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When we talk about hygiene, the first thing that comes to mind for most people is bathing, grooming, and physical presentation. However those in spiritual, metaphysical, and most religious communities often include energetic and spiritual hygiene along with the physical.
It is in my experience that those who most closely associate with Source, the energy that prevails through all that is, are most often concerned about the cleanliness of the mind and spirit far beyond outward physical appearance. In these special communities, it is often well known that mind, body, and spirit, composed of energetic vibrational frequencies, are susceptible to disease and dysfunction. Checkout What Is an Aura? This dysfunction is often a result of exposure to our modern world in which we seem to be so “plugged in” yet so energetically misaligned with. Unfortunately this modern world gives us a false sense of reality, leaving most people living their entire lives completely unaware of the real, raw and intense potential of their energetic being. Checkout Understanding the Layers of Your Aura & 7 Primary Chakras for True Enlightenment.
Before we dive into specific things you may want to consider and some personal practices you may find beneficial, I want to preface by saying that I am not perfect in any way, shape or form. I am in a constant state of becoming a better version of myself in mind, body, and spirit. At no point should you compare yourself to me or someone else because you may be on day 1 while they are on day 1000. When you find someone of inspiration, someone who’s energetic and spiritual practices you aspire to embody for yourself, remember that they also had to start at ground zero on day 1. Follow the practices not the preacher, be willing to do the work to the best of your ability, and give yourself grace because living mindfully is not easy. Remember that I am not here to teach or tell you what the right thing is, as a way-shower I am only here to show you a pathway, a possibility. Above all, take what resonates with you and leave the rest.
When we talk about energetic and spiritual hygiene, it’s more than just specific practices to realign our chakras and keep us grounded. We must also talk about the physical, psychological, and energetic things that we consume that affect our vibrational frequencies on a daily basis. So before we dive deeper into this series of blog posts on practical tips and practices you may want to consider, let’s first look at common things that alter your energy through mind, body and spirit via exposure and consumption.
What We Physically Consume
Eggs, Dairy, Fish, Meat and Poultry: Several religions and spiritual followings across the world and through the ages forbid the consumption of animals and animal products often as a tenant of “do no harm” in their ancient texts. Some are vegan or lacto-vegetarian, while others only forgo these animal based products during certain times of the year like holy days. Here is a quick snapshot of dietary restrictions by some of the world’s largest religions; you might even be surprised to know that Judaism and Christianity, under Mosaic law, forbids pork consumption just like followers of Islam. Other faith systems rely heavily on animal product consumption, particularly native people.
Processed Foods: Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their organic state for packaging purposes. This process often involves the use of or exposure to chemicals, thus changing the vibrational frequency and compatibility to the physical and energetic body. This also includes the ones labeled “low fat”, “reduced sodium”, “healthy”, etc. Even the “grab and go” pre-cut fruits and veggies that “have only” been cleaned, cut and packaged have been altered molecularly. GMOs are also often included in processed foods.
GMO’s: Genetically Modified Foods are food items that have been genetically engineered with an altered DNA sequence. There is a long list of justification for the manufacturing of these lab productions, but more importantly there is a tremendous concern around their effects on the human body and environment. Several countries around the world have banned the production or use of GMOs due to serious safety concerns. From an energetic perspective, we really don’t know how these foods affect us because the DNA sequences are not only new, but were created so rapidly that our body has not had time to acclimate as we see happen with natural alteration that occurs over time. If this is a concern for you, check your packaging and buy organic when possible.
Organics: Organic foods in the US are those foods that are produced or grown without the use of synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, bioengineered genes (GMOs), antibiotics, hormones, or other artificial additives. Organic foods are not only nutritionally superior and highly compatible with the physical, chemical and energetic body, they are free from known microbiome destroyers and cancer causing agents. Checkout the Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen for the worst produce containing pesticides. If this is a concern for you, buy organic when you can, especially for “Dirty Dozen” produce, and consider attending your local farmers market.
Water: Water is the source of life, it is what sustains us and our planet. Without it, we die, but some are dying because of it. Specifically they are dying because of the quality of water they consume, brush their teeth with, and bathe in. It is well known that those in 2nd and 3rd world countries often have poor water sources leading to disease and death. Unfortunately, as a result of water sanitization, most people mistake the water source in 1st world nations as being “clean” or safe. In the US, our water sources have common contaminants, disastrous contaminants like Flint Michigan, as well as the common neurotoxic chemicals used in the sanitization process. One of the primary contaminants that is consistent across the US is fluoride, a known neurotoxin that is banned in several countries. All of these contaminants affect our physical, chemical and energetic body. You can check your water source HERE and HERE. If this is a concern for you, there are a ton of water filters for drinking and even shower water on the market; choose one that is both cost effective and effective against the specific contaminants in your water.
Coffee, Tea and Alcohol: these substances are considered energy and mind altering agents by various spiritual/religious systems. Their inclusion is dietary restriction depends not only on the particular belief system, but also the cultural aspects of which that belief system developed or flourished in. For instance, it’s well known that there are certain denominations of Christianity that accept these beverages (or at least coffee and tea at a minimum), and others, like Mormons, that forbid it. Regardless of belief systems, it is well known that caffeine is a central nervous system (CNS) stimulant, and alcohol is a CNS depressant, both of which alter the energy flow and stability of your energy body.
Tobacco, Nicotine and Vapes: - the effects of nicotine and the chemical compounds in these products on the mind, body and energy field are well documented.
Over the Counter (OTC) and Prescription Medications: composed of various plant derivatives and chemical formulas, each with their own vibrational frequency, they emphatically altar our energetic frequencies. CAUTION: Do not stop taking your prescribed medications without consulting your physician(s), and any practitioner or guru that tells you otherwise is flexing their ego and is NOT concerned about your health and wellbeing.
Dietary Supplements: it’s pretty accepted that the vast majority of our vitamins and minerals need to come from a well balanced diet, but for whatever reason, that isn’t always possible. Supplements, just like anything else processed, contain various ingredients beyond what you are supplementing for, and are not all created equal in quality. Be mindful of additional ingredients and quality.
Chemicals: We live in a world, particularly in developed countries, where we are bombarded with chemical exposure, often in the name of personal hygiene & cleanliness. These toxins seep in and not only affect our physical body systems, but also our mental, emotional and energetic bodies. Some of the most common toxins people are exposed to every day are including body fragrances, lotions, soaps, shampoos/conditioners, toothpaste, makeup, hair products, feminine hygiene products, laundry detergents, dish soaps, cleaning products, candles & air fresheners, carpet cleaners, upholstery cleaners & protectants, cookware, and the list goes on. If this is a concern for you, consider switching to non-toxic products with a low EWG toxicity rating.
What We Mentally and Emotionally Consume
One can easily argue that what we consume mentally, emotionally, and spiritually is far more significant that what we consume physically. To maintain a centeredness in our energy, we have to be mindful of what we allow into our external environment as it has a direct impact on our internal temple. If we are going to truly impact our energetic being, we have to be more mindful, a mindfulness that requires our attention in all that we are on a daily basis.
Information Overload: By far one of the most significant external things impacting our mental and emotional wellbeing is the nonstop train of negativity, false positivity and mind numbing useless information coming from the news, social media, and other forms of media we’re constantly absorbing. We cannot turn on the tv, radio or even open a blank browser tab without being bombarded with the world’s problems right there in our face and shoved down our throat. Research has repeatedly shown that older generations are happier and more emotionally content. Why? One of the reasons is that despite having grown up in their own era of difficult times, they did not have constant exposure (news only came on at certain times and social media did not exist as a constant reminder), and they tend to direct their attention toward genuine fulfillment rather than mindless consumption. Looking back over the last two years as the world was forced online as a result of the pandemic, what did you observe and consciously or unconsciously integrate into your energetic being? What about with the current state of the world and the messages that we are on the brink of WWIII? Now I’m not recommending we bury our heads in the sand and pretend that problems do not exist, rather I invite you to be mindful of what you are consuming, knowing your limits and when it’s affecting you, and when to unplug and disengage for your own mental, emotional, spiritual and even physical wellbeing. The same applies to social media and subliminal messages for product and service consumption.
Who is in Our Orbit: By now you’ve probably heard the coined phrases “you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with,” or “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”. These phrases are intended for making you take a close audit of who you are around the most, and to recognize that they have a direct impact on who you are. However, these phrases can be somewhat misleading. For most people, the five people they spend the most time with on a given day are their co-workers and immediate family/significant other so while they will impact your energy, you don’t necessarily “average” them, and when making friends with someone, your real or perceived success can affect their real or perceived success which in turns further fuels your success. Now there’s something to ponder. The key here is to take stock of who is affecting our state of being and becoming and to make sure that we are spending quality time with people who are in line with what we want for ourselves. That close friend that others think is a “loser” because they don’t have steady 9-5 job with a house complete with white-picket fence might just teach you how to embrace your passions and live more freely and authentically, and that other friend that is always the bridesmaid and never the bride just might teach you how to be independent and love yourself. My point, take stock of the character of a person more than the labels applied to them.
Mental, Emotional and Spiritual Practices: Everyone needs to have things that directly feed their mind, emotions and soul with uplifting and inspirational content and activities. It’s not just about avoiding or balancing out “negative” things, but rather actively seeking out stimulation that will alter your state of being by elevating your mood and creating feelings of joy and contentment; this is what is meant by “self-care”. Self care looks differently for everyone, one person may find selfcare in breathe work and meditation, while another person finds it in getting their hair and nails done. Self-care is incredibly important for caregivers and practitioners, because if we are not serving ourselves, taking care of our mind, body and Spirit, then anything we do for anyone else is not going to be of the same quality that we desire. Ideally you want to practice self-care daily, even if only for a short amount of time; think of it like a reset and recharge button. Free time plays an intricate role in these reset and recharge moments, and making selfcare possible and successful.
Free Time Activities: What are you doing in your free time, those gaps between times of obligated attention and tasks? Are you watching the news or doom scrolling through the latest TikTok trend, or are you picking up that book you’ve been meaning to get to, taking that walk you’ve been meaning to take, or perhaps breaking in those new colored pencils? What we do with our free time absolutely matters because these gap spaces have a profound effect on our energy, for better or worse. We tend to think of and treat these gaps mindlessly where we don’t even realize they are happening, or as luxury unicorns that “must be nice” for someone else to have since we are “too busy”. Truth is, everyone has free time, it’s a matter of recognizing it no matter how small of a chunk it may be, utilizing it wisely, and creating more of it.
Take a minute or two to process what you did yesterday from the moment you woke up to the moment you fell asleep. I encourage you to make a running list and count how many chunks of “free time” you had slipped in between obligatory moments. What did you do with that time? Now what could you have done differently in that time?
What To Do With It All
With this better understanding of energetic influences in our lives, we can “unplug” from the false reality, make adjustments where we feel called, start tapping into the natural rhythm of the Universe, and proceed more mindfully and energetically aware.. I’ll be covering a multitude of energetic and spiritual practices aimed at cultivating more mindfulness in your daily life over the next several blog posts. In the meantime, here are some useful tips for helping you get started in carving out more free time, as well as cultivating and enforcing positive mental and emotional practices.
Say “no” more often. “No” is a healthy boundary and does not mean you are rude. Checkout a therapists’ recommendation on How to Say “No” Without Being Rude - 5 Ways!
Say “yes” to less. One of the biggest mistakes we make is overcommitting ourselves; be ok with having “downtime”.
Learn to genuinely relax. If you are the person that has to have things scheduled, schedule a block of “nothingness”, meaning you are going to do something that is 100% relaxing with minimal to no effort.
Create a schedule and routine where free time, no matter if it’s even only 5 minute chunks, are built in. Use these reset and recharge moments wisely.
Ask for help - think of the obligatory things in your life that must be done and then see who can help alleviate it (ie. online grocery ordering and curbside pickup, pay a kid in the neighborhood $10 to mow your lawn)
Make exchanges for something of higher value in what you are already doing where you can - ie. exchange inspirational and educational audio books or Podcasts for the times you are listening to the radio or Pandora.
Mental, Emotional & Spiritual Practices for Selfcare
Meditation
Creating Sacred Space
Energy Clearing
Prayer and Affirmation Creation
Mindful Living Practices
Creating and Connecting to the Divine Spark within
As always, remember to take what resonates with you and leave the rest.
Interested in detoxing your environment? Checkout these resources.
PS. When it comes to energy, maybe there is something to the old saying “cleanliness is next to Godliness”.
This blog post is post 4 of a series covering the parts of the energy body (aura), various ways to work with it for optimal mind, body and spirit health, and using it to better connect to Universal energy and awareness for mindful living. Subscribe and you’ll be the first to know when the next blog posts drop.
Looking for something more specific to you and your unique energetic and spiritual hygiene needs?
I offer Custom Healing Crystal Consults for this very thing! Checkout this 30 day plan where I walk you through day-by-day what crystals to use, how to use them, and additional modalities to incorporate for maximum impact on your auric health and chakras HERE.
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Brandy
© Brandy Rachelle
Uncredited images from my personal collection or stock images