Feng Shui

Butterfly Chaser requested I start a thread regarding the book I picked up a few days ago and am reading bits and pieces throughout the day. The title is The Ten Minute Clutter Cure. When I picked it up to read I didn't realize that in smaller lettters at the bottom of the front of the book, it says something about feng shui.

Some years back I thought that attempting to decorate in the feng shui style would be fun. I was stopped pretty much from the beginning as I read that in order for feng shui to work in ways it claims to by bringing peace and harmony plus good luck to areas of our lives that were lacking, the associated areas of our home should first of all be as clutter free as we can make them. Well, that put me out of the running from day one.

Clutter has been an ongoing problem for me for many years. When I first started reading this forum and participating, there was some talk of the emotions tied to our clutter. I pretty much figured out when the clutter became such a problem for me and then it still took some time for me to begin to put in to action the things I was learning by listening to input from regular posters on the Clean and Clutter Free forum. It is slow going and I have been amazed by the amount of items I have that are not serving any purpose other than taking up precious space in my small home.

Slowly but surely I am going through each room in my house and beginning to get rid of the items that I am able to part with at this time. Yes, I plan to maintain this by keeping at it and breaking free from my attachment to "things." I am keeping more than is going but many of my things I truly love and they bring me much enjoyment, so they are keepers.

Anyway, after starting this clutter free book, it is making sense to me. I feel as though I am getting it. I understood the reasoning for the art of placement of things, just until now have had too many things to really get as involved in a decorating style as I am hoping I will soon be ready to do.

I read a sentence last night that made good sense and will allow me to probably exist with more "things" than many others exist with, because Feng Shui offers cures. There isn't time this morning to go in to what any of the speecific cures are, and I really don't know them yet....but from what I gather if an area in our home is somehow out of line due to possibly too much clutter or whatever, there are elements that we can use to cure the issue.

Basically feng shui uses an easy to follow diagram of our homes which supposedly correspond with areas of our lives such as finances, relationships, health, etc. They then teach how to use the art of placement to sure ails in the areas of our lives that we are not satisfied with. I found out some interesting things yesterday especially regarding my relationship area of my life. I will be looking for a cure to institute very soon.

May sound like hogwash to some, I realize and in the past I have had many eyes roll back in peoples head as I discussed this topic. I am of the mind set that it may not help, but I can't see where it will hurt to become more invested in my surroundings. One thing the author pointed out and I tend to agree with is that the condition of our homes often is in alignment with how our inner life and emotions are doing. Think on the shows we some watch such as hoarders. My golly, but those folks must feel so very confused mentally.

I know personally that if my surroundings are dirty, dusty or cluttered, my mind seems to feel that way too. So, I will be the very first to admit that there are areas of my life that need attention and I am now ready to begin addressing them. I will begin making updates as I begin my using my cures. hahaha

Again, the first principle in the feng shui cure is that we need to have the least clutter in our environment as possible. That is where I am currently.....addressing and getting rid of the clutter.

To be continued......

Ruby