Why It's a Good Idea to Declutter Your Closets in Feng Shui

Guest User May 25, 2022

Have you ever wondered what your closets mean in feng shui? One way to look at this is to see where your closets fall in the feng shui bagua. The bagua is a mandala that we overlay on a space, with different areas that represent different parts of your life. If you lay the bagua on your home, take note of where your closets are. Pay extra attention to any closets that are the most cluttered or the most neglected, since these can represent issues that you may be hidden.

Depending on where your closet is located in the bagua, this can symbolize different things. For example, a cluttered closet in the Helpful People area might mean that there are helpful people in your life that you haven’t been aware of. A cluttered closet in your Abundance area could signify your wealth being hidden behind blocks. In your Partnership area, a neglected closet might mean that it’s been hard to find a relationship.

If you do have a closet that is cluttered or unused, it can be as simple as going through it and looking at what’s inside. If there are any areas you’re especially hesitant to go through, pay special attention to that. This can be an indication that there’s a block there that you could uncover. I invite you to look a little deeper at any neglected closets, and be curious about what it might represent. What area of the bagua does it relate to? Feng shui principles encourage us to look at areas in our homes that we normally neglect. Are you open to looking into the dark closets and starting to shift the energy in your home?

It’s also interesting to note how our modern society is so full. When we can let go of the things in our closets that we don’t need, our hearts and minds can also open and release unwanted things in our lives, like stress and harmful people. Clearing out your closet is one way to create space to invite in new energy. In feng shui, our goal is to let go of stagnant qi (life force energy) and let in fresh, healthy qi. If your closet is full, you will not have room for anything new. This applies both literally and metaphorically — you may have decluttered your closet and then noticed that you quickly fill it up with new things. A full closet may also mean that you have no room to grow and no space to accept new opportunities, friendships, or partnerships.

As you’re going through your closets, I would suggest setting aside a box for items that haven’t been worn in the last three years. You can donate these to organizations that collect used textiles and shoes. Even items that are no longer wearable can be recycled and made into something else.

I encourage you to open up your closets, let go of what you don’t need, and create space for the universe to bring something new and wonderful into your life!

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui Mistakes to Avoid, Part 2

Guest User September 12, 2021

What are the most common feng shui mistakes that you see?

I answered this question a couple of weeks ago in this blog post, but there are a few additional topics that I wanted to cover. Here are three more common feng shui mistakes to look out for:

First, avoid keeping gifts that you don’t want anymore. If you don’t love it, and it isn’t adding anything to your home, give it away so that someone else can enjoy it. While clutter isn’t always a bad thing, keeping items that you don’t love can create extra work for you in the form of cleaning, and can even create feelings of stuckness.

Second, I notice that a lot of people hold onto clothing that no longer fits, hoping that they’ll fit into it someday. First, seeing these items can be a source of guilt as you are getting dressed. In addition, a full closet means that you have no room for new things, both literally and metaphorically. To invite in new energy and opportunities, create space by donating any items in your closet that don’t fit you anymore.

Lastly, a lot of people store things under the bed that don’t need to be there. Ideally, it’s best to have nothing under your bed, so that qi can flow freely around you as you sleep. If you need to use the space under your bed for storage, stick to soft, relaxing items like extra pillows and bed linens. Be sure to avoid storing sharp objects here, as well as anything emotionally charged, like items from an ex!

As you’re noticing feng shui “mistakes” in your home, remember to approach them with curiosity and compassion, rather than fear. If you do feel like you are in “fear shui” mode, I would encourage you to work one-on-one with a consultant!

by Anjie Cho

If you’d like to learn more about feng shui, check out Mindful Design Feng Shui School at: www.mindfuldesignschool.com

Q&A Sunday: Feng Shui and Closets

Guest User July 19, 2021

What does a closet symbolize in feng shui?

There’s a lot of information you can learn from your closets. One way to look at the symbolism of a closet is to see where it is located according to the feng shui bagua. In case you’re not familiar with the bagua, it’s a three-by-three grid that lays out different areas of your home that are connected to different life aspects. If you know how to lay the bagua on your home, it can be interesting to see where the closets end up. If you’re not sure how to lay the bagua, you might want to download Mindful Design’s free bagua kit, or sign up for an upcoming session of Practical Feng Shui to get a mini feng shui consultation.

You’ll also want to notice which closets are cluttered or unused. Sometimes people have closets that they never open, or closets that they just throw a lot of things into. Closets can represent hidden or unacknowledged issues in your life. May you have a closet you’re afraid to open because you need to go through it. There might be a lot of emotional baggage connected to that closet, and it might be interesting to see which area of the bagua map it aligns with.

For instance, an unused closet in the benefactors area may represent helpful people that you’ve had in your life all along but have not yet tapped into or recognized. Noticing a closet in this area might just be a nudge to look a little more closely, and open the door that has been there all the time. It may simply mean you have to ask for more support.

A cluttered closet in your wealth or abundance area might mean that your wealth is tied up or buried under personal issues or blocks. If you have a closet in the career area, maybe there’s a path that you have not yet seen in your career. Are you open to seeing a different direction for your career or life?

I invite you to take a look at any cluttered or unused closets in your home, and get curious about what they might be telling you!

by Anjie Cho