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.