Keep it Tidy! - The Astrological Significance of Cleanliness

“Tidy your room,” and “wash the dishes” are words we’ve heard since we were kids. And while there are obvious reasons for doing these things, such as keeping a pleasant atmosphere, avoiding potential build-up of bacteria and instilling a sense of responsibility, there are also astrological reasons behind the importance of keeping a clean home.

Don’t Fear Saturn, Clean!

Saturn is feared because he removes things that are not needed for our growth. Whether it’s a job, relationship, health or finances, Saturn is infamous for its ability to sweep into our lives and take away whatever isn’t conducive to our spiritual evolution.

Whilst this may seem harsh and in many cases is encountered with great difficulty, it should be known that Saturn is not all melancholy and restriction – a positive influence of Saturn can help in overcoming obstacles and hardships, and can bring the discipline and hard work needed to reach your goals.

The great news is that there are ways to get on Saturn’s good side.

What are they?

Cleaning. Decluttering. And staying organized.

A weak Saturn represents disorder. Where there is order, there is no space for negative Saturn (disorder). So from time to time, declutter your home and workplace and put things in order. This is a great remedy for Saturn. Dirt and dust is also signified by a weak Saturn. This is why in many cultures, footwear is left outside the door when entering the house. This way the negative Saturn energies, represented by the dirt on the shoes, are left outside rather than being brought into the home.

You may have heard the term, ‘Cleanliness is Godliness,’ and astrologically this is true. Jupiter, the divine Guru, gets debilitated (weak) in Capricorn, the sign of Saturn. This means that where there is dust and dirt, the Saturn energy could be negative. The Moon represents the water element and rules the water sign, Cancer. Jupiter (divine) gets exalted (strong) in the sign of Cancer. Water cleans dirt and dust. So keeping ourselves and our environment clean is very important to get rid of negative Saturn energies.

Saucha - Inner and Outer Purity

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali state five Niyamas, which are guidelines or observances for maintaining the inner strength and discipline to follow the spiritual path. One of these Niyamas is Saucha, which means cleanliness or purity, and is to be practiced at the level of physical body and environment, as well as speech and mind. Practicing Saucha also means being orderly and keeping things at home in such a way that you can find them easily.

Maintaining a clean home, showering daily, being a witness to your thoughts, not speaking harsh words and meditating regularly are some of the ways to practise Saucha, in order to maintain outer and inner purity.

Make it Sacred

In our busy modern lives, with its culture of accumulation, cleaning has become a chore – something that we have to ‘get done’ in order to enjoy the benefits of a pleasant and tidy home. We rush through it, or do it with a sense of reluctance. Other times we feel the need to listen to music or a podcast at the same time as cleaning to ease the suspected boredom that comes with it. In a manic attempt to kill the germs, we end up using cleaning products which are more toxic than the germs themselves.

But the act of cleaning can be sacred in itself, as an art of creating emptiness. It is an opportunity to slow down and come to the present through every action, whether vacuuming a carpet, arranging items or dusting a shelf. We can respect nature by selecting ecological products that don’t harm water supplies. While creating order and space in the external environment with care and with love, this outer action reflects in your inner world and state of mind, and you bring a sense of sacredness within you, and to your home.

7 Simple Steps to Sacred Cleanliness

Here are some simple tips you can implement to keep your space astro clean 🙂

Once a month find time to declutter and discard things that you no longer use – donate them to a good cause if possible. This is one of the most effective remedies.
Keep your home clean. Dust is signified by the planet Saturn, so the best way to keep Saturn in check is to keep your home clean at all times.
Always clean the kitchen and the kitchen sink before you go to sleep. Notice the difference it makes after just two weeks of doing this!
Reduce clutter in your mind through silence and meditation.
Remove clutter in your life by staying away from relationships that no longer serve your growth.
Practise purity of speech – avoid harsh speech and speak pleasant words.
Diffuse sandalwood oil or burn sandalwood incense after cleaning – Sandalwood has been used as a disinfectant, antiviral and anti-inflammatory in many cultures for thousands of years, and brings a wave of calm energy to the space.