Before I begin to clear a house, I walk the entire property to honor the land that plays a benevolent host to the structures, people, and pets that dwell upon it. Whether I “own,” “rent,” or am “just passing through,” honoring the land beneath my feet is one of the most important practices I have been guided to do as part of my intention to mend the collective wounding many beings experience during these “Changing Times.”
To be able to “connect in” to land, much of my work has been to “learn to unlearn” the disconnected mindset of colonization, which inherently perpetuates a harmful division between people and the natural world in order to maintain power. Because we are all indigenous to somewhere, we each have our own ancestral histories of harm that can be traced to identify the period of time when there was a break in our sacred relationship to the earth as a partner and nurturer of our time here.
In my own journey, I have also had to engage with and make a shift in my orientation from the Jewish ancestral wounding of multiple generations of forced exile and persecution, to embracing and being present with my body in this particular landscape, with all of its complicated relationships. This includes my family history of immigration to this country, and how their need for refuge from harm has also contributed to a similar pattern of perpetration of harm, both here and abroad.
For those of us who engage in healing work, to remain disconnected from the context of place puts us at risk for spiritual bypassing. If we are not originally indigenous to the landscapes where we tread, we are at risk of bringing imbalance rather than creating balance when we enter a space to make changes if we do not bring an active awareness of the historical relationships of people, flora, and fauna to the lands we walk.
Before I do a house clearing, I also have a conversation with the primary occupants to find out what they know about the space, who left imprints on the land before them-both ancient and recent, and what their relationship is with the land, the plants, the animals, the neighbors, etc. This conversation often helps reinforce their connection with the land, and also serves a way for me to “walk the land” before I even go there, and helps me know how to prepare.
One of the earliest teachings about cultivating relationship-with-land came from my teacher, Karen Furr, who taught me to introduce myself to the land by saying, “I come to do no harm.” Since then I have adapted this message into the affirmative: “I come in the way of light and love, for the greatest good of everyone involved.” As I walk the land, I am also “listening,” not just with my inner ears, but with my eyes, and with the “felt sense,” or vibrational receptors of my body. I am observing both the seen and the unseen energies of a place, and I am asking for permission and guidance to work in partnership with all that is held within that space.
I think I first learned this concept, the simple practice of asking for permission- from the energies and elements- when in the presence of a Tewa Elder, during a workshop at the Lama Foundation in northern New Mexico. His comment was about the presumed right use of solar power. “Did you ever ask the sun, if you could use its energy?” Back then, my 20-something-year-old self could understand being in relation to the Sun as an idea, but only as a concept. It was much later that I began to embody this way of knowing and feel the connection to the elements as beings. The western mindset is still so ingrained in me that it takes much practice and intention to remain grounded and humble in my approach.
As I walk the land I carry a tool with me. Often I use my voice to tone or chant as I meander the perimeter, and I usually carry a smudge stick or sounding bowl. Teacher and friend, Celia Blackwood might refer to this phase as “the pre-rinse.” The initial clearing of the boundaries of the property creates flow in the places where what I call “unhelpful” energy may linger. I may pause in an area where the energy seems stuck or dense. As in any respectful relationship, it becomes a conversation. I am asking what is needed to create balance and harmony, and listening and receiving that guidance within my body-mind-spirit to help me respond in a respectful way.
To assist my work, I align with the essence of whatever tool I am using. I ask beforehand which tools wish to be a part of the ceremony. Sometimes specific tools are signaled by the conversation I have had with the homeowner. The tool becomes my partner in the endeavor, and it is also a way to protect myself from taking on the energies that may be attracted to my light. I stay in a place of neutrality in my approach. I do not get into the fear-based constructs of “good” or “bad” energy. I do not “other” or demonize energy because all energy is part of the whole, just as dirt is crucial to life on earth. After all, it provides the soil for seeds to germinate. But, if it gets compacted nothing can grow, so movement is sometimes necessary. Therefore, I ask stuck energy to go where it can be helpful, to transform for the greater good of all.
To remain in-relationship-with the land I have found it is important to find a place outside where one can make a small offering about once a month. When walking the perimeter, I am paying attention to the places signaling that they wish to be nourished even after I am finished with the clearing. This may be in areas where energy is either stuck or porous, or where the land seems vulnerable or has been disturbed in some way. It is also important to ensure all of the land’s corners feel energetically secure. I take note of spots where I might make suggestions for physical changes, such as repairing a fence, picking up litter, or opening a space for more flow.
So much information is gathered by this practice of staying connected and in-relationship-with the land before even approaching and clearing the house itself. Like any other relationship, having clear intentions and staying grounded while leaning in with love can keep one attuned to the pulse of a place in order to shift the energy. When we choose to connect with the land where we stand with awareness, we are also choosing to join with the fabric of the entire planet in a profound way.