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!

Website For Your Unwanted Items:

• Habitat for Humanity- Unwanted Automobiles: http://www.habitat.org/carsforhomes/default.aspx
• 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.

www.fengshuipower.com

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.craigslist.org/

·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.

www.fengshuipower.com

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.

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.

Are you often ‘stressed out' in the office? Do you have trouble maintaing a positive, productive & creative outlook while at work? Are you often many sick?  If you answered yes to one or all of these questions, then you need to take a close look at your office environment. This is the place that you spend eight (8) plus hours a day trying to get work done, juggle phone calls, deal with client conflicts and combat office politics.

Feng Shui, the 4,000-year-old art of placement in one's home and office space, is built on the theory of balance and harmony in your environment. Yet, in the United States, the office is the ‘final frontier' when it comes to incorporating balance and harmony in our workspace.

Smith Barney, Morgan Stanley, Donald Trump, Virgin Airways and its billionaire owner Richard Branson, and thousands of wealthy and successful businesspeople all over the world, employ Feng Shui in their office space. Why? Because it works! Companies find that if their employees enjoy where they work, they are happier, less stressed, less likely to get sick and stay with your firm. It only makes sense to respect your office environment and make it a productive, healthy, balanced place to work.

The following are a few Feng Shui concerns that need to be addressed when creating the optimum work environment for you and your employees:

Clutter- This is always a challenge, but the more clutter you work around, the higher the stress level of the company. Clutter that rises above your head, even if it is on a bookshelf, has an oppressive, overpowering feeling. Files left scattered on the floor and in the hallway create tension, anxiety and even depression. In Feng Shui, Chi', the live force energy that has to be able to flow smoothly and undisturbed throughout your office environment. Unobstructed Chi' is a very important component to a healthy work environment. Clutter blocks Chi' and stagnates the energy in the office. Stagnant energy has a heavy, oppressive feeling. It impacts not only your staff's moral, but also productivity. An unproductively office is less money in your pocket. So clean up that clutter now!

Your Desk - The position of your desk dictates power according to Feng Shui doctrine. The desk should be as far away from the door as possible. You should be able to have an unobstructed view of the door from where you sit. If this is impossible, a Feng Shui cure, such as a mirror needs to be employed. Your desk should not be in direct line of the door. Being able to have a clear view of the door in your office equals success and more money in your pocket.

Color - Color affects the mood and tone of your office. Be sure to live with the colors you love. Keep in mind that light colors invigorate, while dark colors and deeper tones can make you and your employees feel oppressed. Too much dark wood has a heavy, ominous feeling. Feng Shui is all about balance. Use lively, energetic colors to accent and uplift the energy. This will help with moral, creativity and productivity.

Adding Plants and A Water Element for Balance- Placing a water feature such as a fountain in your office has a remarkable affect on everyone. Clean, fresh running water is invigorating and also soothing to listen to. Depending on your office size, a larger, wall mounted water feature is preferable over a tabletop one. In Feng Shui, water also equals wealth, so be sure to keep the fountain in good shape and the water clean. Living plants add life to any space. They are also great stress busters and help soak up toxins in the air. Think of plants that have smooth, round leaves such as Fichus or Rubber Plants. Avoid Cactus. That equals cutting Chi' and will have a negative affect on the harmony you are trying to create.

Light- Light is a Feng Shui cure and the right amount of light is important to our health and well being. Indoor lighting is artificial lighting that needs to be bright, like daylight, but not glaring. The healthiest type of light is "full spectrum light" or living light. It consists of all seven (7) colors of the rainbow. This type of light is used in Europe, especially Scandinavia. The Europeans have discovered that their employees had fewer health problems when they installed living light. The unhealthiest light is the fluorescent bulb, which is present in many US offices. Its constant flickering causes headaches, nervousness, eye problems and other health problems.

These are just a few ways you can start to enhance your office environment.  A full Feng Shui consultation will address your company's location and environment in depth and offer practical and potent cures. Feng Shui is very mainstream in most corporate offices in Asia and parts of Europe. They realize that our work environment directly correlates to our health, happiness, creativity and productivity. After all, it's a proven system that has had great success for over 4,000 years.

Here are 3 GREAT rules to follow when you want to advise a seller how to really get rid of the clutter:

If you do not love it, get rid of it. You can sell it, donate it or throw it out, just physically take it out of your environment and deal with it. 

I have a wonderful client who proudly showed me three huge piles of items she was going to get out of her life once and for all. The only problem was that each large pile was parked in her dinning room and there was no space for anything else. "This pile, I'm going to donate, this one is for my daughter and this one is going to be put in the garbage". I then asked the deadline for removal of each pile and she looked at me like I had three heads. "Well, I sorted all the things I don't need anymore in three different categories, just as you said."  But that was as far as she had gotten. Basically, the clutter still controlled her. It was just reshaped and moved to one central location in her home.

If you have a huge pile of clutter you just con not budge, try this Feng Shui cure for fast results.Buy a new, clear, faceted, lead 40 or 50mm crystal and hang it on a 9 (or18) inch RED ribbon. Hang the crystal from the ceiling and place it in the middle of the room or closet you want to de-clutter. If you have a certain pile if things you need to sort through, then hang the crystal over the pile itself. The crystal activates Chi', and will break up the clutter ‘roots'. It will also bring clarity to your de-cluttering process. If you gravitate towards more color and movement, use a fun, colorful windsock instead of the crystal. Apply all the other rules, especially the 9" or 18" red ribbon.

Do not let guilt rule your life.

If you do not like someone, you will not feel positive about a gift they give you. Every time you walk by it, unpleasant feelings will arise. This holds especially true for ex-spouses, ex-buisness partners, and relatives you'd rather not have. I was in a beautifully decorated home in Irvington, NY this fall and noticed that both the husband and wife became very edgy and uncomfortable when they started to describe an expensive set of hunt prints from England. " Well", stated Jon, "we should be really happy we were the ones who got these prints, when Uncle Paul died. They're really quite expensive". His wife groaned. " I guess the only thing is, we both really never liked the guy...He was a cheap, nasty, bitter person who never even approved of Leslie when I married her 27 years ago." I then looked directly at both of them, and asked why they would want to keep these types of memories alive? "How are we doing that?" Leslie inquired. "By staring at these pictures every day of your life. They subconsciously bring up all the buried feeling you guys have been harboring about this awful man in your life!" With that said, John removed the pictures and placed them out in the garage. Leslie smiled at me and stated, "things are getting better already".  Also, if you feel a gift is not in harmony with your taste, or you have outgrown it, get rid of it. Learn to live with only the things in life that bring you joy and peace of mind. Our home and office is our scared space. Honor it by surrounding yourself with uplifting items.

Place items that will be donated in plastic bags or boxes. Then put a large (8x11) green piece of paper with the removal date, phone number, and name of person (or organization) on each pile.

This is the date that each donation pile must to be out of your life. No excuses! Make the date realistic and very timely. If the contact person or charity fails to show up on the given date, make one more appointment and stress the importance of them respecting your timetable. If they fail again to show up, throw out what ever was in the bags. If you simply can't bear to throw it out, put it in your car and drive it to a nearby charity. Clearing your space of the unwanted baggage is much more important, than trying to wait for just the right person or situation to come and pick it up.

To think with a clear head, speak with true intent and listen with an open heart is all part of the benefits you will also experience when you declutter your life.  Remember, you are a reflection of your home and your home is a manifestation of you. Treat it like a family member, with respect, honor and love.

In a society that has so much material wealth, we should all be happy, healthy and centered in our life and our homes. But instead, the United States suffers from ill health, depression, chaos and confusion. Your home, its tone, cleanliness and order is actually a reflection of you!

 In Feng Shui, whatever you see in your home is the physical manifestation of what is going on internally in you life and the lives of the other people who share this space with you. If we take a few moments to objectively look at your living space you may notice one of the first challenges: clutter.

 In Feng Shui, it is imperative to live in an environment where the Chi' or life force can freely flow throughout your home. Chi' is energy of the universe that is constantly changing and moving. It is in every living and nonliving thing on the planet. People, animals, rocks, furniture, cars, fish, ponds, trees, land, birds, etc. all have a life force or Chi' within. Our obligation is to preserve this life force, keep it open so that it can flow freely throughout our homes, bodies, minds and souls.

To keep Chi' flowing smoothly in our homes, as much clutter as possible should be removed before the consultation. My motto is: "USE IT OR LOSE IT!" or Live with What You Love and Cherish.Clutter not only collects dust and dirt, it clogs up our thinking every time we look at it. It can make us angry, unhappy, frustrated and depressed. It also has a much deeper psychological meaning in our lives. If we are a reflection of our homes and our home is a reflection of us, then we are often hiding or not dealing with or facing our challenges in life.

Remember, Feng Shui works the best if a home is clutter free, but I have done consultations just to deal with this complex, ugly monster. A great deal of clutter that has not been dealt with in a long time ‘grows roots' in the ground and often just the thought of cleaning out that area is exhausting!