How to Clear Out Bad Energy

By Amber C. Snider

​Bad energy is just stagnant energy. Here's how to get things moving and open up space for positivity. From Uncrossing to New Orleans incense blends and light meditation rituals, here are some tips from your favorite witches at Enchantments.
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​Herb it up
The ancient art form of smudging can be found in nearly every culture and religion around the world. The type of herbs used, however, can vary from culture to culture. For instance, Palo Santo (which translates to “Holy Wood”) is considered sacred in South America and is used widely in that region for a variety of cleansing and clearing rituals. White sage, on the other hand, was primarily used by native North Americans. Others cleanse with resins (frankincense, myrrh, copal) or a combination of herbs ranging from rue and basil to lemongrass. 

Here’s the key: Use what you have and use what works for you. There’s no right or wrong way to smudge. 

Sage alternatives
Whatever you use for smudging, it is good to be conscious of the cultural, geographical, and spiritual origins of herbs (especially Palo Santo and sage). There has been a shortage in white sage over recent years due to over-harvesting, so creating your own herb bundle and personalizing it with your intention is just as effective. You can try herbs like rosemary, basil, lemon balm, cedar, pine, mugwort, cinnamon, and bay. 
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​Uncrossing vs Cleansing
There’s a difference between cleansing your space and doing an Uncrossing. Here’s what head witch Stacy Rapp has to say on the matter:

“Clearing negative energy from your space is different from Uncrossing because Uncrossing will clear your space by default. However cleansing your space doesn’t clear your own energy,” she says. “The purpose of an Uncrossing [candle] is it’s kind of like...you walk around all day and you deal with people. And because none of us live in a vacuum sometimes you’re going to pick up bits and pieces of negative energy from other people, and sometimes from your own negative tendencies and self-doubt. It can kind of build up around you in a sort of greyishness.”

“And if you walk around all day, especially in a city, you need a shower. So I describe it as a shower for your energy,” Rapp says.

Light Meditation
The Tower of Light meditation is one of the most powerful, effective techniques you can perform. A great description of this technique can be found in “A Practical Guide to Psychic Self-Defense: Strengthen Your Aura” by Osborne Phillips and Melita Denning.” The technique is used to cleanse, shield, and protect the spirit or aura, as well as assist in general spiritual "tiredness" or fatigue. It's a transformative practice and helps strengthen your psychic shield and aura over time. Click here to read more about it. 
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Raise energy (get wild)
Rituals are all about raising energy. Herbs, candles, and oils are tools to help you achieve your intention, but it essentially comes down to your own energy. You can raise energy by singing, dancing, writing, chanting, even a long meditative soak in a bath. 

“The idea is to find a balance. So you clean out and you bring in. You clear out and you bring in. And these things take time,” says Stacy Rapp. “Everyone has to find a system that works for them. There’s not a right or wrong system, but everyone needs to find a system.”

Use an essential oil diffuser
Essential oil diffusers are an effective (easy) way to invite positivity and attraction back into your space. Simply add a few drops of your favorite oils (rose for self-love, lavender for relaxation, bay for money, lemon for invigoration and new activity) and concentrate on your intention while the aroma fills your space. If you don't have a diffuser at home, a regular oil burner works just as well. They're normally made of soap stone and cost less than $20.

Hand-blended incense
Incense represent the element of air (coupled with fire) and can help spiritually charge your space with a specific intention. There are many stick incenses (nag champa is perhaps the best known), but at Enchantments, there’s also a curated menu of hand-blended cleansing/clearing incense, ranging from Uncrossing to House Blessing, Van Van (a New Orleans blend), and Kyphi (an Egyptian blend). It all depends on your preference and what works for you. 
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Photo © Enchantments/ Victor Castro

Get out in nature (and get grounded)
Reconnecting with nature is key. Getting grounded is essential to your spiritual health and overall wellbeing. Magic is best performed outside, but even a languid, meditative walk in the park or woods, just noticing the trees, the wind, the sun above, the fleeting song of birds, the crunchy grass below can help you get grounded. Paying closer attention to the natural world around us “resets” our spirit and conjures a sense of gratitude, wellbeing, and wonder. Especially after any highly charged spiritual work, it’s important to “return back to earth” and get grounded. 

Add attraction or positivity back into your space
After any good cleansing/clearing ritual, it’s very important to invite positivity and attraction back into your space. To do so, you can use any of the “tools” mentioned above (herbs, incense, oils, candles) to help you achieve your specific, desired positive intention. 

“There is such a thing as too much Uncrossing. If you take 20 showers a day, your skin is going to get dry. You’re going to have to put moisture back in. If you do nothing but Uncrossing, you’re going to end up wiping out all your energy and creating a void –– which will then attract more negative,” says head witch Stacy Rapp. 

“The idea is to find a balance. So you clean out and you bring in. You clear out and you bring in. And these things take time.”


Happy cleansing, witches! To read more about Uncrossing, click here. 

Photo credits from the top: ©Annie Spratt/ Unsplash; ©Enchantments/Herbs; ©Jay Dantinne/Unsplash; ©Gena Okami/Unsplash
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