Spring Cleaning Your Living Space as well as Your Energy Space

The season of renewal is right around the corner! It is the season to plant seeds, brew new ideas, begin new relationships and adventures. But before you invite wonderful new things into your life, consider letting go of some old items that no longer serve you first, along with the old stagnant energy that is attached.

The tradition of spring cleaning dates back for centuries and still remains popular in many cultures today. Iranians thoroughly cleaned their households right before the Persian new year (typically on the first day of Spring); Orthodox Catholics traditionally cleaned their households right before or during the week of the Great Lent. 

Growing up in Shanghai, I saw families thoroughly clean every corner of their household in preparation for the Lunar new year (Spring festival). Old items that can no longer be used were gathered and discarded. Old clothes were patched and cleaned. Then on the first day of the Lunar new year, new clothes are worn to visit family and friends welcoming the season of Spring.

Even though I carried the habit of cleaning my own household every year, I never truly understood the symbolism of the tradition and the wisdom behind it, until more recently. In the past few years, as I became more aware of my own energy and practiced being more grounded and present, this cleaning ritual started to make a lot more sense to me. 

Not only does it affect the comfort of my physical environment, but my emotional and energy space as well. And psychologically, this ritual tells me it’s the time of year for letting go of the old and welcoming the new. It has become a form of detoxing for me, and I never want to skip it because of how it inevitably makes me feel — cleansed, refreshed, and ready for whatever the season brings.

Each year I follow these steps to maintain a space of harmony and in helping to manifest new goals in life:

1. Evaluating old items you don’t need in your life

If you are a sentimental person like me, it might be difficult for you to throw out old things. While you hold on to sweet memories of where each item came from, you might also tend to hold on to unpleasant experiences associated with some of the items. Whether you realize it or not, holding onto old items that no longer serve you may subconsciously hold you back from moving forward into the next chapter of your life. Make a habit each year to clear out these old items for charity or to discard. This symbolizes your readiness to let go and move on to the new and better. Doing so also releases some of the stale and possibly negative energy attached to each item as you remove them from your environment and your mind.

An item is safe to part with if you answered “no” to all questions in this checklist:

• Does it serve a purpose?

• Do I love it?

• Is it something I could pass onto a loved one?

• Does it have special meaning and sentimental value?

• Is it important to anyone else?

If you come across an item you have mixed feelings towards but know in your heart is time to let go, be sure to take a moment and say “goodbye”.

2. Reorganize your closets and cupboards

Interestingly enough, organizing and reorganizing items in your closets or cupboards not only brings you convenience, efficiency, and peace of mind, it also rearranges energy in that space. According to traditional Feng Shui theories, how energy flows in a household is an important factor in all aspects of its occupants’ lives. While larger furniture items and room dividers play a bigger role, smaller items in larger quantities can also have an effect, not to mention visually and psychologically as well.

3. Thoroughly dust, wipe, mop, and vacuum every corner of your space where accessible

Now’s the part to roll up your sleeves and get to the physical labor. By the time you’re finished, you will feel good both mentally and physically. To make sure your home looks shiny and new, refer to this downloadable Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist from Taste of Home.

If either your space or your clutter is overwhelming, you may also consider hiring a professional, such as the Los Angeles-based organizer Rivka and home cleaning service Merrymaids.

One last thing I like to do to complete my cleaning ritual is airing out the space by opening all my doors and windows for about 20-30 minutes, allowing fresh air to flow through and carry out any residual fumes left by cleaning agents. I also like to light an incense or a sage smudge stick in the center of my living room to clear away any stagnant energy and leave my space with a calming scent. 

4. Purchase a few new household items you love

Finally, the fun part: Purchase a few new household items you love to replenish the ones you’ve discarded. Make sure they are items you would see or use often that add value to your everyday life. Feng Shui theories suggest keeping items you use often or represent growth will generate life energy and attract growth and abundance in your life.

Small appliances such as an air fryer or an elegant but playful fiddle leaf fig tree for the house are great examples. Decors of a new color palette will also refresh your environment and stimulate senses in a different way.