Spiritual Hygiene

By Belaluna

With our craft requiring a lot of working and manipulating energy as well as sometimes working with celestial beings, it’s important to maintain what many refer to as good “spiritual hygiene”. This helps to keep you balanced and spiritually strong, especially when stressed.

When looking at the spiritual self, different people break them up into a number of categories. Generally speaking, I prefer Christopher Penczak’s explanations on various concepts, and this is no exception. Penczak describes a four-body system based on the four elements. Each system or “body” has certain needs and various methods for cleansing so that you can decide what works best for you.

The first body system is the physical body which is based on the earth element. When I refer to cleansing the physical body, I’m referring to “spiritually” cleansing the physical body as opposed to a shower or bath. One of the most effective ways to do this is through the burning of various items such as herbs, woods, and resins. In essence, you are doing a smoke cleansing.

From a purely physical perspective, our species responds to scent quite deeply and absorb the energies of that scent. From a spiritual perspective, each item carries its own vibration. When that item is burned, its vibration intensifies. Items that have a strong cleansing and protective effect when burned tend to have strong, “high” vibrations, often paired with a strong aroma. Cleansing oneself of “negative” energy, is basically removing energies that are of “lower” vibrations and are those of slower, more stagnant energies. When smoke cleansing, be aware and present in your body, ground and center.

Not all items used for smoke cleansing are equal. Different substances have different properties such as altering moods, adding energy, attracting love or money, inducing trances, etc. Some of those that have protective and cleansing properties are listed below:

Sage: There are many kinds of sage such as garden sage, sage brush, and California white sage, but they all have similar properties.
Cedar and Sweet Grass: Both are from the American traditions. They can be used separately, together, or with sage.
Frankincense &Myrrh: Frankincense has a masculine quality of both the Sun and Jupiter, while myrrh has a feminine, lunar, and Saturn quality. Burned together, they create sacred space and banish unwelcome stimuli.
Copal: Copal is a resin burned by Central and South American shamans, with strong protective qualities.
Lavender: Lavender has a relaxing scent that can be used to cleanse and protect a space.
Dragon’s Blood: Dragon’s blood is a red resin that acts as a power booster in any mixture. Burned alone, as it’s ruled by Mars, it powerfully banishes unwanted spirits and energies.
Cinnamon: Good for burning to protect the home.
Cloves: Whole cloves when burned on a charcoal disc or in a fire, release strong vibrations to clear out unwanted energies.
Mugwort: Mugwort can be used to banish unwanted energies and spirits when burned.
Pine: Pine has a powerful protective due to the nature of the ‘1eaf” bundle which is comprised of five needles. This formation is what gives it the power of protection, reflective of the pentacle.
Sweet Fern: Sweet fern, when burned, is used to repel all unwanted pests and energies.

The next body system is the emotional body, represented by the element of water. Some refer to this as the astral body. It’s symbolized by water because it flows and takes different shapes, just like water in various containers. Our will and imagination give shape and form to your astral energy. In dreams we connect with the astral plane, where our thoughts, hopes, dreams, and fears, take shape

Just like water can be a victim of pollution, so can our emotional body be affected by emotional pollutants from other people and places. The emotional body is where we take in psychic information so without effective psychic boundaries, it will be hard to tell what’s a true psychic impression, insight or message, versus a false impression created by ourselves or from psychic pollutants from others.

One of the best cleansing and healing techniques of the emotional body is ritual bathing. Water cleanses the emotional body and releases emotional toxins while you’re cleansing the physical body. Salts are also used as they draw out dense energies. Vinegar can be used to neutralize harmful energies. Below is a recipe for cleansing bath salt from Christopher Penczak:

Cleansing Bath Salt

1 cup sea salt (or Epsom salt)

1 tablespoon lavender flowers/leaves

1⁄2 tablespoon yarrow flowers/leaves

1 pinch mugwort or myrrh

5 drops lavender essential oil

3 drops myrrh essential oil

Another method of protection with water is the use of herbal and floral waters with rose water being the most common and powerful. Rose water can be bought or made. Another protective plant to use is Witch Hazel. Witch hazel extract is also very protective and can also easily be bought or made. In additional to cleansing baths you can also put these floral waters in spray bottles.

The next body system is the mental body represented by the element of air. This is probably the body that needs cleansing the most as this body system easily affects your emotional and physical bodies. Think about it. Thoughts (mental body) elicits feelings (emotional body) which can then elicit reactions such as tears or laughter (physical body).

Mental cleansing is about finding the true self, where we learn to release what does not serve. One of the most effective ways to do this is through introspection. Introspection yields awareness. It shows to us our patterns and gives us the opportunity to decide which things serve us and which things don’t. The easiest way to practice introspection is through journaling. Start writing what comes to mind and any feelings or reactions you have. Ultimately, you’ll begin to tap into your subconscious, and find yourself writing about patterns that weren’t as obvious. You can take introspection a step further into full shadow work which can also be guided through your journaling or even through assistance from therapy or counseling.

Another tool for mental hygiene is meditation. It allows you to go within, be quiet, and listen to a highest guidance and can give you a fresh perspective. Regular meditation reduces stress and increases vitality and creativity.

The fourth body system is the soul body which corresponds with the fire element. This body is the most energetic but also the most elusive so is considered the most protected and untouchable from outside harm. By identifying with the soul as opposed to our mind, emotions, or body, we can find true protection, fearlessness, and eternal wisdom.

One type of cleansing technique uses solar fire to heal and protect. This is as simple as going outside into the sunlight which can expand and cleanse the aura. Sunlight fills the aura with vital life energy. Another technique involves visualizing the Sun above you while you meditate and visualizing drawing down the Sun’s energies surrounding and revitalizing you.

Chakras also play a role in our spiritual health. There are actually not only 7 main chakras, but also over 300 minor chakras. Each chakra has a corresponding color with its own properties. When using crystals for chakra healing, you place the appropriate crystal on or over the chakra area while meditating. This energizes the chakra, removes blockages, and helps with aligning your energy centers. Below are some suggested crystals for the 7 major chakras:

Root Chakra: Located at the base of your spine. Red Jasper, Ruby, Garnet and Lodestone are best used for this chakra.
Sacral Chakra: Located just below your navel, or belly button. Carnelian, Orange Jasper, Citrine, and Topaz are best used for this chakra.
Solar Plexus Chakra: Located above the navel and below your ribcage. Yellow Calcite, Yellow Jasper, Amber and Tiger’s Eye are best used for this chakra.
Heart Chakra: Located in the center of your chest. Aventurine, Malachite, and Jade are best used for this chakra.
Throat Chakra: Located at the base of the throat. Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, Turquoise and Aquamarine are best used for this chakra.
Third Eye Chakra: Located at the center of the forehead. Amethyst, Iolite, Fluorite, and Tanzanite are best used for this chakra.
Crown Chakra: Located just above the center and top of the head. Clear Quartz, Herkimer Diamond, and White Amethyst are best used for this chakra.

Lastly, our aura, the electromagnetic field that surrounds the physical body, also can be effectively cleansed. The aura is comprised of seven levels that interact and affect each other through our feelings, emotions, thoughts, behavior, health, etc. Crystals are also effective to cleanse auras. The crystal is held in your dominant hand while making large sweeping motions around you. Below are some recommended crystals for aura cleansing taken from “Practical Crystal Healing: 555 Tips & Techniques”, by Nicole Lanning:

Aura Alignment: Use Citrine to help align your aura fields.
Aura Booster: Use Sugilite to give your aura fields a boost of energy.
Aura Cleanser: Use Lapis Lazuli to give a general basic cleansing.
Aura Protection: Use Labradorite to protect and cushion your basic aura needs.
Aura Mood & Opening: Use Rutilated Quartz to improve the mood and open your aura.
First Auric Level: This is known as your physical aura body and displays your physical sensations. Use Lepidolite or Jasper to cleanse and heal your first level.
Second Auric Level: This is known as your etheric aura body and displays emotions with respect to one’s self. Use Angelite or Rhyolite to cleanse and heal your second level.
Third Auric Level: This is known as your rational mind and works to help you understand a situation in a clear and rational way. Use Aventurine or Bloodstone to cleanse and heal your third level.
Fourth Auric Level: This is known as your astral or emotional body. Th is level deals with our loving interaction with family and friends. Use Peridot or Rose Quartz to cleanse and heal your fourth level.
Fifth Auric Level: This is known as your lower aura body. Th is level works with the divine energy from within your soul and spiritual level. Use Carnelian or Staurolite to cleanse and heal your fifth level.
Sixth Auric Level: This is known as your higher mental aura body and displays divine love and spiritual ecstasy. Use Phenacite or Turquoise to cleanse and heal your sixth level.
Seventh Auric Level: This is known as your spiritual and intuitive aura body. Th is helps to connect with the divine mind and to understand the greater universal pattern to experience serenity. Use Celestite or Elestial to cleanse and healing your seventh level.

REFERENCES:

The Witch’s Shield: Protection Magick 17 Psychic Self-Defense, by Christopher Penczak
Practical Crystal Healing: 555 Tips & Techniques, by Nicole Lanning