Dear Karen,

I'd appreciate info on whether loud bangs would have to be employed or whether you could 'get away' with quieter ones as I have regard for the peace and quiet of my neighbours. British life is often lived in confined dwellings of cardboard-thin construction and the thought of annoying neighbours/arousing their suspicion is neither pleasing nor conducive to effective Space Clearing!

- Vajrakumara, UK

Karen's reply:

Clapping is most effective when done with will and intensity. Get right into the corner and clap briskly a few times, with the firm intention that all the stuck energy lodged there will be dispersed. With the correct intensity it is not necessary to clap so much. If you clap weakly you'll need to do much more clapping to get the same effect. I suggest you choose a time when your neighbours are out if you are concerned about disturbing them.

I have to smile as I write this. I'm in Bali at the moment and your question brings to mind the annual Space Clearing ceremony precedingNyepi, the Balinese New Year. It's quite something to experience a whole island of 3 million people making as much noise as they possibly can for a whole night (car horns, firecrackers, shouting, loud music, you name it) and then the incredible peace of the next day, when everything comes to a total standstill for 24 hours. No planes are allowed to arrive or take off from the airport, no-one can travel on the roads, no-one works (except for very basic tourist services), no-one cooks, lights fires, uses electrical appliances, makes phone calls, etc, etc. Wouldn't it be wonderful if that could happen all over the world for a day?