Heart's Desire Feng Shui

Feng Shui Class: Using Your Home as Your Altar

Thanks to all who attended my class on Friday at Spiritways! It was my very first one and I was so pleased with the attendance and with your participation.  Here is the class material so you have it available for quick reference...please feel free to send this to your friends. Share the love!

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There's so much more that I can teach about. I will be doing private classes, too, in the comfort of your home. Host a feng shui partay ($36 per attendee) and get one hour of consultation free!

The buy two hours, get one free deal that I offered in the class is good if purchased by the 15th of August. Contact me before then to set up your appointment.

323-396-0452  heartsdesirefengshui@gmail.com.

Thanks!

Claire Amber

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More than “Moving Stuff Around”

Feng shui is about making adjustments in your physical space in order to shift your point of attraction, to raise your vibes and, therefore enhance your LIFE FORCE energy, aka “CHI”. Here are some of the many things that feng shui is about:

Ø      Manifestation

Ø      Spell-Casting

Ø      Directions

Ø      Symbology

Ø      Divination

Ø      Astrology

Ø      Bringing Nature Indoors

Ø      Life Force Energy

Ø      Calling on Grace/Praying

Ø      Energy Centers

Ø      Mindfulness

Ø      Numerology

Ø      Naturopathic Medicine

Ø      Use of Charms

There are many parallels between feng shui and western magic. The difference is that feng shui is about seeing your entire HOME as being sacred, as compared to one spot in your home (your altar). So, I invite you to broaden your scope and use your HOME as your ALTAR!

Clearing Clutter, Organizing and Cleaning Mindfully

Take Action Now and “Grow Where You are Planted

Below are some FORM School essentials:

• Yin and Yang
• Leaky Energy
• Sticky Energy
• Elements
• Directions
• Entrances & Exits
• Power Positions &Safety
• Cures
• Hidden Cures

Which of the Nine Areas Would You Like Help with in Your Life? Put a Check Mark by Any that You Feel are Lacking Right Now:

Family/Income

Wealth/Abundance

Health/Other

Helpful People/Travel

Children/Creativity

Skills/Knowledge

Fame/Reputation

Career/Lifepath

Love/Relationships

 

Take a Look at the BAGUA Diagram Below (left)and Imagine it Positioned Over the Floor Plan of Your Home (orient the bottom to your front door)…Are there any Sections Missing? If so, which one(s)? Where Do You Have Clutter?

 

Element	Color	Energy	Shape	Gua
Fire	Purple, Red	Outward	Pointed	Wealth,  Fame, Relationship
Earth	Yellow, Orange, Brown	Downward	Square	Knowledge, Health, Relationship
Metal	White	Inward	Circle	Creativity, Helpful People
Water	Black, Dk.  Blue	Horizontal	Wavy	Career
Wood	Lt. Blue, Green	Vertical	Rectangle	Knowledge, Family

Bagua means 8 sections, or “guas”. This magical diagram can be used as a means of divining what’s gone wonky in a place, a tool for setting your intention & manifesting something specific, and a creative means of getting in tune with your home, office, desk, car. Each section relates to a part of your life, so pay close attention to the areas that you need help with.

 

Family/Income: This gua (section) is about having your bases covered, having a solid foundation, having enough income so that you’re living well. It’s also about family, about everyone in the family being supported and about the family being supportive of each other. The main element here is wood, which is supported by water. Put energy into this gua if you’re feeling poor or if you’re having issues with your family. Beware of too much metal in this area, as it will chop the wood that is natural here. You can melt metal with the fire element. See the diagram for more info.

 

Wealth/Abundance: This gua is about prosperity! More than just mere surviving, this is about really THRIVING. This is the power gua, and has multiple elements and colors associated with it. Purple is the main color. Whatever you do, have something purple in this gua. Other colors are green, red, gold and black (wood, fire, earth, water). This is a GREAT place for a water feature, such as a fountain. You could even have a picture of a fountain or waterfall here and it would do the trick.  Water represents money in feng shui, so you wanna have your water flowing in the wealth gua. What you don’t want is for this area to be or feel drab, dingy, dirty or cluttered. Clean up any messes,  fix broken items, add a punch of color, if needed, ditch any clutter and plug any drains in this area (when not in use).

 

Health/Other: Ever feel like you’ve lost your fire? Well, fire is the supportive element in this gua. Everything centers around the health gua. Just as in life, if your health is suffering, everything else in your life suffers.  Conversely, if your health is really good and your chi is vibrant, everything else flows around you. Pay close attention to this gua! The main element here is Earth, represented by the colors of falling leaves…yellow, orange and brown. Have a candle or something fiery here, too. Fresh fruit and flowers are great, too. Make sure there is open space, if possible. Beware of staircases in this gua.

 

Helpful People/Travel: This gua is about GRACE. Do things flow well in your life? Do you feel supported by God/Goddess/Universe/Spirit? Is there always someone to catch you or help you up when you fall? Are people magnetized to you? If not, perhaps this gua is a good one to focus on. The best color here is silver. A common cure is to have a silver box here with requests of things you’d like to manifest. In fact, if you have an actual altar, you might consider placing it here. Watch out for too much fire in this gua (it melts the metal) and balance it with water.

 

Children/Creativity: This gua is about youthful energy and creative spark. Remember what it was like to be a kid, to have energy to spare, to feel invincible and totally creative? If it’s been too long since you’ve felt youthful, or if your creativity is blocked, energize this gua with earthy things (supportive element) and metallic things (main element). Anything that represents childhood or playfulness is welcome here. Beware of fiery things in this area and balance that fire out with water.

 

Skills/Knowledge: This gua is sometimes overshadowed, but is very important. For example, you can have your wealth gua juiced up, but if this area is cluttered, your money might run through your fingers if you don’t have the knowledge of how to handle it! Knowledge is power! Who/what represents wisdom/knowledge to you? Is it a certain God or Goddess? Some common cures here are pennies (a penny for your thoughts?), pictures of Buddha, self-help books, etc. The main color here is blue.  Consider having your desk or meditation spot in this gua.

 

Fame/Reputation: Do you have a good reputation? Is there BUZZ about you? Are you a business owner? Make sure to have some biz cards and materials here. Want others to talk about you, in a good way? Then make sure you have some FIRE in this area. Also, devise a cure that says EXACTLY what you want to be known for.  Watch out for too much water here (or bathrooms) and balance it with earth. If you’re dealing with burn-out, make sure to focus some energy on this gua. Pointy things like knives and stars CAN work well here, if placed carefully.

 

Career/Lifepath: Do you feel like you know your mind and heart and are in a satisfying career? Or, are you just stumbling along your path, feeling tripped up at every turn, bitter about your lot in life? If you need help with your career and lifepath, if you want to feel passionate about your life, your work, this is the gua to focus on.  The main element here is WATER. One common cure is to have a combo of white, black and green in this gua (metal, water, wood). Mirrors (which represent water) are sometimes good in this area.

 

Love/Relationships: This gua relates to your love life and ALL your relationships. It’s an earth gua, so anything earthy is welcome here. It’s also between the fire and metal guas, so pink is, therefore, the best color for this section. It’s best to have PAIRS of things. Keep the games out of this area, unless they’re kinky, relationship-oriented games, or you love playing board games with your partner. Lacking in the romance department? Bring in some red for spice, white for creativity, and pink for love. Peach is great for passion, but not necessarily for committed relationships.  It just depends on what you’re going for.

 

Claire Amber      Heart’s Desire Feng Shui      heartsdesirefengshui@gmail.com     323-396-0452

 

 

 

 

 

Merging Households: Feng Shui for Brides and Grooms

Are you getting married? Is your intention to integrate your household or just to move in with your sweetheart? Either way, feng shui can help!

So, you have two households worth of stuff and one house that you're moving into, right? Well, that's a lot of stuff and, chances are, not as much space as stuff. If that's the case, some of it's gonna have to go buh-bye or be tucked away in storage. You can pay for storage if you want, but all those items are going to be losing vital energy (chi) since they're not going to be used regularly.

My suggestion? Well, there are a couple ways to go...

1. Find a Bigger Space. Decide what size of space you would need in order to keep all of your stuff. Is that in your budget? Are you willing and able to pay that much for two households worth of stuff? Remember that the more stuff you have, the more stuff you have to take care of! Or, you could take the less costly, less stressful appoach (in the long run) and...

2. Pare Down so that you are left with the best from both households. Decide what you want to keep (the absolute must-haves) for both of you, in terms of furniture, personal belongings, kitchen, housekeeping, hobbies, etc. Let go of anything that you haven't used for a while or that you don't absolutely love. The rest either goes away (to Goodwill, garage sale, etc.) or into storage, for now.

3. Start Fresh: If you must start fresh and replace certain items (example: neither of your couches is working in your new space), I recommend finding gently used furniture at consignment stores and such to honor the environment and keep costs down.

4. Combination: Maybe you'll find a bigger house and start fresh. Or, maybe you'll pare down on some things and start fresh with others. It's up to you!

Predecessor Energy: If you buy used items, don't worry so much about what kind of energy the previous owners had. If YOU love it, commit to putting that love energy into it and it will work for you. If you feel funky vibes coming off of it, either don't buy it or find someone to help you do a clearing on the piece. Heck, I can do that for you over the phone!

Personalized Consultations: As for colors, layout, space clearing and other feng shui considerations, each situation is as unique as you are. I do consultations in person (SF and LA) and over the phone/internet.

Let me know if I can be of service and if you found this to be helpful. I can be reached at heartsdesirefengshui@gmail.com or by phone at 323-396-0452.

Cheers to a successful and blissful union!

Claire Amber

 

 

Help! I'm Trapped Under a Pile of Clutter! How do I Get Out?

What's Your Heart's Desire?

Suppose that your deepest heart's desire (for right now) is to get out from under the clutter that is making you feel TRAPPED in your home and in your life. Let's take a closer look at what's holding you back...the root cause of the hoarding...

What's REALLY Going On?

Clutter can be a symptom of deep emotional issues. Let's suppose that's the case and what's going on in your SPACE is a reflection of what's going on with your mind/spirit/emotions. 

3 Questions to Ask Yourself

I'm going to guide you through some INNER Feng Shui work...what I call "Clutter Clearing Therapy". I would suggest that you find a journal and a pen, gather your courage, and ponder the following three questions:

What is it that you're not facing and that you're trying to cover up with piles of stuff?

What do you need to forgive yourself for in order to move forward more powerfully?

What is ONE action that you can take right now to get the clutter clearing party started?

Allowing

When you ask questions and ALLOW for the answers to come, they will. They might not be ones that you want to face, but facing them is ultimately better than being trapped under piles of clutter.

Trust me on this one. I've BEEN there. My clutter may have been in boxes and somewhat organized, but I was terrified of those boxes!!! My clutter kept me feeling weak and trapped and unable to cope with life.

I had deep emotional wounds that I was covering up. I had addictions to stuff, men, talking on the phone...my finances were in ruins, I felt like a complete and utter disaster. It affected my housing and personal relationships, too.

The Importance of Clarity

It was my commitment to CLARITY that has helped me in my journey to clear my clutter. I remember being TERRIFIED of clarity. I didn't want to know what was going on underneath the surface, but it was life or death for me. I knew, deep down, that I was ill and that I needed to clear my clutter in order to figure out what was wrong with my body. I chose life. I was so committed to clarity that I started going by my middle name, Claire (which means CLEAR)!

Magic Happens!

So many magical things have happened in my life as a result of my commitment to clarity. I'm committed to helping you find the magic in your life, too. If you would like help with your situation and are READY to deal with it and with yourself, I do "Clutter Clearing Therapy" over the phone and in person, depending on your location and situation. 

No Judgement Here

I would encourage you to get out of your own way and get the help that you deserve. I hold no judgement. I promise to treat you with the respect and dignity you deserve, because, underneath it all, and despite your habits or past behaviors, I believe that you've been doing the best you can and you are worthy of living a freer, healthier, more peaceful life. Say it with me...I AM WORTHY!!!

Take Action

Find the phone and call me at 323-396-0452 if you are ready to invest in yourself, get the ball rolling and want someone to hold your hand (metaphorically) through the process. I'll give you practical tools to use so you can move forward in the most powerful way!

Sincerely,

Claire Amber

Meditation Space in the Knowledge Area- BTB Feng Shui

Meditation is important to many people. A new client of mine used her dining room area for meditation and work. Since she's a busy mom, one of my main objectives was to help her consolidate and simplify.

I wanted to give her clearly defined spaces for both work and meditation. So, we consolidated her two work areas into the relationship/creatitivity area of her house and created a meditation space in the knowledge area. We also cleared a lot of clutter from her knowledge section, which will definitely help Kimberly feel more on top of things!

We first placed a rug and then a table that wasn't being utilized. Then we added two plants that had been uprooted from another spot. A buddha statue, candle holders and a card added extra spice and sparkle to this space.

With the curtains closed, this is a very suble monochromatic color scheme with mostly browns and tans. It's very soothing and earthy...the perfect place for Kim to tune in with her highest self!

A bold, magical painting with special significance lies on the opposite wall. It has lots of blue (best color for knowledge area) and other bold colors, which creates a pop of interest to keep the area from being TOO bland. It's also a great transition for the blue room beyond.

The knowledge/wisdom area is a GREAT place for a meditation area! Another great place might be the helpful people area or creativity area.

If you're reading about "areas" and going "huh? What 'areas' are you referring to?", I'm using BTB Feng Shui. There are nine areas, or sections, of the Bagua, which is a diagram oriented to the front door of your house or room.
Below is a simple bagua, courtesy of ehow.com. The bottom of the bagua would be oriented to your front door. The door could be in either the knowledge, career, or helpful people sections.

A Buddha, or anything else that represents wisdom, is GREAT to have in this section! So are pennies...a penny for your thoughts? Abe Lincoln was seen as being very wise.

Fruit also works well here, as long as it's fresh. Trees reflect the element wood that is dominant in this area. You'll notice that there are two trees in the picture above. They are fake, but the symbolism still works! This is the best option if the upkeep of plants is not compatible with your schedule.

The color blue represents wood, as a tree reaches for the sky. The sky is the limit! Light to medium blues work best here. BTW, feng shui cures need not be VISIBLE in order to work! If you like the idea of blue, but it clashes with your color scheme in this area of your home, create a painting with blue that speaks of knowledge and wisdom and fit it BEHIND an armoire or dresser. As long as you put your energy into it and know it's there, it works!

The supporting element for the knowledge section is water, so black/dark blue items, water "cures", wavy/undulating things, fish tanks (as long as the fish are healthy!) and pictures of water all work really well here.

I invite you to examine your knowledge area. Do you have any clutter here? How do you think that's affecting your life and ability to recall things and be an expert? Might be time to let go of anything that's no longer serving you and consider using some of the "cures" mentioned above. Have fun and let me know if this is helpful and what, if anything, you do with your knowledge/wisdom area!

 

Do feng shui ornaments bring wealth?

"What do you think about the Chinese Feng Shui ornaments that one can buy? I have been using them for some many years and then stopped last year - because of a few financial problems - last year wasn`t the best that I have had." -Antony, Germany

Ah, yes, feng shui ornaments.  I must admit that I rarely use or suggest feng shui ornaments.  Here's why:

1)  If a person can tell that your place has been feng shui'd by looking at it, and seeing all your feng shui chotchkis, then it hasn't been done properly.  Feng shui is about enhancing energy flow, and the ornaments may actually be impeding the flow!  How?  If all the energy is going to a specific thing, then it's really stopping on that one thing.  And, if it distracts from an otherwise beautiful and harmonious environment, then it's not really a fix.

2)  I prefer cures that are super personalized.  The cure will work best if the person using it is really invested in it.  For example, things like vision boards are ultra personal and require thought, time and energy on the part of the participant.  It really takes little thought, time or effort to pick up and ornament and toss it in a drawer or place it on a table.  Not to say that it's wrong, but it's not as much of a personal investment.

3)  Feng shui cures are generally mass produced and I wonder about the children that are probably slaving away to make them.  I believe that the energy going into a product affects the buyer.  You can taste the love in a home-made pie, right?  Well, I know that, if you're super tuned in, you can feel the pain and frustration in a sweat-shop or factory line ornament. 

4)  The environmental footprint of these things is rarely considered in their production and purchase.  Unfortunately, modern Chinese culture tends to ignore the environment until it's too late, their motto being "we'll deal with it later".  Well, now IS later.  As a environmental advocate, I look for other, more eco-friendly options before advising the use of feng shui ornaments. 

Here are some things that I DO suggest for bringing cash in:

1) Personal Feng Shui (body):  Pay special attention to your eating and sleeping habits.  Make sure you run your chi regularly (exercise).  Eat whole, healthy, organic foods, if possible.  Take those sleep environment suggestions seriously.  The better you feel, daily, the better your energy will be and the more prosperous you will be!

2)  Inner Feng Shui (mind and spirit):  Use mantras often.  Make sure they are in the present.  For example, saying "I want to have more money" will make it so you keep WANTING to have more money, and it will be elusive.  Try this instead..."Money comes to me easily and frequently.  I welcome it, I deserve it, and I use it wisely".  It's my favorite one, of all time and it addresses multiple issues: deservingness, receptivity, and the idea that making money can be easy if we allow space for it! 

3)  Environmental Feng Shui (surroundings):  You know what the bagua is, right?  For those that don't, you can go to my web-site at www.thefengshuifairy.com/Tools.html.  It's a tool that BTB practitioners use for trouble-shooting and manifestation.  Find a floorplan or sketch one.  Orient the bottom portion of the bagua to your front door, and you'll see how the 9 sections apply to your home.  It can also be applied to your bedroom.  There's a wealth section that can be jazzed up with purple, red, green, and gold, if those colors make sense for your decorating scheme.  A fountain, or picture of one, can also work if it fits in with your decor.  Shore up any leaky energy in this area with red.  That could be a back door in your wealth area, a toilet, a sink, some activity that you get sucked into.  Sublety is good.  The cure doesn't have to show, necessarily.  You just need to know it's there and send it energy regularly. 

4)  Then find your helpful people section.  Make an abundance wish list and place it in a silver box.  Put something that represents wealth, to you, in this area.  Would this be a good place for your vision board?  Put it in a silver frame or dress it up with silver glitter.  Use silver somehow.  Remember, it doesn't have to be visible.  Your vision board could be hanging out behind a dresser, no problem.  You'd know it's there.  That's what counts. 

Let me know if you use any of these tips, and how they work for you.  Thanks for your question!  Cheers!

"I have insomnia. Can feng shui help me get to sleep?"

Yes, feng shui can ABSOLUTELY help you sleep better.  Here are some energetic contributor's to insomnia and their feng shui solutions:

Clutter:  when your surroundings are cluttered, there are more distractions to keep you awake!  If what you see before you climb between the sheets is a bunch of stuff, that's going to be on your mind, whether you know it or not.  For example, one of my clients has dealt with many sleepless nights due to the clutter and confusion in her life.  It works the same way for me, too. 

Feng Shui Fix:  When I take the time to clear things up and put items in their proper places (in my bedroom and otherwise), I always sleep better.  It also makes my mornings better because I'm starting with a fresh slate.  Try it!  Next time you have trouble sleeping, start putting things away. 

Mirrors in the bedroom:  If you can see a mirror from your bed, it can see you!  There are times when mirrors are called for and when their use trumps all other considerations.  Most of the time, though, they can make the energy far to active (or yang) for sleeping purposes.  Have a mirror above your bed?  Uh, first off, I hope you don't live in earthquake country.  Secondly, that is far too much energy bouncing back to you in bed! 

Feng Shui Fix:  If you have them, consider removing any ceiling mirrors above your bed.  That's a red hot item, in my opinion!  If your mirror faces your bed, consider putting a curtain in front of it.  A screen might work, too.  You'll have to assess what's best for your bedroom.  If you can, find a way to cover that thing up at night!  Another option is to move your bed so it's not directly accross from the mirror.  Now, anytime you move a major piece of furniture, there are other things to consider than just the mirror.  Each situation is unique.  For something as important as bed placement, I say consult an expert. 

Yang Colors:  Do you love bright red?  Shocking white?  Vibrant yellow?  Fiery orange?  Super saturated electric blue?  Neon green?  Those colors have their place, but if they're dominant in the boudoir, they could be keeping you awake!  Colors have energy.  The ones listed (and ones like them) are all YANG colors.  In the bedroom, where YIN energy is what you need to sleep well, too much yang is counterproductive.  It can leave you feeling FRIED. 

Feng Shui Fix: if your walls are really bright, or white, consider painting them a softer pastel color instead.  Muted shade are more yin, too.  So are darker shades.  You can still have your orange, just make sure that you tone it down with a little black or brown.  And if you go for red, make sure it's a luscious darker shade, like burgundy or garnet.   Love white?  Use pastel colors, as well, so there's not as much stark contrast.  White and black is too shocking for a bedroom, in my opinion.  Need blue?  Great.  Use a soft paler blue or a darker indigo.  As for yellow, it's really tricky in the bedroom.  Unless you just LIVE for the color, use it sparingly.  It's tough to tone it down without going too pale or getting a sickly green effect.  Can't live without neon green?  Use it in your wardrobe.  Wear it during the day and learn towards softer or darker greens in the bedroom. 

Of course, since I'm looking out for your best interest, I must advise you to choose your paints and other decorating materials wisely.  Consider the planet, and you'll sleep better knowing that karma's on your side this time.  Choose wisely, and you'll avoid many of the toxins that can keep you awake and impair your health.  How do you choose wisely?  That's another question for another day.

These are just a few of the feng shui issues and solutions for insomnia.  If you want more, sign up for my e-mail list, rss feed, follow me, or send me your q's! 

Does feng shui REALLY work? Or, is it just b.s.?

I feel that it's really important to question a belief consciously, rather than just accepting it blindly.  So, I've done this with feng shui.  And, I've seen it REALLY working in my life.  And, I've seen it really working in the lives of my friends and clients.

How does it work?

There is a lot of psychology behind the use of feng shui.  For example, if you're told that moving your bed to a different position will help you sleep better and improve your finances, and you're open to the suggestion, then that programs you to be receptive to the idea.  Therefore, a conscious shift in your environment can help create a shift in your subconscious. 

Psychologically, because you made the shift in your envinronment and you are more receptive, you'll start to see opportunities to improve your finances.  Perhaps you take other actions to aid your sleep, as well.  Sometimes, feng shui works as a catalyst.  You might think, "in for a penny, in for a pound" and start to make other healthy changes.

Of course, having done this for a while, I can say, honestly, that I believe it's deeper than that, but I deal with energetics all the time.  Energetically, everything in the universe is tied together.  You have your own unique energy.  Things have energy.  Thoughts have energy.  People have energy.  Your actions have effects on things outside of yourself.  Your words may affect someone positively or negatively.  Moving your bed so that it's no longer in line with the door can have a positive effect on your health.  Yes, it's psychological, and it's energetic.  That's my opinion, anyway.  Buy into whichever part makes sense to you.

It's up to you what kind of world you want to live in.  Do you want it to be filled with reminders of bad times, or reminders of good times?  Do you want to live in the past, present or future?  Do you want to be where you are, or anywhere OTHER than where you are?  Feng shui is about making CONSCIOUS choices about our environments, for the better.  So, it has much to do with the kind of energy you put into it.  Are you going to allow space for the possibility of a positive shift, or are you going to decide that it's not going to work?  That choice is one you'll need to make.

"How can I tackle my closet? It's stuffed!"

"Do you have any ideas on how to tackle one's closet?  If I don't see something, I forget about it.  So I have tons of clothes and no space to put them.  Any ideas or help organizing would be so appreciated!" -Susan, Orange County

Some Q's for You

Thanks for your question, Susan!  I have a couple questions for you:  Is it a matter of organizing and utilizing space?  If so, could you bring in an armoire, a dresser, or some other container to help manage and separate your items? 

Or, is it a matter of making the most of the space you've got?  If that's the case, a good organizing and purging might be needed. 

You can start weeding things out by categories, and put them in separate containers.  I prefer structured containers, such as boxes and baskets.  Make sure to label them clearly.  Here are some categories to play around with:

clothes you have never worn (things with tags, etc)

clothes that need mending (shortening, zipper fixed, button sewed, etc)

clothes you will never wear

clothes that make you feel icky when you wear them

clothes that remind you of past events (I was wearing ______when my boyfriend broke up with me)

clothes that are too small and make you feel guilty about your current size (I'll fit into it someday!)

clothes that are too big (do you really WANT to grow back into it?  Really?)

clothes that make you feel dull

clothes that make you feel old

anything that's cheap and doesn't scream "Wealth!"

All in a Day's Work

This is something you can do a little here, a little there, over a day's time.  Do it in 20 minute increments.  Do 20 minutes, take a 20 minute break, 20 minutes, go for a walk, 20 minutes, check your e-mail (keep that to 20 minutes, for sure!), 20 minutes, call your friend, 20 minutes, load your laundry.  Find a timer and keep it set for 20 minutes. 

Hit the Return Key

Just make sure you keep coming back to it and, soon enough, it'll be done and you'll actually feel good at the end of it all!  Listen to some music while you're doing it.  Then, when you're done, you can assess and organize what's left by category, color, or whatever else makes sense to you.  Once you've done that, decide what you'd like to keep, from the categories, make a plan to mend what needs mending and donate what's worth donating!

The Benefits

You'll get a clean, organized, de-cluttered closet and you'll become more conscious about how your clothing makes you FEEL in the process...in other words, how it affects your chi (energy).  Of the two approaches, the second is usually my preferred method.

Let me know if this works for you and thanks for your question!

 

Is Clutter an Addiction?

I would say that, in most cases, yes, clutter is an addiction.  It dulls the senses and it is used as a numbing agent, much like food- eating your emotions...alcohol- drinking your emotions... drugs- escaping your emotions...clutter- displacing your emotions in "stuff".

Here's how dictionary.com defines addiction: the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma.

And, here's how clutter hoarding could look like an addiction:

Clutter is stagnant energy.  Basic law of attraction principles say that like attracts like.  So, if you've been living in a cluttered state for a long time, you've gotten used to how that looks, feels and resonates on every level.  Your clutter attracts more clutter to it and you've gotten nice and comfy (in some ways) being immersed in your stuff.  It's become deeply habitual.  Anything to change that would be at least slightly uncomfortable.  Possibly VERY uncomfortable. 

A good clearing might be good for you, but it would cause a shift that would create ripples in the rest of your life.  So, you come up with reasons for why it has to be this way...why it would only get back to this way, and you become complacent...until some kind of trauma or enlightening experience happens to shock you out of your reverie. In those moments, you realize how much pain your clutter is CAUSING for you.  The thing is, the more deeply you are immersed in your stuff, the more acute that kind of event has to be, therefore creating a viscious cycle of hiding in your stuff, being shocked into awareness...hiding in your stuff, being shocked into awareness...you get the picture.  And it's not a pretty one, is it? 

So, what to do?  I believe the best thing is to get help from a professional, to actually coach you through the releasing part, because all those emotions that have been locked up in your stuff are going to come spilling out of YOU.  This is ultimately a good thing, but it probably won't FEEL very good.  In fact, it might feel like hell.  Then again, that release of energy will start to build upon itself and clutter clearing can actually become a healthy addiction!  Of course, everything in moderation.  What I'm suggesting is that sometimes it takes just doing the thing that you know, intellectually and spiritually will help, even if you don't feel like it.  Sometimes BECAUSE you don't feel like it.  If there is only well-being and resistance, as stated in the book Ask and it is Given, then clutter is resistance getting in the way of your well-being.

Can the clutter addiction be kicked?  Of course it can.  How?  That's another question for another day...

"My Place is a Mess! How Did it Get this Way?"

If you're asking yourself this question, or you have a strong reaction to it, then I've got some insights for you about clutter and disorganization. 

Why does it accumumlate in the first place?

There might be hidden payoffs.  Ask yourself this, what are you getting from living in a cluttered disorganized environment?  It could be any number of things.  Perhaps you get sympathy from those who come to visit.  Maybe it's an excuse not to do things that seem "scary" or to take risks.  Maybe, deep down, you like the challenge of hunting down your car keys every morning.  Maybe it gives you an adrenaline rush, a sense of accomplishment.  It's time to get introspective and really be honest with yourself.  Once you figure out what the payoffs are, and put some effort into reprogramming yourself, amazing things can happen!

Overcommitment is another big one.  Maybe you never learned the value of the word "no", so you overcommit, and end up paying for it in loss of time, nervous disorders, resentment, clutter and chaos!  Let's not forget the money that all of those things cost you.  It's time to put yourself at the very top of your priority list!  You deserve it, whether you believe it or not...which leads me to reason number 3...

Maybe you have a sense of worthlessness, whether consciously or subconsciously.  Maybe you don't feel that you're worth taking care of, that you're worth having a nice place.  Perhaps your self-esteem is in the dumps....and your outer environment is a reflection of your inner environment.  Worthlessness is a belief, and beliefs can be challenged and changed, if you're willing to do the work.

Clutter is stuck, stagnant energy.  Once it's there, it attracts like things to it.  That's why a small pile, if left untended, can easily turn into a monstrous mass of junk!  It's also why it's harder for you to clean it up then it is for someone on the outside.  Yes, it takes a toll on that person, but it's not nearly as much because they haven't been living in this stuck energy and you have.

Sticky, icky emotional gunk like guilt, shame, blame, shoulds, etc. keep your energy low and can suck all the motivation right out of you!  Of all the clutter that you have, work on letting those things go first! 

I know you've got questions...bring 'em on!  I'm starting a Q&A, just for you!  Let's get it rolling!