Spring Cleaning Is Here—the Importance of Regular Purges!
Michele Lewis
Mar – Apr 2024 • Vol 4, No 9
Almost every book on Feng Shui talks about “decluttering” and keeping things neat and clean. Is it really that important? With a resounding YES, it IS important to do regular purges of those things that just don’t mean anything to you anymore, as well as maintaining a level of cleanliness on a daily basis. If you’ve waited all year long to clean up and clear out, Spring is the perfect time to break that habit! Let’s address daily dirt first—it’s the little stuff that adds up over a short time that can have a significant impact on the energy in your home.
What starts out as a few dishes in the sink can quickly become mounds of dirty dishes, pots, and pans that seem to emanate “don’t touch us!” All of us have a few plates and bowls that need to go in the dishwasher—it’s the day-old, food-laden dishes that seem to magnetize more of its kind that I’m referring to. While millions of odor-causing bacteria are forming, so is the extreme yin chi that drains you of your energy, and can leave you feeling lethargic and unmotivated for no apparent reason.
This pattern of allowing negative yin energy to quickly gather by letting dirt and grime accumulate applies to anything that you let “pile up,” such as dirty laundry, trash, and days or weeks of dust. It is worth the time and effort to stay on top of the everyday stuff—but don’t get stressed out if life is temporarily in such high gear that the laundry has to wait.
Spring Cleaning! Sounds like a major ordeal, doesn’t it? Many people think they don’t have the time to embark on herculean cleaning/clearing out projects. The trick is to pace yourself so that you don’t feel overwhelmed and helpless before all those boxes of junk in the garage or all that stuff that is crammed into your closet.
Start with something that you could reasonably complete in 15–20 minutes, such as a quick run through of the house getting all those cobwebs that accumulated over winter. Try going through one or two of your drawers or shelves, or setting a limit on the number of boxes you’ll tackle at a time. Once you get started and experience how good it feels to clear out old stuff and its accompanying stale energy, you’ll be ready to address a few larger projects.
Get rid of things you don’t use or need—they tie up your energy unnecessarily, accumulate stagnant qi, and block new energy, money, and people from coming into your life!
Trained in China and the US, Michele Lewis is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant and has been a Feng Shui professional since 1998. She is available for consultations on-site or via phone. By using the timeless principles of the art and science of Feng Shui, Michele can help you bring balance and beauty to every aspect of your life. She is also a Certified Qigong Instructor of Ling Gui Healing Qigong School, Liu Dong’s Method. Michele Lewis can be reached at 406-224-0803, or at taodesigns@ymail.com.