What is Clutter?

 FENG SHUI FOR HEALTH

 There is often a common denominator to peoples’ poor health and chronic ailments and that is their environment. In this article I’m talking about how the subtle almost invisible aspects of peoples homes & offices influence peoples’ general health. I would also like to offer an opportunity for the reader to shift their environmental energy for the better so they can enjoy a sense of peace, inspiration, and tranquility. As a Feng Shui consultant there is often an invisible world within our environments that leads to stress, poor health and anxiety. Lets look at one area I have managed to locate that is affecting peoples’ everyday health.

 Clutter whether its paper, or accumulation of goods from the past it usually is known as the one thing; that difficulty of letting go; especially of the past. I once met a client he could not more in any four directions in his wheelchair because he had literally had imprisoned himself. Have you ever thought that you cannot think clearly because there is too much going around and around in your head. Yes, possibly because it is cluttered with many different kinds of thoughts. To reiterate what I have said in the introduction; whatever is inside of you is reflected on the outside and vice-versa. The clutter of your environment stops you from moving and flowing easily through your home, work or place. Obstructions that are obvious (like a bag or shoes in the way) can clearly cause accidents.

But sometimes these obstructions in our homes and lives are not always that obvious. They can be far more subtle to the point that we are really not that aware that they exist. Sometimes using the analogy of acupuncture helps to illustrate the principles of energy being able to flow freely in and around your home. Like the blood and lymphatic system circulating around our body, it is important to keep the arteries and veins clear from any obstructions. This enables the oxygen to be transported to all regions of the body and likewise transport the toxins back to where they need to leave the body. It is only when it is too late that we realize the clotting or clogging of this circulation system can result in disease and death. Likewise, if we have too much surrounding us in environments it is almost impossible to breathe, move freely, adapt and hence we become restricted, rigid and ultimately frozen both physically, mentally and emotionally.

 The removal of blockages within your home of clutter, hoarded materials burdened with memories long gone, items no longer functional and yet you hang on, you hang on, you hang on…Yes, this is the problem. It is so hard to let go within and without. But like anything, start gradually and locate those things you find easiest to let go of initially and then slowly work your way towards those items that are difficult to relinquish. It does not have to be wasted as we can see the huge popularity of charity shops or sales on ebay. I am not suggesting getting rid of sentimental items but you may wish to consider the more you hold onto things of the past the less room and space there is for new things to come in to the now and future. We all have clutter and we are unable to dispense with it overnight. That is why it is a process, which you remind yourself to do frequently allowing more space into your life to manoeuvre into areas you never dreamt you would go.

 It is not necessarily just about being neat. People who do not have any obvious disarray on the outside can often disguise their erratic behaviour/way of thinking by throwing all kinds into cupboards or stuffing things into drawers. Is this you? People become frozen emotionally & mentally by what surrounds them. When it becomes too chaotic our natural ability to stay calm & retreat is compromised; this is evident in some of the examples of lethargy, fatigue and even as bad as chronic fatigue syndrome. I’ve had other people tell me they have food in the freezer which is 7 years old!! Be aware of how you feel as you bag up those old memories; the unnecessary items you have stored for yourself and others and let go of them. It is often accompanied with a mild loss but also a feeling of letting go and being light within you. It is not difficult to accrue clutter in this age of mass consumption and junk mail. All I can say is try it for yourself and see what happens! Good Luck!