These words, commonly heard during feng shui consultations, usually refer to the most disorderly of rooms – garages.

Often times it seems that these scary places are not considered to be part of our living space. Instead, they become storage sheds attached to our houses.

In some instances they are packed with so much stuff that a car cannot even fit.

Folks would rather park in a driveway and endure rain, cold and snow than participate in the daunting act of clearing out unused or unwanted items.

The room’s purpose goes from car protector to stuff collector.

It is a misconception that a garage that is packed to the gills does not affect us on an energetic level.

Every time you enter a disorganized space, whether on foot or by car, your subconscious mind goes into “I need to get to this” mode.

Instead of feeling relaxed that you are home safe and sound, the chaotic energy brings on unnecessary stress.

Give your garage purpose and make use of the space. Use pegboards and shelving for easy access of garden tools and cleaning supplies.

Pay particular attention to the wall directly in front of you as you enter. This is a perfect spot to change an unwanted pattern with a supportive saying or plaque.

Treat it like a room. Cleaning and sweeping the area not only clears out stale chi, it prevents the dirt from being tracked into the house.

Color is an easy way to change the energy of a space. Hang some artwork that is bright and cheerful.

Toxins from paint can meander into your living space. Go through old cans and dispose of them in an environmentally safe way.

All your belongings contain energy. Insidious clutter brings in stuck, negative energy that can prevent you from moving forward in life. Clear out the space and break the cycle of procrastination.

Don’t let the stagnation of clutter create energetic barriers that prevent you from manifesting what you desire.

With the energy and newness of spring, now is the time to organize and clear out what no longer serves you. Discard/donate/sell.

Consider making a donation with your proceeds to offer relief for Japan. It will make you feel good.

You know, it just occurred to me why they call it a garage sale.

On the East Coast the snow is finally melted and there is but a hint of spring in the air. 

With morning birds chirping and daffodils sprouting tiny buds, I am so ready to trade in my fleece gloves for gardening gloves!

Give me just that little extra bit of daylight and I can already feel my energy increasing as we move from the stillness of winter to the growth energy of early spring.  All these subtle changes are gentle reminders of how much nature affects our behavior. 

Feng shui, literally translated as wind and water, is about how we respond to our environments. Imagine energy (or chi) flowing like wind and water in your home. Through this mental exercise, try to identify places where chi might get stuck.  

As we transition into spring, it is a perfect time to inventory our homes, clear any blockages, and rid ourselves of anything that is no longer needed or useful.   Starting slowly, here are some areas to focus on.

Getting the Skeletons (etc) Out of the Closet

Sort through clothes and footwear and give away/donate anything that you haven’t worn during the winter season.   This includes belts, hats, gloves, scarves – even jewelry.  A general rule of thumb is that if it hasn’t been used in the last year, it’s time to go. 

Need some motivation?  Remind yourself that letting go of old things only opens the space for the new.

Slaying the Paper Tiger

You can do it.  Get rid of that daunting pile.  I have to tell you…in a typical scenario of the shoemaker’s kids having no shoes, a year or so ago I came upon a giant bin of ancient bills and miscellaneous paperwork that was somehow hidden in a far away corner of my attic. 

I was stunned to find such cords to the past.  It was a trip down memory lane, for sure, and often times not exactly pleasant.  But, the joy and liberation I experienced going thru hours of shredding every little piece of paper was simply indescribable.  It was like I was deleting and rewriting history.    

Living by the Book(s)

We all have favorite books that we go back to over and over and continue to learn from.  But, beware.  Some books have a way of finding a spot and refusing to budge.  If you are holding onto too many of them, perhaps you are limiting yourself to the certain belief system they represent  Maybe you are too rigid in your thinking, which could prevent you from seeing different perspectives. 

Keep the ones that you use and recycle/give away the others.  Keep in mind, there’s always the library.  Separation anxiety?  Go visit them. 

Food for Thought

When was the last time you went through your pantry, kitchen cabinets or refrigerator?  If you happened to have a weak moment at a can-can sale, make a much needed donation to your local food bank.  Also, check use-by dates on all that stuff  hidden in dark places. 

(While you are at it, take into consideration kitchen gadgets, you know the ones that sounded so fabulous in the infomercials.)

Is the Medicine Worse than the Malady?

Toiletries have a way of reproducing themselves.  Bathroom closets and medicine cabinets are huge breeding grounds for clutter.  This adds stress to a room that is meant to make us feel refreshed.  From a health risk aspect, check for expired medications and makeup that may be outdated.

Again, don’t forget those abandoned lotions and potions that didn’t  quite do the trick.

Gearing Up for Spring

We’ve been insulated all winter breathing recycled air.  As the days become warmer open the windows and circulate fresh air.  This will help to release any stale chi.

As human beings we have a natural affinity to nature.  Make it a habit of taking walks.  Your body and soul will be grateful.

Mother Earth goes thru the process of change without resistance.  Follow her lead and make the changes necessary to create a space that has free flowing energy. 

Use the decluttering approach of feng shui to free your home…and mind of useless clutter.

In feng shui, the element for this season is water.  With its introspective energy, water is considered yin. 

In a quiet state, we turn inward and nurture ourselves as we prepare for the approaching newness of spring. 

Emotionally, a new year offers a clean slate.  What better time is there for a little life review?  No pressure; no declarations.  Just some suggestions for potentially improving your lifestyle.

Change Your Mind

Negative thinking is very detrimental.  It keeps us stuck in old patterns and behaviors.  Make it a point to really listen to your thoughts.  Remind yourself that each thought is powered by you, and only you can change them to become the person you want to be! 

Change Your Space

The simple act of adding or removing something in a personal space frees up energy, space and time for new things to come in.  Everything has a certain vibrational energy.  Lower energies come from things that are unwanted, unused, broken and unloved.  Releasing what no longer serves you brings in positive energy and a true sense of renewal. 

Change Your Eating

Alter your diet so that it aligns with the season. Warm the body by eating hearty soups, stews, whole grains, root vegetables and squash.  Avoid cold liquids and food.  Being in harmony with the natural world helps us to maintain good health.

Change Your Pace

Follow nature’s lead and slow it down.  Stress wreaks havoc on the immune system.  Get adequate sleep to restore and replenish your body, but be sure to connect with nature by spending time outside in fresh air and sunshine.  Find the balance.

Change Your Routine

Clutter causes stress, potential health issues, de-motivation and lethargy.  Its stale energy prevents us from moving forward in life, making it harder to make necessary changes and accomplish goals.  Eliminate things that are not important.  Releasing stuck energy will get you out of a rut and inspire you to do the things that do matter.

Change Your Need to Control

Loosening the reigns and trusting in the universe empowers us.  The process of letting go brings in clarity and focus.  We can then trust the decisions we make as we choose what and even who we want to live with.   

Change Your Life

Winter is all about reflective yin energy.  Use this opportune time to assess what works in your life – both literally and figuratively.

May you experience peace, balance, excellent health, prosperity and love in 2011!

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.