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“Does it spark joy?” isn’t the only question

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Everybody’s tidying up, which is great.

People are talking about “Marie Kondo-ing” (which seems to be a verb now.)

You’re seeing this everywhere too, right? Not just all over social media, but in your inbox.

Marie Kondo’s message: “You can improve your life by keeping only those possessions that spark joy.”

Decluttering can bring a ton of fresh energy.

I know. I’ve been a fan of the practice for years, and have taught it to clients — it’s a life-changer. I’ve written about decluttering in its many aspects here, here, and here. [Read more…]

Surrounded by boxes. Decluttering happens.

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This week I’m moving house and I’m surrounded by boxes.

Moving day is this week! So much fun, so much change! So much decluttering!

I thought I’d look at where I was a year ago and share a post from then with you. Looks like I was thinking about decluttering then too.

Would you be surprised to see that you can apply the gift and magic of decluttering to more than just your things?

It can even apply to your brand.

Declutter your brand

Read on!

The Full Moon in Virgo — reason meets spirituality

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Every Full Moon is a culmination point

What have you created and completed since the last New Moon?

How have you manifested your creativity and your passion since the New Moon? The Full Moon is the time to celebrate what you have created, completed, and launched. It’s an auspicious moment to express gratitude for what has blossomed and borne fruit from the seeds you planted at the previous New Moon, make note of what is still left to do, and to set your intentions for the coming lunation.

Full Moon in Virgo — where reason meets spirituality

How does the nourishing healing spirit of this Full Moon show up for you?

Full Moon in Virgo

Thursday, March 5th
14º50′ Virgo
10:05 am Pacific
1:05 pm Eastern

The Virgo Full Moon is the last Full Moon before the Equinox. Virgo brings healing, nurturing, and organizing energy. Decluttering and spring cleaning starts to be a thing in the northern hemisphere around this time. I’m guessing that in the southern hemisphere the Virgo New Moon six months later (when you approach Spring) will bring the same impulse. Let me know if I’m right.

  • You may find yourself moved to declutter — the Virgo Full Moon is a great time for cleaning out closets and donating to a meaningful charity or friends-in-need. Go for it!

    In addition to recycling, or donating, though, I invite you to consider repurposing. Could that beautiful silk shirt that got stained be cut up and used in a quilt? Or those boots that are too old to wear could be made into planters!

  • Use the nurturing Virgo energy to take exquisite care of yourself, your business, and your loved ones. Complete what you started, get organized, and dive into the details. I always schedule my tax preparation in the two weeks following this Full Moon. Luckily I have an accountant that can handle receiving my numbers late in March!

  • Speaking of exquisite self-care, you may feel called to cleanse or purify in some way. Remember, this is the Full Moon where reason meets spirituality. Are you called to do something out of the ordinary for your beautiful body which is the vehicle of your consciousness? Or does it appear differently for you: Are you moved to release something in your business that just isn’t working out the way you’d planned? What is that loving voice in your heart whispering to you?

Suggestions for a Full Moon ritual

There’s a strong sense of freedom in this Full Moon.

  • Place something in your altar space to help you remember to cut the ties to what is holding you back. A broken piece of chain, a scissor, or a knife might do nicely.
  • Spend time in the light of the Moon, if you can. Write a gratitude list. And make note of your intentions. What will you complete? What will you release?
  • Celebrate! The Jewish festival of Purim, and the last of the Lunar New Year celebrations happen now. Join the fun or make some of your own.

Let me know how you go. What questions arise for you? Where is letting go easy? Where is it a challenge? Let’s talk in the comments.

Declutter your brand

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I talk about decluttering a lot, and teach it to my coaching clients

Usually it’s in the context of physical decluttering — that spiritual review of everything you have that helps you get real about what you keep, and helps you see the opening to release what no longer serves you. Physical decluttering is so healing to do once a season. Like this: Pick up every single thing you own, one room at a time (don’t forget your car, your garage, if you have these), look at it, and ask your true heart:

  • Is this something I use now?
  • Will I use it in the next three months?
  • Is it something I cherish?

And if the answer to all three questions is No, release that thing. Give it away, donate it or just throw it away. Create space. Here is one blogpost I’ve written on physical decluttering and here’s one more.
decluttered branding

Today I’m thinking about decluttering in a whole ‘nother way — decluttering your brand
Okay, wait. This will (probably) make sense (if it doesn’t I’m sorry, and thanks for helping me work through this). Let’s look.

What is your brand?

  • Your brand is how your message is received — what people think and feel when they think about you and your business
  • Your brand is how you align your actions with your values, and how you show up for your commitments
  • Your brand is who you are and how that informs everything you do in your business and your career

Are you thinking: “Okay I get it. But why and how would I declutter my brand?”

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One small step for today, one giant leap into the rest of your life!

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I’m off on a holiday retreat, a sacred month-long journey, and a writing break.

Propelled and inspired by the energy of the Cardinal Grand Cross and eclipse season, I am taking the crazy audacious step of an entire month away from work. I know I will be coming back spiritually recharged and ready for inspired action. Are you interested in getting help with your business, with defining and manifesting your passion, mission and purpose in everything you do? Are you feeling called to find out more about Astrology for Your Business? Send me an email, or fill out the form on the Share Your Magic page here on the website, and I will get back to you the last week in May.

By the magic of technology, I get to schedule these guest posts for you, one each week that I’m gone. Enjoy!

This is a guest post, by the beautiful Shân Watts. She lives in Australia, and I just love her work. She inspires and challenges me to be my very best self in her writings. She’s about to launch her eMagazine in May. Check out her website and blog here for more of her goodness! Oh, and she spells and punctuates as if she’s a product of British education (which I’ve left untouched).

 

Decluttering

We’ve all heard it said, time and time before that in order to lead your best life, you need to declutter — physically, spiritually and emotionally. If you’re anything like me, you read that stuff and nod your head in agreement.

packing-boxes

You know deep in your gut that this is truth and that you’d feel soooo much freer and you’d create soooo much more space in your life for good stuff to come in if you actually did it, but the truth is you’re overwhelmed by it all. You have no idea where to start!

I know exactly where you’re coming from. I think I’ve only ever really decluttered once in my life and that was when my daughter and I went on our epic adventure. In order to be able to travel, I had to sell my house and get rid of the majority of our possessions. Decluttering was unavoidable. When we finally settled down again we had a camp table, an esky and a couple of sleeping bags in a two bedroom flat. It didn’t take long for our stuff to accumulate again.

Twenty-one years later I still have a few boxes that I’ve carted from one State to another and at least six residences. I don’t even know what’s in them any more. After much reflection though, I know why I haven’t been ready to let them go, until now.

They represent one of the happiest, carefree times in my life. A time when I was surrounded by friends, I was in a loving relationship and had more than enough money to meet my needs. An intensely spiritual time when I was exploring my belief system and working out what my truth. It’s not surprising that I haven’t wanted to let go of the memories those boxes represent. 

The thing is, though, that regardless of whether the boxes are there or not, I still have the memories. By holding on to physical reminders, I’ve prevented other good stuff from flowing to me easily. These boxes cluttering up my life didn’t just take up space. They drained me of energy to do even the smallest things. They drained me of the energy it took to keep the rest of my space uncluttered. They drained me of my desire to keep the rest of my house physically and mentally in order. 

They drained me of my desire to beautify my space and work in a comfortable, creative environment and were actually a reflection of the way I felt about myself. Cluttered, scattered, disorganised. Full of dreams but unable to start because I literally couldn’t see my way forward because of all my emotional and physical clutter.

I’m a massive advocate of one small step at a time. My words for 2014 are ‘prosperity, self-love and fun’. I love gardening but hadn’t done any for so long because I kept telling myself I needed to declutter first before I could do anything I enjoyed. I’ve spent the past year or so cooped up in my house because I felt I had to get my business established first before I could go out and have fun, which is an essential component of self-care.

What right did I have to go out and have fun or pursue activities that fulfil my soul if I had clutter that I needed to be rid of?

This year, however, has been different. With my commitment to self-love, I’ve sworn to be gentler and easier on myself. I’ve also sworn to ensure I feel freer and less encumbered than at any time in the past. This year is the year I’ve begun working holistically towards my ideal life. As is my way, I’m doing it one step at a time.

This is what one step at a time looks like for me on a daily basis during the week:

  • Wake up and exercise for half an hour
  • Spend 20–30 minutes in the garden
  • Have breakfast while checking email (yes, I know that’s not ideal but I can’t be an angel all the time and the geek part of me justifies it as fun)
  • Divide my day into hourly segments. For each hour I spend working, I spend 15 minutes decluttering. It gets me out of my chair, moving around and creates waves of noticeable change which is incredibly satisfying.
  • Break around 5.30/6.00 to prepare dinner and take my daughter to work
  • Self-development in the form of study and focusing on tapping to create a more abundant mindset
  • Pick my daughter up from work and eat dinner together
  • Relax until bedtime when I do chakra work before falling asleep

In this way I’m working on self-love, decluttering, prosperity and fun every day. My day is full of variety and makes me feel nurtured and happy. 

On Wednesday nights I attend a Taiko drumming class which keeps me incredibly grounded and satisfies my yearning for rituals apart from the ones I create myself. When I need a change of scenery I take myself out to a local coffee shop or down to the river to work. When I feel the need to socialise I contact girlfriends to catch up with them after work, ring my mother or other friends I know who won’t be at work.

drumI no longer need the clutter of physical reminders around me to make me feel loved. I’m doing that for myself and it feels amazing. 

I’m wondering as a result, what is it that you need to let go of in your life that’s holding you back?

What represents clutter to you?

How can you get rid of it, one small step at a time?

It doesn’t matter how long it takes, what matters is that you start. Go on — make a start today! It will be one small step for today and one giant leap into the rest of your life!

I promise you, it will be worth every second.

What’s cluttering your life? How can you add more clear space? I’d love to know, please leave a comment!

 

shanheadshotShân wants just one thing in this world — to expand love throughout the Universe by empowering women, creative people and small business owners to manifest the lifestyle their spirit yearns for and empower others as a result. A heart-centred, gifted coach and mentor, she’s setting an example by creating her own ideal life on the beautiful far south coast of New South Wales, Australia. You can find her hanging out on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Google+ as well as on her blog.

Your relationship to things … A spiritual approach to decluttering

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My relationship to stuff — a year-long decluttering process

Deepening awareness

I have been on a decluttering journey since my birthday last year, and only have a few more closets and cupboards to go through. Of course I’m saving my clothes for last because I have the most resistance to trying everything on and asking these powerful questions:

  • Does this item serve me now?
  • Will I use / wear it again in the next few months?
  • Do I love it, does it have powerful meaning for me?

It’ll be worth it, I guess I’m saving the best for last!!

inspirationaltar2What I’m learning from the slow version of decluttering

Every single bit of space that gets opened up when I release something adds so much energy and flow, inside and out! In the last couple of months I added so much life to a corner of my front room / home office / studio by giving away a couple of pieces of furniture, which created the mental and physical space to make an inspiration altar that I use every day and look at as I work.

Check out this article from the archives for more about this sacred release work

I’d love for you to read more about decluttering as a spiritual practice and share what you have to think in the comments. I’m especially to eager to hear what it’s like if you’ve been in the decluttering energy for a while now—how is your experience deepening? Jump into the conversation on the original article.

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Gratitude Challenge week 52

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“The gratitude that we encounter helps us believe in the goodness of the world, and strengthens us thereby to do what’s good.” —Dr. Albert Schweitzer

I am so grateful!

What a beautiful year of gratitudes expressed and shared. Every single one of you has filled my heart with love and compassion and such deep gratitude.

heart

I’m so grateful for our deep connection and I’m excited about the new programs and offerings I’m putting together for you now. I’m starting a Year of Generosity and will be inviting you to join me in that crazy wonderful practice in the first January newsletter. Stay connected!

heartripples

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Gratitude challenge week 50

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“Forget injuries, never forget kindness.” Confucius

I am so grateful!

  • I am grateful that I began weekly sacred decluttering in November. It’s been 6 years since I’ve done this. And it feels like it may take a full year (how does one human being accumulate so much stuff?) to complete, but I love it. Today I did another shelf in my cavernous bathroom closet. I think this makes three weeks so far decluttering the bathroom, and I think it’ll take another two to complete it. And that’s the smallest room in my tiny place. Patience, this requires lots and lots of patience.
  • I am grateful for the energy I put into maintenance today. #1: Downloaded the new Mac OS (finally!), and now have a copy on each Mac.
  • I am grateful for maintenance action #2. Backed up both computers and installed a new automatic backup system (SuperDuper). Easy to use, has a great reputation, $28. Nice.
  • I am grateful for the way this decluttering changes my focus, changes the way I see things. Today I cleaned two keyboards and the TV remote with my lens cleaner. Clean keyboards! A clean remote! Years of finger grime removed!
  • I am grateful that my lens cleaner is made by me. I make it with a little bit of isopropyl alcohol and distilled water. Seems to clean the lenses on my glasses without messing up the coating.
  • I am grateful that I hemmed my new favorite yoga pants today. And they came out great!
  • I am grateful that I own a headlamp. Today I discovered handy headlamp use #39: making it easy to see the dark thread against the dark pants as I hemmed.
  • I am also grateful for use #38: grilling in the dark! On these short short days the headlamp extends my outdoor cooking hours.
  • I am grateful grateful grateful for the upcoming solstice. I for one am ready for the return of the light. Completely ready. Eager. Bring it, yo.
  • I am grateful for fourth dates and first kisses. 🙂
  • I am grateful for latkes. And sour cream. I can live the whole year sans sour cream, but then there’s latkes season. I have a plan for next year, to develop a recipe for beets and carrots latkes.
  • I am grateful for my DIY gift for this year: toothpowder. I love what I’ve made and I will probably never use toothpaste again. I made enough for gifts and some to sell!
  • And I’m very grateful for the reception the Magnolias West 2012 Completion and release workbook has received. This week, my loves, this is the week to sink into this working. To celebrate yourself for what you’ve accomplished and completed, to acknowledge what’s still left to complete.

I promise you, taking the time to do this completion work will remove the weeds and undergrowth from your path, so that your new start—the goals, visions, blessings and miracles you will bring to 2013—will germinate, root and flower beautifully for you.

How to use the workbook

There are five pages of questions with four questions on each page. Print out the workbook, if you like, or use your journal, to do this working. Four of the pages pose questions that relate to the four elements (Air, Fire, Water, Earth) and the fifth page has questions that reflect your most sacred and regal Spirit.

Don’t be afraid. Bring your light and open heart to this process. Answering the questions will be enlightening, and it may even be exhilarating and fun! You are where you are for a reason. You get just the lessons and challenges you need to bring your most loving self to everything you do. I celebrate you!

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Decluttering as spiritual practice—how to get unstuck

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From the archives: This post was originally published on May 12, 2011. Since it’s proved so popular, and since I’m in the midst of a fierce passionate round of decluttering myself, I thought I’d update this story and send it out again for those of you who might not have seen it yet.
—Love and light, Sue

What’s spiritual about decluttering, anyway?

Yes, decluttering as spiritual practice is a thing!

There’s a tangible relationship between decluttering and manifesting the life we desire. When we’re blocked by too much *stuff* we get stuck. Ideas and visions remain wishful and theoretical. We can’t see a clear path to what we want. We may not even be able to clearly define what we want, let alone go after it. Decluttering—cleaning up our act physically, mentally, and emotionally—frees us from those stuck places and helps us get into action.

Maybe you think clutter is just the physical things that pile up around us. It’s more than that. The *stuff* is simply the external, easy-to-see manifestation of how we’ve become cluttered in other areas of life.

What else can clutter look like?

  • projects and dreams swirling about in your head, unstarted or incomplete
  • tolerations in your life (a promotion promised and postponed, a leaky faucet, physical pain…)
  • unhealthy, unfulfilling relationships
  • addictive behaviors
  • victim thoughts and mental chaos

clutterClutter, in any of its manifestations, has a negative impact on our energy, our attitude and our effectiveness. Piled-up desks, closets full of clothes you don’t wear, an unsatisfying career, unopened mail and unpaid bills—all of these create blockages that keep us from living into our greatness.

In my personal practice and with my clients, I’ve seen amazing results from regular decluttering; it’s a delicious way to accelerate the change you want in your life. I have also found that releasing clutter is a powerful invitation to what’s needed. I don’t know if it’s true that nature abhors a vacuum (there are plenty of empty spaces in our universe, after all, and nature seems to be just fine with them). But .

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