BY KAILEY TEDESCO
I recently came upon an article discussing Girard Henderson’s underground Las Vegas fallout shelter. According to the article, this shelter was intended to be a home for Henderson and his wife in the event of a Cold War era doomsday scenario. Not only was it stocked with non-perishable food and other necessities, but it was also essentially a life-size, suburban dollhouse that included a spacious green yard, a swimming pool, a pink-carpeted master bath, and murals depicting friends and neighbors. A complete facsimile of their life above ground, the shelter was their own microcosm, intended to be a forever-home, if they should need it.
I’ve long been fascinated by the idea of squeezing entire faux worlds into tiny spaces, like at theme parks or fantasy hotels. There is something phantasmagorical, but also extremely creative, about using ordinary spaces to persuade inhabitants that they’re something magical or vast. The pandemic has caused me to reflect more on my own home, and how I utilize the space of each room.
My partner and I have only lived in our house for less than two years, so at the start of the lockdowns, many of our rooms were still sparse and largely undecorated. I spent a lot of those spring and summer days feeling stifled and uninspired. I couldn’t quite place why it was that I couldn’t invoke the same energy and enthusiasm I once had within my home. Even tasks like tidying up or doing a daily yoga routine felt monumental. There was so much distance and stagnancy and a disturbing quiet that settled all around us. We needed change.
Our homes, I think, often become containers for our emotions. Sometimes, it is necessary to open the containers and let all of those proverbial, emotional cobwebs out. Of course, this idea is nothing new. Feng shui, or the belief that we can control the spiritual energy of a space by rearranging and reintegrating furniture and color and decor, has existed for ages.
There is also Hygge, or the Danish practice of feeling celebratory even within the mundane. Hygge does not require any material possession or ownership. It is simply the act of reclaiming a space or experience by simply enjoying your time within it. The act of cultivating an environment that you are in control can also have psychological benefits, such as mood enhancement as you exercise both psychically and creatively. And finally, if you’re a witch like Shirley Jackson’s Merricat Blackwood, you can also rearrange and remove objects from their intended purposes as a way of confusing demons, changelings, and malicious spirits.
After staring at the same walls for so many months, I finally decided to create change wherever I could. To create a space where my partner and I could spend more time together, I emptied out a formal dining room that we rarely used and turned it into a cozier space for listening to records, watching TV, and reading books—all activities we enjoy doing together.
I also painted our bedroom a darker color, another space that felt stagnant and impersonal, and now we find ourselves sleeping more restfully as the color of the paint negates the harsh sunlight that streams in from the windows in the early morning. These changes were simple and mostly cost-effective, but they made a world of difference in terms of how we perceive and interact with our home, and by extension, ourselves.
Here is a simple ritual for rearranging/redecorating a space that you can use in your own home. Please be sure to read all seven steps carefully before beginning this ritual:
Choose: First, choose a room or any space that you wish to renew. It can be a room that you rarely use/go in, one that feels impersonal, or if you’re living in a smaller space, it can be a corner or loft or closet that you do not feel like you’re currently using to its fullest potential.
Cleanse: Clean the room with intention. Places like Haus Witch and Crimson Sage Apothecary sell cleaning products that are already blessed or imbued with cleansing magic. However, you can use any tools or products you’d like to clean your space. I find the act of sweeping and dusting to be the most powerful. As you work your way through the space, think about the kind of environment you’d like to cultivate and how you hope to feel while in that environment. Clean slowly and with care.
Note: If you feel like your space is in need of further spiritual cleansing, you may also wish to use ethically sourced sage, dried herbs, or a bell to cleanse the space of any lingering ickiness.
Envision: Now that you’ve cleaned your space and spent time thinking about what you wish to cultivate, begin curating objects, colors, or furniture that you wish to place within it. This is your opportunity to channel your inner fantasy suite or theme park ride creator (if you’re dreaming big!). This space can be anything you’d like it to be. It can defy time and geography. Hang vines and plants to make it greener. Put up string lights and neon stars to take yourself to space. It can be anything you’d like it to be. Mood boards are encouraged at this stage.
Rearrange: The most impactful and cost-effective thing you can do is rearrange your space. Consider things like access to light, whether this space is just for you or a room where you wish to entertain company, and the overall aesthetic you wish to achieve. This step can involve a lot of physical labor, so only move what you are able to move comfortably. If possible, get a friend or roommate to help you move heavier furniture around the room.
Redecorate: Growing up, I used to receive Pottery Barn Teen catalogs in the mail, and they convinced me that you could only have ornately decorated rooms if you had ridiculous amounts of money. Of course, this is completely untrue, and in fact, I think the most personal and meaningful decorations are the ones we create or curate from more unusual places.
There are various ways you can redecorate. Sometimes, it’s as simple as painting the room a new color, creating an accent wall, framing a meaningful photograph, or crafting a terrarium or diorama that you can position in the room as inspiration or a conversation piece. Over this past year, I learned it’s truly amazing what you can do with a hot glue gun and some sticks from the yard. Thrift stores are also very helpful at this stage. I once got a nearly flawless, art deco coffee table (with storage!) for under $30. Last year, I wrote a piece on psychometry that might also be helpful during this part of the ritual.
Note: Sometimes redecorating can also mean clearing out what is no longer needed, instead of adding new embellishments. If your space previously felt stuffy or inhibiting, it might feel better to open it up. Consider donating items that are no longer of any use to you.
Final Incantation: Once you have transformed your space to your liking, take a moment to just allow yourself to be present within this new environment. Light your favorite candles or play an album that is meaningful to you. Think again about your intentions for the space, memories you hope to create here, ways you hope to connect with yourself or loved ones, etc. When you feel contented and calm, chant:
This space is what I dream it to be.
This space is my warmth and my joy.
I renounce all that serves me not.
When I am here, I am home.
Help Others: Finally, it’s extremely important to remember that we are experiencing a global pandemic. Homelessness and evictions are an unjust reality for many. Be grateful for the space that you have, but acknowledge that there are others who are being denied the right to shelter, safety, nourishment, and warmth. If you are able, consider donating time and/or money one of the following organizations, or an organization/GoFundMe/etc. of your own choosing, to help those in need:
National Health Care for the Homeless Council
National Alliance to End Homelessness
National Center for Transgender Equality
Kailey Tedesco is the author of These Ghosts of Mine, Siamese (Dancing Girl Press) and the forthcoming full-length collection, She Used to be on a Milk Carton (April Gloaming Publications). She is the co-founding editor-in-chief of Rag Queen Periodical and a member of the Poetry Brothel. She received her MFA in creative writing from Arcadia University, and she now teaches literature at several local colleges. Her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. You can find her work in Prelude, Bellevue Literary Review, Sugar House Review, Poetry Quarterly, Hello Giggles, UltraCulture, and more. For more information, please visit kaileytedesco.com.