How to turn your home into a spiritual retreat

Is lockdown starting to get to you? Don’t despair – wellbeing expert Rosie Underwood explains how to make your home environment the best retreat you’ve ever experienced…

Our happiness and wellbeing has a lot to do with the sanctuary we like to call home. The space that we choose to create for ourselves has the ability to harness abundance in our lives by having a profound effect on the energy flow of our bodies and our minds.

And yet, in recent weeks, our homes may have felt more like prisons rather than sancturies. Stuck in our own space, with very little opportunity to get out, we may have forgotten how sacred this space really is.

Rediscover the joy of your home and harmonise the energy flow around you with these top tips…

Cosy up in a meditation den

Make a nook in your home for a meditation space, and add cushions and blankets to signal to your brain that this is a safe space. Our bodies and minds respond well to more confined places to meditate and calm the mind, because our ancestors in the wild living in caves felt under threat if the space they were in was too open. When we find stillness in our homes and our minds, we can intuitively sense our ancestors in our wisdom bodies in this way.

Use flower power

The power of plants in your home cannot be underestimated. Flowers symbolise hope, growth and togetherness, and house plants really work to purify the air we breathe. Keeping dead plants, however, can cause energy to deaden and stagnate so make sure you follow the care instructions and throw away any flowers that are past their best.
You can also try to use as many natural materials as possible when furnishing your home. Wood, for example, draws us towards our roots, connects us back to nature and unites us to our centre.

Smudge away negativity

We need to energetically cleanse a space to invite positive energy, and smudging is a great way to do this. The ancient practice of burning dried sage to cleanse and promote healing and wisdom is something that has been passed down through generations for good reason. The word sage is derived from the Latin, salvere, which means ‘to heal.’ Match your white sage burning ritual with a mantra to release negativity while encapsulating your intention. As the smoke from the sage ascends, it will take your wishes with it into the cosmos.

Let it shine

 
Light is known to be one of the strongest manifestations of energy and has a dominant effect on the quality of our qi, building positive and supportive results. Light in the dark provides comfort and opportunity, and it has the same profound impact on the energy channels of the body. Create soothing pools of light in your home by opening your curtains at dawn and dusk and use Himalayan salt lamps to help clear electromagnetic frequencies.

Rosie Underwood is a teacher of vinyasa flow and positive psychology, and a health and beauty writer trained in integrative health. Follow her on Instagram @RosieJUnderwood

We’ll have more ideas on how to make your home into a wellness sanctuary in the July issue of Soul & Spirit magazine, out in June.