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.