With the Spring sunshine comes the urge to refresh and renew our environment, cleaning  and refreshing the energy of our homes. Our physical, mental and emotional well being is intrinsically linked to our environment. Our homes represent our “outer skin”

The importance of Clearing Clutter

It is vital to keep all of the energies that surround us vibrant and fresh to encourage a healthy flow of chi through our surroundings and into every area of our lives. Once we begin to clear clutter, we experience a corresponding flow of chi in our personal energy.

Begin with flat surfaces – these are not for storage. Think about your kitchen counters, dressing tables and desktops. These areas are meant to be kept clear so that we have space to work and create. These flat surfaces in our spaces take up a lot of visual weight and at a glance can make us feel open and inspired or conversey overwhelmed with literally no space (or motivation) to begin. Pick one surface today and begin there. You will see and feel the difference before and after when you walk into that room and see first a cluttered surface and then a clean clear space.

Natural home cleaning alternatives

Think about the ingredients in the cleaning products that you utilise in your home. These have a very big impact on our immune system. There are a multitude of alternatives to synthetic cleaners which are loaded with chemicals and are challenging to our often already overloaded systems. You can choose to buy natural alternatives at your local health store or alternatively make your own using simple ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar, hydrosols and essential oils. Trust me your body, mind and spirit will thank you!

Making up a natural cleaning spray to refresh and revitalise the surfaces in your kitchen and bathroom is a great way to begin. Here is a simple counter spray recipe to begin with:-

90 ml distilled water/hydrosol of your choice

30 ml white vinegar (replace with high proof clear alcohol if using on natural stone which can be dulled by vinegar) Always patch test to make sure.

10 ml Castille soap (a natural multi-purpose cleaner made from vegetable oils)

18-20 drops of your favourite essential oils, for example:

•  10 drops Lemon (citrus Limon) fresh, bright and citrusy, degreases, cleans, refreshes and clears while uplifting the atmosphere
• 4 drops Thyme thymol (thymus vulgaris ct thymol) strong antimicrobial, herbal strength to clean and clear everyday microbes from surfaces.
• 6 drops Teatree (melaleuca alternifolia) strong anti-viral, anti-bacterial oil which cleans and revitalises the energy of your space. A great choice for a deep-clean.

For ideas and recipes check out the Natural Homes recipes section of my feng shui design guidebook “A Place to call home” .

Space Clearing

Space clearing is a more intentional cleansing of the “atmosphere of a space” when things feel stuck or stagnant or when there has been a lot of stress and heavy emotions to contend with. When you are ready to release this from the atmosphere you can set out a selection of clearing “tools” to help clear the air, releasing what you are now ready to let go of and refreshing and revitalising the chi, consciously inviting in positive, uplifting and supportive energy. You finish the process with a custom made space clearing mist made with pure essential oils to personalise the space clearing process, sealing in your intention for this space going forward.