Towards the middle of June, I moved to my new home in the Midwest. Though traveling far from my beloved Binghamton was difficult, I knew much awaited me: my friends, my boyfriend, my degree program, and a large bedroom in an apartment on a tree-lined street. Having previously lost an apartment I dearly loved when my former relationship ended, I yearned for this fresh living space, knowing my existence within it could not be determined by a romantic connection. Whenever I found myself becoming depressed or anxious, I grounded myself by imagining my room in this apartment and planned how I would decorate it, how I would spend my time within it, how I would enjoy the sanctuary it would ultimately provide. I embarked upon these fantasies while listening to my favorite pieces of music, wholly unaware that this sonic approach would affect my introduction to my apartment.
Entering a new living space is an act of alchemy. You are blending the energies—both positive and negative—of the space as well as the energies you are bringing to it. I knew that when I entered my apartment that I wanted to cleanse it, not because it possessed anything palpably dour—case in point: my roommate and friend who is a beautiful person was there to help me move in, so as far as I was concerned she had already blessed the place with her light—but because I wanted to dispel my past in order to allow the space to cultivate the positivity I craved.
When it comes to cleansing, the technique people usually rely on is smudging a space with white sage. There are several issues to this manner of combatting negativity, but the most notable are that it's culturally appropriative and also that it is ecologically harmful. Concerning the former, according to the article "The Ethics Of Burning Sage, Explained," by Nylah Burton and Jay Polish, the burning of white sage has been instrumental to many Native American purifying rituals. However, until 1978, the religious practices of Indigenous communities were illegal, meaning it was not possible for them to cleanse with white sage without facing serious and oftentimes lethal consequences. Even today, Burton and Polish state, Indigenous religious practices are restricted, so us individuals who are non-Native should abstain from gravitating towards this kind of ritual as it marks the continued abuse of a community that is still severely disenfranchised. When it comes to the ecological ramifications of using white sage, Burton and Polish point to its over-harvesting and incorrect harvesting as being severely harmful to the ecosystem. Given that many white individuals who use white sage are inherently disconnected from the Native practices that are meant to be conducted with it, white sage bundles are being burned and spiritually wasted at an alarming rate, further committing violence against Indigenous communities and the planet.
Because of my genetic heritage (which is most certainly not Indigenous) and my awareness of the far-reaching harm I would inflict if I were to use white sage to cleanse my space, I was committed to not using the herb. I intuitively knew that there had to be another way for me to purify my new apartment and welcome good feelings into it to stay. On one of my first days alone in my apartment, I was walking around with Fleetwood Mac's album Rumors blasting on my phone. Fleetwood Mac is my favorite band and Stevie Nicks is the kind of resourceful, brave, talented, and glamorous woman I can only hope to emulate----I'm trying, though! I often dreamed about the kind of romantic, exciting life I would someday have while listening to her music with this band and this has attributed an unmistakable magic to it. With a full hamper of clothes in my hands, I stopped walking in the middle of my hallway. I knew exactly how I was going to cleanse my space: I was going to cleanse it with sound.
I can already hear a couple of you going Wait, so you're just going to play some music and you think that'll change up the vibe in your place? Whatever. but if you delve into the realm of sound magic, you will see that utilizing sound for spiritual/curative purposes has been popular since the times of the Ancient Greeks and Egyptians. Native Americans also utilized sound in their rituals. Though not on the same level as the rituals of Indigenous cultures and ancient eras, sound and more specifically music plays a significant part of our every day lives and contributes to our wellbeing. We listen to certain music when we are happy, sad, or angry and these pieces make us feel seen, help us dream, and restore us. So yes, if you haven't guessed it by now, this ritual is about cleansing your space with music.
The Ritual
You will need...
An album you have a close connection to or a single song you don't mind playing on repeat. This album/piece of music should be a reflection of what you desire and should mentally transport you to those desires.
A portable device that can play music, like your phone.
A clear intention for what you want your life in your new space to look like. If you struggle with your mental theater, feel free to write down your vision and carry it with you as you conduct this ritual.
With your portable music player---and written vision for your life----if you have decided to follow this step----in hand, stand at the front door of your home as if you just arrived and begin playing your music at full volume. If you are using your phone to play your music, be sure to place it on airplane mode so you aren't interrupted by a call or text that will distract you from your intention.
Begin walking around your home each room at a time, following the natural pathways you take to navigate it. IMPORTANT: If you live with roommates, for the love of all that is good and right in this world, DO NOT WALK THROUGH THEIR ROOMS/BATHROOMS. For one, just because you live in the same general space as them, this does not mean that you have claim to their private living quarters just like they do not have a claim to yours. Be respectful.
With every room you enter, slowly walk around its perimeter. While you do this, listen closely to the music you chose for this ritual. If it has lyrics, ingest these words like a nourishing meal. Allow them to generate images within your mind of the best life you could possibly live. Remember: no version of this life is "too grand" or "too good" for you----you deserve it, make sure you accept this. If you wrote your vision, make sure to read it thoroughly in every room you encounter, allowing the words to become more concrete, vivid, and therefore attainable. Know that you are manifesting what you want right now.
As you come to the end of your living space, allow the piece of music you are playing to come to a natural end. Don't interrupt it! When the last note concludes, stop your music player/music playing app and stand with your eyes closed, letting the remnants of the piece to reverberate in your ears. Breathe deeply as you sense the atmosphere of your space slowly enfolding you like a cloak of protection. When you are ready, open your eyes. Congratulations, you and your space have bonded.
I hope this ritual helps you achieve solace in your home and aid you in growing towards the life of your dreams. Music is inherently healing, which means it is inherently magic. I am hoping it serves you well.
As the struggles of Indigenous populations have been discussed in this post, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't attach some links that will allow y'all to financially contribute to these communities. If you are able to, please support these organizations. If you see that I have neglected to include an organization that you feel is important, leave me a comment and I will add that organization immediately.