A Closer Look at a Limpia

The term limpia has been gaining quite a bit of attention lately and is becoming increasingly familiar in the mainstream. But what exactly is a limpia?

Limpia, Spanish for “cleansing,” refers to a spiritual cleansing practice found throughout many Latin American traditions. There are many different types of limpias, varying by region, culture, and individual beliefs, but the underlying intention remains much the same: to cleanse the body, mind, spirit, and aura of negative or stagnant energy that may be weighing on you, creating space for renewal, balance, and more positive energy.

A couple of memories always come up when I think about my abuela.

The first is her giving her favorite grandchild — me, of course (sorry, primos) — manzanilla tea every school night to calm my anxious tummy. The second is of my abuela, my mom, and me going to church and then stopping at the flea market every Sunday, promptly followed by a limpia de huevo.

You see, it never failed: a few hours after getting home from the flea market, I would fall ill. And not the anxiety tummy I mentioned earlier,  full-on fever, chills, headaches… the works. It wasn’t unusual for me to be walking down the aisles and have people reach out and touch my curls, taking back the piece of envious energy they had sent my way because of my hair (it was, and still is, pretty awesome). My abuela would say there must have been one or two people who didn’t touch my hair, and their envy was what made me sick. So out the huevo came.

Limpia de huevo is something I learned from my abuela, and for the longest time I thought it was the only kind of limpia that existed. My mind was blown when I discovered limpias with sahumeros, barridas, water limpias, and fire limpias. Once I learned about these other traditions, I wanted to build on what my abuela had taught me, so I began studying different methods through books, classes, and community.

I’m grateful to now carry this knowledge forward and serve my community by offering limpias to those who need them. How do you know if you need one? If you’ve had a run of bad luck, feel heavy or surrounded by negative energy, or just feel sluggish, a limpia may be exactly what your spirit is asking for. Seasonal transitions are also powerful times to receive one (that’s when I get mine), helping you enter a new chapter clear, open, and ready to attract what is meant for you.

I hope to serve you soon and offer the cleansing and clarity you’re seeking.

Con amor,
La Femme Mística