Last Updated on March 3, 2026 by Linda Dieffenbach

Clearing Negative Energy As an Essential Energetic Self-Care Practice

Everything is energy. Your body, your food, your environment, the Earth. Everything vibrates at different frequencies. Higher frequencies feel lighter and more expansive. Lower frequencies feel denser and heavier.

As you move through each day, you are interacting with a wide range of energies within and around you. That energy co-mingles with your own. In the same way that dirt and environmental residue cling to your body, energy can cling to your energy field and influence how you feel mentally, physically, and emotionally.

Think about it. Have you ever walked into a room full of happy, excited people and felt your energy lift almost instantly? You are connecting with energy that elevates your own vibration.

On the other hand, have you ever been in a space where people were angry or arguing? Notice what happens in your body. You may begin to feel tense, anxious, or irritable without fully understanding why.

Whether you consider yourself sensitive or not, your energy field is constantly interacting with your environment. Just as you prioritize showering and washing your clothes, it is equally important to clear the energy you carry from daily experiences.

Technically, energy itself is neither good nor bad. However, dense or stagnant energy in your field can impact your mood, clarity, focus, and overall wellbeing if it is not cleared regularly. I recommend daily clearing, and additional clearing anytime you feel stressed, fatigued, overwhelmed, anxious, or when navigating challenging life experiences.

Tools for Clearing Negative Energy:

Here are a few tools that you can use to clear energetic density from your space, your body and your energy field.

Smudging:

Smudging is the practice of burning sacred herbs or woods to cleanse and purify a space, object, or person. Variations of this practice exist across many Indigenous cultures, particularly within Native American traditions, where plant smoke is used ceremonially for purification, prayer, protection, and spiritual preparation. The smoke is believed to bind to dense or stagnant energy and carry it away as it rises, creating a refreshed and more harmonious environment.

You may use a smudge stick or loose plant material placed in a fire-safe container such as a cast iron bowl or abalone shell. Light the material and allow it to smolder rather than burn with an open flame. Gently fan the smoke with a feather or your hand as you move through the room, intentionally directing it into corners, along doorways, and around your body. If possible, open windows to allow fresh air to circulate and create a pathway for release.

Plants commonly used for smudging include:

• White Sage – Known for its strong cleansing and protective qualities. Often used to clear dense or stagnant energy from spaces and the energy field.
• Mugwort – Traditionally associated with intuitive clarity and dreamwork, while also supporting energetic cleansing.
• Juniper – Used for purification and strengthening the energetic field of a space.
• Palo Santo – Carries a lighter, uplifting quality. Often used to shift stagnant energy and invite clarity and warmth into a space.
• Cedar – Grounding and protective. Traditionally used to purify and fortify energetic boundaries.
• Sweetgrass – Frequently braided and burned after cleansing to invite harmony, balance, and positive energy.

Use caution when smudging. Never leave smoldering materials unattended. Be mindful of smoke detectors and individuals who are sensitive to smoke. If smoke is not appropriate for your space, consider smokeless alternatives such as essential oil sprays or diffused plant essences.

Epsom Salts and Rubbing Alcohol:

This is the most powerful cleansing method. Think of this as being akin to Spring cleaning in your home compared to your weekly cleaning. This method will clear the energy of the space, objects, and your energy field. 

Place a small mound of plain Epsom salt in a metal or fire-safe pan, preferably stainless steel or cast iron with a long handle. Never use non-stick or coated cookware. Pour a small mound of salt into the pan and soak it with 70% or higher rubbing alcohol. Light carefully with a long-handled lighter. If it does not ignite, add a small amount of additional alcohol.

Place the pan in a central location in the room and allow the salts to burn completely. You should notice a palpable shift in the energy of the space (i.e. it will feel lighter). If needed, the process may be repeated.

The container will become extremely hot. Use pot holders and keep the pan away from surfaces that may scorch. Never leave unattended.

I recommend picking up a stainless steel pan at a thrift store to use for this purpose. The flames will scorch the pan, so you do not want to use your good cookware.

Sea Salt:

Ever wonder why it feels so good to be by the ocean?

Sea salt is a simple and powerful ally for energetic clearing. Salt carries natural purifying properties and can be used in everyday ways to support energetic hygiene.

Note: Use pure sea salt that is not iodized or have chemical fragrances added.

Recommended uses include:

• Laundry Refresh – Add about a cup of sea salt to your laundry along with detergent to help clear energetic residue from clothing and linens.
• Salt Bath – Add at least one cup of sea salt to a warm bath and soak for 15–20 minutes. When finished, drain the tub and rinse your body to remove remaining salt.
• Salt Bowls in the Home – Place small bowls of sea salt in the corners of a room to absorb stagnant energy. Leave for 24–72 hours, then discard and replace with fresh salt as needed.
• Entryway Bowl – Keep a small bowl of sea salt near your front door as a simple boundary support practice. Refresh periodically.
• Salt Water Floor Wash – Dissolve sea salt in warm water and use it to mop floors, especially near entrances or high-traffic areas.
• Hand Rinse Reset – After a stressful day or emotionally charged interaction, dissolve a small amount of sea salt in warm water and rinse your hands as a symbolic and energetic reset.
• Under-Bed Clearing – Place a small bowl of sea salt under your bed overnight if you’ve experienced emotional intensity or restless sleep. Discard the salt the next day.
• Crystal Cleansing – Place crystals in a bowl of dry sea salt for several hours to clear accumulated energy. (Avoid using salt with soft or porous stones that may be damaged.)

Sea salt is accessible, affordable, and easy to incorporate into daily life. Small, consistent practices can make a noticeable difference in how your space and your body feel.

Additional Clearing Methods

Sound Clearing

Sound breaks up stagnant energy. Ringing a bell, using chimes or a singing bowl, drumming, or even clapping your hands firmly can shift the energy of a space. Move intentionally through the space and listen for subtle changes in tone or resonance.

Intention and Visualization

Your focused intention is a powerful tool. Stand in the center of a room, take a steady breath, and visualize light expanding outward, filling the space and dissolving density. Clear direction combined with grounded intention creates measurable energetic shifts.

Fresh Air and Sunlight

Open windows regularly. Allow natural light and airflow to circulate. Sunlight carries a clarifying quality that naturally refreshes space.

Essential Oils

Diffuse oils such as frankincense, lavender, eucalyptus, or citrus to support energetic refreshment without smoke. You may also create a simple spray with water and essential oils for use throughout your home.

These are foundational tools to support strong energetic hygiene. When clearing becomes part of your regular routine, you may begin to feel lighter, clearer, and more grounded in your own energy.

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About Linda Dieffenbach:

About Linda Dieffenbach, BSW, RMT

Linda Dieffenbach is a trauma-informed energy healing practitioner, intuitive coach, and founder of Wellness in Harmony, LLC. With over 20 years of experience, she guides clients through deep transformation, helping them break free from limiting patterns and reclaim their personal power. Her expertise includes chakra healing, trauma awareness, relationship dynamics, intuitive development, and somatic and energetic healing.

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