Feng Shui Directory

Spring often brings endings and beginnings. If you've had a life change, such as a child arriving or flying from the nest, you're in a great position to make your home more suited to a positive energy flow that will feed your soul and inspire you, than ever before. And if you're firmly rooted in the one spot, it’s the ideal time to give yourself an energetic fresh-start and discover just how much good chi your home can channel you.

We all know by now that a clean and clutter-free environment is vital to welcome positive energy into our lives, but it’s so easy during the dreary months to stay planted in a cosy spot whilst the bits and pieces of everyday living pile up around us. Enough’s enough! Here’s a spring refresher to ensure your goodness is delivered this September without delay.

First: there is no deluding ourselves if we really want to bring in new energy this spring. We can’t clean without clearing clutter, and we can’t just clear the clutter, leaving little bits of energy residue behind, and feel a change. Both are necessary. As Jayme Barrett says in her book, "Feng Shui for Life", you wouldn't tip fresh milk into sour milk, would you? No. You'd wash the jug, and ensure it's clean before adding the fresh milk. The same applies in our homes. So here's a simple checklist:

1. Getting rid of the Old (Clutter Clearing): 

DO rid yourself from anything you haven't used in the past 12 months.

DO insist that responsible family members do their own clutter-busting according to these guidelines. Anything they keep, they must take responsibility to store. This allows them to fully be responsible for their own experiences. 

Spring is the best time of year to attract a new relationship. If you’ve already found a new love, DO allow your relationship to blossom in the most positive-energy vibrations possible. This means ousting all previous relationship energy from your home. It's best if all furniture or objects you've shared with a partner are removed from your life. If you can't bear to part with mementos you have strong positive feelings towards, keep them in storage outside the house (and ideally, the property). Pay particular attention to the master bedroom! All bedding, the mattress and pillows should be new for your newly committed relationship. If you’re sharing, the furniture in the bedroom should have come to either of you when you were singles, or be brought in jointly.

DO glance in the mirror for a feng shui refresher of you! What clutter could you lose about yourself? A few layers of woolly winter garments? Does your hair or waistline need a trim? Are there any negative thoughts you’ve fallen into the rut of thinking on those grey-weather days that need throwing out?

2. Welcoming in the New (Cleansing): 

DO clean your home with new cleaning equipment for best effect, such as a new broom, mop and sponges. This way winter’s old energy and its vibrations are not transferred- the old adage is true- a new broom sweeps clean!

DO cleanse pieces of antique, vintage or second-hand furniture you have in the home. Cleansing the furniture you’ve spent a lot of time on over the winter, such as a sofa, is a must, too. Sprinkling sea salt and holding the intention that the piece will bring you fresh, new energy is a simple technique.

DO empty your washing and ironing baskets- it's not auspicious to have dirty washing lurking about the home, as clothes are one of the strongest vibration-holding items we possess. If you can afford it, have all your winter clothes professionally cleaned and packed away, or do this yourself. Then freshen up your spring garments with a good shake and let them air in the sunshine for a few hours before returning them to the front of your wardrobe. This simple act will enhance the ability of your spring clothes to attract positive energy to you all season, and next years winter wardrobe will be a clean slate to welcome the same. 

Finally, DO spring-clean on an auspicious date. Any day that's special to you, such as a day of the month that holds your favorite number, the New moon and the first half of the moon cycle (waxing days) bring luck.

And remember to celebrate once you've refreshed your springtime home. It's important to welcome with music, laughter and celebratory food or dancing good spirit (quite literally, good spirits) who will acknowledge your efforts and bring you new season’s blessing!