Stuff, Stuff, Stuff!!! Who doesn’t have at least one thing they cant live without? Whether it be your Starbucks latte in the morning that makes you 10 minutes late for work, or those Jimmy Choo shoes on sale at Sacks that you absolutely must have, or another little black dress to add to your collection of cocktail attire, we all have at least one piece of “STUFF” that
we hold onto for dear life!
If you’re anything like me, you have two or more. Come to think about it you may have 4 or more.
I’m talking here about the old pictures you hang onto and never look at that are in the garage, or worse under your bed, or how about the clothing from 1960 that you keep around for your grandchildren, the stuffed animals from childhood, the poetry from your former flames that reminds you of how hot you “used to be”, and all the Journals from 5th grade that are holding you in some form of adolescence, and wait what about all of those socks that have lost their mates, but you know that one day some day you will find the other pair, so you have a collection of onzees for an eternity. Not to mention your single status has been on place for just about as long.
In Feng Shui, the quality of your chi (life force energy) determines the quality of your life, which is determined by the quality of your….
ENVIRONMENTAL ANIMATION.
I’m not talking about the Bugs Bunny kind of animation folks!
Environmental animation is likened to really good Chi, like really good sushi vs. grocery quality.
Chi is everywhere and it’s not like you are ever at a loss. It’s just that some chi is more “animated” and some is.. well I hate to use this word, but DEAD!
When I walk into peoples homes, I can clearly see the quality of their chi in their living environments. Animated chi has an overall purpose and a lively joyful quality, wheres dead chi would rather be dead, pun definitely intended.
Here are some basic mathematical equations of Feng Shui that will help you in working through your Stuff.
* Stuff = energy
* Energy doesn’t always = stuff
* The more energy you have, the better you feel=all of the time!
* The more stuff you have, the better you feel=never, or short lived
* Things you love = Mucho Animation
* Things you don’t=DEAD ENERGY
Clutter =DEAD ENERGY
* More space=more energy=more opportunities, money, cool experiences, people, travel, rest,peace, well-being etc
* Less Space = More of the same
James Hillman, a great modern day psychologist contended that non-human objects also have souls. I know its hard to process that your Coach hand bag has a soul, or that your shag slippers your ex gave you have one too, but I’m not kidding you. I believe it was Thomas Moore who said that all objects contain a motor quality, which means they are running and some are running out of gas, so make sure you can tell the difference.
Caveat: For those people that have a more serious problem and have either classified themselves or been professionally diagnosed with “Hoarding”, then my Simple Clutter Busters Tips below may not be enough to support your healing and growth at this time. I have been in homes where the degree of stuff grows in proportion to a persons level of mental/emotional/physical and spiritual well-being and you may need more support.
Inessa Freylekhman is an international Feng Shui Practitioner, Relationship Coach and Teen Empowerment Trainer with an MA in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. She is currently earning a second MA in Counseling Psychology from the prestigious Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA.
For the last decade, Inessa has supported individuals, businesses and teenagers in creating empowered spaces for them to thrive in. She brings her intuition, empathic ability, coaching skills and Feng Shui training to spot trouble zones in people’s homes, businesses and lives and help to transform them into areas for greater growth, fulfillment, abundance and joy!
What makes Feng Shui from the Heart different than other schools of Feng Shui is that it focuses on "intention" and "intuition." Rather than having fixed compass directions, the individual becomes the compass for his/her own life co-creating their own reality as they design their environment with purpose.
Inessa was trained by Master Elnathan Batoon and has taken courses with Professor Lin Yun, an internationally recognized Feng Shui Master. Inessa has also studied clutter/space clearing with expert Karen Kingston in Bali, Indonesia.
Her work has appeared in LA Yoga Magazine and on the radio on KPFK, Star 98.7 the Public Affairs Show (in LA), as well KKNW 1150 AM (in Seattle) and on various other Internet Radio Talk Shows
Giving back to community is a priority for Feng Shui from the Heart. One of the main highlights of Inessa’s Feng Shui career was when she spearheaded a program at the Santa Monica Daybreak Shelter for mentally-ill women called, "Empowering Women One Room at a Time," where she combined Feng Shui art and coaching skills to show the woman how to deal co-creatively with their challenges and take dominion over their inner and outer environments.
Another recent highlight was an overnight holistic retreat for teens, called Time Out Retreat for Teens launched by Tammy Lelie of Time out Retreat and Kristen Kreuk from the hit show Smallville and her Company GBD (Girls by Design).
Time Out gave Inessa platform to launch her new workshop, "Feng Shui for Teens." The next Time Out Retreat is set for San Francisco this summer.
In addition to supporting people in achieving their professional goals, one of her favorite parts about what she does is to support woman and men in preparing for loving partnership from the inside out. She has successfully supported numerous woman and men release blocks from their home & heart and attract in their right partner.
Inessa recognizes that everyone's sense of "balance" is unique and honors each individual's expression as they fully step into their purpose and potential. It is her heartfelt intention to assist you in creating an empowered, inspired and joy filled home and life.