When a person wears something, that person’s aura, the energy field that radiates around all living things, attaches to that item. Though many people may not realize it, this energy can also be transferred by purchasing vintage items. It doesn’t matter if the vintage item has been dry cleaned and washed hundreds of times; in fact, the energy needs to be cleansed from the vintage item.
So does that mean that clothes can actually be haunted by the spirits of their former owners? Well, yes, to a certain extent. But maybe not as graphic as your favorite horror movie. To get rid of that energy, it’s a good idea to use some tips from energy experts. We spoke to Reiki healers Kesine Walker and Christine O’Day, and vintage curator Julia Popescu, who have experience on this very subject.
Consider the following your 101 on ghostbustering vintage designer clothing.
How to tell if vintage clothing is haunted
“Energy is everywhere, even in vintage clothing,” Walker says. But if something catches your eye while shopping, the best thing to do is try the clothes on. The energy you feel might not be coming from the clothing itself, but rather from the store, employees, or even other customers.
“Tune in to how you feel when you’re touching or wearing the item,” Walker says. “You might not be able to touch it when shopping online, but you can still listen to how the item makes you feel when you’re looking at it.”
O’Day says vintage clothes do carry the energy of their previous owners and those who handled them: “Vintage clothing, especially ones that were well-worn, does have an energy about it. It’s like getting a glimpse into someone else’s mood. You can feel it the moment you touch the garment,” she says. InStyle.
How to Clean Vintage Clothing
With Smoke
According to O’Day, the quickest way to cleanse an item is to wash it like any other piece of clothing, but with an extra step that involves special ingredients. “I also use frankincense and myrrh,” she says. These herbs are known to detoxify objects, spaces, and energies. Simply place the clothing on the floor and burn herbs as incense in the room to cleanse the item in question.
With spray
Popescu admits he has handled vintage clothing that may have been cursed by a deceased owner, and to cleanse such items, he recommends spraying them lightly with a lavender mist from a distance.
“If you want to get really witchy, you could even carry a magic bag of cleansing herbs in your pocket,” says Popescu. Ideas include parsley, rosemary, tobacco, and lavender. “Cleansing your clothes can be a very creative endeavor, so you can use any cleansing ritual you have in your witch toolbox!”
By speaking
Don’t underestimate the power of words. To ward off bad luck to your vintage clothing, speak words that shift energy. Thank the clothing for its previous purpose and for the destiny that brought you two together. Give thanks in advance for the journey you will embark on together. Our clothes are sacred, and therefore, our relationship with them is sacred too.
Walker also recommends setting an intention to release any energies from your items that aren’t yours or that don’t serve you, and even using Reiki on the clothes themselves: “I like to place my hands on each item for a few minutes and infuse the garment with positive, loving vibrations while visualizing old energies being released.”
Conclusion
Clothes can be a connection to the past, other realms, and our spiritual selves, so before you slip into your vintage jeans or haul away that secondhand item on Etsy, you might want to sanitize your clothes first. Smoke, spray, or talk to them and you’ll be good to go.
