Home Truths

So, you sometimes clear out your underwear drawer and chuck out the odd pair of laddered tights, but have you ever felt like getting rid of the emotional debris in your life? Pave the way for a fresher, brighter future by binning all the old hang-ups that hold you back, using ancient space-clearing rituals to cleanse your heart and home.

Most of us probably have old papers and mementoes stashed away, along with packets of holiday snaps and clothes we haven’t worn for months, too. But what you probably don’t realise is that, even though they may be out of sight, tucked under the bed or at the back of a wardrobe, your unwanted possessions can have a negative effect on you, draining your energy and sapping your lust for life. Here, reader Monya Murch, 34, a yoga teacher from Blackheath, south-east London, tells how she brought in an expert space clearer with dramatic results.

‘About three years ago, I moved into a ground-floor studio apartment with my husband. But the place felt more like a cottage because it was behind an old Georgian house in a leafy part of London.

‘Although I liked my new home, I felt a bit stuck. Once I set foot inside, it always seemed like an effort to get out again. I felt lethargic, like an old lady who just wanted to sit around and sleep all the time.

‘I knew that before we moved into the flat, a 98-year-old woman lived there for many years before she moved into a nursing home.

‘Then, in September 2003, a friend told me ail about a space clearer called Chris Colgan. By this time, my marriage had broken clown. My husband and I had grown apart and we’d decided to get a divorce. I was ready for a real clear-out.

‘When he came to look at my studio, Chris explained how bricks and mortar could suck in energies, and that the energy imprints of previous owners could be left behind. “Maybe l’d been picking up the energy imprint of the old lady?” I questioned.

‘Chris encouraged me to go round the fiat and see how different objects made me feel. After my husband moved out, I knew I had to make the space my own, with my own things, but there was one object I really wanted to hang on to, a grandfather clock. It had belonged to my husband’s grandfather, but I loved it and wanted to keep it.

‘When I thought about it, I realised it wasn’t just a nice piece of furniture; the reason I liked it so much was because it was familiar. To an extent, I feared making changes in case what replaced the old turned out to be awful. That was the hardest bit of the process for me – letting go.

‘But I decided to go for it and I cleared out everything I didn’t like or didn’t feel right about, including the dock. Chris and I went round the house ceremonially ringing bells and wafting burning herbs (a process called smudging). The atmosphere changed instantly. It was lighter and more empowering.

‘I now make spiritual spring cleaning an annual event. It gets easier each time because there’s less stuff to sort through. And you can do it in a more detached way. That said, I recently cleared out a cupboard and found a letter from my ex-husband that l’d forgotten about. He’d written it nine years ago, when we first met, and it was gorgeous. I confess the letter is still here. I know change is good, but sometimes you have to indulge yourself!

‘I would recommend anyone to try peeling back the spiritual layers of their life. You need to create space in your everyday world before you can make space in your mind, and that’s the power of it. Five months after I had my home cleared, I met a new man, who is now my boyfriend. So, it just shows that removing the old makes way for the new:’

Clearing a space We all want the best out of life, whether it’s a happy family or a vibrant loving relationship, it’s just that most of us don’t know how to get it. Space clearing is a hands-on technique we can apply to where we live or work because it’s based on the idea that every item we own holds energy, whether it’s a piece of furniture, an ornament or the building itself.

Chris uses his skills to help people rid their homes and offices of negative energy, improve relationships and even attract house-buyers. If you are able to get the energy levels right at home it will have a knock-on effect on every aspect of your life. Since man first lived in caves, mud huts and teepees, we have blessed our homes in one way or another. Today this tradition continues in many religions around the world. Catholics call in priests to bless their homes, and Jewish people often invite a rabbi to tack small prayer scrolls on to door frames, called mezuzah, for protection.

During Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, homes are thoroughly cleaned and window opened to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Candies and lamps are lit as a greeting to Lakshmi, while gilts are exchanged and festive meals prepared.

Space clearing is based on the principle of paying respect to your home in order to attract positive energy and people into your life. It draws on two main ancient philosophies: firstly, the Native American tradition of burning herbs and holding ceremonies to clear and bless objects, spaces and people, and secondly, feng shui, which evolved in the Far East many centuries ago, and is concerned with boosting positive magnetic and vibrational energies by taking into account the direction that buildings face and the positioning of objects within them. Space clearing is mostly concerned with the energetic imprint left in spaces and on objects and the effect that these have on the people who live and work there. Unlike feng shui, where specific ‘cures’ are brought in or applied, space clearing usually involves the removal of items that aren’t beneficial to their owner’s well-being. Around 75 to 80 per cent of the time in a space clearing session is spent ‘reading’ the energy by listening to what your instincts tell you about an object. If a piece of furniture or ornament gives off negative vibes then it’s time for you to discuss the day-to-day implications this could be having on your life and happiness.

The householder then has to set strong and clear intentions of what they want to invite into their home or workplace. Few of us bother to give our new house or office much thought, beyond what piece of furniture will fit where, who has which bedroom and the colours we plan to daub on the walls. It is an incredibly powerful and empowering process to decide on your future hopes and aspirations and then ceremoniously fill your home with them.

1. Does your home DESTIN need healing?

Seven tell-tale signs your home needs space clearing:

1. Are you tired all the time?
2. Do you find yourself arguing with your partner or friends when you’re at home?
3. Is there a feeling of tension in the house?
4. Does your home have a history of divorce or illness?
5. Are there dips in temperature in different rooms?
6. Do small children or pets seem unsettled and nervous?
7. Have you constantly suffered from bad luck since moving in?

If you answered yes to any of the questions, it’s time to take charge of your destiny by de-cluttering your life and setting yourself up for a positive future. Just follow our easy DIY tips.

2. DIY space clearing

Space clearing means opening your intuition to sense how each object makes you feel. Just stand in front of it, close your eyes and wait to see what your gut instinct tells you. You may find it helpful to hold your hand a few inches above the object and trace its shape. Take a mental walk through your home to identify what’s holding you back. Sit quietly, close your eyes and listen to relaxing music. Visualise walking up to your front door holding your keys. What do you see and feel? Is it a sanctuary or a prison? Imagine walking into the hall and into each room in turn. This will give you an insight into how your home and possessions make you feel. Follow this up by physically walking around your home and standing in each doorway with your eyes closed for a few moments to see what emotions arise. Here’s what to look out for:

Old furniture
Most of us have been given or bought furniture that once belonged to someone else. One couple was having trouble conceiving a baby and it turned out the husband had bought the double bed with his ex. His new wife hated it. Once they got rid of the bed, it removed the energy block causing the fertility problems. Another woman was on the verge of breaking up with her boyfriend. Chris found that an antique table she’d been left in a will held an imprint of her parents’ volatile relationship, adding to her current relationship problems. You can ease the effect by moving the furniture into another room – but it’s better to give it away or sell it as soon as you can afford to.

Unwanted gifts
In-laws can be the culprits here, giving ugly pictures or ornaments that stay on display or only come out of the cupboard when they visit. These may make adults feel like kids again. Partners can spark resentment by bringing home a painting or piece of furniture their lover dislikes, but feels obliged to keep. Try the American practice of ‘re-gifting’ where you pass on unwanted gifts without feeling guilty.

Holiday mementoes
These objects can be empowering if they are connected to good memories, but maybe your trip was marred by rows or unhappiness. Photographs have a similar role. Get rid of those with a thumb over the lens, and make sure the ones you hold on to remind you of happy times.

Self-Image
First stop is clothes. One ME sufferer still kept her gym kit in a bedside table. She admitted it was a constant reminder of what she couldn’t do. Get rid of clothes that no longer fit or you haven’t worn for a season. Ensure mirrors are the right height and don’t cut off the top of your head, which can be disempowering.

Symbolism
Are you single and surrounded by solitary figurines? The same can be said of only having one wine glass or a painting of a deserted landscape. Pairing candles and having images of happy groups of people around you can readjust the vibe.

Toxic friends
What energy are you inviting into your home? We all have different friends for different aspects of our lives. But you may feel you’re giving more than you’re receiving. Do you feel better or worse for seeing them? Set clear boundaries – be upfront about how long they can stay and remind them you need to have your say!

3. Make a fresh start

Once you know what’s clogging up your life, sweep it away. Ask friends in photographs whether they’d like to have them. If they’re of an ex-boyfriend or toxic friend, it can be liberating to burn them in a small bonfire outside. Thank them for the good times as you watch the pictures go up in smoke! Why not sell unwanted presents or ornaments on eBay, and use the money for something positive, like a holiday or meal out. Charity shops and recycling bins will take care of the rest.

OK, so you’ve cleared away the negative energy- but now you need to replace it with something positive.

• Dedicate a purpose for each room
Stand in the doorway of each room and be aware of what you’d like to experience there. Your bedroom sets you up for the day, so make sure it’s not cluttered with a stack of books, work files or a TV. Think how good you’d feel waking up to a tidy room and an empowering picture. Kitchens are the heart of the home, so ensure that cupboards aren’t full of tatty out-of-date packets and worktops are tidy. A bathroom can be a revitalising sanctuary, so fill it with oils and candles. Is your lounge a family room or somewhere to relax with friends? The colour red lends itself to sociable activities, whereas turquoise and green denote a more tranquil space.

• Seal your positive intentions
When you’ve decided on a purpose for each room, reaffirm this with a simple ceremony. Walk in a clockwise direction around each space, shaking a rattle or banging a makeshift drum, to direct your thoughts and wishes into the walls. Placing fresh flowers on a table or putting a candle by the front door will keep positive energies topped up.