Space Clearing with Oranges
Our spaces and everything around us is made up of qi (or life force energy). This energy can really affect your present and future circumstances, so we want to make sure that it is positive and supportive. In order to do this, it’s important to regularly clear your space of any unhelpful or stagnant energy. Some especially powerful times for space clearing are before or after having guests, when you’re going through a life transition, when you’ve moved or decluttered, or any time you feel stuck.
There are countless ways to clear a space, and one of our favorite ways to do this is to use fresh oranges. In feng shui, oranges represent positivity and vibrance. They have the power to clear negativity, and are often used to uplift the qi of a room. Studies have also shown the smell of oranges to be energizing and mood-boosting; have you ever noticed a shift in how you feel after you peel and smell a fresh orange? In Chinese culture, oranges are considered very auspicious. Because the Chinese word for “orange” rhymes with the word meaning “gold,” oranges are associated with wealth, and are shared freely for good luck and prosperity. They are especially popular during the Chinese New Year.
How to clear your space using oranges:
You will need nine fresh oranges and a clean bowl that you love. If you can, we recommend doing this between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., which is the most yang time of day. The scent of orange has a yang quality as well, evoking the sun’s brilliance during the middle of the day.
First, open all of your windows and doors for at least 15 minutes, which will allow fresh air to come in and flow throughout your home. While the windows are open, wash the oranges. Next, cut nine circular pieces of peel, about the size of a quarter, from each orange, and place all 81 pieces in your bowl. Close the windows and doors.
Walk to your front door with your bowl of orange peel pieces, and begin to walk clockwise around the perimeter of each room. Moving clockwise helps to create a sacred space by tightening the energy. As you’re doing this, mindfully squeeze a piece of orange peel, take a moment to enjoy the scent, and then drop the peel.
After you have walked around each room in your home and returned to your front door, create an intention to fill your home with bright white light and positive energy. This is an important step, because you want to replace any negative energy that’s been cleared with positive, supportive energy.
This ritual is often done at the Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, but it is a powerful way to clear your space in any season!