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My son was about six months old as I sat on the floor of his unfurnished room—black tourmaline in hand—on the phone with Aja Daashuur, the Southern California–based spiritual advisor, medium, and founder of Spirit House Collective. Daashuur was gently prompting me, providing intention-setting mantras to recite and setting up for the process she refers to as energy mapping. This was the first time I had ever tried a design approach that blends mysticism with decorating (two of my favorite things). But, after having a personal session with Daashuur, I saw the transformative benefits firsthand and gained an understanding of the value in treating our dwelling as a living being that is constantly absorbing and emitting energy.
After room-sharing for a few months, I was gearing up to move the baby into his own room, and wanted to thoughtfully design it in a way that wasn’t just about catering to visual aesthetics but felt good on a deeper level. I wondered, How do I properly clear the energy before moving him into the space? What are my goals for him as he gets older and how do I foster that through design, materials, and rituals? This is where energy mapping came in to guide the process.
What is energy mapping?
For the uninitiated, energy mapping is a concept that involves cleaning, clearing, blessing, setting spiritual goals, and making intuitive design choices to promote a higher vibration in a living space. “The process is about intentionally designing the space to align with and support the spiritual and emotional well-being of whoever is inhabiting it,” Daashuur says. This method is often used in holistic design and the healing arts to understand how different energies interact and influence one’s wellness through their environment. Today, it’s a concept that blends intuition with practical design, and is uniquely tailored to the individual’s beliefs and needs—incorporating tarot, numerology, and symbolism if desired.
According to Daashuur, energy mapping isn’t about dominance with your intentions, but rather working in collaboration with the home or room—talking directly to it, asking questions, and listening. “It’s about connecting to the spirit of the home and having a conversation,” she explains. “Is the spirit of the home happy? Is it sad? Is it angry? When the partnership flourishes, so much more can happen. So much more love, abundance, and creativity.”
Why should you try energy mapping?
According to Daashuur, “every room holds its own energy that can significantly impact how you are activated or unactivated within the space.” Have you ever walked into a space and felt like the vibes were off? Maybe it was the funky layout or dated decor? Perhaps, instead, it was something else entirely that couldn’t quite be articulated. This observation directly relates to how much energy is put into reactivating and realigning with the space. “The less time you put into it, the longer the energy shifts and changes, and that’s when negative energy can begin to settle and spirits that aren't in alignment can begin to come in,” Daashuur adds.
Instead of redoing a space entirely or melding it together to make it feel (and look) good, energy mapping ensures designing from a place of well-being and intention, tapping into your ethereal guides and spiritual support around you.
So how do you energy map your space?
While it’s certainly helpful to have someone like Daashuur come in and facilitate, anyone can try energy mapping their space—you don’t need to be clairvoyant or hyper-tuned into the metaphysical. But, before you call in and set your intentions, there are a few practices Daashuurr recommends before getting started:
You wouldn’t decorate a bookshelf before clearing and cleaning it off first, right? The same concept applies to energy mapping. “Start clearing before blessing, because you don’t want to bless a space that has unwanted energy in it,” Daashuur says. You might need to put in a little elbow grease first. “Start by cleaning the room in general—making sure windows are spotless, floors have been swept, and carpets vacuumed. Organization is also key, as stagnant energy tends to collect around clutter. These are feelings that have no place in your sacred space,” she says. Once you’ve cleaned the space, you can clear it. Daashuur recommends following these steps:
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- Open the windows to allow energy and air to circulate: “This will bring new energy in and allow room for any lower vibrational or stagnant energy to make its way out.”
- Play relaxing music: “Music can literally change the vibration in a space, so think about what kind of vibe and energy you wish to activate.”
- Utilize your herbal allies: “I suggest using the scents of lavender, lemon balm, rosemary, or rose. These scents are calming, healing, and bring protective and cleansing energy into a room.”
- Stash some black tourmaline: “To add an extra layer of protection you may wish to consider adding a beautiful piece of black tourmaline. Black tourmaline is known for its incredible powers of protection and cleaning of all negative energy around it. It truly is a powerful ally.”
Once you have cleaned and cleared the space, you’re ready to “call in.” For me, Daashuur provided a universal blessing that I recited in the room aloud. But you can make it take shape however you’d like. “I believe that we need to trust ourselves,” Daashuur explains. “Instead of viewing it as this extreme thing or following a set of these rules, embrace what feels good for you. You want to activate magic in whatever form you feel called to. “When we speak our desires out loud it is much easier for us to activate them. Even if you don’t subscribe to magic—psychologically, once a desire is spoken it becomes easier to make changes and choices that will manifest those spoken dreams.”
When decorating, selecting objects that have meaning allows your original intentions to be magnified and amplified. For my son, the moon became a strong guiding symbol that we integrated into the space by selecting decor that subtly featured moon motifs/imagery or had a connection to the lunar phase on the night he was born. “Incorporate items that are part of your history or reflect what you want to bring in,” Daashuur adds.
Daashuur also recommends using tarot or oracle cards as a supportive tool if you need more guidance throughout the process. She suggests pulling a full tarot spread or using an oracle deck that has simple words on it, asking what the room or house wishes you to know. Above all, it’s all about trusting yourself. “This is a practice of trust, faith, and self,” Daashuur concludes. “You have everything you need to create magic within your home—it comes from within.”
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It’s been over a year since we energy mapped his room and it’s so rewarding watching him thrive in it. He is now two years old and gravitates toward the elements we incorporated—like the moon-shaped rug with his name on it and the mural that represents our favorite park and connection to nature. The process allowed me to connect with him in a unique way and as a family, we all love gathering in this room. When I get ready to move him into a toddler bed, I will do another round of energy mapping using Daashuur’s guidance. While I haven’t extended the practice rest of the home just yet, I plan to take it room-by-room over time. I think energy mapping is a practice everyone should try, as tapping into your intuition and intentions—for your home or life—is never a bad thing.
