Clearing energy?

[fireheart]

So on Monday, I've been asked to temporarily house-sit at my boyfriend's "new-old" place (he's taking over the lease, parents are moving out) for both the electricity guy and the rental agent in case they rock up before he does.

His flatmate won't be in the house as far as I'm aware (she'll be at work) and I've been informed that once boyfriend is home, I'm to leave (nothing personal, she wanted the first night and week to herself). So in the meantime, I have cleaning chores to do.

My question is: how do I best clear the house of bad energy as well? I have a small smudging stick that I can use, but I don't want to create issues by leaving ash or triggering someone's asthma (both of them have asthma, albeit mild). Are there any other ways or how can I use smudging effectively without getting a weird look from the electricity guy/real estate person?

[Kittish]

Salt is also good for clearing energy. Kosher salt or a coarse grind sea salt seems to work best, and leaving shallow bowls of salt about may provoke some odd looks but hopefully not trigger any asthma issues. Scatter the salt outside (ideally into an ocean if you have one handy) when you're done cleaning. Remember that intent counts for a lot, keep a mental picture of all the negative energy being swept into and absorbed by the salt as you clean the place.

[MoonCat]

You can also sweep the bad stuff out, literally. Use a broom; envision the bad energy as whatever you want--dirt or whatever-- and keep this image firmly in mind as you sweep from the corners of the room into the center, and then from the center toward the door, until you sweep the bad energy out the door. Envision it being absorbed harmlessly into the earth. You can pray or chant silently as you do it, if that helps.

The best part is no one thinks sweeping is weird.

[Seshat]

Open the doors and windows (if you believe the district you'll be in is safe for that) and envision the wind sweeping through, taking the loose bad energy with it.

While you're cleaning, you're loosening the bad energy. You're washing it off the surfaces physically, and your intent is pulling it out from behind those surfaces to where you and/or the wind can get at it.

You're not just cobwebbing the ceilings, you're freeing bad energies from them.

You're vacuuming out bad energy as well as dirt.

And the Windex and Palmolive and Jif are agents of cleanliness. As is, of course, the Water.

If there's a garden outside, then don't pour rinsewater down the drain. (Soapy scummy yucky water you can.) Instead, put your hands over or beside the bucket, and imagine yourself converting the bad energies you've absorbed into the water into neutral energies, with your own strength of will and the purity of the water.
Then pour all that neutral energy into the garden, for it to develop into positive energy with flowers and plants.

Once the wind and your cleaning work has cleared the place - and embedded it with your good will - you can put positive energy in either with some light smudging if you want to risk it, or with removeable things like potpourri. Or simply just by rehanging or repositioning their art, their furnishings, anythinig you had to move while cleaning. Will that in the replacement of their things, you are making it their home again.

[fireheart]

Open the doors and windows (if you believe the district you'll be in is safe for that) and envision the wind sweeping through, taking the loose bad energy with it.

We should be. I won't be leaving the house Monday barring getting some lunch.

Thanks guys! Will try the broom one on Monday. I am not kidding when we are being left with a TON of goodies by my boyfriend's parents. (Because it'll just be the two of them)

[MoonCat]

Remembered one other thing you can do.

Nothing clears out bad energy like sunlight. So, like Seshat says, open the doors and windows if it's safe to do so, and if it's sunny, all the better. Move any drapes, blinds or shades out of the way and let the sun do its thing.

You can really use any or all of the four magical elements to cleanse. Spritz around the room with fresh water; sprinkle salt (you can vacuum it up later if you want); walk through the house with a candle in a holder, making sure to shine the light (carefully) all around the borders of the room and through the center; smudge with incense or herbs (sandalwood or rosemary are good). Any or all of these is good.