Cleansegiving is the time of year between Thanksgiving and the New Year where you give yourself permission to reflect on the things that are no longer serving you and cleanse yourself of them. As a financial therapist, I started out working with people on ridding themselves of financially limiting beliefs such as, “having money means I’m disconnected from my spirituality,” or, “I can’t ask for what I’m worth at work.” I invite you to join in and think about different ways you can fold this practice into the busy holiday season.

Interested in your version of Cleansegiving? Read on for different ways to celebrate.

Hygge-style

Invite over a few friends, Hygge expert Meik Wiking says 4-6 people is optimal for a Hygge gathering, and get your Danish cleansing on! Hygee is a sense of comfort, togetherness, and well-being that is experienced in a cozy blanket-and-candle-filled environment. Boil a pot of water for tea, have some cookies or cake on hand, and invite your friends over. You can talk about what you’ll be letting go of during the cleansegiving season and have lots of safe support.

Journal

Write down a few prompting questions when you can carve out a few minutes for yourself. Try the following: what have I assigned to 2018 that is no longer serving me? Have there been any unhelpful statements I’ve been carrying around this year? Do I have any holiday-resentment pent up? What holiday expectations are getting me into trouble? See what comes up as you write out your responses.

Meditate

If talking and writing aren’t your style, try a more contemplative practice. Quiet yourself with a body scan. Once you feel settled into the here-and-now, check in with the physical sensations that arise as you reflect on cleansegiving. What is your jaw doing? How is your breath pattern shifting? What response is your stomach sending you? Are there any sticky or tense areas in your body? Allow the somatic signals to rise to the occasion and invite them to head on out this cleansegiving.

Ritualized with Sage

If you really want to take things up a level, add sage. Honoring the rituals of Native Americans, use sage to help symbolize the release of negativity. This practice is called smudging. Smudging is the ritual of cleansing yourself or your space of negative energy. Traditionally, dried sage is bundled and burned. Spiritually, it is the idea of driving away negative energy. Scientifically, burned sage actually changes the molecular structure of air by releasing negative ions which have been associated with a decrease in negative moods. Gather dried sage (often sold in bundles with sweetgrass) and some sort of tray or plate that the sage can sit on and catch ashes.  Once you’ve lit your sage, blow out the flame, so you have a smolder-style smoke. Lifting the sage towards your heart with one hand, cup the other hand towards your body, stirring smoke towards yourself. You can then bring the smoke towards your third eye if desired. Allow this ritual to cleanse the negative energy you don’t need. The belief is as the smoke from the sage dissipates; it allows a space of positive energy, abundance, and light into its place.

These are just a few ways you can celebrate. Have any other ideas? Let me know how you plan on participating in clenasegiving. If you are on Instagram, I’d love it if you’d hashtag #cleansegiving and share what you’ll be releasing in the coming weeks.

Wishing you a light #cleansegiving season.