Cleaning out your closet can be one of the most daunting tasks—especially while we’re in the middle of a global pandemic. There’s just so much stuff, and so little time, and it’s the last thing on anyone’s mind. Luckily, there is one way to make this activity bring more joy into your life and promote a better idea of wellness at the same time.

Susanna Merrick of Aura Wear NYC is an intuitive stylist who dresses people based on their auras, and one of her most in-demand services is her closet cleanse. Unlike a typical cleaning expert, Merrick approaches the idea of cleaning out your closet by addressing how it relates to the self and color.

Everyone has an aura, which is an energy field that can be read and translates to your emotional and physical state. Usually auras correlate with different colors—for example, joy is often associated with a yellow aura. Merrick begins by reading her clients’ aura and then delves deep into colors, silhouettes, and styles that are best suited for promoting and healing one’s own aura. Unsurprisingly, color is of most importance for her: “Color affects us consciously and subconsciously,” she explains. “When clients are repulsed by certain colors it usually means they have a block around what aligns with that energy in their life. For instance, if you can’t stand the sight of orange then may be struggling to branch out of your comfort zone or might be struggling to take a risk in your love life or career.”

“Depending on your essence and energy, there are styles that will always suit you better than others,” she explains, of her creative process. “This, however, is incredibly personal. We all have our own ‘style code,’ and just like a fingerprint, your aura will never be exactly the same as your neighbor nor will it be the same in every season.”

Here, Merrick shares some tips for enhancing your closet, and how you can learn more about yourself and your aura through color and style in these dire times:

5 tips for cleaning out your closet, according to an aura reader

1. Focus on what you love

Merrick suggests pulling out a few pieces from your closet that you love. Whether they have a special story behind them or whether you’re drawn to the color, pick them out and put them aside.

“Meditate on these stories, write them down in a journal,” she says. “Next, make sure they meet the checklist: they still fit, they aren’t badly damaged, and are pieces you keep in rotation. If they don’t make this list make sure to take care accordingly.”

2. Hone in on specific colors

When Merrick is giving a reading or doing an in-person closet cleanout, she likes to focus on colors based on each person’s aura. However, there are also specific colors that work for everyone, especially in times like these. Focus on keeping those colors close.

“Right now, shades of blue, green, and yellow really lend support,” she explains. “Blue calms the nervous system, green reminds us of nature and motivates us to do a little cleaning (think Type A energy), and yellow reminds us that there is hope and gives us a little mental dose of vitamin D.”

3. Rotation is everything

Merrick also suggests rotating your favorite items seasonally. That means, if you have a favorite dress you wore all of last summer, pack it away for a season or two so that it feels new and fresh next time you wear it. It’s a simple way to bring yourself some joy. Besides that, she also suggests putting together looks in advance with the pieces you do love in your closet, to help you know what you want to get rid of.

“Take a little time to put together 5 to 10 looks you absolutely love at the beginning of the season,” she says. “This will save you hours of time and effort for the months to come, just make sure to document the looks so they are easy to put together when needed.”

4. Get spiritual

While not everyone can get an in-person aura reading right now, there are also plenty of virtual services. Merrick believes experiencing this connects directly to what colors and styles you’re ultimately drawn to. “Get an aura reading, tarot reading, or astrology reading,” says Merrick. “The more you can be ‘seen and experienced,’ the more you can connect to yourself and express yourself accordingly. We are drawn to certain pieces and colors for a reason. I believe color can be used medicinally. Color is a powerful tool used around us to influence us to make purchase and life choices.”

5. Take time to learn about yourself through your clothing choices

Merrick explains that what we are drawn to aesthetically is so important and can actually reveal so much about ourselves. “Depending on your energy or aura at the moment you might be drawn to certain structures or shapes,” she says. “If your aura is green you might be calling in new goals, growth, and organization. When this energy is around us we’re likely reaching for a nice crisp blouse and good pair of structured trousers. Or if we’re feeling rebellious and sassy, Magenta might be showing up in our aura and we start to gravitate towards bold abstract prints and statement pieces. Once you identify the pieces you like to wear personally and the things that they have in common, you can learn more about what type of aura you have, thus bettering yourself.”