Feng Shui and Moving: Mr Toad's Wild Ride

River's Song                                                              Catheirne Al-Meten Meyers

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, for anyone who hasn't visited Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, is a ride based on the book The Wind in the Willows. It's a crazy ride through the dark and through a series of curves, surprises, and exciting ups and downs. And that to me, best describes what moving is all about. Moving, for anyone who hasn't done this in a long while, is anything but a centering experience. In fact it is quite the opposite. It is the falling apart or the taking apart of your whole life. Piece by piece, unless you have the luxury of hiring professional movers, you pick up every single item you own and you do something with it. You may toss it out, or recycle it, or give it as a gift or you may carefully wrap it up and put it in a box. Whatever your move entails, you disassemble your life.

Imagine all the energy that goes into the process of moving? Energy shifts in all different directions and on all levels of your being. Moving is physically tiring, emotionally exhausting, and can challenge even the most sound minds. The process of moving from one home to another is all about changing the energy of just about every part of your being. It had been over 6 years since my last move, and that move was relatively easy. I drove from San Francisco to Oregon with my little Ford Focus packed with my bags and some household items. I pulled some furniture out of storage once I arrived here, and slowly set up house in my new apartment by the river.  About a month later, my household goods were delivered, carried in, leaving me with the task of unpacking and arranging my new home. I went to work right away, and have no recollection of it being a stressful time at all. In fact, it was such a nice relief to be back in Oregon, the move was secondary.

Not quite a month ago, circumstances resulted in my making a decision that I had been contemplating for quite some time. An offer of a new home came up, and I made the choice to give notice and move. Since that time, I have been in the process of going through my things, sorting, discarding, and packing up for the move. It's been over 10 or 11 years since I've done any kind of major move. What used to be fairly easy to do is now more difficult. And the reason is primarily emotional. Before I had even begun packing, my back started hurting. The lower back represents our sense of home and security, our base. When I moved here years ago, my desire was to have a home base from which to do my work. This home has been just that. So when I noticed the lower back pain, I recognized that I was feeling out of alignment and uncertain about my own security. Also, pain is a signal for us. When we feel pain, it shows us where we have overextended or pushed our limits. What is a big job, moving, became an even bigger challenge. How was I going to get up and over the mountain?

Feng Shui is about the art of paying attention to how energy/Chi works in and through our lives. When we are running into resistance, conflict, or difficulties, the cause can usually be traced back to some form of energy blocked or running wild in our lives. That energy may be within our environment; it may also be within our relationships to ourselves and to others. When we live in and around toxic situations or within a negative environment, we slowly adapt over time to adjust to that which we find threatening. If the challenge is for example, the weather, we may adjust our habits. If it's very cold, we learn how to dress more warmly. If our home is cold, we learn how to weather proof it. We all have to adjust to our environment in some way, and for many of us, we simply unconsciously tune out that which we find disturbing. For those of us who use Feng Shui to arrange our environment, we move things around and clear pathways and learn to use placement of objects and furniture to allow the flow of Chi/energy.

Assessing Energy Blocks: How do we arrange our lives to adjust to changes or conflicts in our environment? One of the first things we need to do is to become mindful of what is out of alignment, and what in our lives might be causing that misalignment. We can either pay attention to what is going on inside of us (our emotions, moods, thoughts, intuition, instincts, dreams) or we can observe what is going on in our environment. If our inner voices are not providing us with any clear information, it's time to look around us. Some of us who are highly intuitive or empathic, rely a great deal on those inner signals for information. When the signals aren't giving us information, that is a signal in itself. The message may be to look at the world we are living in. That world includes your immediate environment, your lifestyle, the neighborhood or community, and the wider world situations. During this past year that wider world has included some pretty disturbing events. Since we are so connected via technology, we are aware of so much more than our ancestors were. We are called upon to respond to many different types of situations and crises--many more than we are equipped to handle.

In looking at the outer influences that are affecting you, notice how your own schedule and lifestyle are in balance or not. Notice if you are being pulled into energy outside your own home or workplace, and if so , are you perhaps overwhelmed? Notice how much time and energy you spend each day connected to electronic media including television, the internet, or some other electronic device. Does your cell phone sit on your bed stand lighting up throughout the night, disturbing your sleep cycle? Are you drawn into political, religious, or personal battles where you do not necessarily belong?  Think of all the places your energy (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual) might be trapped where it does not belong. Think about those people you care about whose burdens you are carrying unnecessarily.  Helping our family and friends and neighbors can be good; carrying the burdens they are meant to handle themselves is not. Being compassionate and caring needs to inlcude a healthy dose of self care. We cannot help others if we are depleted of energy ourselves. Notice where in your life you feel in balance, and where you do not.

 While you're at it, write down the inner observations and the outer ones. I noticed for example, about 2 months ago, a dream that was an indicator or what was to come. I dreamed of being shown into a house, "my new home" by a friend. At first, in the dream, I hesitated, but when I walked in, I recognized that I indeed had walked right into my right and perfect home." This was before I  knew I would be moving, but it was a piece of information that help ease my mind and helped me discern what the right decision was. One of the problems we often have when our lives start 'falling apart' or when we start feeling restless and uneasy, is that the signals tell us we need to change, but we're uncertain (another normal feeling and one the is in fact a natural law) and when we're uncertain, we often doubt ourselves. This is also a good time to listen to trusted friends--those who are not as attached to the places where your energy and vision might be clouded. Look to signs that what was once tolerable, is becoming less so. This too is a sign that change is afoot. Things fall apart. Parts of life become unmanageable. Stuff stops working, Old patterns and habits, no longer fit the bill.


Start to Identify the Blocks, Challenges, and Dark Holes: After an initial assessment of how we are using our energy and where our energy may be draining us or blocking our way, we can go to the next step. Begin identifying what is not working. What is blocking you? What challenges are you facing or coping with? Where is energy draining you of time, resources, purpose and meaning, or pleasure and fulfillment? I'm a list maker, so it helps me to write things down. You might work out your inner issues through art or find your answers or clarity during long walks or exercise. You may need a getaway to get some perspective, or you may simply need to vary your routine. Try whatever works for you to break up the energy patterns that are adding to your stress or burdens.

When I did this, I knew that physically, I could not do all the moving myself.  That was the truth of my situation. As one used to doing things myself, I was not in a position to continue doing that. I needed help. That was the bad news. My family and friends offered their assistance. That was the good news.  As Gerald May, called it, the gifts in the garbage. Knowing what I needed in the way of help and then being clear about what to ask of whom was a crucial part of asking for help. First I went to those I knew who were capable of helping me organize. While I usually do the organizing, I needed to delegate a part of this. I needed someone who was willing to be the reflective mirror and to help me form a clear picture of what needed to be done. I went to a couple of friends who helped me do this. And I listened to what people offered me and what their own needs and limitations were.
Then as all these ideas and advice and information was floating around in my head, in emails, texts, and messages, I felt overwhelmed. Another natural step in the disintegrating and re-imagining process.

With my head full of too many ideas, I did what I know how to do. I sat down and made a written plan. Step by step, I laid out what I needed to do between now and the day I moved to get to the end of the process. And then I began outlining tasks and steps that needed doing, and then fitting people into places where they had said they could help doing things they had told me they were capable of doing. It took me a while, but after gathering all the information from all the family and friends, I had a tentative plan. I sat with the plan for a while, made adjustments, and then sent it out to everyone. if any adjustments needed to take place, I would hear about it. And then I set about tackling what was right in front of me.

When lay out a plan, and break the plan down into steps and stages, we can then start working away at one thing at a time. I kept hearing the voices of my mentors saying, "do it in littles", "one small step at a time", and "deal with what is the next best thing to do".  Taking time to plot things out helps, but that's not all.

Accept that Change is Disturbing. The process of breaking down your life, taking your home apart, and preparing for a major change is disturbing. It affects all of you. Your appetite, your sleep and rest, your physical body and of course it affects your stress levels. Your body's fight or flight responses kick in, and the cortisol and adrenaline pump. To intentionally work on meeting the disturbances with calming, soothing, and healing practices, helps. Setting a routne in place to take breaks, get rest, get away from the messiness, and to find places of peace...those tiny pockets of time when we can simply breathe and take a time out.  I made a practice of leaving the house about midday or early afternoon. I'd go out for a walk, and meet up with a friend or go to someone's home. Sitting in a friend's home having a cup of tea or a meal helped tremendously. It allowed me to immerse myself in a space where a good friend (always good Chi) and I connected and it gave me the calming environment I needed...a reminder that my home would also come together again. I would find that place of peace again.

Today I walked into the office of my real estate agent. From the moment I opened the door, I was struck by the beautiful, welcoming, elegant decor. The floor was covered with what appeared to be tapestries. They were just throw rugs on top of carpet, but they were laid out elegantly. Everything was arranged in such a welcoming, warm, and elegant way. I felt a sense of peace. And the way I was greeted was part of that. Connecting with people who are gracious and kind and who make difficult processes more bearable---well that is the key for me to how energy that is frenetic and chaotic finds the calming influences it needs for me to settle down, relax, and let myself into the flow of the process of moving.

What has been the greatest Feng Shui energy release, has indeed been the people in my life. My own family, friends, and all the people who I have had to deal with. The gals at my bank, my favorite checkers at the market, clerks in stores I'd never met, and even the police officer who stopped me the other night. No ticket, just some helpful advice about my lights. How often does that happen? Sipping tea and talking with friends, being the recipient of wonderful gifts of time, energy, and resources, and yes, even the physical pain and limitations, brings me to a point of surrender.  To acknowledging that energy flows in the direction where it is meant to, not in the direciton it has been. We can flow with change when we stop worrying about 'getting it right' or working against ourselves. We can tap into the flow when we acknowledge what we need and what others are offering us. Feng Shi isn't just about moving furniture around or hanging crystals and mirrors to attract or deflect energy. Feng Shui is about our energy and how we share, connect, and support ourselvs and one another.

We each have our own gifts for coping with crisis and disintegration. What is key is remembering that things falling apart is part and parcel with making room for growth and abundance. One makes way for the other. And so as I spend the witching hour once again awake and writing, I wish you peace amid any storms you are facing. When pushed too far or feeling overwhelmed, remember it's alright not to do a thing. Sometimes we wait for permission or a sign. Other times we find we simply have to trust that the answer to what the next best thing to do is right there within us. In that palce of peace and calm where you remember who you are and what you are capable of . Trust, surrender to the guiding force of Life, and keep moving in the dirction the river is flowing. And when in doubt or when under extreme stress, remember George Kastanza's father's prayer, Serenity Now! Serenity Now!

Clean Sweep on the New Moon

Sunrise in Sausalito                                                               Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

Finding ways to make organizing and keeping our homes, offices, and studios in some kind of workable order requires using the imagination.  By making weird and non-linear kinds of connections between what we have to do and what is going on in the Universe, we can make life a lot more fun at the very least. Personally, I love to follow the Moon's phases. Every night it's a different story. Yesterday was the New Moon phase in Scorpio. That means we are at the beginning of a new lunar month. We are also at the beginning of a new year according to a lot of cultures. Now is definitely time to spend some time getting ready for a new season of life.

We are right in the middle of the Christian holy days of All Souls Day, All Hallows Eve (Halloween), and All Saints Day. Today is Samhaim, the Celtic New Year in the North; Beltane in the South. Between now and January there are at least 19 different holy days celebrated throughout the world. Diwali, the festival of light also comes at this time of the year. While we're probably not going to celebrate all the sacred days, we might want to take some time to spruce our homes up just a bit.

New Moon energy is an infusion of Chi that is coming to you. New moons wax and grow in intensity. What is coming towards you at this time? Prepare to receive a renewed flow of energy.

Entryway: When we cross a threshold or turn a corner in our lives, we move from one frame of mind to another. As the New Moon marks the beginning of a new month and year, we want to look at the entryway of our own homes. One simple little thing you can do is to sweep off and clean up the area around your entryway, inside and out. Sweeping, a practice Feng Shui experts say we ought to do daily, is one very simple yet dramatic way we can clear energy in our homes. Clean up the entrance, remove any unnecessary items (get rid of dead or dying plants), rearrange the mud porch to fit the seasonal changes, and freshen up the look of this whole area.  What we see going in and out of our homes is crucial to our frame of mind. The entryway also reflects our personal health and well being. For greater abundance, improved health and well being, and for a greater flow of energy, clean the entryway and keep it clear, well organized, and inviting. This also extends to the gate to your yard or the stairway or hallway leading into your home. Clear the energy flow for what comes your way right now. Avoid lining shoes up right by the front door. This tends to indicate your abundance is walking out. Find a place away from the door if possible, or put the shoes in a cupboard or on a shelf instead.

Kitchen:  Time to clean out the fridge. Get rid of all food, beverages, and condiments that are past their expiration date. You'll recognize them because many of them have already changed form or emit a disgusting odor.  Toss and clean out the fridge, inside and out. Sweep the floor, clean the drains, counter tops, and stove top.  In Feng Shui the kitchen represents the family's abundance. That being the case, we want to take care of the room we prepare and store our food. Go through the pantry and toss old, past their prime packages and cans of food. It's also a good time to sort through kitchen drawers and cupboards to get rid of items you do not use or need.  Old dishes, cups, glasses, silverware, cookware, and the like.  Make certain the cookware and other utensils you use are made of non-toxic materials. If they're not, toss them.  What goes into your mouth or is used to prepare your food, makes its way into your system. Honor that by using good equipment. If you're on a budget, and who isn't, head to Goodwill or a local thrift shop. I've gotten some really good cookware this way.  Also discount stores like Marshalls  often have reasonably priced, high quality cookware. Avoid hanging onto old skillets that have wonky handles or scratched up surfaces, just because it hasn't completely fallen apart yet.  Recycle and get decent cookware.

Light:  The time changes just took place, and we are moving into the time of the year when days grow shorter and shorter and darkness prevails.  "Put some light on the subject" is what my Mother would say as she went around the house switching lights on. At the time I didn't understand, but here in the North and with my vision not as great as it once was, light becomes a crucial part of living in balance.  It's time to do what you can to add more light to your environment. If you can use full spectrum lighting, that's great as it is much better for you.  In any event, add more lighting to each room. Along with lighting comes removing obstacles from your path.  Good Feng Shui includes clear and open channels of energy in all the pathways in the house. If you use candles, use them carefully. An alternative to real candles are the battery-operated candles. They give off a warm glow and provide some extra light. Use dimmer switches to adjust the levels of light for different times of the day.


Overall Clearing: Feng Shui is about aligning all aspects of ourselves, the physical and the spiritual, our behavior with our beliefs, our thoughts and words with our actions.  The New Moon in Scorpio focuses our attention on that which is motivating us on  deep subconscious and unconscious levels. Look at your home, your work space, and other important areas of your life, and determine what their condition reflects of your own inner health and well being. How does the junk piled up in the corner, or on your desk say about your overall health? What does the sink full of dishes or the unreturned library books say about balance and harmony in your life? How do the unreturned phone calls or letters or the stack of unpaid bills say about flow and abundance in your life? How are your feelings and emotion affected by outside influences? And how is your inner well being stuck or depressed? Look at things honestly, not as a form of self punishment but to see more clearly what is working and what is not.

Getting Unstuck:We all have times when life is more difficult than it is at other times. Energy or Chi, gets drained or trapped or stuck. And we do too. And sometimes we can't see a way out of a difficult or unsatisfying situation. We meet challenges and obstacles that simply confound us, and drain us of energy. One thing we can do during those times though is to take small steps in those areas where we can make change. Right now think of a place in the house that needs tending to.  For example, it might be the stove top.  Or it might be the top of your desk, or the counter in the kitchen.  Or the table or landing area by the door.  Right now, go take 5 minutes to do something about one of the areas that is bugging you.  Just 5 minutes. Set a timer if you must. Or if you honestly feel you don't have 5 minutes, take 2, or even 1. But do something. I'll be here when you get back.

Okay, I think that was about 5 minutes, and I managed to get several things done. The top of my stove is clean, the pot of leftovers from the chicken broth I made is strained, and now either down the drain or in the garbage. The silver candle holder has been polished (with toothpaste; it actually works well), and the filtered water is refilled.  One thing I have learned about energy is that way too much of ours gets used unnecessarily in worrying about something or of making mental excuses for not doing something. Granted we get involved in other things and don't take the little bit of time out to do some simple things. We all do that as well.  A couple of weeks ago, I was struggling with some editing I'm doing on a book I'm in the end stages with.  I knew I needed to take a break, but I wasn't doing it. All of a sudden I became obsessed with thoughts about 'what's under the sink?"  In the years I've lived here, I don't recall every doing a thorough clearing out. I just keep stuffing things in the cupboard. After a couple of days of having that on my mind, I knew it was time to take a look. Past time really. So I did. It took me no more than 5-10 minutes to clear out from under the kitchen sink and to rearrange things. I took the empty plastic tubs that I'd been storing and not using for three years, out to recycling. I did it right away  because otherwise I knew I'd store them somewhere else.

The key with moving energy, is to eliminate stuff as much as possible. Get it out of the house, and then get it to an end destination.  One of the problems we have in our physical life as well as our nonphysical life is we move energy around, but do not eliminate the source of the blocks. So by getting rid of 'stuff' that has no purpose in our physical world, we somehow unleash the energy that it takes up.  The same thing goes with our patterns of behavior and thoughts, but today I'm encouraging you to tackle the physical realm. Honestly, it does unleash energy in those other areas as well. Read my meditation blog if you're interested in finding out about behavioral and psychological traps and blocks.  Right now, let's remove some of the traps that are eating up energy in our homes.

Another thing I want to add, is I've found some easy, non-toxic ways to clean and clear. Toothpaste to clean silver.  Baking soda and vinegar to clean and clear drains.  Mrs. Meyers (no relation) cleaning products which are now available in my market, not only smell good but they also work well. Alcohol and newspaper to clean glass without leaving streaks. Baking soda, Dawn, and vinegar mixture to clean the oven (so happy to find this works). Do yourself a favor and find non-toxic ways to do your cleaning when you can.

The New Moon in Scorpio may bring some of the trash to the surface right now, because it has to be cleared out so we are open and ready to accept our good, the abundance, and flow of energy coming our way.  Clean up (yourself included, take a shower or bath), clean out, and organize your home, office, and life so that energy flows more freely. Clean the sheets, you'll rest better. Drink enough water, and eat healthy food. Slow down, and focus on the little things that you can do. The other big stuff will sort itself out as you become more energized, productive, and clear about what really matters. Have a beautiful week. Love to hear ways you find to help clear out the cobwebs for a clearer view of your life. Happy Halloween. Boo!

Changing with the Seasons: Energy Clearing Time

Reflections                                                                    Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

The Equinox (Autumnal in the North; Vernal in the South) has passed. The days grow shorter, the nights longer where I live, and the changes call for us to make adjustments to the way we live from day to day. Last night I got up to open the windows as it was unseasonably warm. Looking out to the East just before sunrise, I saw the waning crescent Moon hanging in the sky. Shortly after, the first light began to fill the day, bringing everything into brilliant, deep colors with dawn.

The lunar month is entering the period called the Dark of the Moon. It is the period of time just before the New Moon and the start of another lunar cycle. A new beginning that takes us further into the Autumn season.  The cooler, longer nights require some changes in the way we dress, our patterns of sleep and work, and in how we arrange our homes. The further north you live, the more extreme the changes. What are some to the changes we might make in the next few days to prepare ourselves for a new cycle? How can we energize ourselves for a new season? Where are the places in our lives where energy is stuck, stale, or blocked? How can we generate a positive flow of Chi (energy, life force)?

Getting Started.  Before you jump right in or run for the hills, take some time to notice what areas of your life are calling for attention. During the dark of the moon (the next few days before the New Moon in Libra on Friday), it's a good time to evaluate, assess, and ponder. Start where you are. By that I mean, don't do anything out of the ordinary to begin the process. Simply stop where you are right now, and notice. Notice your physical surroundings. And before you jump up to tackle the dishes or begin the laundry, I mean really notice how your surroundings feel to you. For example, recently I got a new bed, and since getting the bed, I have noticed how unpleasant it was for me to look out of my room into the messy bookcase in the corner of the living room. Each day for a week, it called for me to 'do something'. Without moving away from your cup of tea or coffee, I imagine you know which areas of your home need some kind of attention.  Jot down a short list of the areas. Pick 4-5, no more. You don't want to overwhelm yourself at the get go.

Do an Assessment. Next, do a little walk about.  Let yourself notice how the light is coming in the windows, and think about how the seasonal changes affect the different spaces in your home, office, or studio. On my walk about I notice the direct morning sunlight is about to disappear behind the slope of the hill behind my house. In a few more days, the sun will shine in the back of the house for only a few hours of the day until next Spring. Pay attention to the fluctuating temperatures over the next week or so, and remind yourself of what parts of the house need more heat and protection from the cold and damp. Also notice what items need to be stored or brought out of storage. Is it jacket or coat time yet? Where are your rain or snow boots and gear? Include your kitchen and pantry in the walk about. What foods are you less likely to be eating from now on, and what items do you need to stock up on for fall and winter? This is the time of the year I start making more soups. It's also time to pick apples and pears. Notice how your entry ways, mudrooms, or porches are organized. And also notice any areas that need fixing, cleaning, replacing, or clearing out.

You might also want to do a similar assessment of your own activities, goals, and life plans. What are you spending time doing, that you want to let go of? What would you like to do that you just haven't found time to do? What is feeding your soul? What is draining it? Include everything including the kinds of relationships you spend your time and energy in, the ways you use your free time, and the goals you've set (the ones you still want to do; the ones you are ready to let go). Look at your calendar or schedule, and see how much time you have allowed yourself for rest, exercise, recreation, sleep, service, quiet time, creative time, or time out in nature.  Assess how balanced your life is, and without judging yourself, consider what you might want to change.

Make a Plan. For most of us, our activities and work change as the seasons change. Some of us return to work, others begin on new phases of their work, while others are making plans for trips in the off season. Whatever your life looks like in the Autumn, this is a great time to get all those 'good ideas' down into some kind of written plan.  When we write down a plan of action, we relieve our minds of the pressure and stress of wondering what to do and when.

With chores related to organizing your home, office, studio, or yard/garden, select 4-5 tasks and determine their priority. Then guesstimate how long it would take to do each one. Then divide the task up and set time aside on your schedule to do the chore.  Some of us like to do the whole task, others like to pick away at it.  Whatever works for you, set a schedule to do it. It can be very simple. For example, I choose 10 minutes on Fridays to clean out my purse. And I choose one hour monthly to clean out the refrigerator.  I may do it more often, but I make a habit of doing it at least according to my plan.  And don't beat yourself up if you don't stick to the plan each time. Starting off with a plan, helps us establish some regular habits. Changing sheets on Sunday night, doing laundry on Mondays, or going produce shopping on Thursdays.  When it becomes part of your routine, it seems less stressful. And it clears your mind of the stress of wondering when chores are going to get done.

Doing It in Littles.

A wise woman once suggested to me that I do things in littles. Even big tasks are easier to tackle when I break down the big chore into little parts. If cleaning up the whole house is your goal, start small. First clear the area by the entryway. Then do the dishes and clear all the counters and surfaces in the house. Next pick things up off the floor and clear corners. This last trick (getting things off the floor) is a recent discovery for me. It's akin to clearing surfaces. All these suggestions free  up space and Chi/energy. Feng Shui principles are suggest that the kitchen is the hearth of the home, and it needs to be kept clear, clean, and free flowing. As hard as that might be, it is worth developing the habit of wiping off counters, clearing the sink of dishes, and of keeping the stove and refrigerator in good working order.

Whistle While You Work. How can we make the drudgery of housework less painful and exhausting? In the first place, at least for me, the thought attached to doing something I don't particularly enjoy is worse than the actual task itself. One thing to do, is when you think about a chore and wonder when you'll be able to make time to do it, take a few minutes to start. You might find that it takes a lot less time to simply do the work than to think about it all day.

Second, turn your attitude around. When you notice you're looking at an unpleasant task, find a way to make the task more pleasant. I use my dishwashing and pot scrubbing time into a meditative experience. I look out the kitchen window and watch the birds and trees and sky. I let the sunlight warm me as I wash away.  Put on music, if that pleases you, or sing or whistle (like Snow White does with the animals helping). I'm not guaranteeing that a bunch of mice or squirrels will show up to help you, but putting your energy into something more uplifting cannot hurt, and in fact, will lift your spirits and raise your vibration. Use chores for time to pray or talk to the Divine, or work out problems or time to memorize a poem or two. Stick a poem you want to memorize up on the wall in front of where you are working, and pretty soon you'll have it committed to memory. Learning languages can be helped along by labeling the household items in whatever language you are learning. And there's always the reward system. When you've finished a task, reward yourself with a cup of tea, a short walk, a nap, or time to chat with a friend.  We need to do what we can to free ourselves and our energy from fretting, stewing, and feeling overwhelmed about chores that need to be done.

Lighten Up.  Let go of the idea that everything has to be perfect and you have to be the one to make it so.  Lighten up.  Some of us are a little too obsessed with getting things done. Begin appreciating what you've already accomplished. Before you make your list of things to do, make a list of what you've gotten done. Or pick up an old to-do list, and mark off what you've already done. Give yourself credit for getting as much done as you have. Especially for those of us who live alone, run our own businesses, or for some reason, end up feeling responsible for all the housework, give yourself a break from having to do everything by yourself. I have a couple of friends who work full time, have families, and are not feeling well. In order for them to get healthier, they need more time for themselves to heal and rest. It's particularly important that when we're ill, injured, or recovering from some major life issue, that we don't over do.  Healing takes time and energy. Healing requires rest, exercise, and an easing up of stress. It's also a time when we need to get our priorities in order. Not everything is equally important. Got that? I'll repeat it in case you didn't get that this is essential to our health and well being. Not everything is equally important.

Ask for Help.You do not have to do everything yourself. Get help. Ask a friend to help you when she/he says, "Is there anything I can do to help?"  Let them take the recycling to the thrift shop or let them help you organize a closet or move a piece of furniture. Spend a little bit of money hiring someone to come in to do some heavy house cleaning once a month. By spending $30-40 for a couple of hours  you get some relief, and you help someone else earn their own living. For some people this is normal, but for many of us, we were raised or we convinced ourselves to think that we had to do it all. I've had to ask for help and get someone to come in to help me on several occasions in my life, and found it to be well worth any expense.

And if you have a family, they can help to. They may not do it as well as you do it, but they can help. You're teaching your own children and grandchildren to take responsibility along with other members of the family. Divide the chores up. There's no reason in this day and age that any one member of a family should be doing all the housework on top of everything else they do. Yes, I know, it's easier to use do it yourself, but you're really doing yourself and your children no favors in not expecting that they participate in keeping the home they live in in reasonable order.  Make it fun. Set a timer, and have a pizza party afterward. Do whatever works for you, but don't think you have to do it all by yourself.  And yes, I know it's hard to ask for help.  But I would imagine there are people you know that would like to be able to do something to help you out, if only you would put your pride down and ask.

Another way to lighten your load is to get rid of having too much stuff around. Rid your space of extra everything. Dishes and cookware you never use. Use your favorite dinnerware, or make plans to rotate it throughout the year. If you never use it, give it to someone who will. Get rid of things that are broken and beyond repair. Get rid of clothes and shoes that you don't use or need. Give away furniture that is just taking up space. You know how to declutter by now. After all we've been brainwashed to thinking that's the be all and the end all. It's not necessarily, but decluttering can help rid our lives energy that is trapped in unused, broken, or outworn things, ways of being and thinking, and of our mental, emotional, and psychological energy. Remember how good it feels to release that which no longer belongs in your life.  And this goes for the mental and emotional clutter as well. Have a good cry, get mad, make some grand gesture (break a plate or tear up a photo), and then move on. Life is too precious to waste wallowing in the pain of the past. You are too precious not to be waking up each day expecting to have a great day. Take time right now to figure out how you're going to enter this new season with a clear slate, open arms, and a semi-clean and clear office, home, car, studio, or desk.  The important thing is to be happy doing what you're doing, and doing what is purposeful and healthy for you. Enjoy the energy of transforming your life as you move forward into the changes ahead.

From a Different Angle

Arrangement                                                                                  Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

When wanting to change things up in life, it is often suggested that we look at something familiar from a different angle. Years ago I recall a suggestion to do this to get a different take on life in general. Sit on the floor to see how young children may be looking at things, or look at a view of the ocean by standing with your back to it and looking at the sea from between your legs---upside down. While this may seem like an odd thing to do, you certainly see the world from a different angle when you do.

When I was an overwhelmed young mother, my friend Lois and I would help each other get our homes in order. I'd go to her house and help her clean up or clear out things she'd been struggling with. At her house it was her sewing room. Her sewing room had been a nursery for two of her children who had died of Cystic Fibrosis. Her sewing room and dealing with her memories and grief, were very difficult for her. So I helped her by moving things around with her and listening to her talk about her lost lambs. She came to my house and helped me get down and dirty in the kitchen. We sat on my kitchen floor rearranging the lower shelves so they would be child-friendly, and we talked about the challenges of marriage, raising families, and being women with dreams in the 1970s.

Our homes, offices, and studios are our world. They are places where we spend a great deal of time. The longer we live in a home, or in fact, the longer we live, the more we have to deal with. We have more stuff. We have more memories. And we have more energy that need to be channeled. As much as we declutter, rearrange, or redo our homes and offices, the energy builds up in some areas that we haven't quite been able to deal with. And at certain times, we need a new approach, a new way to get a different angle on just what energy needs to be changed.

This week I had the very special gift of having a good friend help me look at my own home from a different angle. I had asked her to come by to give me her take on what I might change. I'd gotten to the point where I had run out of ideas. Her input, the input of someone whose own home was designed so artistically, meant I was willing to listen to her ideas. To see things through her eyes. It also meant I was willing to let someone see the areas of my home that I was struggling with most.

Before she came over, I had imagined we'd start with something simple like some ideas about how to rearrange the furniture or ideas for how to repurpose items to new uses. Perhaps she'd help me figure out how to use my office space better. What happened was something else.

As I have mentioned in the past, the art of Feng Shui is about energy. Our energy is tied up in all kinds of ways especially in our homes.  Those closets and drawers where we have stuffed things or those out-of-the-way corners and hiding places that are packed full of who-knows-what. All those spaces that are filled up with clutter or where piles and boxes of disorganized stuff sit, block the energy or the flow of Chi in our lives. Not just our homes but also our lives. Why is that? Because as long as a 'mess' remains, it takes up space in our minds and blocks the flow of energy. Whether or not you buy into this concept, allow that at the very least, we feel better when things are cleaned up and cleaned out.  That is energy and our relation to it.

Anyway, when my friend arrived in the mid-afternoon, we walked around and ended up in the office/studio. I had cleared off the top of my work table, but most of what had been on it now sat on my desk. Before we had a chance to go further, she asked me, "Where is the place you'd like to start?" Without thinking, I said, "Well, if you really want to know" at which point I pulled back the white curtain panel that serves as a door to my large walk in closet, "this is what is a constant issue for me. As many times as I've rearranged it, it still isn't working."  So that is where we started, and stayed for the remainder of the afternoon. She began asking me what things were and how they were used. The large closet, by the way, is the only closet in the entire apartment. It houses primarily supplies--office supplies, art supplies, photography supplies and equipment, and boxes and files of paperwork, letters, photographs, and lots of baskets.

Create a Focal Point of Beauty. The first thing she did was create a beautiful arrangement of some of my baskets on a top shelf of a book case beneath a window. Out of all the 'mess' that I saw, she spotted my beautiful assortment of baskets. She began by finding the beauty and creating a focus point to work around. I love this idea because it's like having the ice cream before the vegetables.

Make Room: Another step we took was to clear off all the shelves. As we cleared shelves, we were able to discover what needed to be tossed in the recycling bin, what needed to be donated or given to someone who would use it, and what had been hidden away and forgotten. I found a drawing that I'd stored away and forgotten, and with that I started a pile on my work table for items that needed to be reframed.

As we cleared all the shelf space, table tops, and closet shelves, we discussed how best to use the space. The high up space that I cannot reach, we decided would be used for items like blankets (stored in safety covers), boxes of files, boxes of decorations, and pieces of luggage.

Next we began designating certain spaces for certain elements of my work. There is a section for writing and mailing supplies. Another section houses the art supplies, and another houses photography supplies.


Let Form Fit Function. The next thing she did was ask me to suggest items that could be stored in the baskets. Baskets or open bins provide an accessible and easy to see way to store items you use regularly.  With a wooden cube that I had once used for a temporary table, my friend saw a step stool that would make it easier for me to reach the lower shelf of the closet space. It was placed so that it was both handy and out of the way.

 I have boxes of framing materials, and she took the frames out of the boxes and created room for me to store them so that I could see what I had. The spare glass was stored in a safe place, and a space was cleared on top of a table where the frames were displayed and where I could actually work on them. While I do most of my framing on a special high work table, this closet space gave me extra room to work on preliminary ideas. It also used the supplies as an arrangement...it looks beautiful in and of itself. She found a sign from an old art exhibit, and propped it up in front of the frames. Creating another focal point of beauty.

As one who is always finding beauty in the ordinary and simple, I had changed the way I was looking at this closet and its contents. No longer was I seeing the 'mess' of it all, but I found the elements of beauty that needed some care and attention.

Cleaning Up. We all know that when we do things one step at a time, big tasks are easier. Many of us however, get so involved in other things, that we let some areas of our life go. For me it's been THE CLOSET than has been draining the energy. As we sorted through and decided how to use the space, find places for what was in the closet, and took a lot of things out to be recycled or given away, we cleaned up as we went along. Using my Mrs. Meyers' all purpose cleaner, we washed off the frames, the surfaces, and later, we swept and washed the wooden floor. I shook out the rag rug I keep in the closet, and wiped down the window sills.

Recycle, Reuse, Remove.  The items that we removed from the closet, were set by the front door. I carried items for recycling down to the bin, and put a number of items in my car trunk to take to donate or get rid of. A good idea is to have a TO GO box by the front door. Another good idea is to take the box out regularly. Avoid letting the recycling pile up; that's another huge energy drain.

Establish New Routines. Many of us are really good at getting the major cleaning and clearing done on a semi-regular basis. However the trick to keeping the energy/Chi flowing is to build in routines in your life that keep the energy flowing. Making the bed first thing in the morning. Changing the linens at the same time weekly. Sweeping the floor daily, or vacuuming and dusting on some kind of regular cycle. Doing the dishes as you go along (especially important for those of us with no dishwashers).

Find a way to establish a routine that works for you.  I for example am a late-night gal. I do things in the middle of the night quite often because that is when I find myself most motivated. Dishes at one a.m., is better than facing a sink full in the morning. Changing sheets before going to bed assures a good night's sleep. A weekly cleaning out of my purse or the daily inspection of the refrigerator, is preferable to facing the giant science experiment there is to face if I  let cleaning out the refrigerator become less important than it should be. The refrigerator holds the foods we use to prepare our meals and feed and nourish ourselves.  Decide for yourself what wastes your time and energy.  Then look at the chore or space to determine how to use your energy better.

To help determine your routines, establish some priorities. Decide what is taking the most energy from your day. What is taking more time or causing you more distress, and then take a new look at how you might tackle the problem. It might mean you find a friend to help you see things with fresh eyes. It might mean you get someone to come in to do the big chores for you (cleaning outside windows, painting, gardening), or it may mean you eliminate what's not being used. For example, if there are a bunch of appliances in your kitchen, taking up space but not being used very often, change things. Either recycle the items or give them to someone who needs them, or find a new place to store the items. In my house there are items I use seasonally. Winter clothes go into storage by the beginning of summer. Items I used exclusively in the summer, are stored away until it's time to use them again.

Each of us has a time when we need to change our perspective. We each also have our own way of doing that reset. If you haven't figured that out yet, think of when you feel at your best, and then notice how you got there. Was it after a time out or by taking a day off from your normal routine? Was it by calling in help or was it by taking a break and rethinking and reimagining? Play around with this, and make it fun. Do what lifts your spirits, and try different ways of recharging your energy batteries. Look at the world from between your legs, upside down, and use your imagination or photographs from a magazine or a memory of a beautiful spot in a friend's house, and let yourself expand out beyond what has become familiar. Clear things out, make some room, create one focal point of beauty and work around that as you find a new angle to view your life and space. 

Feng Shui: Creating Space and Renewing Energy

Spring on the River                                                     Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

Creating space, renewing energy, and taking a fresh look at our lives, is something we often do at particular times. On breaks and holidays, just before or after a big project or event, or at times when we feel stuck or overwhelmed. The ancient Chinese system of Feng Shui is all about becoming more mindful and attentive to how we use and interact with energy--our own and the energy that flows in and around us. Aristotle once said, "Energy is the essence of life".  In Feng Shui, Chi is the word for universal energy that permeates everything around and within us. The practices of Feng Shui provide guidance for how to live in harmony with that energy. Energy is dynamic, and therefore is always changing. We can observe this in ourselves and in the world in which we live.

As humans we understand that we are always in the process of growing and changing. We do not stay permanently at any one stage of life, nor do we stop developing. The world keeps changing. The nature of the Universe in which we live is also dynamic...always in motion, moving through the different stages needed to maintain balance and stasis. We can use the principles and practices of Feng Shui to help create greater harmony in the journey of our life. One of the best ways to approach a good house clearing and cleaning is to start with an assessment. In the last article I suggested making note of those pockets of clutter or mess that were draining your energy just thinking about them. This week, notice the areas that need attention.

What needs clearing? Look around you right now. Notice where you are sitting, what surrounds you, and what catches your eye. Notice how you feel about the room or space you are in. Why are you where you are, and is the space itself meeting the needs you have? Look at the surfaces of tables, desks, counters, bookcases, and other pieces of furniture.

What needs cleaning? Notice where things are arranged in an attractive manner, and where things are piled up or messy. Look at window sills, floors, and appliance tops. What needs clearing and cleaning off? Look out your windows. When was the last time they were cleaned? We're now in Spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Autumn in the Southern, and the patterns and amount of light is changing. It's a good time to use what light there is to notice cobwebs, dust, mold, grime, or whatever has built up over the last season.

After doing an assessment of surfaces and external spaces, start opening some doors and drawers.

The Kitchen is considered the heart of the home. It is also where we prepare nourishment for ourselves and our families. Feng Shui considers the kitchen paramount in attracting good Chi into our lives. Where do we begin?

Refrigerator. Open the doors of the refrigerator, and note what the condition of it is. Make a habit of scanning the fridge, each time you open it, for something that needs to be thrown out or cleaned up. Rather that letting the fridge mess build up to crisis level, Depth Con 10, deal with it in littles. Each day do one thing to maintain the refrigerator as a clean, well-organized space to store foods and beverages. Right now go into the refrigerator and remove 2-3 items that have overstayed their welcome. I'm gong to do it too. Be right back. Okay, that took me less than a minute. In one minute I removed a number of small items that needed to go. Next step is to get them into the garbage or compost or wherever it is they can be properly disposed of. Make it a habit of doing this daily. One minute is not too much for most of us. If you find it is, you need to do it more often.

Stove. We prepare meals on our stove, and it is the stove in Feng Shui that helps generate energy. One rule of thumb is to use the stove. Use all the burners. The more you use the stove, the more energy you generate and release into movement in all areas of your life. Keep the stove clean inside and out. Use non-toxic cleaners. Mrs. Meyers all purpose cleaner is good. For the oven, use a mixture of baking soda, vinegar, and Dawn detergent. Mix it up into a paste, spread it over the surfaces of the oven, and leave it overnight. The next day wipe the mixture off, and clean the surfaces with a wet cloth to remove any residue. You may need to use a scouring brush for any hard to remove spots, but generally, this works very well.

Pantries, Cupboards, Draweres. Look inside your cupboards and observe their present condition. Take another minute to go through the pantry, shelves, or drawers to remove anything that you never use, is past the expiration date (spices have a limited shelf life), or is something you really don't like. Give things away to the local food bank, and clear space removing whatever you don't want or need. Do the same thing with dishes, cookware, eating utensils, or gadgets and appliances. How often if ever do you use that dish drainer that's been under the sink for a year? Get rid of things you're not using or don't need. Give it to a thrift shop or to someone you know is looking for an item. I love hearing that someone needs something that I have that I never use or don't want. Give things away. All that you release, releases energy and creates more space. And if you're iffy about something, set up an out box by the front door, and think about giving it away for a week. Then decide.

Today, we're not going to deal with closets and bureaus, but if you want, give yourself about 5-10 minutes to clear out just one small space. A drawer, a shelf, or a surface. Clear it completely of whatever is in or on it. Clean the space and then look at the items you've taken out. Toss what you don't use, or is empty (how many empty lipstick tubes or medicine vials does one person really need?). When you want to take a break, get up from sedentary work, or just add some more steps to your day, take the trash and recycling out. Go clean out a drawer, or wipe down one shelf in the fridge. Again, the point is to do things in little pieces, little steps.

Make Organizing with Feng Shui a daily practice. Make your clearing and clearning and sorting and rearranging practices a part of your meditative practice. Honestly, I have to do this with the dishes. I slow my pace, get more mindful, gaze out the window and lo and behold, I'm rewarded. The chickens up the street are out for a walk. An eagle is soaring on an air current outside my window, the Big Dipper is visible in the night sky. Slow down your pace, make what you're doing to keep your house cleared out, cleaned up, and organized, a part of the way you live.

Become more mindful of what works in your home and what doesn't. Remember those spaces I asked you to notice last week, the ones that were always calling you, draining your mental energy? Yes those. That closet or work table or the shoes by the front door. Those. Go do something with one of those spaces right now. If nothing else, clear the whole space off or out and put all the contents in a bag or box to sort through later. Wipe the space down. and just let it be for a while. Okay, I promised, I'm going to go do this right now. Let's see how long it takes?

Okay, that was maybe five minutes or less, and in that time I cleared off my work table, found two books I'd been needing, reshelved a few others, put photographs away, and moved my out box from my office to the front door area where it's much more likely to leave the house for its destination at Deja Vu (our local thriftshop).

Feng Shui is not about taking extraordinary measures; it's about viewing life as a flow of little tasks that move us to take larger steps, gain more energy to channel into more creative, productive, and useful projects. Get started, one minute at a time, to begin creating more space, releasing and moving more energy, and taking a new look at your life and the way you live. Make it more like what you want, less like something that just happened while you were busy doing something else. In the little bit of time I used during the writing of this article, I freed up more energy and feel better. My home looks better too, and now I'm going to rack up some more steps on my fitbit by taking out the trash and recycling...couple of trips up and down the stairs should do it. Happy organizing. Enjoy getting energized for a nice walk later on.

Straighten Up and Organize

In Reflection                                                                                Catherine Meyers

Welcome to Straighten Up and Organize, my new home, office, and studio guide for organizing. Using the principles of Feng Shui and years of experience learning how to control the chaos of running a home business in the midst of living a busy life, I will write about simple and easy ways to manage the practice of making our lives more manageable. Each week I will write about different aspects of how to cope with those out-of-control piles of clutter, overwhelming cleaning jobs, or closets, drawers, and storage units that are bursting at the seams. One of the main reasons I am doing this column again, is because it helps me keep my own life in greater balance. Another reason is because I know I'm not the only one who needs a little encouragement for living a life that is both pleasing and harmonious while maintaining a creative and happy life. We can do it. So let's get started.

This week I have chosen the them of reflection. Take some time over the next few days to reflect on what your life looks like right now. Without hurrying to fix things, simply slow down a bit and notice what is calling for attention. Even before you do a self-guided tour of your home, office or studio, think about the spaces that are draining your energy right now. From where you're sitting, that's right, don't get up. Just remind yourself of what you walk by repeatedly that calls out to you each time. For months I felt the call of the top of my refrigerator. I got myself a step ladder, and still did not answer. Finally one day, I set up the step ladder, climbed aboard, and took a look at what I needed to deal with. In no time at all, and much less fuss than I had anticipated, the top of my fridge was in great shape. So now, make a short list of those places that have been calling you. Just make the list, don't rush off to fix them now.

After completing your list, reflect some more about how your home or office is arranged to serve its purpose. Think about your kitchen counters, for example, or your desk. Is it set up so that it meets your needs? What do you need more or less of in the spaces that need attention? Where is the clutter in your house? In closets or on surfaces? Under beds or behind doors? Make another short list (5 items or less) of what you biggest problem areas are. We want to take small bites so that we don't wear ourselves out before we even get part way into our organizing process. 

Now we have a list of areas that are calling you and 5 problem areas that you feel need to be dealt with. Next take the next 10 minutes to do two things. First, clear off the surfaces in one or two rooms. If you live in a small space, clear off all the surfaces. And put the things on the surfaces in a box or sack. Don't put them back right away. Second, go to your closets and cupboards and find 10 items that you are no longer wearing or using, and put them in a bag or box to recycle.  The box or bag will become your GO box. When you've filled it up, put it somewhere near the door you use when you leave the house. 

Finally, take a look at your lists and prioritize them. For some people, starting with the smallest tasks first is the way to go. For others of us, starting with the biggest jobs works better. Do what suits you. For example, the fridge may be the one thing that gets most out of control so it may give you the biggest boost to do tackle cleaning the fridge out first. Go back to the surfaces you've just cleared and give each one a nice cleaning. For wood, use a nice, good-smelling furniture polish or oil to clean. For glass tops, I use alcohol and newspapers to get a clear, streak-free surface. For other surfaces, use something like Mrs. Meyers all purpose cleaner. Mrs. Meyers products have natural oils and are formulated to use aromatherapeutic scents to clean your home. Doing this few things over the next few days will set you on the road to straightening up and will help you get ready to organize your home, office, and studio or workshop. 

For an immediate infusion of energy into your home, open the windows, get out and pick a bouquet of flowers or herbs and place them on the table or in the kitchen. Make a big pot of iced tea or brew up a pot of tea and serve yourself in your finest cups. Take a few minutes every hour or so to mindfully take a deep breath, straighten up your body, and walk around in appreciation of what a good life you have. Enjoy your weekend and have fun reflecting on how you can begin to straighten up and organize for a more harmonious life.