Purpose of items 1-4: When we sleep we are particularly more vulnerable to small and large negativities. It is helpful to prepare one's sleeping area to help mitigate the negative energies that may be attracted to you. These are negative forms based in emotion, not in Will, which requires a different type of cleansing.

The negative energies addressed here are ones that can affect the subtle material of the Astral body. For example, if you are traveling and are up against a particularly difficult sales pitch or meeting, and also if you are planning on staying in a hotel room where who knows what type of energies may have been manifesting themselves, then using the following cleansing processes should help clean the atmosphere.

Also, using all of the methods below can be used on a daily basis, around the clock, or as needed in your home, office or other structures that require some freshening.

Candles are a passive, but helpful way to annihilate the negative energies floating around your area as they act as a psychic deodorant. It is preferable to choose ones that are either unscented or that also have a traditional Religious Icon of your choice. The spiritual figures depicted will assist no matter what your proclaimed denomination.

Directions: Place a candle in your bedroom at night and let it burn all night. If it is not feasible to do so, due to animals or young children in the room that might knock over the candle, then find a safe place close to the bedroom, such as an adjacent bathroom or such to burn the candle in. Do sleep with the candle on - use the little votive ones, the eight-hour ones, or larger. If you put them on a non-flammable surface (like in a sandbox) below the bed's height (not under the bed!), then all you see at night is a circle of light on the ceiling - so that will keep the bedroom clear at night.

Amount: One a night or longer and/or everyday all day

Type: Best is beeswax, next is paraffin; in a pinch you can use scented candles. The candle needs to burn at least 8 hours (or as long as you sleep) for overnight use. Costs less to buy a large one like the Paschal Candles at www.dadant.com and keep relighting it each night.

Function: You never see butterflies fly into candles, the fliers of the night (moths, etc.) are attracted to the flames and other lights of the night. And thus, fire attracts negative creatures as well as negative energies. It works on the principal that water is to dirt as fire is to air, that is, each element has a cleansing effect on another element, sort of like the rock/scissors/paper ritual one practiced as a child.

• Fire cleans Air

• Air cleans Water (think of aeration and bubbles)

• Earth does not so much clean fire, but it does shut it down

The point is that fire works because it is the attraction of opposites, that is, that which is dark goes toward and into the light. When the negative energies are attracted to the flame and not your Astral body, the fire immolates the energies, uses the energies as if they were a fuel and thus destroys them.

Smudging has a similar effect, but it is used in different locations and for a different purpose. Smudging is used as part of a religious ritual and acts by drawing out the bad stuff from you that the open flame then cleans. Smudging is used in ritual areas, such as a sweathouse or during an outdoor ceremony, but it is not used indoors to clean houses or other buildings.

Frequency: This type of cleansing does occur slowly so repetitive use on a daily basis is best. If circumstances are particularly bad, burning one 24/7 is reasonable.

NOTE: in the other FAQ under Ghosts and Astral Images I address the issue of ghosts and how to keep them from bothering you, using the same principle of flames to attract that which is negative.

Camphor also acts as an atmosphere cleanser for your environment. Camphor is the standard house-cleaning tool in India.

Warning: Some Homoeopathists state that homeopathic remedies are ruined by camphor fumes. If under the care of a homoeopathist get their approval or get an alternate cleansing substance from those fine folks.

Type: Camphor oil or Camphor powder. Burning camphor is best method.

NOTE: Camphor burns very, very hot, it can break ceramic, shells, and Pyrex®. So, best to use a camphor brass burner, brass ashtray, or other burner designed for that purpose. Can purchase these from Indian products dealer.

Also, camphor is very sooty, so when using it, be careful of not getting too near to objects (lampshades, furniture, etc.) as well as not getting the soot too close to ceilings and walls.

Amount: Start with a 'chunk' the size of two aspirins glued together or smaller. Once you see how much heat/soot it generates you can graduate to 'chicklet' and 'double-chicklet' size. More than that may set off distant smoke alarms.

NOTE: Camphor will create as much soot as there is negativity in the atmosphere, so the more negativity, the more soot and also the more camphor you will need to get things really clean.

Directions for Camphor Powder: To cleanse your room or house, light the camphor in your brass dish (be sure to use an oven mitt just to be safe). And start in the NE corner of the room and move clockwise. When you come to a door, window or other portal be sure to outline the entire four sides or shape of the portal, that is, start at the bottom frame of the door (window), and move up to the top and then down the other side as well as the transom (bottom) and then continue your clockwise direction around the room. If a window (or even a door) is round or octagonal, then start with the section closest/lowest to you and make a complete circumference no matter what the shape.

If there is furniture in the way or if the windows or door tops are too high to feasibly reach (no need to get on a tall ladder and risk life and limb) just get as close as you can without causing damage to your surroundings and self and do the outline as best as possible.

For skylights, do the same thing, hold the dish over your head in the direction of the skylight and aim the smoke in its direction and outline it as best as you can.

Directions for Camphor Oil: Acquire an Aromatherapy device such as those fired clay rings that go around light bulbs, the cast iron ones that have a shallow copper dish to hold a candle, or other devices such as those that you can use in your vehicle. Follow the directions for using Aromatherapy oils, such as putting a few drops on the ring and setting the ring on a cool light bulb, turn the light (bulb) on and leave the light on for at least 24 minutes" (the amount of time it takes the Moon to change its position in the sky...or whatever the aromatherapy device suggests).

Another option if you are in a hotel room and do not have your aromatherapy devices with you, is to take a cloth hanky that is disposable, add a few drops to it, and drape it over the lampshade, use caution though, some hotel rooms use halogen bulbs which burn very hot and can set cloth on fire. Only do this method on low-watt incandescent bulbs. If in doubt, better not to use this method.

Function: Because it is used by so many people on the planet, it is effective because of a strength in numbers, that is, the cleansing properties are not functional based on your own will, but the fact that so many people are using it, it becomes a "me and what army" in its performance abilities.

Type: Powder or oil form.

Amount: 6 to 8 drops of essential oil; 20 to 30 if oil is in a 'carrier' oil

Powder: One teaspoon (tsp.)

Oil: A few drops (lasts eight hours)

Directions for Golden Seal Powder: If you are in a hotel room or other area that might be sensitive to burning substances, then using powdered Golden Seal is the best option instead of burning sage or camphor.

Take the Golden Seal and sprinkle it on a pillow and then whack the pillow the way people beat rugs, to shake the powder out and disperse it throughout the room. (You can use Sage powder in conjunction or as a single cleanser using the same method of "dusting" the room with Golden Seal.)

Directions for Golden Seal Oil: (Same as Camphor oil above) Acquire an Aromatherapy device such as those fired clay rings that go around light bulbs or the cast iron ones that have a shallow copper dish to hold a candle, or other devices such as those that you can use in your vehicle. Follow the directions for using Aromatherapy oils, such as putting a few drops on the ring and setting the ring on a cool light bulb, turn the light (bulb) on and leave the light on for at least 24 minutes" (the amount of time it takes the Moon to change its position in the sky....).

Another option if you are in a hotel room and do not have a your aromatherapy devices with you, is to take a hanky that is disposable, add a few drops to it, and drape it over the lampshade, use caution though, some hotel rooms use halogen bulbs which burn very hot and can set cloth on fire. Only do this method on low watt incandescent bulbs. If in doubt, better not to use this method.

Type: Leaf, powder, or oil form.

• Leaf: Pre-sized bundles are available at New Age/Aromatherapy markets; if making your own, gather no more than will slide through an ordinary napkin ring; hang the twigs upside down until dry.

• Powder: One teaspoon (tsp.)

• Oil: A few drops (lasts eight hours)

Directions for Sage Powder: If you are in a hotel room or other area that might be sensitive to burning substances, then using powdered Golden Seal or Sage is best instead of burning sage or camphor.

Take the Sage and sprinkle it on a pillow and then whack the pillow the way people beat rugs, to shake the powder out and disperse it throughout the room. (See Golden Seal directions above.)

Directions for Sage Oil: (Same as Camphor oil and Golden Seal oil above) Acquire an Aromatherapy device such as those fired clay rings that go around light bulbs or the cast iron ones that have a shallow copper dish to hold a candle, or other devices such as those that you can use in your vehicle. Follow the directions for using Aromatherapy oils, such as putting a few drops on the ring and setting the ring on a cool light bulb, turn the light (bulb) on and leave the light on for at least 24 minutes" (the amount of time it takes the Moon to change its position in the sky....).

Another option if you are in a hotel room and do not have a your aromatherapy devices with you, is to take a hanky that is disposable, add a few drops to it, and drape it over the lampshade, use caution though, some hotel rooms use halogen bulbs which burn very hot and can set cloth on fire. Only do this method on low watt incandescent bulbs. If in doubt, better not to use this method.

Directions: When you are preparing to enter a difficult atmosphere, such as a meeting with a much-reviled employer, a hostile legal case, or even discussing some contentious issue with a family member or friend, as you get dressed for the encounter, imagine that you're putting on an armor of light as a last layer. It worked for St. Augustine, and it's helped me in times of nastiness. When you get done, take a quick rinse in cool water with just a touch of cider vinegar on a wash cloth - not enough to smell like a salad - just a touch - it will cleanse away the bad vibes trying to attack you.