Energy Technique Toolbox: Tip 3

CLEANSING YOUR AURA
Your aura, or energy field, surrounds you and protects you. Your vitality and wellbeing depend on maintaining a healthy aura. Every emotion or thought we experience is reflected in some way in the energy field. The food and drink we choose, any drugs, medicinal or otherwise, our environment, all have an effect on the aura.

To keep the aura in great shape we need to make wise choices about our lifestyle, but most of us will benefit from a cleansing regime too. Fortunately there are many, varied ways to do this, and some are a lot of fun!

One step we should all take if possible is to get outdoors more often. Outside, even in cities, the air is less contaminated than inside our homes. It is best if you can get in touch with nature, in a garden or park if you can’t get into the country. The most cleansing places are woodlands, hilltops and by the seashore. There is a different quality to the air, which science attributes to negative ions, that invigorates and cleanses your aura. You also feel more inclined to breathe fully and deeply- very refreshing for your whole system.

Negative ions are odorless, tasteless, and invisible molecules that we inhale in abundance in certain environments. Think mountains, waterfalls, and beaches. "Ions are molecules that have gained or lost an electrical charge. They are created in nature as air molecules break apart due to sunlight, radiation, and moving air and water. You may have experienced the power of negative ions when you last set foot on the beach or walked beneath a waterfall...The air circulating in the mountains and the beach is said to contain tens of thousands of negative ions -- Much more than the average home or office building, which contain dozens or hundreds, and many register a flat zero.

"The action of the pounding surf creates negative air ions and we also see it immediately after spring thunderstorms when people report lightened moods," says ion researcher Michael Terman, PhD, of Columbia University in New York.

Small (ingestible) negative ions of oxygen are found in invigorating environments such as near waterfalls, pine forests, or on the seashore where waves are breaking on the rocks. They are generally produced by the action of cosmic rays, lightning and radon from the earth's crust. There are approximately 4000 small negative ions per cubic centimeter of air in these environments.

I love to walk at the wooded park near my home. The energies of the trees are very soothing and as I walk I feel energized by the depth and beauty of the various trees that fill the park. I feel like any negativity is carried away harmlessly by the breeze. I also feel it is a great place to connect to the Divine.

What if time or physical restraints prevent you from getting to the great outdoors? One quick cleansing trick, which I often use between healing clients is misting my aura with a vibrational essence. You can buy various aura cleansing sprays ready made, or if you already have essences you can add a few drops to spring water in a bottle with a fine spray top. If you dowse you can choose the most cleansing combination for your own personal use. A few sprays above your head will gently drift down through your aura, taking any negativity with it. Check any of the aromatherapy websites and they will list theproperties of each individual essential oil making it easy for you to determine what will best suit your needs.

Smudging is a traditional way to remove negative energies from the aura. Smudgesticks based on sweetgrass or white sage work well. Light the stick and then take the smoke through your aura, carefully keeping the lit end away from skin, clothing and hair, it is good to keep a feather especially for this purpose. It is nice to get a friend to smudge your back for you. Observe all the usual fire safety precautions and make sure you stub the stick out well!

When I’m healing I use various crystal techniques for cleansing the aura. One of the easiest to try on yourself is the ‘selenite sweep’. Take a selenite crystal, a wand shape feels good, and smooth it through your aura with the intention that it takes any negative energies with it. I usually work in strokes downwards from head to toe, but use your intuition as a guide.

After working with a client, be sure to wash your hands with cold water, this helps in clearing their energy from you as well as making sure you are disconnected from any energetic cords created during the session.These are only a few examples of ways to clear your auric field. Investigate and explore the various techniques to see which ones resonate the best with you. The important thing is to keep the awareness that your aura needs to be maintained in order for you to remain healthy.