Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui by Karen Kingston
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Book Reviews of Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui
Book Review: Clear your clutter....a life-altering book!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this wonderful book a year ago. Since then I have given it as a gift to over 10 friends...and counting. It was the first clutter clearing book I'd read which made so much sense to me, in a non-preachy, non-cutsie, but gentle and spiritual manner. Karen gives reasons WHY we accumulate and save things, and also gives us reasons and permission to 'let go' of it. This book gave me the motivation to unclutter each room, one by one. When I had finished, there were bags and bags of things to pass on to new owners, or just dump (things too shoddy to give away). I had a garage sale, and earned, TO THE DOLLAR, the price of a plane ticket for a very close friend to visit me for her birthday. I'm not sure I'll have another garage sale, though, since it now feels SO MUCH better to give stuff away. Since that first reading, I've read it twice more, concentrating on the areas I need reinforcement. I've also realized that this is a LIFE PROCESS, not a one-shot deal and I'm ready now to do another house cleanse...I may even get rid of more stuff than the first go-round!
In defense of the Feng Shui aspect, I totally agree with the reviewers who've pointed out that the precepts of Feng Shui are built on a minimalist (i.e. non-cluttered) lifestyle and mindset. How can we even BEGIN to apply Feng Shui to our lives and homes, if there is clutter everywhere? And as for the body cleansing, well, if it makes us think more carefully and spiritually about the food and other items we ingest, what's wrong with that! (of course this is my opinion)
And so, I hope more and more people continue to read and use this book. Once clutter is gone, a whole new world of peace and harmony and energy opens up. What a gift Karen Kingston has given us!
Book Review: Life-changer
Summary: 5 Stars
This book has been instrumental in changing my life. I happened upon it when I thought I might be moving and was overwhelmed thinking of everything I needed to do. Turned out I didn't move, but I started uncluttering my house of everything that was not important to me and found out there are few material possessions that I would carry with me if I were to move. I cannot believe how many things I carried with me when I moved across country the last time. I'm keeping the things I love and use, and things I enjoy but would discard if I were to leave. I have gone through every room in my house, thrown things out, donated to thrift stores, given a few things to friends/family. This weekend I got a dumpster and have gone through my basement and yard. I feel so much "lighter", "liberated", "free". It feels so good! I've rearranged what I have because I have more room. I've decided what is important and what is not. But the philosophy grows from there. I've found many things I was holding onto were only dragging me down. It has motivated me to work on the house and clean like I never had before, because there's not all this crap crowding me. I don't care about shopping any more. A lot of things I love that I donated to thrift stores (mainly clothes that I can't wear any more) I figured, let someone else enjoy them. The clothes are only sitting in my closets; let someone else love them. I donated about a thousand dollars worth of books to the local library. I have a better perspective on what's important in my life, not just pertaining to material possessions. I have always been a home-person, a "nester". Cleansing my home has cleansed my soul and will change other areas of my life. I highly recommend this book.Book Review: Feel Much Happier in Your Home & Life
Summary: 5 Stars
CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER WITH FENG SHUI is a delightful how-to manual that helps clear out clutter in all areas of our homes, by addressing the underlying reasons that things tend to get so cluttered in the first place. As author Karen Kingston points out, "clutter is stuck energy," and she shares powerful insights as to why it is that some people get so attached to junk that it can literally overflow throughout the house, threatening the health, well-being, and sanity of those who live there.
While the chapters on discovering various clutter proclivities is fascinating reading, my favorite part of CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER is using the feng shui bagua to determine which sections of the living area are most cluttered. Kingston explains that those most highly cluttered areas indicate which parts of one's life is being most sabotaged. Rather than baldly stating such potentially controversial points without supporting evidence, Kingston encourages us to see for ourselves what a difference the presence or absence of clutter has on our well-being. She suggests we pick an area in our lives that is not going as well as we would desire, and clear out the clutter in the corresponding part of the house in order to witness the positive results of this clearing for ourselves.
From realistically assessing the clutter situation, to noting what effect the clutter is having, to finding the underlying clutter causes, to clearing the clutter away, I can think of no better single resource than CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER. Anyone wishing to find an inexpensive way to bring about radical, positive change in their life will benefit from reading CLEAR YOUR CLUTTER; I give this book my highest recommendation!
Book Review: surprisingly appealing to the pragmatic mind
Summary: 5 Stars
I had my doubts about this book when it was given to me as a gift. I am generally not a very mystical/spritual person and was doubtful about how a book based in Eastern religion/philosophy was going to be helpful to me. I was pleasantly surprised to find that this book was well grounded in very practical suggestions and commentary. I did find some parts to be a bit too far "out there" for me, but her definitions of clutter really opened my eyes to the amount of it in my life. It is still a work in progress, but I am clearing clutter on a daily basis and have tried to change my attitude about sutff. If it is not bringing joy into my life, I really need to consider if it belongs with me, and if not...move it on out! Two examples of my personal clutter clearning that came about as a result of reading this book: 1. I finally donated an 18" braid to Locks of Love...I was no longer enjoying my long hair, and they certainly could use it! 2. I realized I was collecting scrapbooking materials (stickers, scissors, etc.) not to use, but to have. When I had a hard time opening a sticker pack because it would no longer be "complete" I recognized it as a collection/cluttter problem. I have decided not to get any more scrapbooking stuff until I actually start using it...and if I don't do it soon, that will let me know it's not as important to me as I thought it was. It's been an interesting time of seeing my life and myself a little differently - and hopefully, a little better. I have passed along the ideas in this book, both by telling people and by giving copies as a gift.Book Review: Beneath the Obvious...
Summary: 5 Stars
You would never expect for something like clutter to affect your mood away from home. I had a strong sense that my home environment was affecting the rest of my life. I attempted Feng Shui a few years ago by rearranging my furniture, draping things with cloths, etc. but the clutter remained. I would purge and clean up every few months or so and in hind sight I see those were peaks/highlights in my life. I am in the process of moving to a new place and decided I wanted to decorate my fresh space with Feng Shui inspired techniques. I stumble across this book and figure this will only enhance the sacred space book I have pick up. I start reading this book first and only 3 days later I find myself cleaning for 6 HOURS!!!! LOL! I threw away soooo much stuff. Over 60 pair of shoes (some of which I haven't worn in years), clothes that weren't flattering or no longer fit, old credit card statements for accounts that are no longer active, books who's pages cracked at their opening. The next day I felt GREAT. Prior to this my space made me sleepy immediately when I entered it. I wanted to do nothing but surf the web and sleep. Some of the issues I was having prior to still exist, but I have a new perspective on them. I don't feel the same anxiety or heaviness that I have been feeling in the months leading up to this day. I'm still not done and can't wait to do more. I currently work two jobs so finding the energy and time proves to be difficult, but the next block of free time I get will be devoted to creating a clean space.