To Chi Or Not To Chi
By Edward Nader

Everything in its place and a place for everything!

Fung Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of furniture placement and energy flow in the home. A major part of feng shui is controlling the flow of chi (energy). So what exactly does this mean in modern day living? According to the Chinese view of the universe, there is an invisible life force or energy, called chi, which flows through all things. When this energy moves
freely through a home, or other environment, the area feels bright,
uplifting and alive. The chi should flow freely from the front or main door all throughout the home and out of the back door or window. When chi enters the home, it needs to have a clear path to keep flowing because when chi encounters obstructions, it slows down. Piles of clutter and old or broken objects are the biggest culprits in slowing down this flow. This sluggish
energy that surrounds dormant objects such as broken unusable stuff and piles of clutter slows you down mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.

Where do you begin?
WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT.

Hanging on to too many old possessions can keep us linked too closely to our past and not allow for advancement. Now, I am not suggesting throwing everything from your past away. But most of us have much more than we need. If you truly love it and it has good memories associated with it, keep it.

Moving is a perfect time to clear out and clean out the past. It is best to do it before you move, so you aren¹t lugging the old energy to the new house.

I am considered a minimalist and have fewer possessions than most. I try to live by the rule "If I don¹t love it, I don¹t keep it." Every few months or even more often I make a pass through my home deciding if I can live without anything.

If you have a home office start your cleaning there. Make the oom clean, clutter free and totally operable before moving to the next room. Most of your business decisions and money issues are made in this room. It is a source for creativity and prosperity, so make sure to remove all the energy traps.

Next, go the kitchen. How many old containers do you really need? Keep a few for sending food away or storing, but you really don¹t need as many as you probably have. It is a feeling of euphoria when you walk into your kitchen and everything is in place and neatly organized. Next the bathroom - Do you really need ten different kinds of shampoo? Consider storage solutions to help you organize you medicines and toiletries: Cough and cold, first aid, hair care, etc. Try to keep all labels out of view. This will add a level of serenity to you bathroom which by its own nature, has a purifying affect.

Now the bedroom ­ Start in the closet. It is amazing how many articles of clothing we can accumulate. I have some clothes that I
have had for 10 years. Those made with classic styling and great fabrics that are really timeless are ok to keep. It is very important to have a very pure bedroom for a restful sleep. In order to wake refreshed, the chi must flow freely through the bedroom.

Now that the closets and the areas that accumulate the most clutter are clean, it is time to look at the overall feel of your home. We talked about chi flowing through your home, but in my opinion there is no greater energy than you. Open the front door and objectively walk though your home. Can you move through swiftly, without obstacles? If you can¹t, neither can your chi. Is there an open area where you can receive guest? If the first place they step in your home feels cramped and crowded, does this give an
unwelcoming message? Open up that space and move chairs that are obstructing walkways until you get a clean path. No one wants to run an obstacle course in someone else¹s home. Are delicate items all about where one fears they will knock them over? Consider grouping these objects out of the walk paths. Remove old magazines, etc that tend to absorb and stagnate
chi. Remove or scale down furniture that crowds walk paths.

It is always so much easier to have an objective opinion. Sometimes you can¹t see the forest for the trees. If you find this hard to do, hire a professional to help you part with some of your past and organize your present to have a more happy and prosperous future. Achieving this goal could be the most liberating experience of your life.