Feng shui and clutter clearing – The Art of Less: Embracing Minimalism for a Feng Shui-Inspired Life

Introduction: As we traverse the journey of life, it’s commonplace to amass an array of possessions – photographs evoking nostalgia, clothes once cherished, or kitchen gadgets seldom used. This habitual collection of items, while seemingly innocuous, often leads to a desire for more space, prompting moves to larger abodes every decade or so. But what if the secret to a fuller life lies in the art of living with less?

The Case for Decluttering: Clutter, a seemingly benign presence in our homes and digital spaces, has far-reaching impacts on our mental well-being and productivity. It’s linked to diminished creativity, heightened anxiety, and even physical symptoms like allergic reactions. The minimalist movement, rooted in the 1960s art scene, now presents a compelling lifestyle choice, advocating for the reduction of consumerism and the prioritisation of life’s essentials.

Joshua Millburn and Ryan Nicodemus of ‘The Minimalists’ encapsulate this ethos as a tool “to rid yourself of life’s excess in favour of focusing on what’s important — so you can find happiness, fulfilment and freedom.”

The Psychological Impacts of Clutter: Our purchasing decisions, often driven by emotional triggers, lead us to assign sentimental value to objects, making it harder to part with them. This accumulation can cloud our focus and impede information processing. Studies, including those by Princeton University and researchers in Los Angeles, have highlighted the stress and performance deficits linked to cluttered environments.

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The World’s First Living and Breathing (and Air Purifying) Chandelier

Drawing inspiration from the V&A’s collections, Julian Melchiorri has developed the world’s first living and breathing chandelier utilising novel bionic-leaf technologies. Julian is an innovative design engineer and entrepreneur and CEO of Arborea, a London-based biochemical technology company, which has received international recognition for its products that are both beautiful and ecologically beneficial.

Exhale bionic chandelier by Julian Melchiorri, Arborea

Exhale, Bionic chandelier by Julian Melchiorri, Arborea

It purifies the indoor air through photosynthesis through its bionic leaves where microalgae living organisms absorb carbon dioxide from the air and with the help of light, transform it into breathable air and glucose (read more about air purifying plants). Julian explains: “The structure that you see is connected by the branches that deliver water and nutrients to the micro-organisms. The shape of the bionic leaves is also essential; they contain veins, and it’s not because I wanted to make them look like leaves, but so that they have more surface area and are more efficient for photosynthesis.” Technological biophilia in action – a chandelier that is alive. Genious.

“My biggest inspiration is nature, and my style of design and engineering is always to allow form to follow function. This is what the old Italian Masters caught, but it’s also the way nature does things. Trees, pebbles – they’re all essential beings, and they’re so beautiful because of that.” Julian Melchiorri

What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You: Uncover the Message in the Mess and Reclaim Your Life by Kerri Richardson

What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You: Uncover the Message in the Mess and Reclaim Your Life by Kerri Richardson

What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You- Uncover the Message in the Mess and Reclaim Your Life by Kerri Richardson

What Your Clutter Is Trying to Tell You- Uncover the Message in the Mess and Reclaim Your Life by Kerri Richardson

What does your clutter say about you? It all depends on where you hide your hoard, says an intriguing new book by Kerri Richardson. This new book suggests how gaining control of mess can help to reclaim life. It also suggests that wardrobe clutter often means you’re holding on to a fantasy self, whilst attic clutter suggests that you feel like your betraying your loved ones!

What is clutter

Let’s start with what is clutter. If you use it on regular basis and it makes you smile when you see it, it’s not clutter. For example, your mementoes have been sitting in a box for the last five years, they can’t mean much to you. Re-evaluate their worth and either say goodbye or make them a daily part of your life.

YOUR WARDROBE

Emotional issue: nostalgia
What this means: Wardrobe clutter often means you’re holding on to a fantasy self — one that was more youthful, thinner, or happier. Maybe your old dresses remind you of a time when you felt as if anything was possible. Struggling to get rid of them is more about your desire to feel that way again than actually wanting to wear those dresses.

When you look at your skinny jeans, they may remind you of your ideal weight, or times when you and your friends would go out and have fun.

The real question is, how can you have the same fulfilment in your current life that those old clothes represent?

What to do about it: See if you can find five items you haven’t worn for six months. Now ask yourself why you keep each piece of clothing. Is it a just-in-case item? Do you still love it? Maybe you can throw out the jeans but plan a girls’ night out, or a romantic dinner with your partner, to recapture the feelings stirred up by the clothes.

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Space Clearing and Feng Shui

Space Clearing and Feng Shui

Feng shui as energetic management

The key concept in feng shui is energy (chi/qi/charge) management. Space clearing as a stand-alone discipline has the same goal and function. Modern feng shui recognises space clearing and incorporates it as an integral part of the holistic approach to managing, enhancing and balancing living or workplace spaces. People all over the world have an instinctive understanding of space clearing and many interventions and rituals to do so. But the science is catching up, with research about the concept called ‘space conditioning’ which basically covers space clearing. Researchers such as William A. Tiller, PhD; Walter E Dibble, Jr PhD; Michael J. Kohane, PhD looked into how space can hold memories. Celebrities, such as Robbie Williams and his wife employed a space clearing expert when they moved into their £17.5 million mansion in West London (a property previously owned by Michael Winner). Simon Cowell also used space clearing in his home in Los Angeles.

Space clearing and feng shui

Space clearing and feng shui

What is space clearing used for?

• selling properties
• buying properties
• moving to new properties
• shifting stuck energies or situations (looking for a relationship, divorce, etc)
• refreshing and boosting personal and business lives
boosting your prosperity and wealth creation
• attracting a new partner or new employees
• completing projects
• events and celebrations such as weddings
• health matters such as better sleep or sleep problems
• getting your power back to the present moment

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