“If something new comes in, something old comes out. That way you will be able to maintain the balance.” This maxim of the guru of orderFrancine Jay could well have been inspired by the Japanese ritual Oosouji. This millenary tradition advocates a great physical and emotional cleansing before putting the outgoing year on hold because only in this way, “freed” from toxic ties, can we start the year on the right foot.
And be careful, because the Oosouji is not only carried out in homes, but also in offices. Do you want next year to be fruitful in terms of work? Maybe you should start by cleaning your desk… The worst thing that can happen to you is that you have an impeccable work corner this January.
What is Oosouji?
It literally means great cleanliness and it is an ancient Japanese tradition to start the new year on the right foot, leaving behind burdens, physical and mental. This ritual, which is usually done in Japan every December 28, is a way to expel any bad influences from our lives and thus avoid dragging old practices into the new year. “When cleaning, our brain also cleans and prepares itself to stop taking into account or remembering unnecessary or difficult things,” explains psychologist Noelia Sancho.
A thorough cleaning
“For a deep cleaning you will have to move furniture, remove carpets, empty cabinets and drawers. It would not be a daily or routine cleaning, but a thorough cleaning,” advises Raquel Boada, from Polti Spain.
Throw without nostalgia
The “merciless” is what the expert in order Vanesa Travieso calls him. Don’t be afraid to get rid of what no longer serves you, is broken, or is old. The maximum? Don’t hoard or save “just in case.”