Seasonal cleaning – you are following universal laws.
Is it only Springtime, or any change of season from somewhere you are drawn to get into the nooks and crannies to remove dust, dirt and open the windows to fresh air?
In the Southern Hemisphere, spring has sprung, the air is warming, the flowers are blooming, and the days are getting longer, and it seems an innate desire to pull back the curtains, open the windows and let the sun and air in. Strangely, or interestingly, I have a similar reaction as we head into Winter, again, the cycle of cleaning out the cupboards, packing away the season’s clothes, and almost in a ritualistic way welcome the change of the wardrobe and bedclothes.
Traditionally, the marking of seasons also heralded the time to do the above. to pull out everything and complete a deep clean. Remove old dirt, fire soot from the fire, the dust balls, and things that might have been loving the relative quiet of the light, weekly clean. Clean the dark spaces reduces the likelihood of mould. We know that mould is toxic. It leaches a potentially lethal bio-toxin, let alone the spores entering our body.
Our physical space is also a representation of our inner world. What we believe, feel, and put attention on. Level of relaxation, peace, and sanctuary even in the space in which we spend our time.
As you consider your home/living spaces, consider these things. How do you feel when in this room, looking into this cupboard? What are the feelings that are triggered when you bring awareness to it? Do you feel this more often than not when you look or move in these spaces?
If you share a space with others, consider the impact their tastes and living style have on how you feel. Can you, if needed, edge out a space just for you, even if it’s a ‘reading corner’ as such?
If you think you would like more lightness, ease, and joy in your life, then clean through the shadow parts of your psyche to free up your energy and the free flow and welcome more joy into your life, then now is the time.
Consider this.
If we give such attention to our living spaces, and I highly recommend it, do we give our bodies and mind an equal amount of attention?
We know how the moon affects us, even with so much artificial light and brain distractions. How about the Equinoxes and Solstices in the midway of the seasons? Do you feel a pull to get clean out and become ready as we move away from these tipping points?
Consider the benefits of completing a Full Clean around the turn of the season points.
- A deep clean, where the furniture, nick nacks, wall furnishings, etc., are moved and cleaned in, around, and behind where they were.
- Removing all the linen and airing the mattresses, blankets, and pillows.
- Deep cleaning the carpets, rugs, and steam cleaning the bathroom, kitchen, and other wet areas.
- Sterilising the fridge, freezer, chill box, wine bar, oven, and all other food-related areas.
Declutter:
As you move things around to clean, you have the opportunity to declutter and check in how much you still want, need, and appreciate the item. Not serving you anymore? Move it on with love and gratitude for serving you to date. Yes, it is ok to re-gift a gift. Throw out holey, damaged things. Thrift things you have multiple of.
Benefits of Decluttering:
You choose to keep the pieces likely to bring a smile to your face and make you feel better overall. You create a physical void, a space to create, attract, manifest the item you choose to fit that space that you will love, and make a more productive us. Similar to above, having items that bring joy a space that brings a smile to your face is an immediate game-changer.
By checking with each item if you like, through or gift, you will bring up a range of emotions and memories. Brilliant!!! The more heavy emotions and memories we clear from our psyche, the better. Who really wants to feel guilty for spending money on that xyz? If you find some things too challenging to sort and process, this might be a sign to invite professional services to support you. No joke, we create so many emotional attachments to things – we must have xxxxx to feel good. Oh, this was given to me by xxxxxx; I remember the moment so well (Meanwhile, you have also wanted to have a bonfire with a voodoo doll remembered person.) I have thought this. I wanted to remember the good times of being married to the guy I divorced! What the…?
You honour several Universal Laws.
Gifting is actually a Universal Law, so there is an even bigger reason to give away that we do not need. Other laws being honoured are Laws of Attraction and Vibration. Feeling good about the spaces we live in, the things we see, and focusing on this helps keep the vibe higher and for longer. Remember, what we put attention to increases, so again, it makes sense to feel good and frequently acknowledges this feeling.
You choose where and how the pieces will go back. Again, creating a space that flows easily, feels good, is visually pleasing to the eye. Feeling good, as we know, is a big part of healing. Lighten your mood, the vibe of the space. Put your focus on these expansive, lighter feelings, for we attract more of what we focus on. Activating the good feeling with this one. High Vibed, focus on the things that bring us happiness. Another big winner.
Use colour, throw rugs, a fresh coat of pain even. We know how the colour changes our mood. What is your favourite or what colour helps you to feel good? If you can’t repaint, how else can you bring these flashes of vibrancy into the space?
Smell and aroma. Who likes the smell of stale, dead air? More so if you live in an apartment, use the air-conditioning or heating, and the clothes dryer a lot. All that moist hot air is the perfect breeding ground for mould, fungi, and like. Air it out, or install exhaust fans to suck it out. Using essential oils can help clean the air too. Eucalyptus, pine needles, citrus, other high note oils help with your vibe, helping you two ways at once.
Start where you can. If you are not yet sure you have the energy or interest to do a season clean, start where you can.
Pull the sheets off the bed, air the mattress, pillows, and donnas. Put the sheets through the hot wash to kill any bugs and to really freshen the linen.
Look at your wardrobe. What can be thrifted, gifted, or tossed? Have you changed careers or roles and don’t need the range or the same clothes anymore? Shoes, are any worn down or shabby?
Underwear – how does your current range make you feel? Sexy and empowered or granny and frumpy? How do you want to feel when you put your intimates onto your body?
Accessories are an expression of your personal style. Own it, or move on.
Bags, satchels and other carry-alls. How many do we need? For each possible travel scenario, or can a few styles really carry over into other needs?
If your living space is too confronting, you could address your work life as suggested by Mary Fran Bontempo or create more mental work space and reclaim much-needed thinking space, after all so many of us spend more time in the office than at home.
Don’t worry if you don’t get it done in one session. As with all things, this is a work in progress; after all, we live, buy and dwell in these spaces. At the end of the event, and yes, it can feel like a marathon, celebrate. You have just done one of the harder things to do – let go! Acknowledge the memories that came up, the feelings, whatever they were, and thank them, and now you can process as needed. Tomorrow, next week, next season is another time, and you can do more as you choose. But be sure to become aware of how you feel in the days after when you look and step into these spaces you have just respected.
