Feeling stuck? Sometimes the act of cleansing your energy can bring the balance you need
We’ve all experienced that heavy feeling that lingers after getting into an argument with a friend, or been so drained after scrolling through social media that we can’t make a decision about what to eat for dinner. However you describe it, humans, although made of matter, often report carrying an invisible emotional residue in our bodies, heads, and homes.
For some, talking things through can be a good outlet, but others might seek a more spiritual solution. In fact, practising energy cleansing habits can be a low-risk, affordable way to find calm. You don’t have to believe in energy healing (a term for complementary medicine, such as Reiki and acupuncture), and, granted, there is a significant lack of research into this field of medicine, but when you’re bogged down or overstimulated, actively performing rituals to cleanse your energy could be a powerful way to reset your body and mind.
Whether you’re doing a spiritual ‘energy cleanse’, or are simply choosing to release some emotional weight, why not give these a go?
The declutter cleanse
Our surroundings play a huge part in how we feel, with one study, published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, linking increased household clutter to higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol. For that reason, you might find that making your bed, clearing the kitchen counters, or sorting a single drawer can immediately shift your energy.
You don’t have to scrub your home from top to bottom – start small. Clear the overflowing coffee table, fill a bag and donate it to charity, or crack a window open, and see if the fog lifts. The key is to act with intention – tune into your breathing and posture, noticing how they shift once you’ve moved things around.
The movement cleanse
So much of our perceived negative energy is a result of overthinking, and when we’re all up in our heads, it can feel like our energy is being pulled away from us, which can be discombobulating.
Movement reminds us to ease our grip on mental processing, and switch to being present in the body. Tuning into bodily sensations can lead to brain stimulation, which creates focused attention, and “opens individuals to see themselves, others, and the environment from a new perspective, and may elicit new understandings and changes in behaviour”, as noted in a 2025 article published in Healthcare. It stands to reason then, that when energy feels stagnant, movement is your friend.
There’s no need to sign up for a 10K or join the gym though – gentle stretching, dancing in the kitchen, or a brisk walk can clear your energy. Before you start, notice where the energy is concentrated in your body, then, imagine it dissolving and leaving as you move.
The water cleanse
Water has been used in cleansing rituals since ancient times, symbolising renewal, purification, and emotional release. So, the next time you feel energetically weighed down, or as though someone else’s energy has leaked into your space, try stepping under the shower head.
It can be helpful to set an intention first: to rinse away what feels stressful, or let go of what no longer serves you. Focus on the sound and temperature of the flowing water, imagining that it’s charged with healing light that is neutralising your energy. Alternatively, immerse yourself in the bathtub and add Epsom salts, essential oils, or a few drops of lavender to create a soothing bedtime ritual.
The sound cleanse
You only have to watch a baby fall asleep to a lullaby, or witness the dancefloor fill up when the DJ plays a banger, to see how music can shift energy. To use sound as a form of energy clearing, search online for specific sound baths and frequencies – there are curated playlists with the intention to ease anxiety, support healing, and even provide pain relief from migraines.
While wellness practitioners will often use gongs, singing bowls, and drums to initiate a shift in energy, you don’t need special equipment to reap the benefits. Just playing your favourite music and singing along can have a similar impact to the powerful effects of humming – which stimulates the vagus nerve, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. This can reduce stress and reverse the fight-or-flight response, as noted in a 2023 paper published in the journal Cureus.
The crystal cleanse
Whether or not you believe crystals have mystical properties, the ritual of choosing, holding, and focusing on a physical object can be a helpful tool.
Try selenite, which is believed to be a powerful energy cleanser that can purify your space. Or black tourmaline, which is said to absorb negative energy. To recentre, amethyst is great for tapping into your intuition – perfect if your energy feels tangled up with those around you.
Keep your chosen crystal in your pocket for when your energy needs attention, then, focus on its weight, temperature, and texture, mentally setting the intention for the stone to absorb and neutralise excess energy.
You might place black obsidian near your doorway for protection, or keep rose quartz by your bed to promote self-love. Sometimes, just knowing that these little rocks have the potential to clear the energy in your space, without added effort, can be enough to mentally offload some daily stress.
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