Cleansing Away Evil Eyes & Negative Energy

 Clearing Negative Energy & The Evil Eye

This post contains affiliate links.

        We’ve all felt it: that heavy, anxious feeling after interacting with someone who gives us the side-eye, drains our joy, or leaves us feeling "off" for no clear reason. Whether it’s jealousy, low vibes, or the evil eye, spiritual hygiene is just as important as physical hygiene, especially when you're sensitive to energy or doing healing/spiritual work.

In this post, I will walk you through one of my favorites and most effective energy-cleansing rituals using salt and vinegar, rooted in hoodoo practice, along with other tools and tips to protect your energy. I’ll also share why doing shadow work is your long-term defense against psychic attacks and energetic leaks.

The Salt + Vinegar Hand Cleanse Ritual

This ritual is intense, direct, and deeply cleansing. It works by purging spiritual residue from your energetic body, particularly your hands, which carry a lot of your auric imprint and energy exchange.

What You’ll Need:

White distilled vinegar (I use this one)

Sea salt (This one will do the trick!)

Running water (sink, basin, or bowl)

A quiet space and focused intention

Steps:

Pour a small amount of white vinegar into your hands. 

Add a generous pinch of sea salt and rub your hands together slowly.

Close your eyes and begin deep breathing through your nose. As you inhale, let the smell rise.

You may begin to cough. That’s part of the release. Don’t resist it, each cough is energy being shaken loose and expelled.

Keep breathing deeply and exhaling until you no longer cough. This could take a minute or more depending on how much you’re releasing.

Once you feel clear, rinse your hands with running water. As the water flows, visualize it pulling all residual negativity down the drain.

Speak your intention aloud or silently: “I release all energy that is not mine. I cleanse and reset my field with love, peace, and divine protection.”

Why It Works:

 Vinegar has long been used as a spiritual disinfectant, cutting through stagnant or low-vibration energy. Salt is a natural purifier and energy neutralizer. The combination creates a physical-spiritual scrub, while the act of breathing and coughing activates your body’s natural ability to release energetic toxins, especially those picked up from others.

Note: This ritual originates in folk magic and hoodoo traditions where vinegar, salt, and breath are seen as both physical and spiritual medicine. Always work with reverence and permission when using cultural practices.

Signs You Need a Spiritual Cleanse

- Sudden fatigue or brain fog after certain interactions

- Random arguments or tech malfunctions in your space

- Persistent anxiety, headaches, or heaviness in the chest

- Feeling blocked creatively or emotionally

- A sense that “something’s off” with no clear reason

Other Cleansing Practices to Try

Egg Cleansing (Limpia): A traditional Latin American ritual using a raw egg to sweep over the body and absorb negativity. Cracked into water afterward, the egg reveals energetic blockages via bubbles, shapes, or cloudy whites.

Smoke Cleansing (Herbs): Burn ethically sourced herbs like rosemary, bay leaf, or mug wort. Waft the smoke around your body while saying: “Only loving, peaceful energy may remain.” (I personally use Palo Santo sticks like these ones for cleansing my home)

Spiritual Baths: Add herbs, sea salt, and essential oils to a warm bath. Soak with the intention of release and pour the water over your head last to seal the cleanse. I recommend this Spell-Breaker Herbal Bath Salts. The herbs used in this are perfect for ridding you of all that negative energy you picked up from your day.

Florida Water Spritzing: A powerful cleansing cologne used in many Afro-Caribbean and hoodoo traditions. Spritz over your aura or wipe down your doorways and altar for purification. I recommend getting it in bulk like this 6-pack one.

Mirror Return Ritual: Place a small mirror facing outward near your front door with the intention that negative energy is reflected and sent back to its source with no harm. It's often used in feng shui like this one, but you can use whatever kind of mirror you would like.

Cleansing Is Powerful—But Shadow Work Is Protective

Cleansing can clear the effects of low energy and psychic attacks, but if your boundaries are weak, or your shadow self is attracting what you secretly believe you deserve, that energy will keep coming back.

This is why shadow work is one of the strongest forms of spiritual protection. It helps you face the hidden parts of yourself that unconsciously call in chaos, sabotage, or jealousy from others. Once you shine a light on those parts, you no longer magnetize people who mirror your wounds.

Here's a link to a shadow work journal that will help guide you as you go within and self-reflect.

Shadow Work Journal

I also highly recommend this book below to help you navigate and understand your wounds. It dives deep into boundaries, self-love and helping you to reparent your inner child (a key aspect of shadow work). This book helped me so much as I was deep in my healing journey and I often reference back to it when I need to.

How to Do the Work 

Final Thoughts

Energy hygiene isn’t just “witch stuff”, it’s everyday survival for sensitive souls, healers, and creatives. Make it part of your regular routine. Just like brushing your teeth or showering, spiritual cleansing helps you stay clear, focused, and protected.

Whether it’s the salt + vinegar ritual, a spiritual bath, or a smoke cleanse, do what resonates. Your energy is sacred. Keep it clean, keep it strong, and keep shining.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor or healthcare professional- just sharing what works for me!

For more simple, non-toxic living tips, you can find me on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube under holisticandwitchy.

Thanks for reading! I love sharing these tips with you, and I appreciate you being here. 

Check out my other blogs on natural DIYs for the body and home below!

Quick links to my personal faves and must haves for natural DIYs:

Baking soda:  used in natural laundry detergent, toothpastes and more

Washing Soda: used in making laundry detergent and cleaning pastes and more

Distilled White Vinegar:  used in cleaning, deodorizing and lifting stains and more

Castile soap: Versatile cleanser, can be used from hair shampoo to degreaser

Essential Oils: used in mostly all my natural DIY products for its scent and high-quality antimicrobial properties.

Amber bottles: protects natural ingredients from light, air, and heat which can break down their potency over time.

Roller and Spray Amber Bottles:  easy and convenient application

Amber Roller Bottles Multi-Pack: To make oil blends and other DIYs

Lost Book Of Herbal Remedies: In-depth Information on herbal Medicines

The Beginners Guide to Essential Oils:  Informative guide to all things essential oils 

Blackthorns Botanical Magic: Spellwork using essential oils, super informative