As someone who studies and practices the ways in Wiccan; a type of witchcraft, I have learned that the year is broken up into stages. In simpler terms, nature follows a permanent unchanging clockwork of spring, summer, autumn and winter; the division of these four seasons holds different holidays and celebrations. In Wiccan terms, such holidays are known as Sabbats and instead of seasons, they have a Wheel of the Year.
I won’t delve deep into this, but to offer a small example wouldn’t hurt this piece; Imbolc in February, Beltane in May, Mabon in September, Samhain in October and so on. Imbolc is a Sabbat for 1 February. It holds rituals that prepare us to welcome in the spring season and is a time of cleansing and purification. This is where spring cleaning joins the conversation and we start to roll up our sleeves to begin the traditional spring clean.
Dusting & Polishing
The dust bunnies must please take a stage exit right and left and everywhere. Windows must be opened to let in the new spring fresh air and to let the stale smells of yule out. It’s important to open windows on a daily basis to prevent humidity giving birth to mould shelves and picture frames and ornaments need their dusting down, that same dust needs a new home, but outside your home this time. Your cloth will be busy as well as your cleaning sprays, but your home will thank you for this dust exorcism.
A sage cleansing
Sage is going to be the most important part of your spring-cleaning ritual. Sage, in particular is a phenomenal incense used in banishing negative energies and replacing it with positive ones. The incense can be purchased at any crystal shop; Amber or Rocky Road Minerals in Galway and if you’re feeling really snazzy then you’ll want a beautiful incense burner to go with it. A brief visit back to the Imbolc Sabbat; candles are encouraged to be lit as a ritual to welcome back the warmth of the sun. That’s a really nice sentiment, if I do say so myself.
Beddie-byes
Everyone loathes this because it takes effort; tugging, pulling, flattening out, pluffing pillows. Yes, the duvet and sheets need to be changed as part of your spring clean. Personally, I feel that they are a pain to wash because everything gets tangled inside the duvet after you take it out of the washing machine and the next time you use that duvet cover, you’re wondering why there’s an odd sock and a pair of underwear in it. There is nothing that feels better than going to sleep in a freshly changed bed; that’s the end prize.
Charity
A part of the spring-cleaning process is to sort through your possessions to see what you don’t want anymore; clothes, knick-knacks. It is highly encouraged around spring time to give to charities what you no longer want. It’s a healthy purge that will have your wardrobe and cupboards feeling refreshed and ready to welcome in the new things you buy for the coming year.
