Feng Shui Help

Dear Marjolein,

When I read your Feng Shui article last month, I got panicked. Because I hate clutter but my family doesn't, and I'm worried that as much as I want to follow all your tips, I'm fighting an uphill battle.

For example:

1. My children have `cubbies' for their books and supplies. I will straighten everything up and as soon as they come home, disaster.

2. I don't much care for cooking, other than what's necessary to feed my family, but have an abundance of pots and pans and platters and implements. Is this clutter because I do not use many of these things on a regular basis?

3. I have a long hall that has a mirror along one wall. Will this help redirect chi even though it is not at either end?

4. I guess the biggest problem I have is that to maintain a clutter-free house I would have to follow each family member around picking up, putting away, straightening, sorting or tossing out.

Help,

Marsha Donnelly
Concord, NH

Dear Marsha:

It seems that I have added anxiety to your life instead of removing it! I merely wanted you to begin to pay attention, moving forward, to how you can enliven and promote good energy flow or chi. I never meant for you to change your entire living circumstance.

Allow me to give you some simple tips to overcome your most recent concerns.

1. Cover the kids' cubbies with a curtain so that the clutter is not visible.

2. Organize your platters from large to small. Similarly stack your pots smallest inside largest and make sure you throw away any that are chipped or damaged.

3. Yes, the mirror along the wall helps but consider these additions as well: If the hall is dark and very long, add a light at the end, hang a mobile from the ceiling or a picture on the end wall.

4. Just by being aware of the detrimental effects of mess and clutter, you will begin to notice that every time you can make a difference, you will make a difference. For example, when you put away the laundry, stack and hang your clothes with order. Pile newspapers and magazines neatly, put dishes away more mindfully, give away clothes that are too small, sweep the garage, throw away stale food, organize the pantry etc. Slowly your home will begin to transform without the stress of trying to tackle it all at once.

Remember, fresh flowers and plants, lights, mobiles, drapes, wind chimes and mirrors are easily found and placed to enhance the space and improve energy flow.

Hope this helps to unravel your panic and equips you with some simple and useful tips.

Love,

Marjolein

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