Ever since I visited my brother and sister-in-law just before Labor Day weekend, I have been clearing out clutter, attempting to better organize my home space.
Their Southern California patio home is “living space goals” for me. My sister-in-law, a fine artist, is a master of efficiently using space and my brother is a natural neatnik. I am neither of those things, but I aspire, and I’m inspired! I’m also slightly overwhelmed by a decade’s worth of junk that I swore I’d never accumulate when I moved into my house. Although I’m not a hoarder by any stretch, letting go is not really my forte. I get emotionally attached to the memories associated with things, especially gifts.
We often associate cleaning with Spring, but Autumn models it for us, the letting go part anyway. I like to think of the trees releasing in a blaze of glory, showing off their magnificent leaves, then swiftly dropping them before they decide they want to keep them. Suits my style. Since returning from Cali, I’ve been in a mad cleaning frenzy about once a week, clearing closets, cupboards and drawers quickly so I don’t have time to think too much about what’s there. As I said, I’m appalled at how much has accumulated.
All of this is, of course, a mirror of what needs to be tidied internally. As I do my inner work, I’m amazed at what has accumulated here as well. Just as I heal and release something, I discover another thing to work on. I guess that is the Universe’s plan. Let go, grow, let go, grow some more. Just like the trees. The trick is continually clearing the inner clutter so it doesn’t stack up so much that there is no room for spiritual growth. And, perhaps a bit more systematically than my home cleaning frenzy model.
I don’t think I’m alone here. When I work with others, I notice lots of stuck energy and where it’s lodged there is usually a connection to a past psychic wound, an unhelpful pattern or a misbelief. We are all like walking cluttered houses! And this energetic accumulation is often accompanied by uncomfortable body sensations, pain or even illness.
So, how can we de-clutter our energy body? There are lots of ways. I apologize for the shameless promotion, but I am going to teach some of them at the AWAKE Mindfulness Festival in Evergreen this weekend. But since not all of you can attend, I’ll share one here. I often use a body scan meditation, along with visualization and breath. The idea is to make some quiet time for yourself, sit or lie down where you can’t be disturbed, and slow your breathing. Mentally scan your body from head to toe or toe to head, noticing any pain, discomfort or places where it just feels “off.” Inhale, energetically sending breath into those places, and slowly exhale, inviting them to release.
This is not rocket science, but over time, the effects can be magical. As you continue to practice this technique, you may get pretty adept at intuiting the root of any discomfort (i.e., the old wound, pattern or misbelief). Once you find that root, you can visualize releasing your energetic connection to it and the body release often follows.
I’ve got lots more clearing to do to get my house where I want it, but I’ve set an intention so I trust it will happen over time. Once I reach my goal, I’ll be in maintenance mode, clearing out just as soon as I notice some accumulation. Exactly my plan for my inner self.
