Feng Shui and Decluttering Tips

• June 4, 2014
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• Posted in : Decluttering

We’re all familiar with the term ‘Feng Shui’, but how many of us actually know what it stands for and what the principles of this science are? We’re guessing not many – correct us if we’re wrong!

In today’s world we seem to be surrounding ourselves with more and more stuff, with some of us even going to extremes and cluttering our homes with so many things it’s affecting our physical and mental wellbeing. This is where Feng Shui can help.

In this article we’ll briefly explain what Feng Shui is, the main principles behind it and how it can help you declutter and improve your life.

What is Feng Shui?

This ancient science was developed in China over 3,000 years ago, and is in very simple terms ‘the practice of designing and arranging your environment so that the energy, or “chi”, is balanced and can flow smoothly in the home or workplace’.

Feng Shui that is based on the Taoist beliefs of that everything is alive and filled with energy, or “chi”, is a term that consists of two Chinese words: feng (wind) and shui (water). Wind and water are two basic, natural elements that flow, move and circulate everywhere on earth – and are required for human survival.

Feng Shui is also referred to as ‘the art of placement’, i.e. that how you place your furniture, possessions and yourself within your surroundings largely determines how balanced and in harmony you feel. The aim of the science is to assure good health and success to the people inhabiting any given space – through balancing the energies.

The 3 basic principles of Feng Shui

1. Everything is alive.

Everything in the world has energy and is seen as alive – even the kitchen table and chairs. It does make sense from a scientific point of view: the table and chairs are made up of atoms and molecules that are moving and therefore have energy.

2. Everything is connected.

This might be a difficult idea to grasp, but Feng Shui believes that we are connected to everybody and everything in the physical world. For example, think about how energy-draining it is to be around someone you don’t feel comfortable with – because your energies are connected.

3. Everything is changing.

Everything is constantly changing and we can’t stop it. Since change is unavoidable and will happen whether we like it or not, why not use Feng Shui to try and direct the changes in the right direction?

Why you should declutter

In Feng Shui a house is viewed as one being where all rooms and spaces are connected to and are therefore influencing each other. This means that a neglected area, e.g. a cluttered garage or basement will spread negative energy throughout the house and even affect your health. You can’t get away with shoving all the clutter out of sight!

The basic steps for good health in Feng Shui is fresh, clean air, sufficient light and a clutter-free space. Clutter prevents the energy from flowing freely and can become an obstacle for what you want to achieve in life. It can make you feel disorganised, frustrated, out of control and make it difficult to relax. According to Feng Shui, clutter constantly drains your energy and affects the overall quality of life, including your health.

Read our previous post, Clutter and your Health – Why Dust-Gatherers Have to Go, for more decluttering tips.

How to Feng Shui your home

Decluttering your home can feel like an overwhelming task, but stick with it and you’ll clear out negative energy, create space for positive energies and make room for change. Here are a few tips for how to get that Feng Shui going in your home:

• Decluttering is the first step in the Feng Shui process as nothing else can begin to improve before the energy can roam freely.
• The bedroom is usually the best place to start as is it the most important room for healing and rejuvenation.
• Open the windows often and let fresh air flow through the house.
• Make sure you make use of all the natural light you can get, and also to use full-spectrum lights.
• Define the bagua, or the Feng Shui energy map of your home. (Specific areas of your home are connected to specific areas of your life.)
• Get a balance between the basic Feng Shui elements: fire, earth, metal, water and wood. (One of the easiest ways to shift the energy in a space is with colours.)

If you want to know more about how to get organised with Feng Shui there are many books to choose from, such as Karen Kingston’s Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui or Denise Linn’s Sacred Space: Clearing and Enhancing the Energy of Your Home.

How Flexistore can help

Some of your “clutter” might be valuable things that you don’t want to get rid of, but that you don’t have room for in your house either. We can store your things for you so that chi can flow freely in your home. In fact, we’ll even pick them up for you and return them to you when you need it or have cleared more space for them! Just call 0845 430 9333.