Excerpted from the introduction to Space Clearing A-Z by Denise Linn.
Have you ever walked into an empty room and immediately sensed that the atmosphere was laced with tension? You may have had no idea what occurred there prior to your arrival, yet you somehow knew that it was something unpleasant. By contrast, another place you entered gave you a feeling of joy and well-being for no apparent reason. The differences between rooms that feel great and ones that seem depressing can be explained, at least in part, by the fact that some environments are simply more beautiful or physically inviting than others. However, there is a deeper truth underlying these explanations, which relates to energy. Some environments exude an energy that is nurturing, while other spaces can deplete you and even cause you to feel depressed, irritated or angry.
We all have the ability to sense energy. When we enter a space, we not only react to the style of the furnishings and various colors and textures, but we also perceive the energy surrounding us. Positive energy makes us feel good. Negative energy brings us down. Space Clearing offers a simple and highly effective way to turn the latter into the former. It can turn a depressing place into a haven of beauty, harmony, and effervescent joy.
Many people have heard of the art of Feng Shui for creating harmonious environments; however, most people haven’t heard of Space Clearing, which is a mystical component of this ancient science. Results produced are dramatically deepened by Space Clearing, because a Feng Shui cure implemented without clearing the environment is like placing a beautiful bouquet of flowers into a dirty vase. The two done together can generate lasting, powerful results in your life.
For the past 30 years I have practiced the art of cleansing and balancing home energy, a skill I named “Space Clearing.” Some people call it “home healing,” “smudging,” or “home harmonizing.” Whatever name is used, present-day Space Clearing techniques have their source in ancient techniques practiced throughout human history. The methods and tools have varied from one culture to another, but the intent has been the same—to create greater harmony and balance. Ancient ceremonies that brought vitality to human structures generations ago are once again being used to instill peace and equilibrium in today’s homes and businesses. Many people are finding that these traditional rituals can be adapted very successfully for modern-day use.
People who may have never heard of Space Clearing before are now ringing bells, burning sage, and chanting mantras for the simple reason that their homes feel better as a result. Many businesses are hiring professional Space Clearers in order to dramatically accelerate their property sales. Land-management corporations are employing Space Clearers to perform blessings on the land before they build large suburban housing developments. It seems that an ancestral memory of an ancient practice has awakened, and found fertile soil in today’s world.
The Space Clearing techniques that are reemerging have their source in the distant past. Throughout human history, there have been rituals for purifying and uplifting the energy of homes, temples, shrines, and public meeting places. Since earliest times, people have been performing these Space Clearing ceremonies for a very simple reason—they work!
Ancient healers understood the effect of an environment on an individual’s health and well-being. In native cultures, the village shaman would perform special ceremonies to consecrate a new home or village lodge. If someone was ill, the shaman would chant, drum, and use smoking herbs—not only for the health of the person, but for cleansing and healing the entire environment they lived in. Although different tools were used in different cultures, the effect was the same. For example, Native Americans used drums, rattles, and burning herbs in their rituals. If a drum was used, its sonorous rhythm would penetrate the soul of the man or woman who was being treated, even as it simultaneously cleared the energy field of their home. The Chinese used gongs, chanting, and incense. In Medieval Europe, salt and prayers cleared energy; and in the Middle East smoldering resins such as frankincense and myrrh were used to invite blessings into a home. After a clearing, the occupants of a dwelling felt healthier, happier, and more at peace.
There are remnants of these ancient practices that have been passed down through the generations to the present time. The Chinese still set off firecrackers to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. They believe that the loud noise breaks up the old stagnant energy and prepares the way for fresh new energy to flow in with the coming of another year. The practice of throwing salt over one’s shoulder in order to avert evil is another example of an ancient practice that has survived into modern times. Salt has been recognized around the world as a powerful cleansing agent and is a vital component of many ancient ceremonies.
As the pace of modern living has accelerated, I believe that it is increasingly important for us to create oases of repose and serenity in our lives. Because Space Clearing has the power to transform the energy of our homes and offices, it can play a very important role in restoring balance and meaning in our lives. It is a practice that can be used on a regular basis whenever you want to shift the energy of your environment. Doing a thorough clearing of the energy of your home following an argument, after someone has been ill, in the wake of an unpleasant visitor, prior to moving into a new home, before bringing a new baby home, or even if you’re just feeling out of sorts can really make a difference in your life. Space clearing offers an easy and amazingly effective way to turn your home into a haven for your soul.
