Across various cultures—from the deserts of the American Southwest to the heartlands of Central Mexico—there’s a shared belief that the personal belongings of someone who has passed carry more than just memories.
Many spiritual traditions suggest these items may retain a kind of lingering “energy,” especially those closely connected to the person in life.
Even those who don’t subscribe to spiritual thinking often describe a strange heaviness or discomfort surrounding certain inherited objects.
Here are four types of belongings that might be better to part with—not out of disrespect, but in the interest of emotional clarity, spiritual release, and personal healing.
1. Underwear and Intimate Clothing
It may seem unusual to bring up, but undergarments are considered among the most energetically charged items left behind.
Worn so close to the body, day after day, they’re believed in many traditions to absorb physical and emotional residue—stress, sadness, illness, or lingering moods.
Storing such items away in drawers or boxes may contribute to what some call “stagnant energy,” a subtle but consistent sense of discomfort or emotional unease in the home.
What to do instead: A gentle, intentional farewell is all that’s needed. Wrap the garments in white cloth and bury them, or donate them if they’re in good condition. Just don’t keep them purely for sentimentality.
2. Mirrors with Emotional Baggage
While mirrors are often seen as decorative and functional, many traditions consider them to be more than simple reflectors.
They’re thought to capture not only images but the emotional imprint of people and environments over time.
A mirror inherited from someone who has di.ed—especially if it was kept in their bedroom—can sometimes cause subtle discomfort.
People have reported uneasy feelings, restless nights, or recurring unsettling dreams linked to such mirrors.
What to do instead: If the mirror feels emotionally charged, you can cover it with a dark cloth for a few days before deciding to donate or discard it. Sometimes, simply removing it from your living space brings a noticeable sense of relief.
3. Jewelry That Holds Unspoken Emotions
Inherited jewelry often comes with deep meaning. Yet gold, silver, and other precious metals are believed to retain energy, especially when worn frequently by the deceased.
If the previous owner experienced emotional pain, illness, or trauma, those feelings may symbolically remain in the piece.
If you keep jewelry solely out of duty, not love, it may quietly anchor unresolved grief.
What to do instead: Consider reshaping the piece into something new, donating it, or passing it on to someone who would truly appreciate it. If it feels right, sell it and let that act represent the closing of a chapter. The emotional connection lives in your heart, not the object.
4. Deeply Personal Religious Items
Items like rosaries, crosses, prayer books, or devotional statues are often infused with intense spiritual meaning.
They were held during prayers, carried through hard times, and filled with private hope or longing.
But if these objects don’t reflect your beliefs—or if they now cause sadness, guilt, or discomfort—they may be doing more harm than good.
What to do instead: You can donate them to religious centers or communities where they will be respected and used. Or simply store them in a quiet, neutral space, away from daily view, until you’re ready to decide.
Letting Go Can Be a Loving Act
Grief often clings not only to people but to their things. We sometimes believe we must hold onto every belonging to honor them.
But real love doesn’t live in objects—it lives in how we remember, how we grow, and how we live because of them.
Releasing an item doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten. It means you’re choosing peace and healing over weight and obligation. That, too, is an act of love.
