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Energy Cleansing

An important duty of shamans, and one of the first steps in healing is energy cleansing. Shamans cleanse the energy of people and animals, of objects, and of places.

There are many wans to do energy cleansing. Here are a few of the best known and most effective.

Spiritual Cleansing with Smoke

Cleansing with smoke is often called smudging. Smoke carries the power of both air and fire as well as the power of the substance that is burned. It is energized by the spirit of the plant being burned.

Smudging can be combined with other cleansing methods. In that case, smudging can also be a good indicator of whether the cleansing was successful. If you cleanse an area, and the smudge stick won't stay lighted (and it isn't damp), that is a good indication that the cleansing was not complete or needs to be redone.

The indigenous peoples of North America burn mainly cedar or sage for cleansing. In some traditions, only cedar is used for cleansing, while sage is used to call good spirits. A lot depends on what grows locally. In some parts of the Great Plains, sage is used for cleansing, and then sweetgrass is burned to call good spirits. White sage is much more pungent than the small-leafed prairie sage, and it is a more powerful cleanser.

More on cleansing with smoke is coming soon!

Spiritual Cleansing with Breath

Using the breath for cleansing is a very ancient practice. Of course, we all know that breathing deeply cleanses the body internally and relaxes the mind, too. But breath can be used with intent to spiritually cleanse anything, just as smudging can.

Coming soon!

Spiritual Cleansing with Sound

Sound can be used for cleansing in several ways.

Percussive sound, such as drumming and rattling, can break up energy blockages in people and also drive away unwelcome spirits from an area. Bells and gongs can also break up energy so that it can be reformed for the shaman's purposes.

Smooth, continuous sounds, like those of a flute or a Tibetan bowl, can harmonize the energy in such a way that nothing unpleasant can remain in a person's energy field or in the immediate area.

More coming soon!

Spiritual Cleansing with Water

Just as water cleanses the body, it can cleanse spirit if used with that intent. The important thing is to focus the intent.

Some healers use water with intent for spiritual cleansing after the physical cleansing of their shower or bath is all done. After your regular bath or shower, simply stand in the shower and sincerely ask that your spirit be cleansed by the running water. It works.

More coming soon!

Spiritual Cleansing with Fire

Fire in the wild cleanses the forest of underbrush and dead trees. All sorts of things can be cast into a fire with intent to cleanse the spirit.

Unwanted habits can be written on a piece of paper and burned, just as some indigenous people in Africa cast unwanted habits into old, unwanted clothes and burn them in a bonfire at the end of the year.

More on cleansing with fire oming soon!

Spiritual Cleansing with Light

When you light a candle, are you cleansing a space? Yes.

What about when you turn on an electric light? Yes.

Anything you do with intent can be used for cleansing.

Spiritual Cleansing with Stones and Minerals

More information coming soon!

Spiritual Cleansing by Cleaning the House or Office

Physically cleaning your home or office, especially with the intent to purify the space can cleanse the area spiritually as well.

More information coming soon!

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