It has been interesting weather these last two weeks in Italy. It has rained nearly every day since we got here. The temperature has ranged from 83 in Rome one day, to the 50s here in Umbria, and cooler at night. Today, it is clear, but windy. It feels almost fall-like, instead of like spring. It is crisp and cool, and the fireplace is going.

To get to our home, we have to cross a river. There is a bridge that the owners assure us has been checked out by an engineer. On the other hand, the gardener tells us he would not attempt it! So we cross the water without benefit of bridge, pretty much like everyone else. The water level is usually quite low, just a few inches of tire running through water. But, with all of this rain, we have literally been housebound. The water is higher, but it’s really the boulders that roll into the stream that make it impassable. I’m not up for that kind of a challenge, so we’ll wait until they clear the boulders from the riverbed to cross over.

Rather than get annoyed or frustrated, being stuck here (not a bad place to be stuck) gives me the opportunity to pause. Not feeling the urge to go see and do, I sit and write. I listen to music. I have another cappuccino and think.  One thing this pause makes me realize is how important it is to get out of our own environment sometimes.  I am so grateful to have this time in Italy, in a beautiful villa, with an expansive view. The sky is so important to feel the reach of bigger things—one of the reasons I love walking up the mountain next to my house back home. The sky clears my head, opens me to higher and bigger possibilities. Inspires me.

What in the environment of your life needs to be changed? Do you need to clean off your desk, purge your closets? Do you need to open the windows and bring in fresh air? What in your environment reminds you of lack—in other words, of not having the success in your life that you want? Changing your environment is hugely important because what you see every single day may reinforce the energy of  lack, disorganization or failure in your mind.  An untended environment keeps you stuck.

Now, I’m not saying that you have to travel to Italy! While traveling out of your environment gives you a fresh perspective and is very helpful, I want you to see that you need to change what bugs you when you look around. Or, what you ignore and pretend isn’t bugging you! (Red flag!) Ask yourself: “What am I tolerating in my physical and emotional environment that needs clearing out?”

The things you are tolerating in your environment are like boulders that block the river you want to cross. You have to clear them away before you can move forward.

Once you’ve cleaned out an area that needs improvement or fresh life, there are different ways to “clear the space” of the negative or heavy energy that hangs there, like a residual film left behind. Research is proving that the space between the things you see is actually filled with microscopic particles or motion. This is not a scientific paper, so I won’t cite studies for the next three pages. You’ll just have to trust me: there is more there in the space around you than meets the eye!

Here are some tips for physically cleansing and clearing your space:

• Obviously, clean it up. Clear out what you don’t need. Organize your “stuff”. (This is something I struggle with!) When you do this, you will notice yourself more relaxed in your environment.
• Burn sage and move around your space with it. Let the smoke drift into corners. Make sure to hold it while “outlining” doorways and windows. Let the sage reach out to cleanse the spaces between the things.  “Heavy” energy tends to collect in spaces where air does not circulate, especially in corners.
• Along those lines, using sound also clears space. Ringing bells, using singing bowls, or even clapping hands into corners literally moves the dead energy out of your space.
• Vacuum! There are countless miniscule particles lying in corners, on windowsills, in rugs, and those particles attract more particles. Dust literally breeds dust. Regular vacuuming can also clear your space.
• When you’re done, light a candle and bless the rooms you are in. Set an intention. It’s a simple, easy mind shift to get you into a different “space“— internally and externally.

Pick one room or space to start on. Then move on to the next. You’ll be able to breathe better, physically and psychologically!

Next week, we’ll talk about toxic relationships!

AFFIRMATION OF THE WEEK:

Today I start observing and then take action on clearing my physical space of objects and disorganization that do not serve my attitude of abundance. I clear my space to allow an opening for more success to flow into my life.