That great big sucking sound.

At one time I had 5 vacuum cleaners. If you think this says something about my housekeeping, don’t be fooled.

One was a big old Hoover, a remnant from our childhood home. When clearing out the family homestead we divided things up according to category; valuable, sentimental and tag sale junk. Had took the lawn mower and Dee got stuck with the garden hose.

We were all in a bit of a daze after our father (aka Hopper) died and the house was on the market. We laugh now at how many valuable things got tossed into the tag sale pile. It’s a “boy were we stupid” kind of laugh.

The second machine was a dust buster. It was much easier to lug around than the 35 lb Hoover. The problem was you had to wear earplugs while using it.

The third was and still is a wedding present from Had and Dee. Down to wheeling around 25 lbs. No earplugs needed, just biceps, not quads.

The fourth was a late night QVC purchase. I love watching those pine needles disappear as I swing that baby around. It also makes vacuuming the stairs twice a year a breeze.

The fifth is Honeybun’s shop vac. I can’t really count it as one of mine but will for the sake of this story.

I’m proud to say that the first 2 vacuums are gone and the third is getting close to moving to tag sale land. In a sense I’m cleaning up and clearing out.

I clung to the Hoover as if it were the last connection to the rooms and hallways I grew up in. I think the ragtag old runner from the foyer will suffice. Spooky the cat uses is it as a surf board.

The dust buster was wishful thinking, I hoped that sucking up the spilled dog food was the same as mopping up the entire kitchen floor.

Honeybun’s shop vac is still with us because it belongs to him. However, it rivals the dust buster when it comes to that great big sucking sound. (Thank you Ross Perot.)

The QVC machine stays because it’s bag less and it’s so satisfying to dump cat and dog hair out into the field. Its like spreading ashes. Letting go of what is no longer necessary. Cleaning house.

What if there was something that could suck the dirt and mess out of our hearts and minds? Something easy to carry, quiet, inexpensive…oh wait there is! It’s intention. Focused desire to clean things up, to purify our surroundings.

Keep intentions plugged in all the time, they use no electricity anyway. They are powered by the energy inside each of us.

Sauca  (sow-cha) is purity and cleanliness. It is the first Niyama, observances between ourselves and our world. Metaphorically vacuum cleaners are sauca assisting tools. Through setting intentions and control buttons we can sweep the place clean. I just wish it didn’t have to be done on such a regular basis. Then again some people feel the same way about yoga.

Namaste- no Spring cleaning done today.