| The art of feng shui (Chinese geomancy, or the | | | | that match, so even if they are on a bookshelf, the |
| study of placement and energy movement) has a | | | | feeling of clutter is reduced. Put as many things as |
| major rule that everyone would do well to pay | | | | possible behind closed doors, in drawers, or storage. |
| attention to: remove clutter. According to feng shui | | | | And get rid of whatever you aren't using (this does |
| principles, 'chi' (energy) moves into and through our | | | | not apply to hobbyists who need to keep a stock on |
| houses and offices. Whether that movement brings | | | | hand). |
| good or bad results has to do with the placement of | | | | The end or beginning of a new year is a great time |
| the building as well as items within the rooms. The | | | | to discard, donate, or sell the things you no longer |
| idea is for the chi to enter and swirl through the | | | | love or need. By passing on useful items to others |
| house, enlivening every part of each room, and | | | | who need them, good karma is also increased. |
| leaving in a leisurely manner--after bestowing a load | | | | Another great principle of feng shui is that of getting |
| of positive energies. | | | | rid of broken things, or repairing them. If you have a |
| The first rule, vital to the energy of the people living | | | | place to keep such things that keeps them away |
| there, is to remove all clutter and broken objects. | | | | from the general flow of your house, fine. Otherwise, |
| Clutter confuses the energy, scattering it in every | | | | get rid of them. If you are someone who has a hard |
| direction and sometimes trapping it in a corner, which | | | | time letting go of such things, tune in to that new tv |
| allows it to deteriorate. If you think of the chi as | | | | show "Hoarders"-that should be enough to change |
| something visible, like smoke, it helps to visualize this | | | | your mind. |
| principle. Now imagine the good chi as fragrant | | | | For those who are collectors of 'chotchskies' |
| incense that brings healing and vitality. If it gets | | | | (miscellaneous brick-a-brack), display them all |
| trapped, it starts to stink and the air gets heavy. It | | | | together-neatly--in a cabinet or shelf, instead of |
| doesn't take long for even the best incense to leave | | | | scattered throughout the room. Only display one |
| a smell like old cat urine, if the place isn't aired out | | | | collection at a time. You can always rotate collections |
| frequently. | | | | each month, which changes the energy and keeps |
| There are several 'cures' one can put in place to | | | | your eyes interested in the surroundings. You might |
| ensure the continued movement of energy, like lights | | | | find you love your collections much more by rotating |
| and faceted crystals. Be careful, though, if the clutter | | | | them. |
| is still there, don't place the cures. Moving more chi | | | | Get yourself a good feng shui book to determine |
| into your place isn't going to work well with clutter-it | | | | where to place furniture and cures, as well as what |
| will just create chaos and unrest in your life. Clutter | | | | colors work best. Western feng shui is markedly |
| chi can also create a whole passel of problems, from | | | | different from the Chinese version, mainly due to |
| jobs that never get finished, to offers that suddenly | | | | cultural beliefs and deities worshiped. The same |
| disappear. | | | | principles work; just figure out what you can replace |
| Since the Chinese New Year doesn't start until | | | | some things with, if need be. For me, I just go with |
| February 5th, there is plenty of time to get rid of | | | | what the Chinese have been using for millennia; I |
| that clutter, so start organizing. Look at each room in | | | | figure if it's worked for over 5,000 years, I don't |
| your house or office with an eye towards peaceful | | | | need to reinvent the wheel. |
| flow. Place small necessary items in baskets or boxes | | | | ©2010 Dr. |