Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui by Karen Kingston
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Book Reviews of Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui
Book Review: This book will change your life
Summary: 5 Stars
This book changed my life, and I don't say that lightly . . . I can count on one hand the authors I'd say that of, and Karen Kingston is one of them.I too have loaned or recommended this book to all my friends, and read it several times myself. At Thanksgiving dinner I heard about someone who was having a tough time, and I mailed her a copy of this book over the weekend. I thought it was the single most helpful thing I could do (in the hierarchy of collectors, she must be near the top). It really is true--when you sort out your stuff, you sort out your life. Having lots of clutter functions exactly as a millstone around your neck would.
As others said, I have read many books on this topic, looking for something that would light a fire under me. This is the only one that ever helped me. It is every bit as motivational as others have said. You will likely stay up most of the night you read it clearing clutter--and you'll feel and be better for doing it. Not only has it helped me clear stuff dating back even to childhood, but it's helped me clear people out of my life who didn't need to be there, and it's taken away my urge to shop for and collect new stuff. I still have collections of lovely and useful things. I just no longer feel the need to accumulate, and I have scaled back somewhat.
A note . . . Karen recommends not examining things too carefully before tossing. I am going through things a bit slower than she recommends (and have found my car title and 2 copies of my birth certificate, among other useful things :), but I've found this actually quite helpful. In reading my old letters, diaries, etc., I've been able to identify old patterns still at play in my life today. It made me so mad to see how the more things changed, the more they stayed the same, that I took immediate steps in my life today to end the patterns. So instead of dumping your boxes of papers wholesale, you may want to look at the items that could give you valuable insight. What this book did for me is completely remove the urge to keep anything that no longer holds real value for me. I immediately cleared out a bunch of books and cassettes that had either never had any value for me, or no longer did.
As far as the "not really feng shui" complaint . . . Karen states, and I absolutely believe she is right, that clutter clearing is the most important part of feng shui, and that her book is a supplement to the vast body of feng shui books available everywhere that never give specific instructions on this point. I don't know how anyone could miss this and expect anything else. Anyone in this category should have his/her shopping license revoked :) Since feng shui is about energy flowing, and it certainly can't flow through a space packed tight with clutter, there is no better place to start than this book.
Sure, there are a few things in the book that are a bit overwrought--for example, she fleetingly refers to lots of evidence that my clearing my clutter can help my ancestors! I'd love to know what that evidence is! But come on, folks, you buy a book with "feng shui" in the title . . . if the author's not stranger than you are, she's just not doing her job.
As far as the clearing your body part that has so many people freaked out . . . I ordered some herbs, used them in moderation, and found them to be helpful.
I can't recommend this book highly enough. I only wish I'd had it as soon as I reached the age of reason (it's been awhile :) but better late than never.
Book Review: Turn your world upside down.
Summary: 5 Stars
I find the author to be an excellent motivator. After reading a few chapters, I easily embarked upon a long-considered but ever-postponed clearing of numerous, dense pockets of accumulated items throughout my house. I've gleefully filled so many boxes and bags in the last 3 days that my yellow Lab is showing signs of anxiety usually reserved for moving. So my husband and I have been doing our best to reassure her that the pack is staying put. And there's more house purging to come.
What I found especially liberating was the section on dismantling the "keep it just in case" myth. I realized that I was holding incompatible belief systems in my mind: knowing deep down that the universe always provides for me and having constant evidence to prove it; yet offering up doubt in the form of holding on to items that were certainly useful in theory, but not in use in my home. When the "Maybe I should keep this" line reared its ugly head several times during the clear-out, I was able to challenge it successfully and allow the items to enter the "donate" box without stress or thoughts of future need of it. The mental clutter-clearing is a great benefit of the whole process, and it's been such a valuable opportunity to get in touch with the myths I've been carrying around regarding these objects. None of my previous justifications for keeping these items can hold up in my mind anymore. The sense of freedom in this is immense.
Of course, with a stirring up of long-dormant objects comes a release of stuck energy. While I was expecting and looking forward to the increase in money flow, physical energy, business and creativity; there were some postponed decisions that suddenly required action NOW. Things came to a head, so to speak. All within a matter of hours of tossing and sorting. Be prepared for what I can best describe as a healing crisis of your whole life. Whatever has been on hold will surface and require attention; whether it's speaking your mind concerning something you've long been shy or silent about, dealing directly with a difficult friend or even culling superfluous animals from your farm.
The interesting and amazing thing about all this, is that with the sudden surfacing of these issues is a fresh and clear viewpoint on the subject, as well as exactly the right words with which to articulate difficult feelings. At least that's been my experience. Whatever it is that requires addressing will present itself with clarity and urgency, if you really dig deeply and allow yourself to release the objects that have gripped you emotionally. Just tossing a pile of last week's newspapers will not yield this effect, but get them in the recycling pile anyway.
While I've used feng shui for years with great results, this is not a book for someone hoping to learn the basics on the subject. Feng shui is mentioned throughout the book as far as how clutter affects the various areas of the bagua. That said, any attempt to "feng shui" a living space must be accompanied by clutter clearing to be truly successful. So it is an excellent companion volume to a primer on the basics. I haven't yet read her other book, but will put it in my cart today.
If you're ready to take an honest look at what you've accumulated and why, and are willing to encounter whatever temporary fallout may ensue as a result; you'll find this little book invaluable.
Book Review: seven years later and still clutter free
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book in 1999 when it first came out, knowing nothing about Feng Shui at the time...Funny thing was the book was given to me by my ex-boyfriend's mother and HER SON was a big part of my clutter that needed clearing! To say it "changed my life" would be an understatement.
This book GAVE ME A NEW LIFE which is better than I ever could have imagined!!...To make a long story short: 1) I found a new man and I'm now engaged 2) I am making more money than ever and I'm successful in my job as a personal trainer. 3) I am taking a decorating course, something I always wanted to do since I was a teenager 4) My acne cleared up and I am finally at a healthy weight of 115 lbs after years of alternating between being too skinny or too fat and being unhappy with my body (the colon cleansing chapter might be "gross" to some people but makes some GREAT points about toxins in the body, most people have trouble with their belly being too big because they are literally full of poo!) 5) I have a great new apartment in California which is walking distance to all my favorite shops 6) I have time and space for tons of new hobbies, like wine tasting, cooking, gardening, painting and sewing just to name a few 7) I have the courage to rid my life of people and objects that are not doing me any good 8) Everyone who enters my home always comments on what a great place I have.
I got rid of about 3/4 of what I owned back in 1999 and I don't regret ANY of it! I still have a pack rat nature (I come from a long line of pack rats, my entire family are junkaholics!) and I have to do regular clear-outs to maintain and I am hardly a "neat freak" but I can now manage what I own and I keep it under control instead of clutter controlling me. I feel truly balanced in my life and that is priceless.
I have read other Feng Shui books since but none have the place in my heart that Karen's books do. I still have a well-worn copy of BOTH of Karen's books and I re-read them any time I am feeling bogged-down or unmotivated. I have done several Space Clearing ceremonies to date and each time I feel wonderful!...Feng Shui isn't for everyone, in fact a lot of people might find her book downright silly but for me, I know I would not be the person I am today if I had not been blessed with her books.
For me Feng Shui is not magic, not superstition but more of an attitude and a lifestyle. For me it was not a magical, overnight process but it IS certainly an amazing transformation that took a lot of time thought and effort but when I think back to who I was (frightened, unhappy always feeling stepped on by people) and who I am today (confident, successful, in control) it's simply a miracle! I will always be grateful to Karen!
Book Review: The only book you'll need about space clearing
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm not one into "new age psychobabble" but Karen Kingston's advice in this book did alot for me ... and the dividends continue paying off to this day.
I read this book at a down time in my life and, indeed, I never realized why I was holding onto old letters, graduation caps and gowns from schools that held nothing but bad memories for me, and magazines from nearly 10 years prior.
I admit that I'm not as bad as other people but I cluttered up the little space that I had and I felt it. Once I started questioning why I was keeping stuff, I had the strength to let it go and not feel bad about it. I haven't looked back since.
After re-reading this book, it strengthened my resolve to keep clutter out of my life as best I can. Her reasoning is based on common sense, really, not "real" Feng Shui: If your friends do nothing but drag you down, time to move on. If those letters from an old flame hold nothing but bad memories, what's the point in torturing yourself by keeping them? If you haven't worn that outfit yet, what makes you think you'll wear it sometime this year (even though you've been promising yourself you're going to lose weight to get back into those jeans for years)?
Karen also gives advice on how to reduce the chance of re-introducing clutter into your life by questioning the purpose of every single piece of paper you have. Through reading her book, I have become conscientious of clearing out every so often and I find myself, indeed, questioning every paper that I intend to keep (and many papers hit the recycle bin because of that!). Same thing for clothes: If they don't fit, bundle them up and give them to people who can use them.
Her book also enabled me to let go of many books, tapes, CDs, and DVDs that I have owned for nearly 10 years (along with making it easier to donate clothes that have outlived their usefulness). I have about 25% of what I used to have and made a few hundred dollars from selling the aforementioned stuff.
Kingston makes ton of sense. Frankly, this is the only book you'll ever need on space clearing. Her advice is practical and has forever changed my life.
And, because of her space clearing habit, Karen is able to split her time between two continents during the year. I very much doubt other people can say the same.
Book Review: great (except for the "internal cleansing" chapter)
Summary: 5 Stars
Being a clutterholic who keeps a lot of stuff "just in case" and for memory's sake (like 2nd grade report cards), this book was truly motivational and much of it made sense (like keeping stuff "just in case" means that not only are we cluttering the house for ourselves, we're also keeping things for people we haven't even met yet!). Since reading the book, my husband and I have cleared out TONS of stuff in the house! We've had yard sales and donated a lot to the Salvation Army and Goodwill, and the rooms that have been "decluttered" are cleaner and more restful. Plus, with the goal of getting down to just the things we need, love, or use, we've been able to get rid of tacky stuff that we hung onto for no good reason, and stuff that we weren't using. The great thing is that after reading the book I felt selfish for keeping all the clutter- now I feel like I'm helping out by giving my "thin clothes" to people who could wear them before they go out of style. Plus I'm not depressed looking at clothes that I've inadvertantly outgrown. Or, for those gifts you get that you don't really love but feel obligated to keep, you feel better about giving them away because you know it doesn't mean you don't appreciate the thought and keeping it when you don't like it makes the whole thing worse.
I agree that the whole section on colon cleansing is a big wacky and although I read it the first time, I personally skipped over that the second time I read the book (it's the kind of book you can read every time you want a "pep talk" to clean). I recommended the book to my mom and my brother and mom keeps mentioning how dangerous the colon cleansing part could be, but in my mind that was a small section of the book and one that I didn't give much thought to because I'm more concerned with a clean, clutter-free house. So I wouldn't dismiss the book because of one small section. The rest of it, taken with a grain of salt, is the ONLY book I've read that has actually motivated me to DO something and get rid of the clutter! And honestly, we feel so much better about the house now. We still have work to do, but at least I don't feel like I'm living in a junkyard anymore!