Spiritual Cleaning 101

8/23/2018

Everybody knows what Spring Cleaning is - though some of us may not always do it. (Guilty) But we get the idea right. Although we do a bit of cleaning here and there, more frequent type stuff like unload the dishwasher, sweep the floors, clean the sheets - there's a time at least once a year that the whole place just needs a good deep clean. Even the timing of Spring Cleaning is something to think about. The Spring, it comes after Winter - the time of rest and hibernation, the time when the Earth is dark, cold, and still. So like-wise, when our Spirits go through a time of rest and renewal - which they will, cyclically (as above so below) - it's always a good time to break out the Spiritual Mr.Clean and let go of some of those cob webs.
There are a few basic elements that can be used on their own or combined in different ways to cater to your personal preference for cleansing. These basic ingredients are:

I'm sure many of you use crystals in some way in your craft or spiritual practice. It's easy to surround ourselves with them, mostly because they're so beautiful, but they also have the ability to affect surrounding vibrations and bring slight change to whoever / whatever is near them. A great reference on using crystals is Karen Frazier's book CRYSTALS FOR HEALING - The Complete Reference Guide. Crystals can be used on their own, in crystal grids, added to water to create crystal essences, added to baths, worn or carried, and stored with herbs. Here are a few crystals that are perfect for spiritual cleaning.

+ CLEAR QUARTZ

amplifies energies, cleanses spaces, works as a master healer to help with any type of healing, increases energy, cleanses and charges other crystals, provides protection.

+ BLACK TOURMALINE

absorbs negative energy, transforms negative energy to positive energy, supports grounding, offers psychic protection, provides energetic protection, helps with stress release.

+ SMOKY QUARTZ

absorbs negative energy while increasing positive energy. Promotes grounding, increases vibrational energy, detoxifies, & aids in letting go of past hurt.

+ SELENITE

promotes communications with higher self and the Divine, sparks inspiration, cleanses and purifies energy, cleanses other crystals, fosters enlightenment, provides protective energy.

+ BLOODSTONE

supports grounding, opens the heart, promotes development of personal power, enhances courage, releases fear, fosters strength of mind

I like to consider myself a Spirit Worker, and plant spirits are one of my most favorite. Plants have highly intelligent, connected, and giving spirits - so always show respect when working with herbs. Herbs can be added to tea, food, and bath water. They can be infused in different liquids to create extracts, tinctures, floor washes, and spiritual waters that can be sprayed. They can also be transformed into essential oils or incense. The ways plants can be used in spiritual cleaning (and for many other uses) is pretty extensive. Two of my favorite references that can help get you started in the world of magical and healing herbs are Cunningham's ENCYLOPEDIA OF MAGICAL HERBS, and Rosemary Gladstar's MEDICINAL HERBS - A Beginner's Guide. These are just a few of the herbs that can be used in spiritual cleaning. Keep in my mind those plants / fruits we use to clean your house can also be used - such as lemon!)

+ WHITE SAGE

This one is a pretty well known go-to for smudging. It's a general cleansing herb, clearing out all negative energies.

+ PALO SANTO

This is another well known, regularly burned herb to clear negativity. It's almost always used and sold as a small solid cut of wood.

+ DRAGON'S BLOOD

This is actually a resin from a palm that is often burned as an incense or added to powders and other magical mixtures. It's a very powerful clearer of negative energies, so it's often used to exorcise malevolent spirits. It's also known and used for it's protective properties.

+ LEMONGRASS

Used to cleanse and purify, remove obstacles, and open doors.

+ LAVENDER

Great for clearing the mind and promoting peace. It's also great for promoting peaceful sleep.

+ CEDAR

Clears negative energies, banishes fear, and enhances psychic powers.

+ SWEETGRASS

A cleansing herb, a remover of obstacles, and promoter of protection. In North America, this herb is considered sacred and is often used to smudge.

+ ROSEMARY

Rosemary has been used in healing spells throughout history, so it can be assumed that it has powerful cleansing and blessing properties.

INCENSE - a great way to use herbs for any reason, including spiritually cleaning is to create an incense. Creating incense is super easy because all it is combining the herbs you wish to use and then sprinkling them over a lit charcoal disk as lose incense. Of course you can always make your own cone or stick incense as well, or chose from the many that are premade and available almost every where. Incense can be used to bless places (like smudging - and it doesn't always have to be white sage!) or yourself (smudge yo self!)

Like crystals and herbs, minerals can be used alone for spiritually cleaning or combined with other ingredients. Most minerals we use today have been refined and maybe even slightly altered with added chemicals, but this does not affect their value to this list. I love using everyday house hold items for my spiritual and witchcraft needs. A great reference for these kinds of recipes come from Kris Bradley's Mrs.B's Guide To HOUSEHOLD WITCHERY.

+ SODIUM CHLORIDE

SALT. Salt has a long history of beneficial use, so it's no surprise that it has been a highly used mineral within religion, spirituality, and witchcraft. Chemically salt is viewed as balanced with a 1:1 ratio of sodium and chloride, and is used spiritually to restore balance. It's used as a preserver and cleanser, and like-wise, spiritually it is used to cleanse, purify, and preserve.
Different types of salt can produce different effects, such as

PINK HIMALAYAN SALT is used to purify and protect matters doing with the heart chakra and love.

BLACK LAVA SALT is created by combining sea salt and coconut shell ash. Coconut, also having a de-toxifying nature, makes this form of black salt ideal for absorbing and cleansing negative energies and toxins.

WITCHES BLACK SALT is created with its intended purpose in mind. Depending on the desired affect of the end product, the appropriate herbs are burned and the ashes are then added to the Witch's choice of salt, resulting in a black, magical salt blend.

+ SODIUM BICARBONATE

BAKING SODA. Yep, baking soda has a place on this list. I am actually a big fan of the use of baking soda in all types of cleaning - spiritual included. I'm sure everyone is familiar with leaving an opened container of baking soda in the fridge, or using it to absorb odors. Well, spiritually it can be used along those same lines. It absorbs and repels negative energies.
Most often baking soda is used as a base to add other spiritually cleansing agents to, such as:

FLOOR SWEEPS. These are popular in folk magic traditions. Cleansing herbs are added to baking soda, sprinkled over the floor and then swept (or vacuumed ) away.

DUSTING POWDERS are pretty much the same as floor sweeps, except they're used on your body or personal items, then washed away.

+ SACRED WATERS

There are many different ways to create a magical water. Water is a great conductor of energy, making it perfect to infuse with pretty much whatever you want. One of my favorite authors who has an impressive knowledge of the historical spiritual and witchcraft combinations is Draja Mickaharic. A couple of his books I highly recommend are A Century Of Spells and Spitual Cleansing - a Handbook of Psychic Protection.

CRYSTAL INFUSIONS - simply allow a crystal to soak in the water for a time, or leave it in until the water is used.

FLORIDA WATER - a classic toilet water (water based perfume, although presently it's sold with an alcohol base) popularly used in Hoodoo and many other practices to cleanse and bless. The recipe varies but is generally always a combination of floral, citrus, and spice.

KANANGA WATER - similar to Florida Water and used in pretty much the same way within Hoodoo and other paths. The main ingredient in Kananga Water is Ylang Ylang.

TAR WATER - Tar Water is thought to be a very powerful cleansing water that is made from adding wood tar to water. The water can then be used as a floor wash or added to cleansing baths.

INDIGO WATER - Also known as Blue Water, Indigo Water is made by combining laundry bluing to water, sometimes a holy water.

HOLY WATER - Holy Water is either water blessed by a religious or spiritual leader (such as a priest) - or - it is simply water with salt added.

FIVE HOLY WATERS - Used in New Orleans Voodoo, and is similar to (perhaps the same as ) Marie Lareau's Peace Water. It's the combination of five differently sourced waters: river water, rain water, ocean water, spring water, and holy water.

Your options are nearly endless as to how you can use these waters or one of your own creation.
FLOOR WASHES - A spiritual water, herbs, and / or crystals added to a floor cleaning solution or just water and is then used to clean the floors. A similar mixture can also be used to wipe down window sills and doorways.

BATHS - A spiritual bath can be done in a number of ways, but generally you will add herbs, crystals and / or a sacred water to your bath. Once the bath is complete you should stay in the tub until all the water is drained out.

SACRED WATER - of course you can always create your own sacred spiritually cleansing water from your choice of herbs, added crystals, appropriate fragrance or essential oils. Home-made waters can have a base of water, of for a longer shelf life 100 proof vodka can be used as a base.

TEAS & TESANES - Herbs, even crystals, can be added to teas.

Use this list as a starting point to get started on your Spiritual Cleansing. Of course there are more crystals, herbs, chemical compounds, and waters that can be used and the ways in which they can be combined is endless. What are some of your favorite ways to Spiritually Cleanse? Tell me about it!

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