You know what I mean - deeeeep cleaning your home: getting into every nook and cranny.... your oven and fridge, the deepest, darkest recesses of all your cupboards and drawers, your skirting boards, under, behind and on top of every piece of furniture.... AND, dispensing with items you've been hanging onto just in case you need them some day....
It's a time consuming business, and not one I enjoy, but the results are soooo worth it.
Spring cleaning and decluttering does more for us than the obvious. Yes, it's wonderful to soak up the calm of a room that's recently been cleaned and cleared of cobwebs and unused, unloved stuff. But the benefits run much deeper: when we clear out our physical space we also clean up our energy - physical, spiritual and emotional.
When you change your inner world it impacts on your outer world. And when you change your outer world it impacts on your inner world. Because everything and everyone that exists are inter-connected, despite the illusion of separation we live under. And so, if you're feeling stuck in some area of your life, by clearing up your physical environment you can give yourself the mental, spiritual or emotional boost you need to get unstuck and get going again.
Here comes the science bit...
(if you consider Feng Shui a science, that is - I prefer to look on it as an art)
Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway) is an ancient Chinese science of balancing the elements of the environment and optimising the flow of energy or chi. An environment where the energy can flow freely allows for good health, wealth and relationships. And the converse also applies...
Clutter causes the energy flow to stagnate, and the areas of your home that are cluttered represent corresponding areas in your life where your energy may be stuck and circumstances are less than favourable.
The simple solution? Keep your home environment clean, organised and simple. Don't overcrowd rooms, cupboards or drawers with furniture, books, clothing or any other apparel you can think of. Have what you need and adorn with items you love. And nothing more!
Poverty Consciousness versus Prosperity Consciousness
It's definitely nice to look around you and see that you have plenty - that fosters a feeling of abundance. But if you have stuff jammed into cupboards and drawers that you can't even access because they're so full - that is unnecessary excess. And far from fostering abundance, it will actually block the flow of abundance to you.
So, instead of hanging onto something that you might need 'someday', let it go and trust that if you do ever need such an item in the future, either you will have plentiful resources to acquire another, or you will receive one as a gift at the perfect time.
I used to be like a squirrel, afraid to throw things out in case I'd need and regret it later. I don't do that anymore, and somehow or other I generally have what I need when I need it. I might not always have what I want, but what I want isn't always for my highest good! But what I need is usually easily available, and I do draw a lot of what I want into my life more easily than I did when I didn't trust that all would be provided perfectly.
The Rules
The principles involved in clearing clutter are really simple:
Love it,
Use it...
.. or Lose it!
Decluttering is about getting rid of unnecessary excess. What you use regularly gets to stay - simple ;-) What you don't use regularly has to go. Unless it's a decorative item that you love. But be strict here. We're not talking about something you kinda like, or that your best friend gave you so you feel obliged to hang onto it.
You want to surround yourself with items that you truly enjoy. Because when your glance falls on these things its lifts your spirit a little. If you look around your room and nothing your eye lands on lights a little spark of appreciation, then in what way are you benefiting from having it crowd your space?
Be ruthless. Your home is your castle and it's in your best interests to enable the energy to flow easily and make it as uplifting a space for you as possible.
Some starting points
If you have alot of clutter to clear chances are the job will seem overwhelming to begin with. The trick is to start small and do it little and often. Assign yourself a morning, an hour, or even half an hour, and choose an area that can be easily cleared and cleaned within that time frame:
sock or knicker drawer hall table kitchen cupboards bookshelves wardrobe
- seasons are changing. If you're packing up one lots of clothes and unpacking another, it's an ideal time to be ruthless and decide if you really need to keep them all.
If you're stuck for motivation, then I highly recommend reading Clear your clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston. You'll be decluttering before you've even finished the book!
Even if you don't believe in the energetic principles of Feng Shui, living in a decluttered environment has many practical benefits:
Less items to accumulate dust makes it easier to clean and improves respiratory health issues Precious time is saved when you no longer need to hunt for items Decluttered spaces are calm spaces, and calm spaces are easier to relax in than busy ones. They promote greater relaxation. You can use your space and furniture properly - for example, you can sit and eat at your dining table instead of balancing your plate on your lap because the table is buried under books, paperwork and ironing. You can see all the clothes you own and access them more easily. Eventhough the quantity
of your clothes will decrease, the variety of what you now wear will probably improve.
So, if you're a bit of a squirrel, and sceptical of the new age benefits, I challenge you to have a clutter clear out and pay attention to what you notice in your life afterwards - both practically and holistically. It will be an interesting experiment ;-)
This is a great article Hilda, thanks for posting. I have also read Karen Kingston's book and found it inspiring.
Posted by: Jane Langof | April 22, 2009 at 11:27 PM
Thanks Jane, so glad you liked it : )
Posted by: Hilda | April 23, 2009 at 12:23 AM
I've never heard of Kingston's book but I'm definitely going to check it out now. This is a great post and lots of useful information in here! Thanks!
http://positivelypresent.typepad.com
Posted by: Positively Present | April 25, 2009 at 01:45 PM
Hi PP,
Thanks for your comment. I hope you like that book. When I first read it, it motivated me to do the biggest decluttering of my life, and that lead me to a huge life-changing decision. Well, I didn't even decide actually, I just woke up one morning with a clear and unshakeable knowing that came from a huge detachment, and three years on still no regrets. In fact, people who thought I was off my head at the time are now congratulating me on my wisdom ;-)
When you declutter you'll let go of what you need to let go of right now, even if you don't know beforehand what that is. Have fun!
Posted by: Hilda | April 27, 2009 at 10:49 AM