring up that energy and turning it back into positive. Clapping, chanting, or intoning is one form, along with the use of singing bowls, smudge sticks and incense.
A house blessing is a lovely ritual that involves stating desires for the coming year, such as asking for protection, harnessing energy for abundance or health, creating symbols or shrines within the house, and burning incense, wafting smudge sticks and placing crystals in each room to raise their energy.
The principles of Feng Shui can also be applied once a space clearing has taken place, using placement of furniture and objects to manipulate the speed and direction of chi, or life force, to create harmony and balance within the home.
Get Organised!
Once the big clean has taken place, take advantage of all the hard work that has been done by organising your chores and getting into the routine of tidying, cleaning and staying on top of removing unwanted items on a regular basis. Use natural products where possible to make the house healthier. Spending a few hours a week to clean the house means dirt is less likely to build up and household chores will be far easier than if you leave them for weeks on end!
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