Spring Cleaning for the Modern Witch
It is finally the Spring Equinox again, and I can’t speak for everyone on my end of the Northern Hemisphere, but I know I’ve desperately needed this day to come for some time. That January 1st marks the beginning of the new year for many in the Western world just doesn’t sit right with me. We’re still in the dead of winter. Holiday decorations are barely put away by that point, if at all. It’s cold, and grey, and it feels as though we should all still be asleep.
Because we should.
For thousands of years, humans across the world have celebrated the new year on or after the start of meteorological spring. And while I will never miss an opportunity to roast the hell out of Pope Gregory, the adoption of January 1st as the start of the new year was merely popularized with the Gregorian calendar. In actuality, it dates as far back as Julius Caesar’s reform of the Roman calendar in 45 BCE.
I digress. But all I’m saying is, if the Spring Equinox feels like the actual start of a new year, you’re in good company and not without precedent. And, if you’re scrolling through this as you gather cleaning supplies or await your floors to dry from their first Good Spring Cleaning, you’re also in good company. Regardless of your spiritual inclinations, many of us feel an instinctual urge to purge when the tulips and daffodils start to grace us with their splendor.
At Ride the Hedge HQ, the whole place gets a good scrubbing for both mundane and magical reasons. Here’s why, and how.
You can’t do strong magic in a dirty house.
There, I said it. I personally don’t want to bring the dust and energy from a year I’ve put behind me into a new one, and I don’t think clearly or cast as effectively amongst clutter. I also don’t make much distinction between mundane cleaning and magical cleansing, since most of my actions on a daily basis serve a dual purpose. Here’s a brief overview of my process. Feel free to borrow and adapt to your own liking.
Pre-Equinox Decluttering
I try to be mindful of picking up as I go in the days before. Closets, cabinets, doom piles—they all get a second look and a purge if needed. When I feel overwhelmed by it all, I’ll set a timer for one room at a time and just repeat the process until I’m satisfied. The goal here is to at least have common areas ready to deep clean.
Dusting & Sweeping, But Make It Magical
I begin with dusting first, room by room. Top to bottom so it all goes to the floor. You may need a Zyrtec before you start. As I do this, I try to picture in my mind the people, and events, and things that were in and out of each room and what pieces of them may have become the dust I am now lodging from fan blades and crown moulding. As these memories wash over me, I honor whatever feelings come up from these experiences, and know that I don’t have to take them with me if it is not in my best interest. I find it’s most useful to have an attitude of detachment while I do this, and be an observer of my own thoughts and emotions.
Now, for the sweeping. There are many schools of thought about which part of the house and in which direction this happens, and my advice to you is to do what feels natural to you. I begin in the back of my house and work in a clockwise-ish order of rooms, ending at my front door. You can toss what you gather directly out the front door, or save it for your bonfire, if you have one. Either way, once I reach the front door, I don’t stop there. I sweep my porch and the steps to the sidewalk. While I do this, I hold in my mind anyone who I don’t wish to see on my doorstep this year and imagine that I am clearing their path to me while I sweep straight to the sidewalk. Don’t let the door hit ya.
Washes & Such
When I’m pressed for time or low on spoons, I simply mix a little Florida Water into whatever household cleaners I use for my furniture, windows, and floors. When I have the time and energy, I make my own water to mix in. I’ll steep rosemary, lavender, and juniper in a pot of water and once it cools, I’ll bottle it to add as I’m mopping floors and wiping own/polishing furniture. For windows, I use a mixture of rice water and flake salt. Use sparingly however so as not to overpower the actual ingredients that get those windows clean. These are commonly found herbal allies that cover a lot of ground as it pertains to their correspondences with cleansing, peace, and protection. I think it’s also worthwhile to do a little of your own research on native plants with magical properties and use what’s around you, always making an offering back to the land and its spirits whenever you do take from them.
Locking Windows and Mirrors
There’s no shortage of results and perspectives when it comes to how to lock windows and mirrors for protection in your home. And I’m not talking about the fasteners or other hardware that keep them literally locked. I’m talking about locking what amount to portals from those who may wish to eavesdrop or penetrate your protections. What I use to lock mine is a secret, and the same should go for you. But options to experiment with are: Florida Water, holy water (whatever is holy for you), saltwater, or your own spit. You should choose a symbol that has a meaning of protection for you, whether that’s a pentacle, pentagram, protection rune, or sigil you create yourself. The intent is that once these things are clean, you draw the symbol with the “sealant” of your choosing to prevent psychic attacks, nosy individuals, spirits with ill-intent, or just your run of the mill miserable, hating-ass person.
For All the Gods’ Sake, CLEAN UNDER YOUR DAMN BED.
From time to time, I will have clients or friends consult with me about persistent, troubling dreams. 9 times out of 10, they are absolutely convinced that someone is trying to attack them in their dreams or their home is downright infested with “bad energy.” Respectfully–and with love—they are almost always wrong. More often than not, dreams are just dreams. However, in order to start the process of elimination so that you can be sure when a dream is more than just a dream, sweep under your bed, my loves. Even better, place a bowl of water mixed with Vrinda Blue under your bed, and remember to change it out regularly. Inspect the bowl when it comes time to change it. Watch for shapes that appear to be more than meets the eye. See what particles collect in there. It’s a form of divination. As an added measure, mix up a little sachet of herbs that promote psychic protection or good sleep such as Agrimony, Chamomile, Lavender, Thyme, Rosemary, or Valerian and stow it in your pillow case.
And the Rest?
I add a few drops of Lavender essential oil when I wash couch cushion covers and throw pillows to promote a feeling of peace for my guests and family. I bring fresh flowers in during the Equinox to bring freshness of thought and beauty. I give my altars a good cleaning and organizing as an act of devotion to my ancestors and my deities. I try to touch every item in my Magical Supply Closet to “wake” it up if it’s been a while since I’ve used it. And as always, there’s a few things I do that will remain in my personal grimoires, to be passed to my next of practicing kin when I become an ancestor myself.
Sometimes, cleaning for the new year also means making room for new things in my practice, and saying goodbye to parts of my practice—or spirits—that I am parting ways with. This is a deeply emotional task that I will cover in its own post. This was the case for me this year, and I still need a day or two.
Conclusion
In embracing the Spring Equinox as the true commencement of a new year, we align ourselves with a tradition that spans millennia, long before the arbitrary designation of January 1st. As we undertake the ritual of cleansing our spaces, we recognize the profound connection between physical tidiness and metaphysical clarity. The act of decluttering becomes a spiritual endeavor, a purging of not just dust but also the lingering energies of the past. With each sweep and wash, we symbolically clear pathways while fortifying our homes against unwanted influences. Yet, this annual rite extends beyond mere physicality; it embodies a sacred renewal, an opportunity to shed old practices and embrace new beginnings. As we honor our traditions and adapt them to our individual paths, we step into the new year with intention, welcoming the promise of growth, transformation, and the ever-present potential for magic.
