Feng shui teaches us that to make changes in our lives, we can start by making changes in our environments.  Feng shui is about tuning into our personal spaces and taking inventory of what works and what doesn’t – both literally and figuratively. 

Clutter clearing is a branch of feng shui that helps us to sort our lives and restore balance.  As we clear out old energies, we bring in the new.

We learn from scientific studies that all things are comprised of energy.  Addressing our clutter and removing any unused, broken or unwanted objects helps us to release lower energies from our surroundings.  As a result, we can then experience a renewal of positive life force energy and make way for new things to come in.

Clutter in one’s space not only leads to stress and potential health issues, but it also results in demotivation and lethargy.  The stale energy that clutter breeds prevents us from being able to move forward in life, thus making it harder to make necessary changes and accomplish our goals.

We can set the stage for change simply by adding or removing something in our personal environments.  Decluttering and eliminating things that are not important frees up energy, space and time for the things that do matter.

The process of decluttering, however, can be quite overwhelming.  To mitigate procrastination, start with a small area – such as one drawer or closet shelf.  Because we spend 1/3 of our lives in the bedroom, I would suggest that you focus on this room first.

If you need an extra bit of discipline, set a timer to help manage your time.  Set aside 10-15 minutes a day and make the commitment to sort through the items one at a time.  During the process ask yourself why you are keeping it, and then make quick decisions on what should be kept, trashed, recycled or donated.  Things that make you feel good and contribute to the quality of your life belong on the stay list; all else can go.  A good motto to keep in mind:  if you don’t use it – lose it!

Once you get on the clutter ride you will be amazed at the amount of energy you gain and just how contagious it becomes.  The momentum will grow and your 15 minutes will easily turn into 30 minutes.  Before you know it, an hour will have gone by and you will feel a noticeable energetic shift and uplifting, as positive energy flows in your surroundings.

Decluttering brings in clarity and focus, and helps you take control of your life.  By paying attention to what is going out, you will naturally become more aware of what is coming back in.  The personal decisions you make as you manage your clutter will allow you to create an environment of your own choosing.  You will feel nurtured as you surround yourself with things that you love.

It’s time to release that stuck energy and get out of your rut.  Start the New Year by letting go of the past and making space in your life for new possibilities!

To prepare for the big day, I started doing inventory in the usual clutter hangouts, the attic, garage and shed.  I then found my way into more personalized clutter spaces such as the closets, bedroom dressers and nightstands.

During the clearing process, I went thru items such as old paint, tools, toiletries, CDs, linens, magazines, books, jewelry, and the insidious holiday decorations.  There was no stopping me. 

I came home from work one night and before I was consciously aware of it, I was tackling the kitchen.  My cleansing ran the gamut, from the obvious junk drawer to the fertile breeding ground of tupperware.  Even canned goods were victims of my maniacal purge.

It was astounding to me how much stuff there was to offload.  The more I released, the more I released!  I sold things, put free stuff on the curb, and made donations to local charities, the food bank, and an animal shelter.

Family and friends are still wondering where all this stuff came from.  You see, I am an extremely neat and orderly Virgo, yet there is the notion of organized clutter to consider.

Science teaches us that everything is comprised of energy.  A goal of feng shui is to get in touch with our environments and create a path of least resistance for the positive flow of chi or energy. 

Clutter is stuck energy.  From a feng shui perspective, anything in your home that is neglected, unwanted or unused pulls your energy down with it, even if it is in labeled bins or neatly packaged with a pretty bow.  Stale and stagnant energy causes humans to feel lethargic, tired or depressed.  

As the energy in your home gets too congested, so does your body.  When the amount of stuff is not proportionate to the amount of space, a home can start to feel like it cannot breathe.  Subsequently, your own breathing may become tighter.

On the flip side, things that you love and use bring in strong and joyous energies that allow for a harmonious flow of chi.  Free-flowing energy in your home equates to support and nourishment in the body.

We function more effectively in life when we know where things are.  Rather than wasting time searching for car keys or misplaced paperwork, resulting in stress and confusion, isn’t it more appealing and healthier to have peace and clarity as a result of knowing exactly where to find things?

Clutter can also cause procrastination.  Don’t let it put your life on hold. Blocked energy makes it difficult to get yourself to do anything.  After clearing your space, you will have more energy to accomplish some of those things that have been pending in your subconscious mind. Motivation kicks in and the result is uplifting and quite rewarding.

Clutter clearing is a very powerful aspect of feng shui.  You can improve and renew the energy flow of your life.  Look at everything in your home and ask yourself these two questions.  What does this symbolize to me?  How does this make me feel?  Lighten up on the clutter and your body, mind and spirit will also lighten up.

I just returned from a visit to Southern California, which is truly one of my favorite places.  The visit was magical and nourishing and taught me a lot about myself – including the fact that I have no idea how to pack a suitcase.  This knowledge, of course, would ultimately lend itself to a more interesting realization.

While living overseas many years ago, I had the luxury of routinely traveling to many different countries.  I am not really a novice traveler, but for the life of me I couldn’t narrow down what to bring on this particular trip.  Will I be warm or cold?  There was stuff for yoga, stuff for hiking,  sunning, lounging, eating, thinking – you name it.

By the time I was done packing and repacking, my travel bag was comparable to a chosen victim of the show What Not To Wear.  I guess I should have known I was in trouble when the limo driver called my bag the beast from the east. 

I somehow managed to get the beast on the airport scale only to be told that six extra pounds of luggage fat would cost me $50.  Thinking on my feet, I coyly asked the rep if I could please remove some shoes.   My inane request was declined and I was stuck with the fee.

On the plane I pondered and plotted ways to avoid getting charged when I returned.  It was on the very next morning as I was walking to my first yoga class when I found my answer.  Directly across the street was a UPS store.  The powers were with me.

The proprietor politely nodded and smiled as I explained my dilemma.  He then proceeded to explain how I could ship my stuff back for half the cost.  In fact, he was even cheaper than the Post Office!  Such a deal.  As I was leaving he teasingly told me that I could now shop for even more stuff.

Shortly thereafter, I was loving life and taking an invigorating beach walk when the sheer ridiculousness of the situation hit me.  Just how attached am I to articles of clothing, shoes and more shoes that I would pay (twice, no less) to have them carted back and forth across country?  Have I gone mad?

Talk about excess baggage!  That light bulb moment clearly taught me metaphorically that I seriously needed to lighten my load.  Instinctively, I knew that I would soon be donating items to the hotel housekeeping staff.   The interesting thing is that I wasn’t doing it to avoid paying extra, but rather as an expression of behavior modification while merely letting go.  It was such a small, yet liberating action.  Some people leave their hearts in San Francisco, but I left my travel clutter in San Diego.

Feng shui teaches us that everything is comprised of energy.   By tuning into our environments we can create harmonious spaces where positive energy flows to support our lifestyles.  In direct opposition, clutter causes a stagnation of energy.  It drags us down and makes us sluggish and demotivated.

I classify my overpacked suitcase as clutter because it really was an example of cramming too much stuff in a space.  Not only did it slow me down literally and figuratively, it kept me in a state of  lack.  What if I needed that jacket or those extra pair of shoes? 

There are several pitfalls of clutter.   For one thing, it keeps you in the past.  When your space is filled with too much stuff, there isn’t room for anything new to come to you.  Releasing the past creates a better future.  Also, clutter causes disorganization.  Folks spend a great deal of time searching for things (as I did right within my jammed suitcase), which undoubtedly causes undue stress.

Coming from a person who practices feng shui, this clutter-filled experience is a slightly embarrassing confession.  I can’t help but think of the old saying:  the shoemaker’s kids have no shoes (although, now I can at least say that I have a few less pairs of them) but it actually was a beneficial eye-opening reminder worth every penny of that $50.

So my advice to you is to not get caught/stuck in the clutter trap.  Ask yourself:  do I really need this; do I really love it?  If the answer is a firm yes to either or both, enjoy.  If the answer is no, then it is time to part ways. 

Since I returned I continue to find areas where I can de-clutter.  In fact, I just mailed in my application to participate in my town’s annual garage sale.  I’m thinking an over-sized suitcase just might bring in some decent money.