As we enter the New Year, for a lot of us we also enter the longest coldest part of summer. There are months ahead of snow storms, and VERY cold weather! So this is a fantastic time of year to clear the energy of your home and make sure it is a safe, supportive, cozy place to spend the winter. The energy of your home should nurture and support the way you want to live your life, and the energy practices you want to attend to.

1) Burn sage or sweetgrass throughout your home. Open every door and window and walk through your home, wafting smoke and making joyful noises! Take possession of the energy in every corner of your home. Imaging a bright light around you and push that light out until it surrounds your entire home! When you are done, go to the center of your home (for many of us this is the kitchen), light a candle, and speak aloud the energy intention you are setting for your home. (“This is a warm loving environment where honesty and trust grow. May all who live here and enter here feel open-hearted and beloved.”)

2) Set up an altar. Ideally this would be in a central location in your home. Mine is on my kitchen windowsill. Gather crystals, a plant, and a candle there. Attend to your altar bringing with you the energy you wish to grow in your home. Light the candle daily and speak aloud your energy intention. Change the crystals according to the work you are doing, or according to the energy you would like.

3) Engage in mindful decluttering. Attempt to clear 5 items from each room. Consider posting items on a local freecycle site. Let go of items that no longer serve you. Release items that burden you.

4) Set an ‘off’ time. If you have trouble relaxing in your own home because you have a sense that there is too much to do, pick a time of day that is an official ‘tools down’ time. Ideally this should be *at least* an hour before you go to bed.

I hope these suggestions resonate with you, and offer you tools to use in the coming days and weeks!

With love,

Crystal Emelie