Feng Shui and Organizing, A Perfect Match
I’ve been researching Feng Shui recently as a way to balance the energy in my home and help promote peace. I realized that so much of what we do in organizing and decluttering is a large part of the practice of Feng Shui. What you have in your home directly shapes the energy of that home and those who live in it. Filtering out the unnecessary can help the balance of positive energy.
We are always changing, growing, and evolving. The environment in which we accomplish this growth plays just as much of a part as our internal motivation.
Declutter
The number one tip in everything I read about Feng Shui, before you do anything else, was clear the clutter.
A rule of Feng shui is the things you own should serve you, otherwise you become a slave to them. When we say “serve you” that can mean a myriad of things: things can be useful, beautiful, or simply bring a smile to your face. The physical things you keep in your space effect your emotional and mental space. Clutter represents decisions that need to be made, fear of letting go, or feelings of failure.
Beyond the obvious stress that comes with clutter, what you choose to keep in your home elicits certain emotions. If it has a bad memory attached to it or makes you feel guilty, let it go. Think of your items like photographs. Would you frame a photo of your first boyfriend who broke your heart? No, it would be too painful or embarrassing to look at every day. Similarly, the stuff from your past can hold you back from the person you are becoming as you grow.
You might be reading this and saying, “Ok I’m completely overwhelmed and I want to clear out everything in my home and make it more peaceful! Where do I start?” I would tell you to first look at the passageways throughout your home and clear those first. If you have a hard time moving about your home, so does the positive energy.
Physical Clutter Can Represent Emotional Clutter
Consider the cluttered areas of your home as a strong indicator of internal struggles you’re facing. Examine the spaces where you spend the most time. What are they telling you?
Is your desk at the office or your home office full of papers or empty coffee cups and the drawers are a mess of supplies? Perhaps you are feeling overwhelmed at your job and like you can’t catch up.
Having trouble sleeping at night? Look at the surfaces in your bedroom and try clearing off your dresser and nightstands. Clear out under the bed to allow air and energy to flow freely.
Kids having a hard time playing independently or creatively? Simplify their play room toys to make it easier for them to make choices on toys they want to play with.
When getting home from a long day of work do you feel more stressed? Clean out the garage or entryway that welcomes you into your home.
Use the 5 Senses
After you’ve cleared out the problem areas let’s put them back together. When creating a calmer space, consider the 5 senses.
Sight- think about the colors, lighting, and the tidiness of the space.
Sound- play music, calming sounds, have a water feature, or open a window to hear birds chirping or the wind blowing
Smell- consider what candles you light or oils you diffuse
Touch- add some cozy textiles and create clear paths so you are able to move freely, and think about the materials you’re using (i.e. wood, metal, fabric…), adding certain elements can help increase the positive chi
Taste- stock your favorite tea, coffee, or fruit to snack on
Take the time to sit with each space and think about the energy you feel when enjoying that space. Are you able to achieve what you want in that area? Are you able to relax, be productive, play, or sleep?
I’ve really enjoyed going through my home through a more mindful lens truly considering the decor and feel of each corner. Feng Shui is a fascinating practice that you can dive deep into. So, if you are interested in getting it more integrated into every corner of your home, I highly suggest doing your own research. You can follow the bagua in every room of your home with tons of suggestions on how to balance the chi in every area of your life. The sources I recommend are:
Feng Shui Your Life by Marie Diamond
Crystalwith.com
