The Meaning of Clutter

When you pick up an object, many people will know where they bought it, how much they paid, and what time in their life did they purchase it?  Checking out whether an object has positive associations and lifts your energy; for example does this object remind you of the good times or does it have negative associations, perhaps it reminds you of a destructive relationship, therefore lowering your energy. Taking the time to explore your associations to objects in your home that you see every day is important.
One of my fengshui clients had a painting left over from her previous relationship beside her bed every time she looked at it, it had a negative impact on her emotionally, the painting was of her x boyfriend holding her, but she was the size of a doll in his hand; she said she always felt ³small and powerless with him².  On the mental level, she told herself, that she failed at that relationship, which left her with self-doubt about reinvesting in a new relationship.  On the spiritual level she decided not to love again, she made the decision not to trust relationships.  This was a painting that she saw every day when she woke up and every night before she went to sleep.  Checking out the associations an object has for us is critical, especially in those objects that we see/use every day.

It is also important to explore how much of your furniture and belongings are representative of the past.  Some people have 90% of their energy invested in past experiences, and this is symbolically represented by what they surround themselves with in their home.
Take the time to explore the object that you see before you go to sleep and when you wake up.
… Do I love this object?
… What associations do I have to this object? (Positive, negative)
… When was the last time I used this object?
… Does this object/reflect who I am at this point in my life?
… Under Fengshui, clutter is defined as anything you don¹t love or haven¹t used in the past year.

Why do people keep clutter?  
There are many reasons why people keep clutter and generally put, clutter is symbolic of our ability to hold on or let go appropriately in our lives. The meaning of clutter is as unique and dynamic as the clutter collector. In answer to the question, ³Why do people keep clutter² a number of common themes have surfaced in the courses I teach.

Many clutter students say it is hard to let go of things from past relationships for sentimental reasons. They feel that if they hang onto the object they are hanging onto the experience or the person who is no longer in their life. Many students said their stuff represents part of their identity, part of who they were in the past, whether that was a productive businesswoman, versus who they may be now, - a retired senior.  One woman said, ³my stuff defines me². This is very common in North America where we define ourselves by what we have. Part of examining clutter is to look at who you are, separate from your belongings. Many people spoke about clutter being a source of comfort, security and safety, filling the emptiness they feel inside.

Buying things we don¹t need
It is important to examine what is going on in your life when you are shopping for things that you do not need. Some of my students have identified feelings of anger, powerlessness, and a fear of poverty that drives them to accumulate more. One women in my group told us about an experience of going in the store with a friend, not wanting to buy anything but ended up buying some ornaments because she did not want her friend to think she couldn¹t buy it, she wanted her friend to think she was okay. Many women find themselves shopping for clothes when they are feeling fat or uncomfortable in their bodies, and they believe that they can find the perfect dress to make them feel good.  They end up buying clothes they many never wear.  Even books can be something that people buy and don¹t read, one women said she tells herself ³I doesn¹t know enough, I can¹t do it on my own² and tells herself she needs that book.  Feelings such as unworthiness, comparing yourself to others, feeling disconnected or lonely drive you to purchase things we don¹t need or may not even use.   
… Ask yourself what do you tend to buy that you don¹t need, or don¹t use?
… What feelings are usually driving the shopping for these items?

Since clutter has a purpose in our lives; some people have said that it feels familiar and creates a sense of security and safety. I believe as humans we don¹t do things that do not have a benefit. One women in my workshop realized that she was unconsciously keeping all the household clutter in her bedroom. She said all her friends tell her to find a man, yet she knows she is not ready.  She said, ³ My room is so messy that there is no way I can bring a man in there².  For her the benefit to clutter was to keep men at a distance, in effect creating a boundary.  Other workshop participants said that clutter helps distract them from dealing with their problems, some women felt they couldn¹t go out and have fun, or change jobs while their apartment was such an overwhelming mess.

When asked, ³How does your clutter effect you?² many people say clutter is anchoring or grounding, and it slows them down. This is in fact true, as clutter will slow the pace of change in your life. Clearing clutter can bring up a lot of emotional issues for people.  Many people have spoken about anxiety, feelings of grief, and the fear of letting go of past relationships.  Many students in my groups spoke about the fear of their sense of self-changing.  Like most people, you probably fear change to some extent. Unconsciously, holding onto clutter may serve as a way to hold onto the familiar and insulate you from change.  Talking about clutter is not something people do.  Many clutter students call it ³their dirty little secret², and feel a lot of shame. Clutter can also trigger feelings of frustration, irritation anger and feeling of being out of control.
When we start to clear clutter a lot of feelings may come forward to the surface. It is important to explore these feelings before clearing clutter so that you don¹t get overwhelmed in the process and get stuck.  


Before you start to clear clutter you must ask yourself the following questions:
What are the effects of clutter on you?
What emotional issues are attached to your clutter?  
What emotional states do you connect to accumulating more clutter?
What is hard for you to let go of?  
What are the benefits to your clutter?
When you start to clear clutter what feelings come up?

The positive effects of clearing clutter
In my workshops participants described feeling relaxed, liberated, independent, happy, peaceful, proud, joyful, freedom, energy, in control, closure, and a sense of new opportunities as they let go of clutter.  They all spoke about creating space for new things to come into their lives.  These feelings are very common when you clear your clutter with awareness.  When you clear your clutter with conscious intent you are making space for something new.  This is one of the key principles of Fengshui that the internal and the external are connected, and in fact the external is a reflection of the internal. This is why clutter clearing is so powerful. It helps you release stuck energy from the past, allowing more energy to flow into your life to create the changes you want.


Visualization as a tool
Now lets do visualization: Pick one object of physical clutter from your list.  Shut your eyes take three deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth. Imagine going to the place in your house where the object is. (If you can physically go and hold the object - do it).  Take three deep breaths, let your mind travel freely, be open to memories, associations, fears, smells, visual pictures, sounds, or feelings in your body, even small feelings or thoughts that may seem unrelated.  Breathe.  
When you come out of the visualization jot down anything that comes to you.

Getting started:
What helps you get started?
… Start by visioning what the final result might be, and how you would feel when you look at the room. Some students even wrote a clearing vision statement. One woman was clearing off her desk; her visioning statement was  ³I want to feel calm and peaceful sitting at my desk².

… Music helps; playing your favorite inspiring music sets the stage.

… Start with a micromovement, one drawer, and one part of the desk or closet.  We are so good at setting ourselves up for failure and beating ourselves up when we don¹t accomplish everything. Think small when starting, the process is as important as the final product.

… Schedule a time to clear clutter, just as if you would a doctor appointment. Put a time limit on it, just like a doctors appointment. This helps break down the task into a manageable, do-able section. Once the time is up, stop.

… Celebrate the empty space, no matter how big or small.  Give yourself the permission that it is enough.  We are very good at setting ourselves up with large tasks such as ³clear out the basement² rather than starting with one corner, and celebrating the accomplishment as enough.


Clutter Challenge

… Do I use this object? - When was the last time I actually used it
… Do I love it?  - Does it lift my energy, or does it drain me when I look at it?
… What emotional experience from your past is attached to this object?
… Does this represent who I am at this point in my life?