A cute little shop in Northampton MA

GREAT HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS!

• Crystal Healing Pouch – Choose a small pouch and some crystals for your friends and family. Rose Quartz, Black Tourmaline and Aventurine for Love, Protection and Abundance for all!
• Incense & Candles – Perfect for stocking stuffers! Our displays are plump with your favorites YES! Wiseweeds, Blue Nag Champa, Cones and Solstice favorite Bayberry Candles in stock now!
• Dream Pillows – Empower your loved ones to follow their dreams with locally made magical pillows containing organic and sustainably harvested wild-crafted herbs by Juniper Talbot.
• CD Gift Cards – These very affordable blank cards are awesome for ’emergency gifts.’ Each one has 40 minutes of relaxing music. Choose from a variety of styles. Ask us to play a demo for you! Just $11.
• Hoola Hoops – Have you seen the new Journey Hoop from Hooping Harmony? This sectional hoop is four hoops in one. A great choice for beginners who will benefit from having a range of hoops to learn with. Experienced hoopers love it because it’s portable and affordable.
• Handmade Jewlery – Much of our jewelry is made locally. Buying pretty things for the sparkle-lovers in your life benefits the local economy, too!

Rosh Hashanah is a time for celebration and reflection in the Jewish faith as it marks the Jewish New Year. This holiday is celebrated on 1 Tishri of the Jewish calendar and it marks the commencement of the High Holy Days which is the most important part of the sacred year in Judaism. On Rosh Hashanah, it is thought that the deeds of the good are recorded in the Book of Life while the deeds of the wicked are recorded in the Book of Death which is why it is marked as a time of repentance upon reflection as well as celebration of the New Year to come. The blowing of the shofar, an ancient musical instrument made from a ram’s horn, is blown in many traditional observances. Another happy custom is to eat something sweet to set the intention of a sweet year ahead.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2006 – AUTUMNAL EQUINOX OR MABON – PAGAN

Mabon acts as a lesser Pagan sabbat, but an important one as it also marks the time when the day and night are equal. At this time, gardens are still verdant and lively but the chill of autumn is in the air at night and harvesting is in process and preparations for winter have begun. This is the time when many honor The Green Man, or the God of the Forest as we thank the earth for the bounty and sunlight of Spring and Summer and honor the darkness and the endings and the beginnings that the death and rebirth of the earth offers. This is also a time when many Pagans honor the Goddess as she makes the transition from Mother to Crone. This is a time for feasting and enjoyment and for finishing old business as we prepare for the rest and reflection that the long, cold winter months bring.

• Mabon Symbols:  Harvested grains, fruits and vegetables especially gourds, pine cones, corn, apples and pomegranates. Vines such as ivy and horns of plenty are also popular.
• Foods and Herbs commonly used at Mabon:   Honeysuckle, marigold, milkweed, myrrh, rose, sage and thistle are common herbs used in association with Mabon. Breads, nuts, apples, pomegranates, root vegetables and onions are commonly eaten in Mabon feasts.
• Incense of Mabon:   Autumn Blend-benzoin, myrrh, and sage incense are popular at this time of cleansing.
• Colors of Mabon:  Red, orange, russet, maroon, brown, and gold as traditional colors of autumn that honor the changing of the plants and trees as we move towards winter.
• Stones of Mabon:   Sapphire, lapis lazuli, and yellow agates are all commonly associated with Mabon and the autumn.
• Activities of Mabon:  Any activities associated with the harvest and preservation of foods are appropriate including wine making, gathering and preservation for the winter months. Walking in the woods, bringing offerings to trees and bonfires are also common activities.
• Spellworkings of Mabon:  Spells and intention directed towards protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence work well at this time of year. Many people also work towards harmony and balance.
• Deities of Mabon: Modron and Mabon, Persephone, Pamona. Thor, Hermes and The Green Man

OCTOBER 1, 2006 – DUSSEHRA – HINDU

This is a ten day Hindu festival that is celebrated in the end of September or beginning of October. The holiday honors Durga, who is the Hindu goddess of primal energy. During this festival the tale of Ramayana is often dramatized and performed and bonfires are often used as well. In this tale, Rama, the exiled prince, must battle King Ravana to save his wife. He prays to Durga for the strength to defeat his enemy and he is successful and brings peace to his homeland.

OCTOBER 2, 2006 – YOM KIPPUR – JEWISH

Yom Kippur is the The Day of Atonement in the Jewish faith. This is considered the most holy day of the Jewish year and is celebrated on the ninth of Tishri which is ten days after Rosh Hashanah. This is the day dedicated to atonement and forgiveness individually and as a people. Traditionally, since this is the Day of Atonement, Jewish people will fast and abstain from personal comforts and even sex. This is a day of reflection and repentance.

OCTOBER 6- KATHINA – BUDDHISM

In Buddhism, the Rains Retreat ends with the full moon of October. This day is marked as Kathina or Kathin, the Festival of Robes, at which monks are presented with new robes from lay people. Common symbols associated with Kathina include carved serpents on the roofs of temples which represent the Buddha’s conquest of desire, and pincushions that are hung from the four corners of the temples to symbolize the hope for rebirth with sharpness of mind. Kathina is known as the only enjoined holiday in the earliest of scriptures from Buddha.

OCTOBER 7, 2006 – SUKKOT – JUDAISM

Sukkot is the Eight Day Festival or Booths or Tabernacles, and it is celebrated starting four days after Yom Kippur. Sokkot is traditionally celebrated by building an open air temple or sorts, a sukkot that is decorated with fall produce and in which families gather, eat and sometimes sleep to mark the holiday time. The sukkot is said to hearken back to the tents that the children of Israel used and survived in upon their escape from Egypt. Generally, four different types of plants are used and employed during sukkot to honor the bounty of God; a palm branch, a sprig of myrtle, a willow leaf, and a citron.

OCTOBER 17, 2006 – KANNAME – SHINTO

Kanname in the Shinto religion is known as the celebration of the Autumn harvest. As in other faiths it is a time of celebration and enjoyment of the bounty of hard work all year and an honoring of the year past and the cold months to come.

OCTOBER 21, 2006 – DIWALI – HINDU

Diwali is the Hindu New Year Festival celebrated over five days. It is a time to contemplate the year behind, peace and prosperity in the coming year and the new harvest. It is marked on the New Moon and is often also named the Festival of Lights because of the candles and lights that are shone throughout the five days. Lakshmi is a popular goddess at this time as she symbolizes prosperity, Durga, the goddess of primal energy and Sarasvati, the goddess of learning are also honored. Vishnu, as the god of protection and sustenance is also worshipped.

OCTOBER 31ST INTO NOVEMBER 1ST – ALL HALLOWS EVE AND SAMHAIN – PAGAN

As Beltane marks the coming of Summer, Samhain marks its end. In many circles Samhain is considered the witches or the Pagan New Year.

It is a time for reflection of the season that has passed and a time when we go from the light into the season of the dark. Samhain is celebrated on November 1 but the most potent time, spiritually is acknowledged to begin the night before on All Hallows Eve. Many say that this is the time when the world of the living and the world of the dead are at their closest and that this is a time when Pagans believe the darkness and cold of death bring new beginnings in their wake. Samhain is a time of acknowledging the cycles of life and of celebrating the mysteries of the dark.

Samhain Traditions: Bonfires and candles are commonly used in celebration and in divination. Fruits from the harvest like apples, nuts and gourds are used in celebration. Bobbing for apples is one of the oldest traditions at Samhain celebrations. In other traditions, casseroles or cakes were baked with a wedding ring tossed into the mix. Whoever got the piece of cake with the ring was the next to be married.

Many people take this time to acknowledge their ancestors and those who came before them. In fact, in some households because they believe the souls of the dead may be visiting, will lay out favorite foods and other entertainments for those who have passed over.

• Samhain Foods: Common foods use pumpkin, root vegetables and apples as homage to the season. Syrups and ciders are popular and used frequently during celebrations.
• Samhain Herbs: People traditionally use harvest appropriate herbs including acorn and oak, Apple, Corn, Hazel, Nightshade, Mugwort, Allspice, Sage and Catnip
• Colors of Samhain: Samhain colors reflect the season and include orange, black and brown.
• Samhain Gods and Goddesses: Hecate, Anubis, Isis, Osiris, Arawn, Merlin, Morrigan, Idunna, Winter King

NOVEMBER 1, 2006 – ALL SAINTS’ DAY – CHRISTIANITY

All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1 and commemorates the works of all the saints in heaven.

NOVEMBER 15, 2006 – SHICHIGOSAN – SHINTO

Shichigosan is a special day in Shinto on which boys of three and five years old and girls of three and seven years old are celebrated and give thanks to the gods for a healthy life. They also pray for a safe and happy future.

Autumn is the time of year when night begins to fall noticeably earlier and trees everywhere are drawing their energy down to their core. Shedding their no-longer-needed leaves, they turn inward for the winter.

Many of us feel that same pull inward as we head into the dark half of the year.

This is also the time when the veil between the physical plane and the spiritual one are the thinnest. It is an excellent opportunity to connect the two.

A psychic consultation is a wonderful way to forge that connection.

In sacred space, you will be able to examine the issues in your life and open to Spirit for perspective. Often, life’s challenges become lessons, and tough choices are clearly made. Your psychic consultant will work with you to find peace in your heart and satisfaction in your life.

A consultation is a dialog, where you may speak your truth and be heard, where you can gain reflection and clearer understanding of the energies surrounding you. The more you are open to the process, the greater the connection, and the deeper the insights may be.

The more specific you are with your questions, the more specific the answers will be. You will truly gain from the experience what you put into it, and then some!

Svaroopa is a sanskit word that means “bliss in your own being.” This offers a glimpse into what Svaroopa yoga® can offer. Unlike other styles of yoga that focus on physical changes like strength and flexibility, Svaroopa yoga can also help you heal, transform and find inner peace. Svaroopa is a meditative form of yoga that begins and ends with shavasana, a period of relaxation and meditation. During shavasana, all muscles can relax completely because of the support of blankets and blocks. Support is used in almost all of Svaroopa yoga, because the focus of these poses is on alignment and release, to attain an opening. Openings start in the tailbone and progress up the spine, and these openings have an affect on the entire body, as well as the mind. With an opening, you become more relaxed and feel more in control of your whole life. This is what can bring you peace and bliss.

In Svaroopa yoga, the opening of the spine begins at the tailbone. The first pose of the magic four is slow motion dive, which relaxes the muscles around the tailbone and releases it. Another pose that release the tailbone are alternate leg. The release of the tailbone may seem like just a part of a whole sequence, but it is the most important opening in Svaroopa yoga. The tailbone sets the stage for the alignment of the entire spine. By releasing the tailbone, the rest of the spine can align and release at the sacrum, waist and ribcage. You can get some release these places without the tailbone, but it is more effective to do the tailbone first. Acelebrated chiropractor, writes of the problems that a misaligned tailbone can cause: these include knee problems, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, panic attacks and migraines. What happens in a misaligned tailbone is that the muscles around it become tight and weak, which pulls the tailbone in either direction, misaligning the pelvis and spine. This causes problems all over the body, like clenching in the hips and back and neck. Another problem of this is that clenched muscles keep weight from being supported by the bones, and instead are supported by the muscles. This idea that bones, not muscles, should be used for support is another main principle of Svaroopa yoga.

Svaroopa yoga can help to keep your muscles loose, open and relaxed by showing you how to use your bones, not muscles, for support. Personally, I notice that when I am stressed or I do not get enough sleep, my gluts are sore. Other people complain about shoulder or back pain, but I have never really suffered from that. I realized that this is because of how much tension I carry in my butt when I am stressed or tired. When we end classes standing in anjali mudra and say namaste, we are reminded to relax our gluts and engage our abs and lean into our feet. This simple change, just standing a different way, makes a huge difference. Now, what I notice that I am clenching muscles that can be soft, and I try to stand back on my heels so that my weight can sink into my bones, and not on muscles.

Tight muscles are weak muscles is another major principle of Svaroopa yoga. When a muscle remains clenched for a long time, when it is tight, it does not get the amount of blood that it needs, making it undernourished and weak. Many people believe that muscles should be stretched, worked out and that tightening them makes it stronger. However, people who suffer from back pain know that this isn’t true: by relaxing painful muscles, tension is eased and the pain subsides.

Propping in Svaroopa yoga poses is very important. Rama Birch created Svaroopa yoga when she became frustrated at students who tried to force their bodies into certain poses using muscles, instead of letting the natural alignments of the body happen. Propping allows these alignments, caused by certain angles, to occur when the muscles can relax into their propping. In seated side stretch, for example, if there were no propping under the leg, leg muscles would have to work to hold that leg up. This tight muscle would keep the entire body from sinking into the sit bones and into the pose itself. This setting up of angles and allowing the body to relax into certain angles is very different from forcing a muscle to stretch. Stretching forces you to engage certain muscles, which is not what Svaroopa yoga aims to achieve. Although stretching has many benefits, releasing muscles has a more long-term effect on your physical as well as mental health.

This mental health aspect is what began yoga, and is a major part of what attracts people to Svaroopa yoga. Inner peace and bliss can be attained, or if you are just an average person, at least a better kinesthetic sense and less tension and stress. After practicing Svaroopa yoga for a few weeks, you begin to notice your body more. You notice when muscles are tight, when your posture takes weight away from your bones. You learn how to relax muscles, breathe deeper and adjust your posture. This has a significant affect on your mind. You become less frazzled, and more peaceful. Rama Birch writes about the energy of the spine flowing upward from the tailbone, an energy called kundalini. This energy causes bliss, and doing yoga allows this energy to flow without the obstructions of tightness in the spine. By relaxing our bodies and quieting our minds, yoga allows us to experience bliss (or, if that is a tall order, at least something happier than life without yoga).

SHAVUOT(FEAST OF WEEKS)            JEWISH             JUNE 12–14*

Shavu’ot, is known as the Jewish Feast of the Weeks. This Jewish summer holiday celebrates the harvest season in Israel and is considered to be the second of the three major Jewish festivals (together with Passover and Sukkot). “Shavout” translates as “weeks” and the term is used because the celebration occurs precisely seven weeks after Passover. It has also been called the Hag ha-Bukkurim which means the Festival of the First Fruits. The Feast of Weeks also celebrates the handing down of the Torah at Mt. Sinai and the Hag Matan Torateinu or the Festival of the Giving of Our Torah.

Spiritually, the time between Passover and Shavout is known as a time of great anticipation because as Passover freed the Jewish people, Shavout is considered the redemption as the Torah and Ten Commandments were handed down. Shavu’ot has also been called Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day; however, Shavu’ot has no particular similarity to the Christian holiday of Pentecost. Shavu’ot is not tied to a particular modern date on the calendar rather it is celebrated precisely 49 days, or 7 weeks after Passover.
Working is not permitted during the Shavu’ot festival and it is customary to stay up on the first night of the Feast of Weeks studying the Torah and receiving it and praying as early as possible on the morning of the second day. A dairy meal is also customary, at least once during Shavu’ot although there are varying opinions as to why this is done. Some say it is a reminder of the promise of “milk and honey” while others relate it to the kosher lifestyle handed down in the Torah and the separation of meats and dairy. Usually, the book of Ruth is read at the Feast of Weeks although its not well known precisely why. Some believe its because the Book of Ruth tells the story of a woman finding Judaism which related to the handing down of the Torah.

SUMMER SOLSTICE (EST)            JUNE 21

The Summer Solstice is also known as:

• Alban Heflin or Alben Heruin
• All Couples Day
• Feast of Epona
• Feast of St. John the Baptist
• Feill-Sheathain
• Gathering Day
• Johannistag
• Litha
• Midsummer
• Sonnwend
• Thing-Tide
• Vestalia

The Summer Solstice is a celebration of the longest day of the year and the true beginning of the summer season. Like the other seasonal turning points on the calendar, its tribal and spiritual significance is rich and enduring. In many rituals, the Goddess is becomes Mother Earth while the God reigns as the Sun King. The colors of the summer solstice are typically yellow, green, and blue and this is celebrated as a festival of community, sharing and serving the earth.

Some wonderful ways of celebrating the solstice include group gatherings. You should keep a Sacred Fire burning throughout the gathering, or throughout the day and night. Many will stay up all night on Solstice Eve and welcome the rising Sun of summer at the dawn. One of the best ways of honoring the solstice is to make a pledge to Mother Earth to improve your land or your local environment and then begin the task to show your dedication. Some also save and burn their Yule wreathes in a Summer Solstice bonfire while they dance, drum, sing and tell stories.

RAINS RETREAT             BUDDHISM

The Rains Retreat begins on the July full moon and actually extends through the fall into October. The Rains Retreat is observed in all Theravadin countries and it is marked by Buddhist monks as a time to seclude themselves within their monestaries for contemplative meditation. Thailand begins the Rains Retreat with a Rocket Festival; the rockets are offered to the spirits to ensure a good rice crop. The Rains Retreat actually harkens back to an old story about the Lord Buddha in his early days. A farmer complained that monks who had to travel by foot had trampled crops during the rainy season so Buddha had his monks begin a tradition of staying within their own wiharn or home during the rainy season, which lasted three months, to avoid any mishap and take a time for contemplation and stillness. Today, newly ordained Buddhist monks must spend his first 3-month Buddhist Retreat in study and meditation.

LUGHNASAD             1 AUGUST

Lughnasad is marked as the time in early August, just before the harvest of the seed planted in November at Samhain, moved at Imbolc in February and sprouting in May at Beltane. The ancient Celtic harvest season began when the first crops were gathered at Lughnasad and would go on until Samhain when the cycle began anew. Lugh, the God for whom Lughnasad was named is a Solar God of the Celts. In some Celtic lore, Bel (Beltane) was his father and he is worshipped at Lughnasad because the Sun is critical to a good harvest.

SHINTO AUTUMN FESTIVAL (AKI MATSURI, OR NIINAME-SAI)            15 AUGUST

The Autumn Festival, or Aki Matsuru or Niiname-sai is a celebration in thankfulness to the gods for a successful harvest.

THE ASSUMPTION             CHRISTIAN            15 AUGUST

The Assumption Celebrated on August 15 by the Catholic Church to commemorate the happy departure of Mary from earthly life and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, or the acceptance of Mary, body and soul into heaven. It is also known as the Dormition of the Virgin, Pausatio, Nativitas (for heaven), Mors, Depositio, Dormitio S. Mariae.

JANMASHTAMI             HINDU

Janmashtami is celebrated on the night of the new moon in the Hindu month Bhadrapada which is August/September on the modern calendar. This is a happy holiday that honors the birth of Lord Krishna who is the eighth incarnation of Vishnu. This celebration is marked by a required fast until midnight as well as devotional visits to temples in devotion to Krishna.

It is available as dried herb, incense, aromatherapy oil, annointing scent oils, gels, infusion, lotion, and soaps. You can even drink it as a tea or burn a lavender scented candle!

Over the years I’ve been taught by many a wise woman to use lavender essential oil immediately on minor burns or to disinfect scrapes and cuts to soothe, disinfect and kickstart the healing process. In the warmer months, use lavender essential oil to keep away bugs. (Psst… crunchy moms and dads… lavender is even helpful in fighting lice and nit invasions.)

Lavender is an anti-fungal so you can soak your stinky feet in it or use it to treat acne, blisters, wounds and burns. It disinfects as well, so you find it in a lot of natural hand sanitizers.

Aromatherapists use it to calm the nerves and clear the mind. Oil diffusers and lockets are popular ways to diffuse essential oils into your personal space. Use lavender essential oil in your spiritual bath for calming, soothing and cleansing. Lavender helps relieve insomnia and headaches. Use a lavender spray on a child’s pillow to encourage sleep and sweet dreams.

For gift giving, get crafty and tie lavender flowers into handkerchiefs with pretty ribbons and gift as sweet, purifying sachets for recipients’ sock and sweater drawers. Hang an organza pouch filled with lavender in your closet to keep clothes fresh. These also make wonderful bridal or baby shower favors. Tie a pretty goddess pendant on for a pretty finishing touch.

Place a lavender sachet on dashboard of your car as a natural alternative to chemical air fresheners. When the scent dims, or you need a little blast of calm, squeeze the flowers to release more scent. In the case of road rage, hold sachet directly under your nose, squeeze and breathe deeply! Applying heat releases more scent so leave it where the sun can kiss it or toss it on the vent for a few minutes while you’re running the heater.

Lavender is  lovely to burn as incense. It is available in many forms, (sticks, resin, cones) or you choose to smudge with the leaves and flowers using charcoal tablets or burning in a smudge pot. We have been mixing it with white sage lately to use in the shop and have gotten many compliments on the energetic and atmospheric effects. Our clients often remark how clear and calm the energy feels in our Northampton shop.

Magickal uses for Lavender include attraction, cleansing, protection. Putting lavender flowers in your medicine pouch can provide a sweet reminder of your intention and can be an easy a way to focus and enhance your daily practice. While healing on all levels, if using lavender in your spiritual practice you may find yourself in a greater state of tranquility, higher consciousness and notice release of energy and emotional blockages.

With any essential oil, please use caution to avoid eyes and other sensitive parts of the body, and use sparingly. A little goes a long way!

Deep tissue massage is a healing technique that focuses on reducing muscle tension through slow massage strokes and direct pressure on deep layers of muscles. In a quiet and warm environment, your body relaxes as your massage therapist focuses their energy and work on massaging deep connective tissue muscles, tendons and fascia.

Deep tissue massage can help to break down and heals scar tissue; it can lengthen muscles and increase your flexibility. Deep tissue massage focuses on specific parts of the body – especially constricted or contracted muscle groups. By working on specific areas of your body, your massage therapist is conducting an intense healing that may cause soreness the day after, but once this soreness fades, the specific area will experience rejuvenation.

PRE-NATAL MASSAGE

Pre-Natal massage is as beneficial physically for a mother to be as it is emotionally. As your body changes during pregnancy and you deal with the discomforts of different weight distribution, the changing of your hips and body, and bearing extra weight, you need the healing of massage therapy to help your body cope. On an emotional level, taking the time for yourself, in complete safety and relaxation, and learning your new body through the healing touch of a massage therapist will nurture you emotionally.

Pregnant women should always consult their physicians before engaging in any type of massage therapy. They should also make sure the massage therapist is certified in pre-natal massage as there are pressure points in the body, certain oils and other methods that are not appropriate for pregnant women.

The wonderful relaxation and physical balance you can achieve through regular pre-natal massage will promote a healthy pregnancy and a happy and relaxed mother and baby.

SWEDISH MASSAGE

Swedish Massage is an invigorating healing massage therapy that focuses on revitalizing your whole body by stimulating healthy blood flow. This massage technique is wonderful for promoting focus on your body and promoting relaxation. As the swift and varied strokes of a Swedish massage heal and relax your muscles, your mind will center and come to rest.

Swedish massage uses five basic strokes, all of which promote energy and blood flow to the heart. By using these healing strokes in a combination of kneading, rolling, vibration, percussion and tapping, with warm and soothing massage oils, your massage will leave you refreshed and energized when you rise from the table.

Clearing space also renews old and stagnant energy in a space or person and replaces it with a lively vibrancy. Space clearing is most successful when your intention is clear and no matter how you realize this intention, this is a simple and easy ritual you can practice regularly.

SMUDGING

In many ancient cultures, including Native American traditions, herbs were burned in the ritual cleansing of a physical space, objects or individuals. The idea is they by burning certain herbs in a space, the smoke generated attaches itself to the negative energy and as the smoke dissipates, so does the negative energy. This burning of herbs can also be used for individual cleansing, after a particularly energetically depleting day or experience, for example or on crystals or personal objects used in ritual to ensure that they are not holding any negative energy.

People often cleanse themselves and their space after difficult events, when communication problems seem to be arising, when their feeling down or depressed, during times of meditation or other ritual. Smudging is also excellent to practice prior to a gathering or ritual or as people arrive and before commencing a ritual or celebration. This leads to open minds and hearts and the eradication of any lingering negativity.

There are several herbs used commonly in “smudge sticks” or “smudge wands.” In such a stick or wand, the herbs are bundled together and often tied with string. In ancient native American traditions, special smudge bowls were used but now, most smudging herbs come in wants or sticks that are easy to use. Common smudging herbs include:

• Sage, including White Sage
• Cedar and other Pine derivatives
• Lavender – for calming
• Osha Root
• Sweet Grass
• Mugwort – which is also used for lucid dreaming and protection

How to Smudge

Firstly, any cleansing ritual must start with a clear and simple intention. Focusing on clearing out the negative energy and pushing it out of your space and mind is of paramount importance.

Once you have your intention clearly in your mind, light the herb wand and then blow out the flame which allows the herbs to smolder and smoke without actively burning. Using a candle is recommended rather than a match or other lighter.

If you are cleansing a space, walk around the room or rooms slowly and focus on cleansing and clearing negative energy. You should focus on corners, behind doors and make sure you also smudge closets.

If you are cleansing an individual, fan the smoke around yourself or the other person and ask them to focus on pushing the negative energy down through their feet and into the earth. Make sure to fan the smoke from head down to the feet to aid in the process of moving the negative energy out. The other option is to have them focus on pushing the negative energy into the air and into the smoke.

If you are working with a particular chakra or energetic location, make sure to focus some of the smoke in that area while you are working. Healers often use smudge before working with reiki or other healing techniques. Healers can use feathers to fan smudge smoke to ensure and even distribution and to work towards creating balance in the body.

Some people also find it helpful to speak an incantation, a thought or to chant during cleansing but you can also be silent and simply focus on your intention and inner voice.

If you wish to cleanse an object, including a crystal or wand, hold the crystal or object in the smoke or fan the smoke around the item. Also, if you are cleansing an object before a specific ritual, focus on your intentions around that ritual as well as on the cleansing of the object to imbue the object prior to your work.

Putting Out Your Smudge Stick

When you are ready to extinguish your smudge stick or wand, ground it out in sand or earth or in another fireproof receptacle. Try to avoid using water.

SIMPLE SPACE CLEANSING, WITH OR WITHOUT SMUDGE

You don’t have to smudge to successfully clear or cleanse a space. The most important aspect of any cleansing ritual is to restore balance, whether energetically or in the more mundane physical sense.

The first step in successfully cleansing a space is to really clean it. This means to remove clutter, dust and any residual build up of actual dirt, dust or trash. Then you will continue with ritual cleansing, which can be done with smudge, as discussed above, or with incense, drums, fresh clean air, candles, water, plants, crystals or music. Many people call on their own element, that which speaks to them the most.

Once the space has been cleared, skilled practitioners will hone and refine the energy of the home. Using a bell, a singing bowl or your own voice and rhythm will solidify the clean energy.

Finally, you need to set the new intention of the space. You have removed the negative energy, and now you must push positive energy into the space to maintain balance. Declare your intention aloud or silently in your head and let your intention fill the space. If you have a home with multiple rooms, consider your intention in each space. Focus on rest in the bedroom, productivity in the office, nourishment in the kitchen and fellowship and relaxation in the living room and so on.

SPACE CLEANSING: COMMON TIMES WHEN BALANCING CHI IS IMPORTANT

As in all cleansing rituals, the first step is to clear out any old chi. In the tradition of “chi” it is thought that buildings which are long standing hold a great deal of energy and history. The type of energy depends on what the building is used for and how long it has stood and even what materials with which the building is constructed. For instance a library, a school and an old home will all have very different “chi” or energy.

A New Space

If you come into a new space, you need to consider who occupied it before you and complete your cleansing ritual accordingly. You need to focus specifically where they spent the most time and imbued the space with their energy the most. Complete your cleansing in the ways we have discussed before and focus on balance and the removal of any negative energy that interrupts the flow of chi in the home, office or other space.

After Trauma

Illness strongly affects the energy in the home. Illness subdues the energy in a home, whether physically or mentally in the case of the person suffering, or from the nervous tension and energetic output of the person tending the ill. Fresh air must be brought into the home, as well as plants and flowers, candles and some form of purifying water. By bringing the four elements into the home and the sense of a fresh clean, beginning, you will raise everyone’s spirits and incorporate balance into the home again.

Conflict in the home or violation in the form of constant arguing or anger or if the home has been robbed or damaged in some way can also strongly affect the chi of the home and its occupants. This is another instance where space clearing, regularly if necessary, can help you move on from negative energy and holding onto the past and moving forward into a happier future.

After Change or to Elicit Change

When change comes into life, whether positive or negative it can’t help but affect people and their environment. If you change jobs, lose someone you love, have to deal with conflict or resentment, or if you end a relationship, you need to make sure that you take the time to process your emotions and then cleanse yourself and your space. Honor the passing, mourn, grieve, let your anger or anxiety our and then work to let those emotions go so you can continue unencumbered on your path. Chi is all about balance – learning and moving forward and working to maintain harmony internally and externally. Clearing space is a good habit and one that can help you move on in all facets of your life with more ease.

Inspirit Common offers a guide to some of the festivals and holidays of the spring and the various ways in which people honor these sacred days. This article references dates from 2006. Not all holidays fall on the same calendar dates each year.

HOLI AND DHULETI, HINDU

March 14

Holi and Dhuleti are a joyous, bright set of Hindu holidays that celebrate the harvest and the end of winter. Holi always falls on the full moon in the month of March (Phalguna) and Dhuleti falls on the following day.

Also known as the Festival of Colors, Holi and Dhuleti have their roots in a celebration commemorating the death of Holika, a demoness. The King of the Demons, Hiranyakshipu was granted a favor by Brahma which made him very difficult to kill. Because of this near invincibility, he tried to force the people to stop worshipping the gods and to worship only him. His son, Prahlad, continued to pray to Lord Vishnu and despite Hiranyakashipu’s attempts to kill his son, Vishnu protected young Prahlad. Finally, Hiranyakashipu ordered Prahlad to sit on a pyre in the lap of his Aunt, Holika. Holika could not be burned because she wore a special wrap but when Prahlad prayed to Vishnu to again keep him safe from harm, the wrap flew from Holika onto Prahlad who was protected. Holika was destroyed.

Hindus from all walks of like can celebrate Holi and Dhuleti at the close of winter Holi brings bonfires that are lit to symbolically commemorate the banishment of evil and the death of Holika. The fires bring on the warmth of spring by casting out the cold. Dhuleti is a day of fasting, prayer, feasting and of “throwing colors” in the form of colored powders and colored water. These holidays are also known for practical joking, folk dancing and playing cards.

PURIM

March 14

Purim is a Jewish holiday celebrated in the Jewish month Adar. It celebrates the deliverance of the Jews by Esther and Mordecai from Haman, a prominent Persian official. It is a holiday of great celebration that is marked with a great feast and it is one of the most joyous and holy of Jewish holidays.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

March 17

St. Patrick’s Day honors St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17 and Americans typically march in parades, and gather in Irish Pubs to make merry, sing Irish songs and dance Irish jigs. People often wear green in tribute to Ireland, the Emerald Isle. This holiday is actually celebrated on the day St. Patrick died which was believed to be in approximately 461 AD.

VERNAL EQUINOX

March 20th

The Vernal Equinox is celebrated throughout the faiths in many ways, be it Easter, Ostara or Higan or Lady Day. As the daylight and nighttime become equal in the Northern Hemisphere it is a time to celebrate the quickening of the earth.

The Spring Equinox is said to be an excellent time for planting and rituals relating to fertility and abundance, as well as growth. A simple way to help manifest your plans for the spring and summer would be to charge any seeds that you plant with your intentions and place them in an egg shell or near eggs. As the seeds grow you’ll be consistently reminded of your intention which will help you achieve your goals.

Additionally, this is an ideal time to conduct spring cleaning and ritual smudging to drive out any negative energy in your home from a winter cooped up indoors. For example, using cedar or sage to smudge your home, and scrubbing your floors and windows in a clockwise direction will help push out negative energy and generate good energy for growth and prosperity.

This is also wonderful time for spells relating to communication and group interactions as old feelings can be sloughed off to welcome in the new. Set an intention and work with a healing crystal, like spirit quartz, known for its communication properties.

If you can be outdoors at the Vernal Equinox, it’s a wonderful time to have a bonfire, enjoy the outdoors and in many cases, couples will hand fast at this time because it’s ideal for new beginnings.

Welcome in the light of spring and the abundance that summer will bring.

OSTARA

March 20

As Easter got its name from the goddess of spring and the dawn, Oestre or Eastre, so does the pagan celebration of the Vernal Equinox, Ostara. The Vernal Equinox and Ostara usually falls at some point between the 19th and the 22nd of March. Ostara is a holiday celebrating spring and growth and the renewal of life on earth after winter.

This is a celebration of the return of balance on the earth as Spring brings night and day into equilibrium. Symbols of Ostara include flowers and eggs which were ultimately adopted by Christianity as symbols of Easter as well.

The foods associated with Ostara are leafy green vegetables, dairy foods like milk and cheese, pine nuts, sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Flowers used in Ostara ritual and celebration include daffodils, violet, peonies narcissus and all other early spring flowers. Many people burn jasmine, rose and other floral incense and keep jasper, the Ostara gemstone on their altar or close at hand. Ostara is a wonderful day to commune with nature in long walks or in planting.

SHUN-BUN-NO-HI / HIGAN

March 17-23

Higan is celebrated in Japan at the spring and autumn equinoxes. In the spring, Higan is a festival of light and beginning but at both times of year, these holidays are considered special times of transition. The seasonal change celebration is also a time when the seeking of transition from samsara, or illusion to nirvana, or enlightenment. Remembrance of the dead and joy of birth and rebirth is an important method of celebrating and marking these occasions.

RAMA NAVAMI

April 6th

This holiday commemorates the birth of Rama, the reincarnation of the god Vishnu. Hindus are supposed to fast, or keep themselves to a specific diet. Rama Navami is a universal holiday in the Hindu religion, offering a break from social tensions and an opportunity for everyone to celebrate together. The holiday can be marked on one day or in some places, it lasts nine days. In many instances, on the ninth night of Rama Navami, Hindus will stay awake all night in anticipation of Rama’s birth and then they will celebrate with the dawning of the new day by holding a thanksgiving feast.

This day also celebrates the end of the nine day utsavam called Vasanthothsavam, which is also known as the festival of spring.

To celebrate Rama Navami, Hindu temples are decorated with colors and there are readings of the Ramayana. There are several Hindu God’s that are celebrated on this day including, Shri Ram Lakshman and Hanuman.

PALM SUNDAY

Palm Sunday is the Sunday before Easter, and celebrates Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. According to the Gospels, he was met by a crowd waving branches of palm. Palm Sunday also begins Holy Week, which ends with the celebratory Easter Sunday.

GOOD FRIDAY

Good Friday is the Friday of Holy Week, and it marks Christ’s death upon the cross as redemption for all sins. Good Friday is considered a solemn holiday marked by prayer and introspection.

EASTER SUNDAY

Easter Sunday should fall on the first full moon after the vernal equinox, so this means Easter can fall between March 21 and April 25. Easter is the high point of the Christian year and is celebrated by all Christians. Easter commemorates the day of Christ’s Resurrection and it therefore an occasion of special joy. Easter ends the fasting of Lent and is usually marked by a feast featuring lamb, symbolizing Christ’s role as the Lamb of God. Easter eggs, brightly painted and colored, are another frequent symbol. Interestingly, the Easter Bunny, a traditional fixture in Christian celebration, has been linked to an ancient spring fertility symbol that has been absorbed into Christian observance.

PASSOVER OR PESACH

is celebrated on the 15th of the Jewish month Nisan (usually in April). It commemorates the deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, as recounted in the biblical Book of Exodus. Passover celebrations focus on a ritual dinner called the Seder. The meal involves a number of practices: Matzoh, an unleavened cracker, is eaten, as are charoset (a mixture of fruits, nuts, and wine), and bitter herbs. The unusualness of these practices is quite deliberate: each is intended to commemorate some aspect of the Exodus. These customs are particularly intended to attract the interest of children, who are encouraged to ask their meaning and so be reminded of the Israelites’ deliverance. Passover is celebrated over an eight-day period, during which time no hametz (yeast products) are eaten.

BELTANE (MAY DAY)

May 1

Beltane, or May Day, is a joyous spring holiday celebrated across many holidays and faiths. It is also known as the Festival of Light and is known for the celebration of Planting, spring and Rebirth.

The Origins of Beltane come from an ancient Gaelic Festival. Beltane is celebrated opposite the celebration of Samhain and it falls between the Vernal and Summer Equinox’.

There are a number of God’s and Goddesses that are known as appropriate deities for Beltane. Because Beltane celebrates fertility, the Hunt and love, many people celebrate Aphrodite, Artemis, Diana, Ariel, Astarte, Freya and Rhiannon. Beltane Gods can include Apollo, Bacchus, Pan, Cupid/Eros, Odin, Orion, Frey, and The Great Horned God.

The most traditional symbol of Beltane is the May Pole. The phallic shape of the maypole, wrapped in colorful ribbons is symbolic of fertility and the planting of seeds. Spring flowers in abundance are also used in Beltane, whether in baskets or scattered around their ritual area or on their altar. Other traditional symbols are eggs, chalices and crossroads.

The most traditional flowers associated with Beltane are roses, lilac, bluebells, daisies, marigolds, primroses and violets although any beautiful spring flower that inspires is appropriate.

Other traditional ritual and altar decorations are mirrors and fat pillar candles that bring light and represent fertility. There are incenses associated with Beltane, and they include lilac, rose or vanilla.

VAISAKHAPUJA OR VESAK

May 12

The birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha are all celebrated on this holiday, which can take place on different dates in May. This is a time when Buddhists try particularly hard to practice kindness and generosity to each other and to other in their community. This is a great celebratory festival that is incredibly lively and colorful. It is often associated with “Spring Cleaning” and everyone decorates their homes with as much color as possible. People mark the holiday with visits to their temples and they make offerings and wash statues of the Buddha with scented water.

ASCENSION

May 25

Ascension is celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter. It is typically marked with a great feast and celebrates the Ascension of Christ into heaven after his Resurrection