As I started my Feng Shui certification course, one of the first topics covered and one that grabbed my attention right away was clutter. The things we don’t need, don’t use, don’t love and that energetically bog down our space.
Clutter creates stagnant, stale energy in our homes and other personal spaces. Think about the clutter in your mind: the fear that holds you back from doing something new and exciting, the endless to-do lists that keep you from living in the present moment, those old memories that bring nothing but negativity. Clutter affects our homes exactly how spiraling thoughts affect our minds. It keeps us feeling stuck, procrastinating, feeling weighed down, living in the past. Feng Shui operates with the core belief that we are not separate from anything. Everything in this universe has energy. What does this mean? The clutter in your home affects everything in your life.
When I finished studying that first chapter, I took a good look in the mirror and in my space. I immediately started to clear out the clutter in my home. 8 bags full of items ready for donation after 2 days of decluttering (for a few hours each day). As I looked through the items I was ready to let go of, I noticed how badly I had fallen into the trap of overconsumption. I was buying things that I didn’t even love, that I never wore, all to keep up with the trends. When I reflected on how I could have possibly accumulated this stuff, I realized that many of those items weren’t even bought with myself in mind. They were purchased to keep up, to try and please everyone else around me. I could have been spending that money on travel, experiences, things that I really do love!
Here’s the thing- when we think of clutter, old clothes, mail that needs to be thrown out, equipment that you don’t use anymore might be what comes to mind. However, clutter isn’t always just the junk that lies in our homes. Clutter can be beautiful too. Story time!
When I was 23 years old, I got engaged to my first love and boyfriend of 5 years. After he proposed, I bought a large, beautiful bottle of the perfume I used to wear when we had first met because I wanted to wear it on our wedding day. Our relationship fell apart a few months later. I called off my wedding and moved into a different chapter of my life. Although this was a challenging time for me, I truly felt thankful to find that this was not the aligned person for me before we legally committed to each other. Years went by and although I felt that I had healed from that situation, I still thought about it almost everyday and wondered why that was.
Now, I love perfume and have a beautiful display of my different bottles in the wealth area of my bedroom. As I started to practice Feng Shui in my own space, I realized that looking at that bottle each day kept me stuck in the past and the situation ever present in my mind. Although there was nothing wrong with it, I got rid of that bottle of perfume that had such a strong connection to that misaligned relationship. Immediately I felt more free, at peace, and over time found that I thought about the situation less and less. My point is, sometimes even the nicest and most beautiful pieces in our home hold emotional baggage, keeping us held back from calling in what we do want in our lives. Getting rid of these items will free your mind and allow for the flow of positive, abundant energy in your space.
If this resonated with you, dedicate some time to yourself to do some de-cluttering. I like to pour myself a glass of my favorite drink at the moment and just enjoy the peace I feel as I take care of my space. Make sure you start your de-cluttering with intention by writing down what you are wanting to let go of, and what you’re specifically wanting to call in as an exchange for de-cluttering your space and your life.
When we take care of our environment, we take care of ourselves in the process. I hope you enjoy loving on your space, yourself, letting go of what doesn’t serve you, and calling in what you truly desire.
