Feng Shui Perspective: How Clutter Affects Your Life

Feng Shui is a soul bound method of space planning. The feeling of a home is a balance of yin or yang energy. Yang homes are expansive, large, open, bare, and bright; which inspires confidence, enthusiasm, strength and logic. Yin homes are enclosed, small, contained, soft, covered, and dark; which inspires sensitivity, relaxation, imagination, and introspection. Both energies must be present in a person and home if they are to enjoy a balanced life.

While clutter can be in a yang home, excessive clutter can be considered excessive yin. Too much yin can cause depression, weight gain, and clinging to the past or items. Clutter comes in many forms, big and small. Whether your garage is overflowing with boxes of memories, or your desk is flooded with paperwork, all clutter has one thing in common: stagnant energy.

Flowing energy within your home enables optimum physical, mental and emotional health. Our homes and all matter in existence are comprised of energy, or Chi, which prefers a meandering tempo. Clutter creates a blockage in the flow of energy in your space. Chi needs access to all guas (sections) of the Bagua Map, the mystical layout of your house. If the career gua is full of junk, new energy cannot move in to nourish your career. This clutter could also be in the area corresponding to Knowledge, Family, Wealth, Fame, Intimate Relationships, Children/Creativity, or Benefactors/Travel, so the energy depletion could affect many aspects of your life.

Clearing Clutter

When clearing clutter it is important to answer a few questions about every item:

Do I love It?

Have I used it in the past year?

Does it raise my energy?

If you answer no to any of those questions, get rid of it by donating, recycling, or having a garage sale. When you hold on to items you don't love, every time you see it your Chi will be negatively impacted. If you don't have a functional purpose for something, it is simply taking up space for abundance and health to flow in.

Space Clearing

After the clutter is gone, there may still be stagnant Chi left over. Space clearing can finish the process by sweeping the space with purifying and positive energy. Varied cultures around the world have recognized the benefit of a clean house for ages. I could give you a few dozen examples, but I'm sure you'd prefer my favorite, which naturally comes from Black Hat Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui.

My mentor, Leigh Kubin, owner of The Feng Shui Training Center , recommends using Epsom Salt and Isopropyl Alcohol in a Pyrex pie dish. Put 2-3 tablespoons of salt in the center of the dish, and then moisten the salt with alcohol. Ignite the damp pile of salt with a lighter. Waft the smoke around your space with your hand or with the feather of your favorite bird. Repeat in each area of the Bagua, performing The Three Secrets each time. (This method of space clearing should only be done by adults, keep Isopropyl Alcohol out of reach of children.)

Sacred Space

There are an abundance of methods to purify and renew your environment. Clearing clutter and keeping items that raise your spirit are essential to you and your family's holistic health. Be aware that you are sweeping away ties to the past that keep you from developing further on your life path. The new space will attract positive chi, bringing with it prosperity and blessings to your life.