Over dinner last week, a casual teacher friend told me that as she walks into a classroom, she knows how the kids will behave that day – and it’s all because of the energy in the room, and the vibe of the space.

So when I saw Zoe Foster Blake talk about her “space clearing” obsession on Instagram, I was interested to find what on earth it was all about.

“This is Leanne, she just did energy clearing on the home we’ve moved into, something I always do when moving house, and something I recommend vigorously if you’re Into That Kind Of Stuff,” Zoe’s post began.

“You can’t even begin to imagine all the shit your house (and the land it’s on) accumulates over time/various owners. It needn’t be just when you move though, energy clearing is great if you’re having a shitty time in life/health issues/too many fights.”

So what is energy clearing, and why are people doing it?

“The primary reason people space clear their home, is to clear the inherent energies in the earth and house, and the negative energies that we generate ourselves,” explains Anthony Ashworth, a Vastu-Feng Shui Practitioner and Space Clearer.

“Whatever we feel, we release into our home. If we have a loving, happy family, then we are generating positive vibrations into our home, if we are feeling negative feelings, we generate negative vibrations. We have all been to places where there are positive energies, and you can feel them, and it is often because people have created this energy.”

The purpose behind space clearing is to encourage energies to move around the property rather than through the home. But how does a space clearing “clear” exactly?

Ashworth explained that there are a lot of physical acts that go in space clearing, including smoke and smudge (a stick of dried herbs wrapped together), and also drumming and clapping.

Indulge in a few happy snaps from the Foster-Blakes’s recent trip to New York City. (Post continues after gallery…)

“Negative energies that have built up in the home can have multiple consequences. Such as, the inability to bring new things into your life, because your home is so full of negative energies, there is little room for positive energy. You can lose your zest for life, and it can have physical and psychological consequences,” explains Ashworth.

How to ensure you have good energy in your home.

The key here? You need an uncluttered space.

“Energy gets sticky around clutter which can hold negative energy. Don’t be frightened of it and don’t pick up too much at once – start by uncluttering a drawer or a cupboard. It will get energy moving,” explains Ashworth.

The next trick sounds a little Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin. It’s “conscious cleaning”.

“I don’t like cleaning the house, but I know that I’m space clearing when I’m cleaning. Negative energy tends to settle low – so when you vacuum, for example, you are doing a mini space clear, as well as cleaning,” explains Ashworth.

“It’s really important that the intention that goes in behind it – if you vacuum and say to yourself – ‘I am removing negative energy from my home’, then you are much more likely to be able to remove the negative energy.”

Apparently this not only gets rid of the superficial negative energy, like dust in the corner, but it also does a deeper space clearing, going beyond the carpet, the paint and the brickwork, and vibrating it to release the energy.

While a lot of this has gone completely over my head, I do see some sense in it. Like my friend who works in classrooms, the children’s behaviour reflects the state of the room. After cleaning the house, you can feel a different vibe in the house.

So maybe Foster Blake is onto something here. And while her space clearer wouldn’t have been cheap. She does have some do-it-yourself tips for those wanting to try it.

“You can DIY by burning a sage smudging stick all through your home, just be sure to – according to mum, the original energy clearing enthusiast – a) clap in all the room corners like a bit of a loon, b) verbalise the positive intentions you have for the home as you go, and c) do it when you’re home alone so as to avoid the inevitable onslaught of mockery and laughter,” she explains.

Would you/have you tried energy clearing?

Looking for more like this? Try these:

Easy ways to make your home resemble a magazine shoot (without killing the planet).

Yes, you CAN get healthier without becoming a clean-eating gym junkie in the process.

The 11 everyday chemicals affecting your child’s brain.

You’ve heard about Mia Freedman’s green smoothie obsession – now here’s her other health tips.