Many people think that feng shui is synonymous with the word “de-clutter,” but it is not! There was no clutter in ancient China, when feng shui was developed. Clutter is a modern day problem, not necessarily bad or good, but it may represent and cause blocks or stuck energy in your home and your life.

That pile of magazines collecting dust in the living room may not only be an eyesore, but a constant reminder of another thing to clean. It is another item on the to do list. Or even a source of guilt. It takes a lot of energy to ignore that clutter!

One thing to also consider… do we really need all this “stuff?” Pretty much everyone in the western world has clutter. We have a lot of “stuff.” Do you really need that extra pair of black pants when you already have quite a few? Or maybe you can try the “one in, one out” method where if you would like to add that new pair of black pants to your closet, you find a pair that you no longer need and donate it.

Please do not be too hard on yourself if you do have clutter; take it step by step.  Start with the easy items that you know you no longer want. I suggest you start with 9 minutes a day (9 is an auspicious number in feng shui).  Take an egg timer and just do 9 minutes of clutter clearing, and then feel good about it!

Just to be clear, clutter is not always negative, as long as it doesn’t hinder your life or cause guilt and distress. But it may be a problem if it prevents you from achieving your goals and leaves you feeling “stuck.”  

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com