Spring Cleaning For Clearing Life's Clutter
I don't know about you, but throughout the year, I accumulate junk; I have become more of a minimalist in my life, but somehow I still hang on to stuff thinking I may need this or use it again at some point, so in the closet, drawer it goes. I have gotten better at being able to release stuff sooner than I may have in the past. I have a year rule, and if it has sat without purpose for a year, then I am okay parting with whatever it is because I know I am not likely to use it, and my life doesn't require me to hang onto it. I am aware that when there's clutter in my personal space, my energy is impacted.
I used to think I was a "neat freak. " I now realize that it's more that I am energetically overcharged when there's too much disorder or busyness going on in my world, and for me, it feels better to release that. For others, this may not be the case; they may be stimulated by the busyness, which gets them going. If you're one that starts to feel wonky when there's clutter, there's a reason, time to do some clearing, creating some flow. Pay attention to the type of energy flow in your space. Does it feel good and balanced to be in it? For each of us, the needs are something different.? Honor what that is for you. Who can't benefit from a bit of spring freshening up? It just feels good!
Moving things around and changing it up releases stuck energy and clear out the energy junk, yeah, you can't see it, but it's lurking, ha, no, I am not talking dust and germs; I am talking about the invisible stuff that is our world. Sometimes moving out the stuff around for a while doesn't feel so good, and adding awareness to that task is where the clearing truly comes in. Mindfully notice the simple practice of what it feels like when things are out of place and then see again what it feels like to put away or throw it away; what comes up is their resistance to doing so? Is there liberation in doing so? There are beliefs associated with our hanging on or letting go of the stuff for all of us.
Let's consider cleaning out the closet of stagnate thoughts (stuff). We also know that energy comes from processing thoughts through emotion (emotion=energy in motion). Bring awareness to someplace in your life where there's a belief that's keeping you stuck or creating a struggle for you somehow. Visualize your mind as a closet stocked full of a fantastic wardrobe, one of the colorful thoughts, experiences, stored memories that are way in the back of the closet.
Pull a belief from somewhere in the mind's closet: you know that one that doesn't fit anymore, but you keep telling yourself, I need it; I might wear it again when I lose the weight, dig into the back of your closet. Now your closet will happily keep stuff for you because its job is to honor what you've stored in there. Now try it on for size; really place that belief into your awareness. How does it make you feel, does it look good on you, do you think you need to still hang on to it? Now, try on something in the front of your closet recently acquired, that fresher belief that is maybe new for you, and a little bit outside of your box, but your bravery says, "I am gonna rock these red boots" now feel into that belief. If it feels good, consider wearing it more often. Releasing old stuck emotional energy patterns can be that simple of a practice.
I think it's fun to do a house blessing with the change of seasons, throwing a little gratitude and appreciation for the safe sanctuary that is your home. Here are some simple suggestions for doing a seasonal house blessing. For me, it's a bit ceremonious; I like that because it brings my attention to intention. I may start by going to the main entrance of my home, light a little sage in a dish and take a moment to center. Next, I do a little walk through the house with the smoldering sage, seeing in my mind the stale, dusty, over accumulated energetic junk dispersing as I move throughout, holding that intention. Sending love and gratitude for its time and purpose and imagining the entire home, inside and out, being purified. You could use a candle to do this as well if you don't like the sage. The fire or burning is symbolic of purity, sterilization, and an element that implies giving something up.
Now that I've cleared and reset, next, I will burn a piece of Palo Santo which again is just my ceremonial process; you'll create your own. I'll do another walk-through and, through intention, bring in the new and fresh, like opening the windows. I will thank my home with thoughts such as, thank you for being a place of joy and laughter, thank you for being a haven and place to rest, thank you for being my sanctuary, a place to gather memories, shut down, rest, and be. Whatever that is for you, imagine those words and how they feel and wash over your home. Maybe notice how your house feels before and then how it feels after.
"Whistle While You Work"
XO Donna