BASIC SPACE CLEARING

This ritual is a wonderful no-fuss way to cleanse and bless one or many rooms in your home. The candle option works well for apartment dwellers because, unlike burning incense or sage, there is no strong smell for neighbors to complain about.

ITEMS NEEDED

• White candle or incense

• Candleholder or censer

• Salt

WHAT TO DO

• Using a white candle, identify a space in the center of the room where you wish to restore balance and remove negativity. Set the candle in the center of the room and, working clockwise, create a circle of salt around the candle.

• Light the candle and walk in a clockwise circle around the candle and salt, speaking words that support your belief system. For example, if you are Christian, you may recite the Lord's Prayer or Psalm 23:4.

• If you are more spiritual than religious, you may recite something like:

Creature of wax, creature of fire, listen to me, hear my desire. Cleanse this room by the power of three, and blast away all negativity. With harm to none, so shall it be.

• Leave the candle to burn for one hour. Vacuum or sweep the salt and discard outside.

• If using incense, light the incense and, while holding it above your heat and walking in a clockwise circle, say a prayer as suggested above or chant something like:

Incense, breath of the Divine, bless and cleanse this space of mine. Purge this place of negative energy. Allow the elements to work in synergy, to harmonize and maintain peace, for the highest and greatest good of all.

• Repeat above steps three times.

• Place the incense someplace safe and allow to burn out.