Some days it is hard to get motivated to do anything....So, how can Feng Shui help? Here is what you can do to bring some helping energy into your life:
1. Open all windows and aerate the area you want to work in- Fresh Chi'
2. Get dressed in clothing that is practical, made of natural fibers and makes you feel good! WEAR RED-THE FIRE ELEMENT.
3. Put on the music you love and start small, focusing on one area to give you a sense of accomplishment.
4. Finish the process before you get tired of it and treat yourself to something really nice, be it a good cup of coffee at the best cafe in town or a movie with a friend.
By following these steps you will create the energy of excitement around a process that is usually avoided and your place will be breathing new energy in no time!
De-cluttering, at times, can be a daunting project for anybody to tackle. If you are currently feeling squeezed by the economy or are job hunting, de-cluttering can seem like an overwhelming task.
So why am I recommending that you de-clutter your home now?
For a very simple reason: if you want to bring anything new into your space (or life), you need to get rid of the old. The old in this case is the clutter. More importantly, any type of clutter creates a block or obstacle to what you really want to accomplish in life. That could be more money, a better job or a whole new career.
So, where should you start? By focusing on the following four areas in your home: Your bed, your stove, your desk & your front door. These areas are extremely important in feng shui and are relatively simple areas to de-cluttering.
These are the key four areas in a home that a professional feng shui practitioner will look at and assess when analyzing a person's home and life. Any clutter in these areas translates into clutter, not only in your home, but more importantly in your life. So, let's get started.
You Bed-
The bed is the most important piece of furniture in your home. It is here you spend the most time (sleeping or relaxing), just on one piece of furniture! Therefore, clutter around the bed is discouraged.
There should be no papers, books, children's toys, cloths and athletic equipment on either side of the bed. Also, nothing is permitted under the bed. No boxes, photo albums-NOTHING. It is imperative that Chi' can flow smoothly around your bed when you are sleeping.
Once you have successfully de-cluttered around your bed, keep the momentum going and de-clutter the rest of your bedroom. This room should be a sanctuary. A place where you can think quietly, rest, nap and sleep. By taking out the clutter, you are eliminating a major stress source. Yes, clutter makes us anxious, unhappy, scattered, depressed and even stressed out.
Your Stove-
Your stove represents wealth in feng shui. For thousands of years, you were considered a "wealthy person", if you had enough food to eat, a concept we do not even think about today. Yet, your stove is of major importance to your personal wealth.
So how do you de-clutter a stove? First, look on top of your stove. Do you keep any pots or pans on the stove, even when it is not in use? Look right above your stove. Do you have lots of cooking items and utensils scattered about? Do all your burners work?
Since the stove is so important and it is so closely tied to your income, below is a recommended list of:
How to "clean up/de-clutter" the stove:
v Make sure all the burners are working
v Make sure the oven, clock and any other feature on the stove is in proper working order
v Use all the burners. You want to spread your wealth around in your life. Plus, unused burners are ‘dormant' and this can hinder your creation (or making) of money
v Keep the stovetop and oven CLEAN. A clean stove keeps the Chi fresh and alive which helps simulate wealth
Your Desk
Your desk is a place that, ideally, should be kept neat, clean and orderly. The desk is often "command central" when dealing with the family's finances or when looking for a new job. Unfortunately most desks look like a bomb just hit it!
Here is a useful list of de-cluttering tips to use when:
Organizing your desk:
v Pull everything out of the desk and off the top. Sort through and place each item in one of the following three plain boxes: 1. Garbage, 2. Keep-to be filed (or stored) in another place beside the desk, 3.Items to go back into the desk
v Thoroughly clean the desk
v Make sure you have enough storage space in your home office area. People end up using their desktop's as a make shift filing cabinet. Why? Because they ran out of filing space. If you need to invest in more storage space, do it! It will greatly cut down on the chaos and clutter that your desktop (and you) is currently experiencing.
v File papers and documents, at a minimum every other day. Papers pile up quickly and there will never be an end to the paper flow. Make a commitment to file away everything you can on your desk top every other day. Every day is even better.
v Pencil drawers should be added to help organize the small items such as paperclips, stamps, etc.
v If you have lingering magazines floating around, keep them only for that month and then toss them. If you find a pertinent article, tear sheet it, label and file it. Do not keep the whole magazine. You can also scan it and file it in your computer.
v Make sure to de-clutter your computer's desktop
Your Front Door
The front door is important since this is where the fresh Chi enters into your home. The front door is also called the Mouth of Chi. this is literally and figuratively the point where new life enters into your house and your life. What better area to de-clutter if you are striving to boost your income or look for a new job.
De-cluttering your front door area:
v Make sure your front door is in excellent conditions. There should be no major cracks, holes or gaps.
v The door should not be squeaky or stick when opening or closing.
v There should be NO CLUTTER on either side of the doorway. This will obstruct the flow of fresh Chi.
v Clean and polish all brass work on the door.
v Be sure the doorbell works properly.
v De-cluttering the landing outside the door and the entranceway inside the house. Nothing should obstruct this area.
By cleaning and de-cluttering these four important areas in your home, you are opening the pathway for Chi to enter your life. Fresh Chi is the catalyst for positive change and improvement in life. In order to get a new job or earn more money, you need to open yourself up to change. Change and getting what you really want can occur by successfully de-cluttering your home.
A space that we often forget about is our beloved, yet often neglected launry room. Yet, this is where we wash our cloths, iron & set ourselves 'right' for the world to see.
Here are a few easy & effective tips to help you get this area in order:
De-Clutter & throughly Clean The Area
Paint or Wallpaper the room (or area) - Any color will work, but light, bright crisp colors are the most effective & uplifting.
Storage Space- Make sure you have enough (most client's do not). Any added storage needs to be durable and functional.
Folding Table- For your laundry, make sure you have a large, sturdy folding table. Please do not use your your bed or kitchen table.
Large Sink/Tub- A tub can come in handy for soaking clothes, cleaning large objects or other household chores.
Water-Resistant Floor Coverings- Paint concrete floors with a heavy-duty paint or cover the floor with glue-down vinyl if the slab is smooth, stays dry and is crack-free.
Respect your launry area, spruce it up and you will find this necessary chore will become a pleasure, not a burden. Plus, a neat looking laundry room always registers as a positive for any prospective buyer.
"I am getting my house in order: as without, so within"Emily Dickinson
This quote dates back to the mid 1800's, yet is very prevalent in today's world.
If your home or office is in a state of disarray, how can you truly think clearly and accomplish what you want to achieve in the world. You can't.
To be at your 'fighting best' clearing your clutter is the only way to go & grow. To be successful in the uncertain, changing world of today, you want to be CLEAR on how you will succeed. Nothing should impede you... Least of all clutter.
So take a tip from Ms. Dickinson. Look at your home & office space & see what it is really saying about your inner core.
I love my perennial garden. Watching plants bloom and grow is a perpetual blessing in my life. It is also a perpetual challenge.
At the heat of Feng Shui is the discipline of YIN/YANG. YIN/YANG are the two opposite components that are forever balancing each other. Yes, you can think of it as black and white, hot and cold, but it is much more delicate and complicated than that.
The black YIN has a small circle of white YANG in it and visa versa. Not grey, but a small component of the opposite trait in each of it's 'body' What this literally means is that to accomplish a true balance in your home environment, garden or life, you need to embrace all parts of your life (good and challenging) in order to obtain and create balance and harmony.
Think of a seesaw. It does take a good amount of effort and concentration to keep the seesaw balanced. That's is what YIN/YANG does in the universe and in your home. It is a perpetual balancing act that forever is slightly moving and changing. You too must move and change to keep your life and all of your items and possessions in balance.
What does all this have to do with gardening? Well, what better place to try to learn to balance your life than in your garden. While your plants and flowers are growing, weeds, insects, drought, too much rain, etc....all the elements of life, slightly alter and change the delicate plan you had set out to create in your garden.
What do you do? As a conscientious gardener, you water your flowers if it is too dry, add soil when your plants need a boost of nutrition and put your hands into the soil and pull out the weeds. The same holds true for your home and items.
In order to create and keep harmony and balance in your home and life you need to de-clutter on a consistent basis. Get rid of items that you no longer use or are broken or damaged. Keep your home clean. Respect the items you do love and organize them. Even practical things like linens and towels should be neatly folded and stored. This is Feng Shui balance. This is the correct implementation of YIN/YANG in your life.
I have been teaching classes for years on how to de-clutter your home or office in order to manifest what you really want in your life. One of the biggest obstacles clients and students have is de-cluttering their environment. The issue always boils down to the following questions: "what will become of the item after it leaves my home?" and "I do not know of any places where I can donate my items?" In short, people want to know that their items can be reused and recycled.
So, I have comprised a short list of websites you can use as a reference in order to move unwanted items out of your home and into the hands of others who can really use them.
Please read through the list. These websites go beyond the usual Salvation Army & Goodwill; which are also excellent places to donate your unwanted items. I have included some very powerful places where your belongings will find a loving and much needed new home.
CAUTION: Please objectively look at the item and if it is broken, dirty or unsafe THROW IT AWAY. Gently used items are always accepted and preferred!
Green Demolitions - Norwalk, Connecticut, Honesdale, Pennsylvania & Bethel, New York- Entire Houses In Great Shape: Will take your old kitchens, bathrooms, cabinets, updated appliances, bathroom vanities, pedestal sinks...the list of what they accept is VERY EXTENSIVE. Check out their website They will even take your airplane! They also will sell you a slightly used kitchen, bathroom, etc. http://www.greendemolitions.com/index.html I urge you to click on their link and get their information. They service New England, the Catskills, Upstate NY, Tri-state NY area and Pennsylvania. WARNING-Green Demolitions will accept only items that are in good to excellent condition. All donations are picked up at your home or business, free of charge.
Help1Up- Help Families Of Abuse, National Disaster Victims, Welfare Families & Others By Providing Used Furniture: This organization ties into furniture banks all over the US. As they state, "Your donation will keep bulky items out of landfills and incinerators and provide a less fortunate family with the basic comforts of home." http://www.help1up.org/about-help1up.html They strive to make sure that no child in America sleeps on the floor.
Local Animal Shelters- Blankets, linens, comforters, towels, slightly used animal beds & toys. They will accept items that are not in good condition. The items are used for bedding for cats, dogs, rabbits, etc. who are awaiting their forever home. Examples: contact your local chapter of the ASPCA or click on the following link and put in your state and town. A list of shelters & what they need will pop up: http://www.petfinder.com/awo/index.cgi
I hope I have inspired you to dig into your closets, homes and business and lighten your home in order to bring happiness to others. Yes, you now have no excuse not to de-clutter. Yes, other people (and pets) are in great need of what you no longer need in your life.
Yesterday, I was doing a Feng Shui consultation in a client's home, a beautiful duplex apartment on Park Ave, in NYC. Gorgeous apartment.... except she had a clutter problem with pictures & books.
Don't get me wrong, the apartment was decorated to the nines; but on every table was a sea of pictures. On every chair, under desks, on ottomans...well, you get the picture, were books. It was a true hoarders dream come true. My client has a clutter problem.
Clutter comes in many forms. Some people who clutter, specialize in collecting only one or two category of items- i.e. books & pictures. But believe me, this is just as toxic as accumulating random items. Just because things are stocked in nice, neat piles, does not overcome the fact that it is still clutter.
The apartment had a heavy, dense feeling because it was housing so much clutter. It is a very large duplex, but the rooms that housed the endless sea of pictures and books looked smaller and felt tight. Yes, the client had bookshelves. Many custom made, beautiful bookshelves in three rooms. But the books were sprouting up in neat piles all over the floor.
As a Feng Shui practitioner, my job is to address clutter with my clients, help them work through it and move it out of their lives. When she told me she was about to put the home on the market, more of a red flag was raised in my mind. Clutter devalues a home. Clutter kills deals.
I would like to share with you some of the ways I work with my clients to successfully part with their clutter.
Start the process by helping them eliminate a little of the clutter. Then, tell them to keep up the process with a friend or housekeeper or even a professional (Feng Shui practitioner, professional organizer).
People are very attached to their items, so suggest that they should try living with less for a few months. Tell them their items are "going on a vacation". (I am not kidding) This type of wording, I have found, helps them severe the ties and is very effective to ease them into removing unused items.
Remind the client that moving with items that are no longer used will end up costing them money. The reality is: moving is expensive. The more you move, the more it will cost you.
Assure them there items will get a second life somewhere else. Explain that there are people in the orld who could really use and would treasure your old items. This makes the client feel better and helps expedite the process.
Be Prepared! Have phone numbers of services that will remove the items from the client's home. This could be: The Salvation Army, A local chapter of The Boys & Girls Club of America, local library (for books), Junk Removal Companies (LIKE 1-800-got junk.com)
By understanding the attachment your seller has to his clutter, the better equipped you are in helping him clean up and clear out his home. This of course makes your listing a cleaner, lighter, brighter home that will sell.
Spring has finally arrived and now is a great time to have your clients attack the interior of their home with a good spring clean up. This will make the difference between a house that sits on the market and a sale.
Yes, I used the word attack, because that is exactly how I want you to have your client approach and conquer their clutter.
Have your client start in the BASEMENT of their home. Over the winter (and years) we tend to mindlessly bring things down to our basement and it becomes a storage nightmare. In Feng Shui , the basement of a home represents our grounding in the world. Urge clients to get rid of all unused items as soon as possiable. It will help them mentally prepare to let go of the home and make the house easier to sell.
Next, go up to the attic. This is also a forgotten area. The attic represents our higher mind or spiritual self. If they feel that they can not part with items, then urge them to enlist the help of a friend who will sort through and get rid of their clutter.
It is imperative to clean up and clear all clutter in a clients' home. Clutter actually actually blocks the sale of the home. By keeping unwanted, unused items in their lives, a client is still strongly attaching himself to a home. Urge them to de- clutter and present their home as an attractive, neutral space where a prospective buyer can envision himself stepping into easily.
Here are a few sources to help you eliminate unwanted items:
·www.freecycle.org/ A grassroots organization that lets anybody give your unwanted items away for free in your own town.
.www.1800GotJunk.com
By giving your client ways to pair down the clutter in their life, you are helping to expediate the sale of the home. The less of an imprint the client has, the more quickly a new buyer can envision himself living and thriving in a new space.
The Finnish Press recently reported a story about an art student that took an inventory of every object in her 2,500 sq. ft. home. She owned a total of 6,126 items. The most interesting part of the story was her breakdown of how often she used each object:
Objects never used - 1,457 or 24% Objects used less frequently than once a year-2209 or 36%
Objects used once or twice a year- 1411 or 23% Objects used every month- 587 or 9%
Objects used every week- 401 or 7% Objects used EVERYDAY- 61 or 1%
That means that 59% of her household items were not used everyday! Now, take a look at your client's home and urge them to de-clutter BEFORE they put the house on the market. It will make the home look bigger, it will show better and the client will not miss any of the items that they no longer use. Try it, it works!
The days are getting longer and gardeners are sketching out what their piece of heaven will look like this year. Adding new plants, and flowers always gives freshness and vitality to any garden space. There are a few things to consider when planting any new tree, flower, bush or plant according to Feng Shui doctrine.
*Make sure that the energy level of the plant has an upward Chi' flow and not a downward one. Most plants grow in an upward direction, this is good, energetic Chi'. But, certain specimens, i.e., a Weeping Willow, have a downward or negative Chi' flow. This is not auspicious.
*Be aware of cutting Chi' energy. Sharp, pointy, spiked specimens epitomize cutting Chi'. They also are harmful to touch. Think of roses with thorns, bougainvillea, holly trees, cactus........you get the idea.....Ouch!
*Vines that climb and overtake trees, small bushes and even houses, must be maintained. If they are not cut back, they become Sha, or negative Chi' energy. Examples of this: Ivy, Wisteria & Climbing Bittersweet.
*Plant hearty, native specimens in your garden. Unhealthy, weak dying plants or flowers are undesirable Feng Shui. They also are considered Sha energy. Not to mention the fact, that they become an eye sore and you may have to replace the weak plants. This, of course, is not cost efficient. Buy only from reliable sources; this will help to ensure beautiful plant specimens.
Feng Shui and the land are very intertwined. By following a few simple Feng Shui rules, you will ensure that the Chi' (life force energy) will flow throughout your garden. By surrounding yourself with healthy, beautiful plants your garden will not only be Feng Shui correct, it will be a joy to live with.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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