Space–Clearing

Space–clearing is the name given to the Feng Shui
technique of cleansing the chi (force or energy) of a building.

It is done to enhance the atmosphere and flow of energy within a building, in the same way that our homes feel enhanced after being cleaned physically. The very act of cleaning physically will improve the atmosphere in a building, especially when it’s done with a particular mental intention so that the mental attitude can power the physical act. If we feel tired, irritable or depressed at home it can be because the energy in the building has become stagnant or dull. The same effect can be noticed with the weather and how this can affect our mood – doesn’t an electrical storm clear the air after a period of hot and sultry weather? Space–clearing can be likened to this storm (nature is always an excellent place to look for examples of how things work); and if the planet feels cleaner after the thunder and lightning of a storm, how can we do the same thing on a smaller scale in our own home? Space–clearing is not exclusive to Feng Shui and exists in just about all cultures, even here in the west as ‘spring cleaning’ – and although this is usually limited to vacuuming and dusting rather than consciously focussing on the energies of the building, it will make a difference nonetheless. Returning to the storm analogy, don’t the winds and rains wash everything down, blowing away old leaves, dust and other debris? Well, the same applies to our homes. The first thing to do is to get all the clutter out and give everything a good clean so that there is physical cleanliness and good order. The atmosphere in a room can be lodged upon the items that are in it and how they are arranged, so it is always good to clean and arrange a room mindfully. With a storm comes thunder and lighting, and in our homes we can use clapping to the same effect. Bells can also be used and they have a finer effect. If a bell is rung after clapping it will lift the atmosphere another level, in the same way that using a coarse grade of sandpaper will give a rough finish to a piece of wood and following it with a finer grade will give a smoother finish. Lightning can be likened to our mental projection, and our thought processes while doing the space–clearing will have a great effect on the outcome. For example, the result will be very different if we do it while feeling depressed, as opposed to doing it with an attitude of gratitude for what the home offers. If we want to prepare a room for meditation or contemplation, then it would be wise to do the space clearing with a calm state of mind, with no stress or preoccupying thoughts. Incense can be used effectively in the mental projection stage, imagining the quality we want in the room spreading into every corner with the smoke as it diffuses. The final step is like the calm after the storm, and is the settling and protection of the space. This can be done by a last walk around the perimeter of the room, or by standing at the centre of the room and calling over your intention, picturing it filling the room, pressing out towards the walls and sealing the room internally from any outside energies that may take away from what has just been built. So to sum up the space–clearing process: Clean the room thoroughly on a physical level, being mindful about the intention. Clap your hands continuously, either while walking around the walls of the room or while standing at the centre of the room, with the intention of clearing out any stagnant or static energies that have built up. It may help to form some sort of mental picture symbolising this happening. Experiment with different rhythms and speeds of clapping to see what is most effective. Try following this by ringing a bell around the room, again experimenting with different speeds and rhythms and different bells if they are available. A smaller, lighter bell will have a different effect to a big school bell; bells made from different materials will have different tones and possibly different effects too. See what feels best to you; it’s your home after all, so it’s important that you choose what you feel is best. Again, be mindful of what the intention is, what you are aiming to cause – the mind is, at the end of the day, much more powerful than the bell. Walk around the room with some burning incense (being careful not to drop hot ash onto that expensive carpet!) and picture your intention filling every corner and space in the room as the smoke spreads out and fills the entire space. You can use incense sticks, which are readily available, but the original church incense burnt on charcoal blocks allows a finer result as the incense is less processed. Finally, seal the room, picturing the energy coming out from you, filling the room and condensing on the walls, forming a protective barrier against everything that has just been cleaned out. This process can be repeated often, every time the room is cleaned or more often – daily, every week, once a month or once every six months. In the same way as it is obvious when the kitchen needs a good clean, so it will soon become obvious when a space needs clearing – it can be felt. The human mind is an amazing instrument and it will start feeding back and providing intelligence about whatever it is focussed upon, given the time and the training. © 2007. All rights reserved. close window