Wholeness Healing Center

Spring Cleaning on Many Levels

Spring is approaching and with it we hope the sun is coming out to stay. March 20, the day of the Spring Equinox, marks the time when our days become longer. We are all certainly ready to welcome some warmth and sunshine.

Winter has allowed all of nature to have dormancy. We had time to rest, replenish our energy and prepare for the new season. And as spring arrives, it brings with it the rustling of life again as new leaves are developing, seeds are sprouting, and birds are returning to their daily morning ritual of sharing songs with us. The air has that freshness about it, giving us energy and hope that the sun will be back and we will be outside again enjoying physical activity and soaking up the rays.
It is a time for purification and clearing out the old.

Following the rhythm of the seasons is a way to bring balance within our own lives. It is through following the rituals of the seasons that we can find guidance in the creation of that balance. This is often a natural drive as with this new energy and excitement of spring, we are inspired to spring clean.

Spring cleaning is an old ritual that was performed to remove any negativity from the previous year and to prepare the home to allow for the new to come. If you question how significant this can be, try making the decision to de-clutter by taking small steps. Perhaps just do one drawer a day, or make yourself fill one bag of items that you can release.

Make it a weekly habit or sometimes I make myself a deal that when I bring in new, that much old also has to be released. Getting rid of the old, getting rid of “stuff”, lightens you up, gives you the ability to move quickly and simply, and makes room for new. Try it even in small steps to see how good it can feel.

We all hold onto “stuff” that is no longer serving its purpose for us. This could be out-of-date or worn out items that have managed to stay with us over the years, extra pounds, or old hurts and pains. Spring can be the catalyst to release and let go of the past things. This can be the time to throw out the old, anything that no longer serves our higher and greater good.

I have always believed that as we are cleansing our closets and ridding ourselves of the old, we are symbolically preparing to let go of some of the old within ourselves. Do we still carry that grudge, that past hurt, those resentments and fears? As we are physically cleansing and releasing old from our lives, try to symbolically release some of these old patterns. Visualize yourself filling a trashcan or burning the resentments and watching them turn to ash.

Releasing the past, the old, the resentments, can change our focus from the past to the present. It is in the present that we can grow and develop. Giving up that past makes room for the present and allows us to experience life more fully and focus on becoming all we can be.

Spring cleaning holistically means cleaning, on many levels, from physically cleaning your home to cleansing your body, mind and spirit. So how do we work on cleansing the physical body?

There are many different ways to cleanse the body of toxins and doing this regularly (some people do it with each change of season) helps to keep our bodies healthy. As we move into spring we naturally move away from the warming heavier foods of the winter into lighter fresher foods. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables, herbal teas, lots of water, and steamed vegetables for a few days is one way to start. There are many cleansing diets so research the different options. Just remember that during a cleansing diet, the toxins you have stored are moved into your blood stream so drinking lots of water helps flush this all out. Adding lemon to the water is helpful.

And spiritually we can cleanse by doing a fast as well, but this fast is focused on spiritual revival. Fasting spiritually has been done for centuries. During a spiritual fast focus on your spiritual health, spending time in meditation, maybe journaling to resolve problems, or asking for grace to handle life or specific problems.

So consider beginning with your spring cleaning projects in your home. Cleaning can be considered a chore, or cleaning can be an opportunity to let the fresh air breeze through as you clean out the old and make room for the new. Make some intentions and decisions. Plant the seeds you want to harvest. What are your goals, dreams and desires? Then open the drawer and begin to clean it out. Enjoy!

Tags: clearing clutter, releasing stuff