Witchvox Article

Author: Tess Whitehurst
Posted: September 6th. 2009
Times Viewed: 4,113

From the conventional perspective, nothing could seem more �mundane� than clutter clearing. But to me, it�s the most powerful of all magical acts. This is because the external mirrors the internal and the internal mirrors the external. In other words, your belongings and/or surroundings reflect very important aspects of your life experience. And so, from a magical perspective, when we let go of the old and make room for the new on a physical level, we are literally letting go of the old and making room for the new on every other level: spiritual, emotional, financial, etc.

When our closets hold only clothes that make us feel beautiful, we begin to feel beautiful. When our bookshelves hold only books we love and want to read again, we feel clear and open to new ideas and information. When we clear clutter, we are disrupting the negative cycles of our lives and creating positive ones. Everything begins to work better and feel easier. Letting go of what we don�t want also helps us to gain clarity on what we do want. And we create the space for it to appear.

And this is why I consider clutter clearing to be rule number one for magical practitioners: all the time, no matter what. And so, your clutter clearing habit, ideally, will span your entire magical life. But first: today!

From a magical perspective, everything you own is attached to you with a cord of energy. This is because you have a relationship with it. You have to do things for it like take care of it, clean it, make sure it�s in good repair, remember where it is, etc.

In my experience, the most effective way to tell if something is �clutter� or not is to tune into your energetic exchange with it. For example, let�s imagine you�re trying to decide if a hat (it was a gift from your mom) is clutter or not. In this case, I suggest that you hold the hat in your hand. Take some deep breaths and relax.

Then, just look at the hat. What thoughts/feelings/emotions come up? Perhaps you have good memories associated with it, because you wore it when you went on a cruise with your mother. Perhaps you have guilt associated with it because you never liked it and just held onto it because it was a gift.

Perhaps you and your ex-partner broke up while you were wearing it and you can only think about that day when you look at it. Perhaps you once liked it but you realize you�ll never wear it again because it�s no longer your style. Or, perhaps you feel purely positive when you look at it because you love everything about it.

Whatever feelings come up, notice them. Then decide: is this hat giving you positive energy or taking positive energy from you? (It�s usually one or the other because if your feelings about it are neutral, it�s probably taking energy from you because you have to take care of it even though you don�t love it and/or never wear it.)

Be aware also that any negative associations you have with the hat (guilt, bad memories, etc.) are most definitely lingering in your life somewhere in a non-physical form as well because�as we�ve seen�your internal environment mirrors your external environment and vice versa.

Consequently, letting go of the symbol of these feelings will automatically assist you in letting go of the feelings themselves, wherever they show up in your life. This is the magic of clutter clearing in action.

A lot of people have trouble letting go of clutter because they feel worried about �not having enough.� But be assured that when you let go of things you don�t like or that don�t give you positive energy, you�re creating the space for things you do like and that do give you positive energy.

Your are working magic, because you are making the conscious decision that you don�t want to carry around stagnant energy, outmoded ideas, and general negativity anymore, and this automatically gives the Universe the message that you are ready for happier and more abundant conditions. And they automatically flow into your life!

Also, it�s a very powerful thing to allow yourself to be comfortable during the in-between time. What I mean by that is, if you discover that almost everything in your closet makes you feel less than gorgeous, letting go of almost everything is very empowering! It reminds you that you are not your things, which is a very exhilarating, enlightening feeling! Sort of like those dreams when you suddenly realize that you�ve known how to fly all along but you just didn�t know you knew, and at first you worry that you might fall, but then suddenly you think, �this is so easy!�

When I cleared clutter in a major way for the first time, I lost ten pounds without trying within probably about two weeks. This is a good example of �internal mirroring external.� I lightened up on all levels! I also let go of most of my clothes, and within one month, my cousin Emily �just happened to� give me a bunch of brand new clothes that I loved and that fit me perfectly. (She was able to do this because she was in a band and designer clothing companies would give her tons of brand new clothes for free in the hopes that she would wear them during a show.)

Another energetic perk of letting go of things you don�t love and don�t need is this: what you give out returns to you exponentially. So when you donate perfectly good items to thrift stores (for example) , you�re releasing formerly stagnant energy, and transforming it into blessings for other people, and therefore activating plenty of blessings that flow back to you multiplied. It�s an infinite-win situation!

OK, so here are some things to remember when clearing clutter:

�Everywhere counts: closets, storage, your dad�s attic, the trunk of your car, etc. If it�s yours, it�s connected to you with a cord of energy. In other words, you can�t simply box up the clutter and put it in the attic for future generations to sift through. (Well, you can, but you�ll still be carrying around stagnant energy, and passing it onto your offspring.)

�Let go of pictures (even stored ones) that remind you of negative relationships or negative times. These symbolize the baggage related to these situations, and letting go of them will help you to stop harping on them, grieving over them, and/or re-creating them in your present.

�Don�t hang onto things out of guilt or obligation.

�If you haven�t worn or used something in over a year, it�s very likely time to let it go.

�Shred and recycle old paper clutter.

�Do you really need to hold onto a box of magazines because one day you �might� make a vision board? Is that really worth it? (It might be, just present yourself with the question.)

�About unfinished projects and broken things: are you going to finish or fix these things? Really? If not, let go of them. If so, do it now!

�Even if you love the pictures or doo-dads on your tables and mantle, are there too many of them to fully appreciate each one? If so, consider storing some and rotating them periodically so that you create a serene, energized feeling in the room rather than an overwhelming one.

�Donate books to the library if you honestly don�t think you�ll ever open them again. You�ll never read all the books in the world! Why hang onto one you�ve already read, or that you�ve never opened in all the years you�ve had it?

�Dust and grime are also forms of clutter, so keep your house clean!

�Remember that even a seemingly mundane chore can be a meditation, and a powerful act of magic. In other words, have fun while clearing if you can!

The bottom line is this: clearing clutter creates the space for us to live our dreams, work our magic, and manifest all the desires of our hearts.

Footnotes:
Kingston, Karen (1999) . Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui. Broadway Books.

Copyright: Tess Whitehurst

ABOUT...

Tess Whitehurst

Location: Venice, California

Website: www.tesswhitehurst.com

Author's Profile: To learn more about Tess Whitehurst - Click HERE

Bio: Tess Whitehurst is an intuitive counselor, feng shui consultant, columnist for Witches and Pagans magazine, and Llewellyn Author. (Her first book, Magical Housekeeping, comes out in June of 2010.) Please visit her at www.tesswhitehurst.com for more information or to sign up for her free monthly newsletter.

Other Articles: Tess Whitehurst has posted 2 additional articles- View them?

Other Listings: To view ALL of my listings: Click HERE

Email Tess Whitehurst... (Yes! I have opted to receive invites to Pagan events, groups, and commercial sales)

Home - TWV Logos - Email US - Privacy

News and Information

Chapters: Pagan/Heathen Basics - Pagan BOOKS - Traditions, Paths & Religions - Popular Pagan Holidays - TV & Movies - Cats of the Craft - Festival Reviews - Festival Tips - White Pages (Resources) - Issues/Concerns - West Memphis 3 - Witch Hunts - Pagan Protection Tips - Healing Planet Earth

Your Voices: Adult Essays - Young Pagan Essays - Pagan Perspectives (On Hold) - WitchWars: Fire in the Craft - Gay Pagan - Pagan Parenting - Military - Pagan Passages

Pagan Music: Pagan Musicians - Bardic Circle at WitchVox - Free Music from TWV

Vox Central: About TWV - Wren: Words, Wrants and Wramblings - Guest Rants - Past Surveys - A Quest for Unity

Weekly Updates: Click HERE for an index of our weekly updates for the past 6 years

W.O.T.W. - World-Wide Networking

Your Town: A Link to YOUR Area Page (The largest listing of Witches, Pagans, Heathens and Wiccans on the Planet)

VoxLinks: The Pagan Web: 8,000 Listings

Your Witchvox Account: Log in Now - Create New Account - Request New Password - Log in Problems

Personal Listings: Pagan Clergy in Your Town - Adult Pagans - Young Pagans - Military Pagans

Events: Circles, Gatherings, Workshops & Festivals

Covens/Groups/Orgs: Local Groups Main Page

Other LOCAL Resources: Local Shops - Regional Sites - Local Notices - Global/National Notices - Local Skills & Services - Local Egroups - Political Freedom Fighters

Pagan Shopping: Online Shops Index - Original Crafters Sites - Auction Sites - Pagan Wholesalers - Pagan Local Shops

Web Site Content (including: text - graphics - html - look & feel)
Copyright 1997-2013 The Witches' Voice Inc. All rights reserved
Note: Authors & Artists retain the copyright for their work(s) on this website.
Unauthorized reproduction without prior permission is a violation of copyright laws.

Website structure, evolution and php coding by Fritz Jung on a Macintosh G5.

Any and all personal political opinions expressed in the public listing sections (including, but not restricted to, personals, events, groups, shops, Wren’s Nest, etc.) are solely those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinion of The Witches’ Voice, Inc. TWV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan educational organization.

Sponsorship: Visit the Witches' Voice Sponsor Page for info on how you
can help support this Community Resource. Donations ARE Tax Deductible.
The Witches' Voice carries a 501(c)(3) certificate and a Federal Tax ID.

Mail Us: The Witches' Voice Inc., P.O. Box 341018, Tampa, Florida 33694-1018 U.S.A.

Witches, Pagans
of The World

Current Topic
Editorial Guide

NOTE: The essay on this page contains the writings and opinions of the listed author(s) and is not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Witches' Voice inc.

The Witches' Voice does not verify or attest to the historical accuracy contained in the content of this essay.

All WitchVox essays contain a valid email address, feel free to send your comments, thoughts or concerns directly to the listed author(s).