Do Energy Clearing Rituals Actually Work for Beginners? A Burned-Out Remote Worker’s Real Test

The Scrapped Pitch That Sparked My Ritual Test

It was 2:17 a.m. on May 12, 2026, the night before our big client launch pitch. I’d spent 10 straight hours revising slide decks, rewriting talking points, and double-checking analytics for a SaaS client I’d been working with for six months. Then my account manager sent a single Slack message: “Client scrapped the entire campaign. We’ll pivot next week.”

I stared at my laptop for 45 minutes, then tossed my noise-canceling headphones across the home office. My shoulders ached, my brain felt like a foggy whiteboard full of erased lines, and I couldn’t stop replaying every tiny misstep I’d made that week. I’d heard friends and fellow remote workers talk about energy clearing rituals to shake off post-stress sludge, but as a total beginner, I had two big questions: Do these actually work for someone who doesn’t identify as “spiritual”? And can I do them without dropping $50 on a smudge stick kit?

Over the next 7 days, I tested three low-effort, beginner-friendly energy clearing rituals, paired them with a quick daily tarot check-in to ground the practice, and tracked how I felt each morning. Here’s what I learned, beyond the common myths you’ve probably seen online.

Myth 1: You Need Expensive Tools to Clear Energy

I’ll start with the biggest lie I bought into before testing: that energy clearing requires sage, crystal grids, or a fancy sound bowl. For my first ritual, I decided to skip all the “required” gear and test a technique I’d seen a fellow remote worker share on TikTok: the 2-minute desk reset.

Here’s how it worked: I cleared off my home office desk, wiped down my keyboard and mouse with a disinfectant wipe, folded my used notebooks into a stack, and sat back in my chair. I closed my eyes for 30 seconds, breathed in for four counts, held for four, and breathed out for six. Then I pulled a single tarot card from my $10 beginner deck: the Three of Pentacles reversed.

The card read as a reminder that I’d overextended myself by trying to perfect every single detail of the pitch, rather than leaning on my team for support. The ritual itself didn’t feel like a “magic fix” — but by the next morning, I didn’t wake up with that tight, clenched chest feeling I’d had the night before. I’d spent 5 minutes total on the practice, and it didn’t cost me a dime.

For beginners who want to skip the pricey supplies, this desk reset ritual is a perfect starting point. It ties physical order to mental clarity, which is a familiar framework for remote workers who spend most of their days organizing digital files and Slack threads.

Myth 2: Energy Clearing Only Works If You “Believe” Hard Enough

I’m a lifelong skeptic when it comes to “spiritual” hacks that promise instant results. My second test was a smudge-free ritual using only my breath and a small bowl of tap water — a technique rooted in both Western folk magic and Taoist water element practices, which I learned about after a quick Google search.

I filled a small ceramic cereal bowl with tap water, set it on my desk next to my tarot deck, and lit an unscented soy candle (I already had it on hand for power outages). I held my hands over the bowl, visualized the stress from the scrapped pitch swirling into the water, and poured the bowl down the bathroom sink while saying out loud, “I release this overwork and self-doubt.”

I pulled a tarot card after the ritual: the Queen of Cups. This card signaled that I needed to prioritize self-compassion, rather than beating myself up for the pitch being scrapped. By the end of the week, I’d used this ritual three times after late-night work setbacks, and each time I felt more grounded within 10 minutes.

Here’s the secret no one tells beginner practitioners: you don’t need to fully “believe” in energy clearing to get benefit. The practice acts as an intentional pause button for your brain. When you take 3 minutes to perform a small, structured ritual, you’re training your nervous system to shift out of fight-or-flight mode and into rest mode. The tarot card pull just gives you a gentle, non-judgmental prompt to reflect on what you’re feeling.

Myth 3: One Size Fits All Energy Clearing Rituals

My third and final test was a walking energy clearing ritual, which I’d never tried before. I live in a small apartment with a tiny balcony, so I walked around the block for 10 minutes while focusing on the feeling of my feet hitting the pavement. I didn’t listen to music or a podcast — I just noticed the sound of birds, the cool breeze on my face, and the way my steps matched my breath.

When I got back to my desk, I pulled the Ten of Pentacles reversed. This card warned that I’d been focusing too much on work outcomes and not enough on long-term boundaries. I’d been skipping my daily walks for weeks to fit in extra work hours, and this ritual was a gentle reminder to prioritize movement.

This was the most impactful ritual for me, because it fit my lifestyle as someone who hates sitting still for long periods. A lot of beginner guides tell you to sit cross-legged on a pillow and meditate, but that doesn’t work for everyone. The best energy clearing ritual for beginners is the one you can actually stick with, even on the busiest days.

Try This Week: A 5-Minute Beginner Energy Clearing Routine Tailored for Remote Workers

You don’t need to spend hours or spend money to clear your energy after a stressful work setback. Here’s a simple routine you can do right after a late-night pitch, a missed deadline, or any moment that leaves you feeling drained:

1. Physical reset (2 minutes): Clear off your desk, wipe down your keyboard, and stand up to stretch your shoulders and neck.
2. Intentional pause (1 minute): Close your eyes, breathe in for four counts, hold for four, and breathe out for six. Repeat 3 times.
3. Tarot check-in (1 minute): Pull a single card from your beginner deck, and ask it one simple question: “What do I need to let go of right now?”
4. Small action step (1 minute): Write down one tiny thing you can do to honor the card’s message — whether that’s asking a teammate for help, taking a 10-minute walk, or turning off your work laptop at 7 p.m. sharp.

The Final Verdict: Energy Clearing Isn’t Magic — It’s Intentional Self-Care

After testing these three rituals, I can say that energy clearing does work for beginners, but not in the way you see advertised on TikTok. It’s not going to fix your client pitch or get you a raise overnight. But it will help you shake off the post-stress fog, ground yourself in the present moment, and give you a gentle prompt to prioritize your own well-being.

I still pull out my walking ritual on the days I’m feeling most overwhelmed, and I keep a small bowl on my desk for the water release ritual when I’m stuck in a creative rut. The tarot card pulls have become a regular part of my weekly self-check-ins, even on days when I don’t have a major work setback.

If you’re a beginner who’s curious about energy clearing, start small. Don’t buy a bunch of expensive tools, don’t force yourself to meditate for 20 minutes a day, and don’t feel guilty if you don’t “feel” anything during the ritual. The point is to take a break, be intentional, and treat yourself with kindness.

Disclaimer

This content is for entertainment and self-reflection purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical, psychological, legal, or financial advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider or mental health professional for personalized support with stress, burnout, or mental health concerns. Tarot and energy clearing practices are not a substitute for evidence-based mental health care.