Moving is a major life event that involves a lot of planning – think inventory lists, decluttering, labeling, budgeting, and scheduling… Moving also involves a lot of stamina during the execution – think renovation / building work, packing, unpacking, lifting, shifting, carrying, organising… However, beyond these practical considerations, any major life change is also an opportunity : in this case, we see it as an invitation to explore and learn more about the energetic and spiritual dimensions of moving and how it affects our living.
For many of us, the spiritual practices associated with moving are usually tagged to religious practices – and pardon my french here – some of these conventional practices tend to border upon odd or vague… like something you vaguely remember from your childhood but you depended on your parents or elders to lead the moving process and have not really practiced over the years so you could be confused or unclear about how to really go about it. Or some practices can be easily misconstrued as superstition, especially if we are not aware about what actually is going on and what is behind those practices, which could lead us to wonder, what’s the point anyway?
But it is possible to see the moving process from a different perspective, which is to use this opportunity to distill, for ourselves, what is really going on. For purposes of this article, I will be sharing some of the effects from an energetic perspective, and I invite you to try likewise, so that together we can begin the process of becoming more mindful when it comes to moving. Save this article, you’ll probably want to return to this and re-read it when you are ready. (Note : this article has the most number of revisions to-date as I get feedback from our readers and I find ways to improve it.)
How do we begin? It begins with us recognizing and honoring what is really going on so that we can learn how to enhance this major transition in our lives, such that we can create a more harmonious and forward-looking environment as we embark on a new chapter in our lives.
Essentially, there are 6 major stages to be aware of when moving :
(1) Before Renovation / Building work
(2) During Renovation / Building work
(3) During Packing
(4) Before you move out
(5) Before you move in
(6) As you move in
You may wish to adjust accordingly depending on the scale of renovation / building work vs packing / unpacking needs.
(1) Before Renovations / Building Work
Choose the Right Timing
Pick favorable times where possible, for “eventful” happenings : e.g. when to start hacking, when to move in; when to move out. This aligns your life-changing event to be in greater harmony with natural & cosmic cycles.
It’s no secret that there are energetic influences when there are changes in the cosmos, seasons or lunar phases, and it’s not difficult to find favourable times, so why not. There are many methods to find favorable times, which I will not go into details here. The additional perspective to consider when picking a favorable time is to take into consideration your personal peak energy patterns when planning your moves. Afterall, the success of your move depends very much on you.
Make an Offering
Another beneficial spiritual act at this point would be to make an offering. Usually making an incense offering is best (we like our Karmic Incense for this purpose). The intention of making an offering at this point is to “greet” the new space, and to set a new tone for new beginnings as head of the family home / boss of work space. Think of it as your way of “introducing” yourself to the space and the surroundings. There will be several points during the moving process where making offerings will be recommended, so it will be useful as part of your initial logistics preparation to secure some forms of offerings – incense, or fruit, flowers, etc.
(2) During Renovation / Building Work
From an energetic point of view, renovation work is disruptive in nature.
Over time, spaces accumulate energy from the people who live or work in them, as well as from events and activities that take place there – you can call it energetic imprints. During renovation, you are physically disrupting these established energy patterns, potentially stirring up stagnant or negative energy that was previously settled. Moreover, as renovation / building work alter the structure and layout of a space, this in turns changes the flow of energy. Since walls, doors, windows, and even furniture placement can affect how energy moves, modifying any or all of these elements can lead to disjoints and cause chaotic energy until they are realigned. Foundation work, like piling can also affect earth energy that tends to create a strong stabilizing factor for your space. On top of this, during renovation, you expect different people, equipment and new materials to enter your space, and each would bring their own personal energy. If these energies are not consciously managed, they can influence the energetic atmosphere of your home or office, potentially introducing foreign, unsettling or even undesirable energy into your space.
This removal and breaking down is necessary, but it does not mean that you the owner should suffer in silence during this chaotic time. And assuming one might still need to do site inspections to check on the progress, protecting and shielding yourself is paramount.
Shield, Shield, Shield
Extend your protective gear (e.g. safety helmets, covered footwear) to the spiritual realm by energetically shielding yourself at your current / temporary space of rest / unwind. Start a practice to boost your support system, such as daily meditation or prayer for extra protection. Engage in energy-clearing exercises. Initiate a regular family / group huddle is worth the effort that helps you and all affected to stay energetically grounded, maintain clarity and calmness amid the hustle of moving.
Be aware that as you are shielding yourself, you are also setting up the intention to shield your temporary spaces from negative influences and/or harmful energies. We like our Shield spray in a bottle solution that you can carry around with you to give you an extra boost of protection when you want it. Ask us about our defence orgonite pendants that you can carry with you for protection.
Read more about protecting our spaces here.
Cleanse After Visits
After leaving the renovation premises, we recommend you wash yourself thoroughly so that traces of negative energy does not “follow” you to your place of rest. Preferably something that cleans and shields you. We like our FO bath mix for this type of scenario – it cleans and adds a layer of shield to ward off negative energy. Superbath is also another favourite.
Create a Temporary Sanctuary
Wherever you are, be it in a temporary place, we recommend that you setup a temporary sanctuary for your sacred items such that you will always have access to them. Having a physical connection to your sacred items in times of need helps you stay connected to your beliefs and spiritual path.
(3) During Packing
Packing can bring up a surge of negative energy in things that have remained stagnant, forgotten and hidden away in the corners of your current space. The “unearthing” or “sudden release” of these energies from their hidden spots can cause sudden chills, waves of nausea, headaches, or even colds and fevers. The last thing you would want is to ignore these juju energies and worse – pack them up only to be released into your new space.
Cleanse & Shield + Superclear
Our solution? Cleanse & Shield yourself as you pack. Pack during the day. Keep windows open so that any negative energy can be “released”. Spread out your packing so that there is time and you are in a energetically strong state each time you pack. Our favourite in these scenarios? Superclear formula : Superclear’s control-alterate-delete function helps to reset energies.
USEFUL TOOL : Diffuser
A diffuser with a cleansing-type formulation is useful to run during this period to work a certain effect in a large space, over a prolonged period of time, and in a group setting. Our formulations can be diluted and used via a diffuser especially for this purpose.
Embrace Grateful Mindset While Decluttering
Another energetically-charged event that usually takes place during packing is decluttering. From an energetic point of view, objects and spaces hold energy. Physical clutter often accumulate stagnant, dense, or negative energy, objects that we hold on to can also carry emotional memories or associations, which can create a sense of heaviness or stuckness. Hence the decluttering process – the sorting, the deciding, the re-classifying, the act of throwing away, the reducing to reach a more simplified state – like renovation – will be initially unsettling. Necessary but damaging to the point it can cause temporal “energetic holes” to form in the spaces where the clutters were lodged in the first place.
To help you smoothen the decluttering process, it helps to keep your “spirits elevated”. A simple way to do is, is to embrace a grateful mindset while decluttering. There’s a ton of how-to be grateful etc out there, so I won’t go into details here. Suffice to say that the end point you want, is to reach a place where you feel overall lighter and ready to head to your new space. (Cleanse solution in a diffuser or our Uplift candle can support you too!)
Of course, during packing, if you feel the need to “complete” yourself with memories and items that come up for you, do make the space for that. The more you are complete, the less burden you will carry with you into your new space, and you will also have more space for new beginnings as you intend to. Superclear is our best companion when you need to reset quickly after an emotional outburst. Read on to learn more about what is meant by completion.
(4) Before you move out
Completion
From a personal transformation point of view, “completion” refers to the process of bringing closure to a phase or project or meeting. It allows you the opportunity to honor your past while preparing for future growth and new beginnings, moving forward. Completion signifies the end of something in your life, and the completion process allows you to reflect on what you’ve learned and acknowledge how you’ve grown. Sometimes, it can involve recognizing and accepting past experiences, which can help you lessen some emotional burdens. Completion is also the time to integrate lessons learned, internalizing new insights and behaviors. Moving house or office can be considered a major “completion” point in your life. Take note, I’m merely describing the process of completion here – it actually takes a lot to really “complete” with something, especially if it is deep-rooted – if you wish to find out more – check out our sister company, Live Your Mark. Technically, completion is not a spiritual practice, but the act of completion can lead to a state of being physically, intellectually and emotionally more settled, and that in itself creates a strong base. This is why we have a bias towards our Karmic Debt Incense – this product can be considered as an appropriate “completion” spiritual practice as you will notice, as part the instructions portion of this product, you are guided to address any relational trespasses, hurt or harm in general that may have been incurred by you to those who continue to hold a grudge or upset against you, regardless of where they may now be. When you are more complete with a space, you will naturally find yourself in a place where you can make a more authentic, a more sincere goodbye – which leads us to the next point on our checklist.
Authentic Goodbye
I grew up in an environment where traditionally, I was taught that it is good manners when I am a guest to find and greet the host upon arrival, AND (some people miss this second part) before I leave, as a “good guest”, I find a small way to add value to that space – leave the space better than I found it. Whether it is I bring a gift that the host will appreciate, or I help to clean up, etc. When I say my goodbye, and I thank the host for having me before leaving the space. Over the years, I have come to realise that it isn’t just good manners to do this simple act. Turns out, I stand a lot to benefit as I gain credit and goodwill relationally. I find that this “good manners” habit naturally lowers defences and resistance when I’m in a letting go / about to leave situation. It also makes me more present to the fact that yes, I am about to leave this situation I am in. Don’t take my word for it – try it and I’d love to hear from you what your experience is like.
Did you know that the origin of the English farewell phrase, “goodbye”, is a contraction of the word, “godbwye”, which meant “God be with ye”. origin can be traced back to the 1570s – back then, it was a sincere send off as sometimes people who met had no idea if they would actually meet again when they parted each other’s company.
There are many ways you can practice a more intentional, a more authentic, more sincere goodbye when you are preparing to leave. A common spiritual practice way to approach this would be to make an offering. At this point, an offering like Karmic Debt Incense can help you clear out by residual energy and karma you might still have with the space. It not only “completes” you, but also clears any residual “debt” you might have incurred, usually unconsciously. As you express gratitude to your current space; this also signifies finalizing your connection to the space.
(5) Before you move in
Most people collapse moving out and in as a single event; but from an energetic perspective, the energies when you move in vs when you move out are polar opposites. Just pause for a moment and reflect on that statement.
When we move out, we are “pulling” and “gathering” the energies we want towards us; we are “sending off” energies that we no longer need and no longer serve us. When we move in, we are “putting” and “injecting” the energies we want towards us into the new space. And the starting point to define that new energy you want in your new space is your original intention why you wanted to move. Yes, it can be obvious and you might be wondering, why am I pointing out the obvious but it can easily become blurred. When the stress of moving takes its toil, take a moment to remind yourself, when you decided you have to move, you wanted something new – connect back to that intention. Strengthen it.
For example, for me, when I started on the mammoth project of office upgrading – I really wanted a space where we could have a dedicated space to house all our wonderful finds sourced from all over the world and to have a space where we could create more. I made a promise to the crystals, the raw materials, to the tools, to the blessed items we procured, that they will all have a home where they can reside in, so we can grow and create more together. When the building work got delayed, when the costs kept increasing, etc… looking back, there were so many moments I wanted to just give up. In those moments, I reminded myself, what I was doing this for. I pictured the end point that I had set an intention for, and I kept growing that part inside me, and finding ways – no matter how small – to manifest that into a reality. Like hunting down a new shelf for the new space. Find yours. And when you do, don’t just connect to your intention – remember – intentional energy is better when it is transformed into a form – find a way to manifest it in a physical form.
That being said, let’s move on to the heavy lifting stage of the move : Before You Move in.
Become the owner of the new space
After the heavy lifting of packing is complete, the next big physical act is cleaning the new space before unpacking. Cleaning at both the physical, energetic and spiritual levels is not just to remove the renovation or previous owner’s imprints. Cleaning is also about preparing and claiming the space as yours for you and your future living in your new space. In other words, you are in effect becoming the owner of the new space. Even if it is a temporary or rental situation, you still own the space during the duration you are in the space.
Everything starts with cleansing. There’s quite a bit elsewhere where we share about the importance of cleansing and how to cleanse, and from time to time we run informational talks on cleansing, so we will leave cleansing out from this already very long article but do not mistake this to mean that the act of cleansing is secondary. Cleansing is the PRIMARY act you will carry out in this stage.
New to cleansing? Learn more about how cleansing is not always difficult or impossible here.
Set New Energetic Boundaries
A spiritual practice that is useful to carry out before you move in and just before the actual furniture is moved in is smudging.
Smudging is a common spiritual practice used to cleanse new spaces. You can use burning sage leaves or palo santo, or try out our environmental-friendly Superclear Smudgestick or our water-based smudge spray. Smudging is not new. You can find out more about our approach to smudging here. But the difference between “normal smudging” and “moving in smudging” is that smudging used in this context is to set new energetic boundaries in your new space. So while the act itself externally seems to be the same, the intention and motivation behind it is key.
We recommend not only smudging the space’s interior from inside out, but also smudging the perimeters of the new space. (Ask us for detailed instructions before you start on this process – Shopdays consultations are best as you will have questions). You can say smudging also doubles up as a kind of “claiming” the space from a spiritual point of view, as the act of walking around the entire perimeter of your space is a powerful symbol of marking out your territory. Setup a temporary shield after smudging. We find it useful to repeat this smudging process after all the furniture is finally moved in, as an additional layer of cleansing, before setting in your shields.
(6) As you are moving in
At this point of writing, our office upgrading is at this last stage. Our furniture is being installed, and we are in the process of shifting things around. Personally, it has been challenging to keep the business running while managing the building work, the subsequent delays and upsets, and not to mention the squeeze and flux that the Exoterica team had to live with for the past months so this blog post hits close to home for me. I found it useful to burn some incense on a daily basis – the fire element works to purify the new space while adding layers of positive vibes to it. Likewise, the first few days as you moving in are the ones you want to focus on ushering in positive and forwarding energies as much as possible. As you decide on the final placement of your furniture, you are also establishing new energy patterns and flows within and around your new space – so don’t be afraid to test out different combinations and observe your patterns and adjust where necessary. During this period of adjusting and settling in, we recommend enhancing it by making regular incense burnings or smudgings, in addition to the following practices :
Announce Your Arrival
Make an offering as a formal way of “announcing” you as the current owner of the new space. It is like a formal hello and introduction to the new space. In case you are wondering, this is the stage where the offering you make will be the most intense in terms of scale. The type of offering that is most appropriate at this stage is incense. New spaces tend to be “cold” in an energetic sense, hence fire it up! More in the blessing ceremony.
Unpack Sacred Items First
How would you decide what items to unpack first? From a practical point of view, most will unpack immediate needs first, such as bedsheets, bath towels, water, first aid kits. But from a hierarchy perspective, the first few items to be unpacked are the “top” level items, which can be loosely translated to mean your sacred / spiritual items / your altar. Setup your sacred items first so they can look after you as you unpack. Apply the big rock, medium stone, then sand priority principle when unpacking.
Host a Blessing Ceremony
A new space that is cleansed is also somewhat “empty” from an energetic point of view. The “newness” / “freshness” / emptiness gives you opportunities to fill up the space with positive intentions and energies. This is when the blessings, prayers, wishes and offerings come in to fill your space with positive energies. This is where a blessing ceremony comes in handy. Blessing rituals and ceremonies, space-warming parties are all different forms of positive vibes that you might want to chalk up during the first few weeks of moving in. Some people choose to invite priests or monks, or someone whom you deem to be your spiritual advisor or master, or your important business associates. Some people choose to invite neighbours, family and friends who come and bring their well-wishes to bless your space – the chinese refer to this as ‘ren-qi’. The ceremony also doubles up as a gathering to thank those who have helped you move into a better place.
What are some appropriate common blessings and well-wishes as you are moving into your new office or home? Abundance, good fortune, good luck, wisdom, health, harmony. We like our Fortunes in a bottle for this purpose – it is a great enhancer for new spaces and makes a great gift for new businesses and homes alike.
Set Protective Energies
We recommend guarding your new space with a grid and/or other protection practice methods you are familiar with. You can also consider additional protection for the entry ways, windows, and at doorways. At this point, protective symbols, common protection guards and religious iconography can be incorporated. We like our customised protection space grids for this very purpose as a way to seal a shield around spaces that matter to us. Smudge again before setting in your shields!
Create Meaningful Firsts
Moving in is like New Beginning / First energies. Devote a bit of time and energy to create intentional Firsts in your new space : it could be the first entry into your space, first-time lighting your kitchen stove, first-time gathering in your space, first meal, and so on. This has the bonus effect of ushering more positive vibes to fill up your space. We like the idea of keeping candles lit in new spaces to “charge up” the space.
That’s it! Thank you for reading this long article to the very end. I wish you good luck and good fortune in welcoming a new chapter in your life!
