I love being paperless. Not only does it save trees, time, and space, it keeps my visual environment clear of clutter. Overall, being paperless lends itself to a better feng shui-ed space.

Or does it?

We still have the same amount of ‘information’ (arguably much more than ever before) filed and stored as before our Digital Age. It’s just floating around instead of stacked in file folders, cabinets, closets, desks, and so on. Information – which is really just energy – has essentially become less dense, but nevertheless it’s still energy. Instead of manila file folders in a filing cabinet, we can store the same information in a digital file folder on a computer and perhaps even on our smart phone. And so is the case with photos, addresses, phone numbers, tax returns, money, and virtually any piece of information you can think of.

In fact, the Digital Age is even turning physical objects into etherical energy. After all, my iPhone can morph into an alarm clock, a zen garden, a newspaper, a camera, a voice recorder, a board game, a Bagua Map, a flashlight and much more. Amazing! Before long, it might just become my nightstand.

As we have become less dense with this digital revolution, we still have to be mindful of the energy that floats around us. While we may have less physical objects around us, we are still overwhelmed with information. And so we must be conscious of what ‘information energy’ we have hanging around us that might in fact be clutter. (Clutter being anything that is no longer in our highest and best interest to keep.) Here are five places where digital clutter may be lurking in the ethers near you:

1. Phone contacts – When was the last time you updated your phone contacts? Chances are, there are people in your contacts that you no longer socialize with, do business with, or want to talk to. Clear them out. Although your phone may be able to hold a 1000 more contacts, you still need to make space for new people to come into your life. This is a great way to bring new people into your life – business, friends, or romance.
2. Computer file folders – If your computer file folders were in a filing cabinet, would it be bulging over by now? Probably so. Clean them out. Better yet, organize them while you’re cleaning them out if you haven’t already. And still while you’re at it, take the time to back up your important documents. Store any documents that you would be lost without if your computer crashed on a zip drive, or email them to yourself, or upload to Google docs so that they are stored somewhere else besides your hard drive.
3. Photos – Staying on top of photos seems just as difficult digitally as it was back when we had negatives. They at least don’t take up as much space, but that’s because we never get them printed! Are your digital photos strewn all around your computer, along with various online companies depending on who has the best deal? If so, take the time to store them all in one place on your computer in labeled folders. Commit to one online photo company so that all of your photos to be printed are in one place. And then have the ones you want to keep printed. The photo book option that most companies have is great for those of who don’t do scapbooking as a hobby.
4. Desktop icons/Phone apps – Is your computer desktop full of icons that you rarely, if ever, use?   These can cause some serious visual clutter that can lead to a cluttered mind. Sift through your icons to see if there are some you can remove. Removing the icon doesn’t remove the software, so you can still access the Program if later desired. Of course, this isn’t the case with phone apps. Periodically, go through your phone apps and delete the ones that didn’t live up to their hype or that you’ve lost interest in. It will just highlight the ones that you do use and love.
5. Bookmarks – Has your list of bookmarks become so lengthy that you feel like you are surfing the entire web trying to find something. Go through your bookmarks and delete the ones that are no longer of interest to you. For bookmarks you want to keep but don’t use that often, categorize them into folders, such as Recipes, Travel, and Good Ideas. In doing so, you may come across some great bookmark sites you’ve forgotten about. This is what clutter does – it hides the good stuff.

Where else do you have digital clutter?

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Tisha Morris is a certified life coach, feng shui consultant, energy healer, yoga instructor, and author of 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home (Turner Publishing).  For more information, visit www.mindbodyom.com.

TOO MUCH SPACE

With my recent clients with too much space, they were both bachelors who didn’t know what to fill the extra rooms with.  But I’ve also come across this issue with many clients – single, married, and even families.  It may seem crazy, but having too much space can be stressful.  No one likes to waste space.  And if your budget happens to be tight, it can also be expensive to furnish too much space.

It is important to use all the space in your house. By underutilizing rooms in your house, you are underutilizing aspects of yourself. Energetically, it is important to ‘fill’ all the rooms of your home. I recently heard a story of a woman who closed off one of the bedrooms after her significant other left. The room was going unused and receiving no energy.  She had cut off a part of herself.

This is not to say that you should go and dump a bunch of junk in a room to fill up the space. Instead, designate a function for the room. For one of my bachelors, we decided to designate an empty room as a study/music room.  He had bookshelves and music equipment in his bedroom that was disrupting his sleep and a misplaced desk in the living room.  We created a new space leaving his bedroom with a more defined purpose: sleep.

It doesn’t take much to fill a space. It could just be a meditation cushion and your ipod.  But it has a function, and most importantly, your energy.

When someone is not taking up all their space in their home, they are not living up to their full potential in their life.

TOO LITTLE SPACE

Having too little space is the more common problem.  When we have too little space, we are allowing other things to take our energy. If you live in a small space, then you are at a time of your life where you must be extremely efficient with what you allow in your space.  You are forced to be a minimalist.  Otherwise, you will be feeling claustrophobic with the walls of life coming in on you.  You might be feeling stagnant with no movement in your life, feeling like there’s no way out, or feeling like you can’t move.  Choose minimalism instead.

Here’s where to start…

It is essential to weed out anything you no longer love or use.  This is the definition of clutter.  To break it down even further, you must get rid of anything that no longer serves your highest and best interest.  This could be anything from old papers to furniture. There is no price tag on furniture.  When you allow clutter into your space it is the same as allowing other people’s unwanted energy into your energy field. It is a boundary issue.  This includes storage units! (One exception is if you are traveling or in transition.)

Unlike the person with too much space who is not utilizing all his energy, the person with too little space is giving his/her energy away to others for the taking. Either one will show up somewhere else in your life.

Like Goldilocks it is important to find the amount of space that is just right for you. Some people prefer vast space and others prefer more cozy spaces.  Find what works for you and fill the space with your energy consciously and deliberately.

Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, blogs or books, a writer spends her day pouring herself out, emotionally and intellectually, onto paper and into the world. It can be a very vulnerable place. This is one reason why having an office space is so important and, more specifically, having your own office space – a space that is yours and yours alone without distraction.

Location

Bloggers usually work from home, again, thanks to the low overhead. But, finding adequate office space comes with challenges. If square footage is an issue, then home offices become an afterthought only to find themselves sharing space with a guest room, kitchen table, or the corner of the living room. And so it takes some creative planning of a space to make a home office work for writers.

The first step is to select one location for your workspace. Ideally, this is a designated home office. But, it could be a sitting chair, your bed, or the kitchen table. Whatever the space, it is important that you make this your space. In other words, this is the place you go to write. Similar to meditation, when you use the same space, it will help you drop in quicker to the flow. Also, in doing so, you are making writing a priority.

A note about writing in coffee shops: Some people need the stimulation of other people around them to get motivated to write. For others, however, it can be very distracting. So, experiment and notice what works best for you.

Desk Placement

The most important consideration for any office is desk placement. When sitting at your desk, you should be in “Command Position”. Simply put, this is the position that makes you most ‘in command.’ Every room has a Command Position. The Command Position emerges from our instinctive need to have visible control of our environment.

The ideal Command Position would be with a view of the door from your chair, a view out a window, and a solid wall behind you. This may mean moving your desk into the room away from the wall. If this is absolutely not possible, then place a mirror to where you can see the entrance in the mirror. If you do not use a desk, but instead a counter or even your lap, it is still important to face the door entering the room. You want to feel in power and confident in your space – whether you are home alone or working amongst a 100 colleagues in a business office.

In this photo, the writer’s office also doubles as a guest room. The desk faces the door, but is not directly in line with the door (that would result in too much chi energy coming in). It would be better if the window was not right behind her. Why? A wall behind you provides support and for writers in an isolated profession, feeling supported is crucial. Keeping the blind closed is helpful so that there is not a feeling of being exposed.

Clear Clutter

Also notice in this picture the lack of clutter. It is imperative to have an uncluttered space when writing. Our mind is directly affected by our environment. So once you designate your workspace, then declutter it.

Size of Desk

The size of your desk will depend on your preference. Everyone likes or requires a different amount of surface area. For some, an executive-size desk makes them feel more powerful. For others, it’s just another place to collect clutter. I prefer a desk that will fit my laptop, tea, and my cell phone. I work virtually paperless and prefer to keep everything either on my phone or computer. In this picture of my previous office, you can see that while my desk is relatively small, it takes center stage in my office. It faces the door without being in direct line and not being right in front of the window either. Find a desk or surface that fits your style and is comfortable. If you are physically cramped, then your creative juices will not be free-flowing.

As said in Field of Dreams, ‘if you build it, they will come,’ and so is the case if you designate a workspace that feels good to you. You will be more likely to write, enjoy writing, and be successful in your writing.

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Tisha Morris is a feng shui expert, life coach, and the author of Feng Shui Your Life. For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

Get your FREE Feng Shui Bagua Map + Goal Sheet DOWNLOAD HERE!

ORDER FENG SHUI YOUR LIFE NOW!

As I was going through my closet, I came across a business suit: the same business suit that I’ve pondered over every time I’ve cleaned out my closet for the last three years. You see it’s not just any business suit. It’s my last business suit that I own and purchased as a practicing attorney.

It’s Anne Klein. Still quite fashionable. A nice pin stripe pattern. Fit is perfect.

But I haven’t worn it in about five years.

Why have I been keeping it?

“Well, you never know.”

“I may need it to get a business loan.”

“I paid a lot of money for it.”

“I can’t just give it to Goodwill.”

“It’s hard to find a good suit.”

Really? Seriously?

I have heard these same excuses from so many feng shui clients.

And they are all just that: Excuses.

The real reason is that subconsciously I have still been hanging on to my identity as an attorney. And that suit is the last thread of it.

More importantly, this identity was wrapped in the fear that I would have to go back and practice law one day. Not just practice law – but appear in Court again. Eeks! After all that’s when you wear a suit.

So, the time has come.

I removed the suit from my closet and it’s on its way to Goodwill.

Not only can someone else look fabulous in their new Anne Klein suit, but I can move forward to do the work that I am here to do.

In the first chapter of my book, Feng Shui Your Life, I speak of the power of cleaning out your closet and how it can bring in new opportunities.

I’m walking the walk.

Stay tuned.

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Tisha Morris is a feng shui expert, life coach, and the author of Feng Shui Your Life. For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com

Get your FREE Feng Shui Bagua Map + Goal Sheet DOWNLOAD HERE!

In the documentary film, The Story of Stuff, Annie Leonard examines our national obsession with stuff and how it all began. She attributes our consumption addiction to the post-World War III economic policies that propagandized the notion of buying stuff. Our insatiable appetites haven’t been able to stop since.

That is, until now.

With the decline of the economy – whether directly affected or not – we have all started to take pause before making a purchase. More importantly, we are beginning to take inventory of the stuff that we do have. Even more so, we are beginning to feel taken over by all the stuff that we have accumulated over the decades, which is why so many of us are having the urge to purge or declutter our homes.

But is it as easy as making some runs to Goodwill?

Of course not.

Why?

We have become addicted, or emotionally attached, to our stuff.

Buying and accumulating stuff is just another way to distract ourselves from our present lives. Like cigarettes or alcohol, our stuff is a quick fix to feeling good. But when the high wears off, we are left with an icky feeling. But we need the icky feeling so that we can punish ourselves and perpetuate our guilt. And then we need the high again so that we don’t feel the pain, and the circle continues.

Is this an overreaction to buying a new toaster?

Maybe. But consumption can be an addiction (or at the least an emotional attachment) that, unlike cigarettes and alcohol, is hard to recognize because it is so affirmed by our friends, family, media, and government.

So how do we detach from our stuff?

Awareness is power. Knowing what and why we are attached to our stuff or certain items will oftentimes break the emotional attachment with our stuff. For some of us, having a lot of stuff is simply a distraction from our everyday life.

A cluttered space results in a cluttered mind, which is exactly what some of us want, at least subconsciously. In the same way alcohol makes things fuzzy, having a lot of things in your space will do the same. And on some level, that is the desired outcome.

For many of us, it is certain items that are difficult to part with. It may be books and magazines for some or old pictures, clothes, gifts, collections, etc. for others. Either way, if you don’t love an item or don’t use it, then it is time to part with it.

If you are still having resistance, then it’s time to acknowledge an emotional attachment to the item(s). Here’s what to do….

Start asking yourself questions.

What am I feeling right now?

What memories does this item bring up?

Who gave it to me?

Why did I originally buy it?

Who does it remind me of?

Do I feel guilty getting rid of this item? If so, why?

Why?

Why?

And Why?

Be your own detective… or therapist.

It’s never just about the item, it’s about the emotion the item holds.

Get to the root of why you are hanging on to an item that you know would be in your best interest to get rid of. You may be surprised. What you thought was just an old hairbrush may actually be a reservoir of past emotions that you and your sister shared when she helped you get ready for prom. Or maybe the green gingham shirt with the price tag on it conjures up guilt for buying things that are on sale and never wearing them. Until acknowledged, the shirt will hang in your closet serving only to attract the pattern for more guilt.

And so it’s not about detaching from the item, per se.  It’s about acknowledging and FEELING THE EMOTION that you have stored away in this item. MAKING PEACE WITH IT in the form of crying, forgiving, remembering, resolving, etc.  AND THEN MOVING ON.

Once you have awareness around an item, you will be amazed at how easy it will be to let go of it. If you have the awareness but still don’t want to get rid of the item, then it may simply be too early. See how you feel the next round of decluttering.

To start the process of decluttering, I recommend working in baby steps with attainable goals as I set out in my book, 27 Things to Feng Shui Your Home. You will build up the confidence that will keep you going through the long haul. Once you realize that life will go on with fewer items, you will not only want to clear out more stuff, but will start to feel free.

And when you feel this sense of freedom you know you have mastered the art of detaching from your stuff.

When explaining what feng shui is I often liken it to yoga as well.   Both are about improving the energy flow within the space – whether it be a room, the body, or an entire home.  Also in yoga and feng shui, the first step in improving energy flow is to remove energy blocks.

Where yoga and feng shui diverge paths is in accessibility and application.  Most are willing to try out a yoga video or even a yoga class for an hour, but getting a taste of feng shui is a bit harder.  I find that most people get a book, try to understand it, and then give up.  Similar to knowing where your left foot should be in Crow Pose, knowing where your couch should be from reading a book is challenging.

You are then left with the decision of whether to call in a feng shui expert for help, or not.  The benefits of doing may not be overwhelmingly clear, unless a friend or some other trusted person has touted a positive experience with hiring a feng shui consultant.

So here are the reasons you should consider feng shui-ing your home:

1. You will feel better physically. Our home is an outward manifestation of our self.  When you make changes to your home, you are making changes to yourself.  By moving a few pieces of furniture or accessories, my clients often report feeling a difference in their breath immediately.  Imagine what improved breathing can do every day over time!  Feng Shui actually brings about positive changes in the body.   Within your home is an unseen world of energy.  Energy is being emitted from the Earth, from your furniture, and from your clutter.  This energy affects you physically.  Feng Shui helps eliminate harmful energy patterns and direct the energy for optimal living.  Many clients also report better sleeping following feng shui.

2. You will feel better emotionally. Everything is energy, especially emotions.  Everything in your home – from the walls to the boxes in your closet – are affecting you on some level.  For example, have you ever thought about the energy in your home lingering from past occupants?  Energy, particularly from trauma, can get trapped in areas without adequate flow.  This energy forms energy patterns which you too could fall into.  Have you ever lived near a home where it constantly goes up on the market for some reason.  Or a house that everyone who moves there gets a divorce.  This is because of a stuck energy pattern in the home.   More common energy patterns are having the same argument over and over – particularly in the same area of the home. Clients have reported to me that problems, such as arguments or even bed wetting, significantly improved after a feng shui space clearing.

Another way in which your home is affecting you emotionally is through your stuff.  Our stuff, particularly those things we have a hard time letting go of, is baggage of emotional energy.  This is the same as storing or stuffing emotions in our body.  When you let go of clutter, you are letting go of old emotions that are no longer serving you.

3. You will feel better mentally. Scientific studies now prove that a cluttered environment does in fact lead to a cluttered mind.  If our visual space is not in order, it affects us mentally.  We can not think or focus as clearly.  There are also studies that now show a correlation between a cluttered environment and depression.

By using the Bagua Map tool, feng shui can also help you focus on your intentions and personal goals.  Each area of your home holds an energy portal for every area of your life, i.e. health, wealth, love, career, etc.  If you are not using feng shui, then you are underutilizing these treasures of energy awaiting you. In Chinese metaphysics it is said that feng shui is 33% of our luck.  I don’t know about you, but I’m going to make use of every percent of luck available to me.

4. You will feel better spiritually. Like our body, our home is sacred.  Unfortunately in ways that we abuse our bodies, we find ways to abuse our home.  However, by becoming conscious of this, we can change bad habits and patterns that will emanate out in all areas of our life.  When you think of your home as a sacred space, you begin to respect yourself in a new way.  Ultimately for me, feng shui is about loving your home.  And when you love your home, you will love yourself.

Like yoga, there are so many benefits of feng shui and everyone gets something different from it.  From a practical consideration, it is really inexpensive.  Aside from a consultation fee, feng shui costs are minimal, if anything.  In fact, you will usually end up making money off belongings you realize you no longer need.   By rearranging your existing items, you will have a completely new space and feel so much better.

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Tisha Morris is a feng shui expert, life coach, and the author of Feng Shui Your Life. For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

Get your FREE Feng Shui Bagua Map + Goal Sheet DOWNLOAD HERE!

This is a repost of my article that appeared on

Although I don’t have any linguistic rules to back me up, I feel like it’s not coincidental that the word “HOME” includes the word “OM” and has the same prefix as the word “HOLISTIC.”

Holistic living is being more and more embraced with conscious eating, preventive and alternative medicine, and simplicity. Holistic implies being ‘whole’ or looking at the ‘whole’ picture by looking at our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing as a whole, not in parts.  Historically, in the West, we have put a priority on physical health, while in the East there has been a focus on spiritual health.  Both are now being embraced and united with a holistic lifestyle.

And now our home is becoming to the forefront as another component of living holistically.  More and more people are realizing that their home can be a source of healing – a place of essential change.

Our home is second to our body as our physical dwelling on Earth.  It is so closely related to our mind and body that the two have oftentimes throughout history been used interchangeably in religions, architecture, and in dream analysis.

And this I know is not coincidental.  For the last four years, I have gone to people’s homes to help them with energy flow, clutter clearing, and even color selecting.  And what I realized early on is that our home is a mirror of ourselves.  And as we make changes to our home, we are making changes to ourselves.

The energy patterns within our self – physically, mentally, and emotionally – are also present within our home.  Have you ever had a great massage or bodywork where you left feeling great.  And upon returning home, you fell right back into your old patterns – maybe your shoulders started to slump forward again or your breathing returned to being labored.

If the energy flow in your home is ‘off’ then the energy flow in your body will be off. Energy flow in your home can be affected by furniture, accessories, clutter, and the quality of energy.

Here are a few things to consider to make your home part of your holistic lifestyle.

1. Furniture blocks: For the best feng shui, you want the energy to ‘meander’ through a space.  So imagine yourself as energy (because you are) coming through your space.  Do you bump into any furniture? Do you hit corners sticking out? Are there tight places that feel constraining?  Too much furniture can be major blocks of energy.  And if they’re in your house, then they’re in your life in some form.

2. Emotional Clutter: Clutter is stagnant energy.  So if you feel stagnant in any area of your life, then there’s probably clutter lurking somewhere in your life that has taken form.  If it’s your love life that’s stagnant, then clear out stuff from past relationships.  If it’s your career that’s stagnant, clear out your office. If it’s your body that’s cluttered, then clean out your cupboards, fridge, and clothing closet.

3. Inventory Your Accessories: Like a great outfit, accessories are essential. They can make an outfit.  But if overdone, they can ruin an outfit.  So is the case with accessories in your home.  Take inventory of the accessories in your home.  You should love everyone of them.  Don’t use accessories to distract.  I find that people who use too many accessories in an outfit are subconsciously trying to distract the attention away from them personally and to their clothing instead.  Don’t let your accessories distract you.  Love everything in your home, including yourself.

4. Clear the Energy:  No one likes to sit at a table in the restaurant before it’s been cleared by the people who sat there before. And no one certainly wants to live among the energy of the previous owners of their home. You don’t want to be subjected to the energy patterns of those before you.  If you have never cleared the energy in your home, now is the time!  It’s quite simple and effective.  Sage smudging is the most common method by which you light the end of a sage bundle and waft around your house.  Add your intention to the mix as well.  You can also try my hand-blended Smudge Spray which is quite effective as well and smells fabulous.

So as you become more conscious of your diet, exercise, spirituality, and so forth, become conscious of your home as well.  As you love your home, you will love yourself.

photo credit

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Get your FREE Feng Shui Bagua Map + Goal Sheet DOWNLOAD HERE!

Tisha Morris is a feng shui expert, life coach, and the author of Feng Shui Your Life. For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

We know that everything is energy – our thoughts and most certainly our emotions.  In fact, our emotions are just heightened byproducts of our thoughts.  You can think of it with this simple formula:  Thoughts + Emotions = Energy.  In essence, all of our thoughts and emotions not only help make up our energy field, but are also emitted from us like laser beams.  And guess what?  All of these particles of energy are in your home and immediate living environments, such as your office.

Our home is the single closest space, aside from our physical body, in which our energy is encompassed.  Whatever is going on within your personal energy field – be it illness, negativity, lack, abandonment, fears, and so forth – is also present within your home’s energy. Not to highlight just the negative, it holds the good stuff too.  In fact, like the Law of Attraction, energy does not discriminate between good and bad.

Feng Shui is used to improve the energy flow within spaces.  What this really means is if you are holding, for example, the energy pattern of “fear of failure” (despite your good intentions and affirmations), this pattern is somewhere in your home as well.  It may be lurking within a bad furniture arrangement, a stuffed closet, a stack of cluttered papers, or a piece of art connoting a negative message. These patterns can be sneaky.  Like the ego, they find a way to survive within our energy field despite our conscious good intentions.

Stories I hear from clients speak volumes to the power of Feng Shui.  It changes lives.  When you change your external environment thereby changing energy patterns around within and around you, you change your inner reality. Like the Law of Attraction, it’s quite magical.

The Bagua Map is an often used tool in Feng Shui that maps out where certain areas of your life lie within your home.  I often advise clients that when you make changes per the Bagua Map, in conjunction with a specific intention or affirmation (per Law of Attraction), this is when you really increase your chances of seeing positive changes.

For example, with one client we noticed a huge armoire in her Wealth Corner that was only being used to store clutter.  Not only that, but she didn’t even like the piece of furniture, which was handed down to her from a previous roommate.  This was a prime suspect for an energy block in her finances.  She sold the armoire and in doing so felt a sense of relief, spaciousness, and freedom.  This opened up new space in her Wealth corner, which has opened up new income streams for her.

Where do your energy blocks lie within your home? While a feng shui professional can be highly beneficial, you can start on your own.  Here’s some tips to get you started:

- Look for those areas of your home that you don’t use or don’t like going into.  This may be on a conscious or unconscious level.

- Notice what areas hold the most clutter.

- Look for pieces of furniture that constrict certain areas of your home.

- See your home objectively.  Even if you love your entry console, if you bump your hip on it every time you walk by, then it’s blocking energy.

- Periodically clear the energy in your home with sage, smudge spray, or any other clearing method.

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Get your FREE Feng Shui Bagua Map + Goal Sheet DOWNLOAD HERE!

Tisha Morris is a feng shui expert, life coach, and the author of Feng Shui Your Life. For more information, visit www.tishamorris.com.

Last Thursday, Discover Magazine published the article “Disordered environments promote stereotypes and discrimination.” The article examines a study by Dutch researchers who performed five experiments on stereotyping and discrimination. All five of the experiments strongly concluded that when an environment is in disarray, people yearn for order and hastily attempt to put information they’ve gathered from their surroundings into categories. This leads to harsher stereotypes against minority populations and higher incidence of crime. The experiments also found that people are more relaxed, open-minded, and generous when their world is orderly.

When our surroundings are full of chaos — be it dirt or uncertainty — we react by seeking order, structure and predictability. Stereotypes, for all their problems, satisfy that need.

The study continues:

“The message for policy-makers is clear: One way to fight unwanted stereotyping and discrimination is to diagnose environmental disorder early and to intervene immediately by cleaning up and creating physical order. Signs of disorder such as broken windows, graffiti, and scattered litter will not only increase antisocial behavior, they will also automatically lead to stereotyping and discrimination. Investing in repair and renovation, and preventing neighborhoods [from falling] into disarray, may be relatively inexpensive and effective ways reduce stereotyping and discrimination.”

The testing methods were very interesting, so I recommend checking out the full article for details.

It depends on the purpose for which you are space clearing.  Are you space clearing due to a specific issue in the home or just for general maintenance? Let’s take a closer look at these two purposes.

SPACE CLEARING FOR SPECIFIC ISSUES

Any time you space clear you should have a definite purpose or intention in mind before starting. In the case of addressing a specific issue, then your purpose or intention should be obvious.  For example, your intention may be to “clear away negative emotions from ex-boyfriend” or “clear out stagnant energy and enhance a positive energy flow to attract prospective buyers.”

For specific issues, you should space clear as soon as possible after the triggering event. If done appropriately, this space clearing should only have to be done once.  If the problem persists, then hiring a space clearing professional may be in order. Here are examples of clearing for specific issues:

*Moving into a new home and want the energy cleared from previous owners or construction

*Your home is not selling, or you are preparing to sell your home and want to attract buyers

*You have a sense that something bad happened in your home from a previous owner

*The energy needs to be cleared from past negative emotions, illness, or trauma

*There was a recent argument or disagreement in your home

*A lot of guests were at your home

*Before and after hosing an event at your home

*Desire to make changes in your life or transform old patterns

SPACE CLEARING FOR GENERAL MAINTENANCE

When not clearing for a specific issue, it is important to give your home periodic space clearings. This helps maintain a positive energy flow throughout the space.  Think of it as preventative medicine for your home. There is no set rule on how often this is.  For me, anytime that I give the home a thorough cleaning, I will follow it up with a space clearing. Also, whenever I feel that the energy is a little stagnant.

Even though the purpose is more general, it is still important to set an intention while space clearing.  For example, “to create a positive energy flow” or “to have a fresh start for the month.”  Here are some other examples of when you might space clear for general maintenance:

*After clearing clutter

*Want to clear out patterns so that you and/or your family can start fresh

*You received bodywork yourself and want your home to also have a renewed state of well-being.

*You just cleaned the house, or a particular room in the house

*Coming home from vacation

*per a set time frame that works with you.

What other ways do you determine when to space clear your home?

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HAPPY EARTH DAY!

How many times have you cleared clutter only to be appalled by the amount of stuff you are contributing to a landfill. Feelings of guilt arise. Between being dismayed by the amount of stuff you have accumulated and the remorse of contaminating Mother Earth, clearing clutter oftentimes becomes a project of procrastination, or worse, a permanent avoidance.

If this resonates with feelings you’ve had at some point, then help is on the way… there is no longer an excuse to put off clearing clutter. We will use the Reduce Reuse Recycle mantra as our guide for the best ways to clear clutter and be green.

REDUCE

The Number One best thing about clearing clutter is that once it’s gone, once you realize just how much you have accumulated, and once you realize how little you really need, then you are so much less likely to consume as much in the future. Clearing clutter reduces future consumption. In fact, after clearing out your clutter, you will feel so much lighter that you will not want to re-clutter your space. And when you do get the itch for something new, you will be oh so much for choosy in what you purchase.

REUSE

The second tier of being green is to Reuse. In my 5 Step Guide to Clearing Clutter, I recommend separating your items into piles: trash, recycling, returns, donation, and ‘for sale’ items. Those items designated as donation and/or ‘for sale’ are actually on their way to being reused. Congratulations! So, take the time to sort these out. For any items that you want to sell for extra cash, then list them on craigslist.com or ebay. If your item(s) doesn’t sell, then your price is too high or it’s ready for either a garage sale or Goodwill.

Garage sales can be a fun way to get rid of a large volume of items that would otherwise take too long to sell online. In just 4 – 6 hours you can dramatically unload your inventory and make money doing it. Whatever items are left over, pack them up and donate to Goodwill, Salvation Army, ARC or any local charities that accept donated goods. Just make sure that these items are reusable and not items that should be in the next category: recycle. (For example, your favorite sneakers from 1988 that have holes and worn-out souls should not be reused! )

Freecycle.org is another great way to have your items reused. Just list your item and have someone who needs it come and pick it up for you. No hauling. As they say, one (wo)man’s trash is another (wo)man’s treasure!

RECYCLE

Now that you have pared down your items to those no longer reusable, it’s time to recycle. So many more items are recyclable than you may think. If you don’t already recycle paper, glass, aluminum, and plastic on a regular basis, then start now. Every major city has recycling centers if they don’t already pick up at your home. Research what services your city already offers. You may be surprised. (I just learned that Nashville.gov sells 80-gallon compost bins for $40!)

What about those items that aren’t readily recycled? Earth 911! That’s right, go to www.earth911.org

Earth911 is your one stop source to finding what you can recycle and where — from mattresses to computer monitors to eyeglasses. Simply search by your zip code. It’s incredibly easy and informative!

Another option is the businesses from which the items originally came from. Here are some examples:

Dry Cleaners. For example, do you have a ton of dry cleaner’s hangers and plastic bags? Chances are they will not only take them back, but reuse them. If they don’t, consider taking your business to a greener dry cleaner.

Computers. The same is true for most computer companies. Computers contain a number of harmful chemicals, so it’s important to make sure they’re properly recycled.  Most major computer manufacturers now offer some type of recycling program. Dell will recycle any Dell product for free, and if you buy a new Dell, they’ll recycle any other brand of computer for free. Hewlett-Packard, Gateway, Apple and Toshiba also have recycling programs — check their Web sites for details.

Hand-held Devices. Small electronics are full of big toxins. Instead, drop off your old cell phones, pagers and PDAs at Staples stores around the country. The company has partnered with nonprofit CollectiveGood, which collects and recycles the phones. When possible, CollectiveGood refurbishes them and puts them to use in developing countries. Otherwise, the phones and other items are broken down in an eco-friendly process and the metals are separated out for reuse or proper disposal. If there’s not a Staples store near you, you can mail your phone to the CollectiveGood — and even get a tax credit for the donation.  Other office supply stores, such as Office Depot offer recycling options as well.

Athletic Shoes. Nike has a great program that will recycle any brand of athletic shoe through its Reuse-a-Shoe program. You can drop shoes off at any Niketown store or Nike Factory store. The company processes and recycles the footwear to make sports surfaces for basketball courts, tennis courts, running tracks and playgrounds. Right now they’re collecting shoes to make athletic surfaces for New Orleans, to help bring youth sports back to the city as it rebuilds. To date, about 20 million pairs of athletic shoes worldwide have been recycled through the Reuse-A-Shoe program.

So before you throw your stuff in the garbage bin, think about the Reduce Reuse Recycle mantra. With each item consider whether it is reusable and, if not, recyclable. And, before long, you will automatically be reducing. The best thing is that it feels good to be green AND clutter free.