“Added up, objects become clutter. Clutter becomes noise. And noise—in all of its forms—blocks spiritual growth, starting with an inability to simply feel happy. Happiness needs quiet.”–Geri Larkin.
I’ve always maintained that clutter clearing is way bigger than picking up after ourselves or moving unloved and unwanted possessions out of the house.
At its core, clearing is a spiritual practice of lightening up and letting go.
Most people don’t see it that way because their focus is on the problem – the stuff – not on their relationship to that stuff.
As in clinging.
What most clearing efforts overlook is one key ingredient that takes clearing to a whole new level. It’s called awareness.
Awareness means entering into the clearing experience as a witnessing presence. It means inviting your senses to inform you and allow potential resistance and physical discomfort to arise without judging it.
Awareness is a game changer.
When you insert pure compassionate awareness into any clearing task, big or small, you unlock and release patterns that have been stuck for a long time. It doesn’t matter if you’re clearing a paper clip off a chronically messy desk or moving the entire collection of National Geographics out of the attic. The practice of clearing stuck energy is exactly the same. The more you practice moving one thing or one pile every day, the easier it gets and the lighter you feel.
It’s not everyday that I see a book or an article by someone who makes the same case as I have for years about clearing as a spiritual practice. So when this piece by Geri Larkin came across my desk, I had to share my favorite bits. Enjoy!
“… We have to let go of our stuff. But we don’t, or at least we don’t want to. This is a serious spiritual issue, this clinging. We may be able to give up lovers, Facebook friends . . . even our waistlines, but do not, do not, ask us to give up the three photographs taken of us in 1996 when we looked like Kate Moss on a good day. The trouble is, these things we surround ourselves with can start to drive everything else in our lives. Our technology requires updates. Our works of art demand insurance policies. We need new shelves to hold our growing collection of vegan cookbooks—who knew there were so many good ones out there?
Added up, objects become clutter. Clutter becomes noise. And noise—in all of its forms—blocks spiritual growth, starting with an inability to simply feel happy. Happiness needs quiet. If we watch, we’ll feel its presence when we are meditating, watching the sun set, or maybe rocking the almost sleeping baby. The more noise, the harder it is for happiness to show her face…
… It’s just stuff. The happiest person I have ever known was an elderly monk living up in the mountains of Korea. Everything he owned was in his room: robes, a tea set, a futon, a hat, tea, his sandals. Not only was he deliriously happy, giving off waves of giddy energy, but his room was incredibly beautiful in its simplicity. He allowed sunlight, and moonlight, to act as artists’ brushes, emphasizing one corner now, the tea set later, the sandals another time. We can do this letting go. We can start small, giving up one thing at a time. Maybe we can take a cup of coffee to the homeless man on the corner, leaving the coffee cup behind as a gift. Or we can put something in a grocery bag to drop off at a charity on our way to buy this week’s food. The trick is to simply start.”
–Excerpted from “Close to the Ground: Just Stuff” by Geri Larkin, Spirituality & Health Magazine.
p.s. If you found this message helpful, please forward it to someone else (or share, like, tweet, pin… ) and let’s build the clearing energy together that will help to lighten all of our loads!
Art credit: Catherine Nolin
I was just contemplating this morning the reasons why I feel the need to stay organized and clutter free. I wondered if I’m abnormal because most people I know live in a very chaotic, cluttered and dusty home and seem content enough, right?? I wondered if I’m obsessive or just practical. I think my questions this morning were triggered by a comment my mother made about my brother and I. My mother who is generally a slob would often comment that my brother and I were OCD neat freaks and of course, her comment had underlying resentment and negative connotation.
No mother, we are not! We just don’t like the drama associated with clutter. It’s amazing how someone who can’t find their car keys can affect everyone else and instantly suck everyone around them into their drama. Seriously though, we are not OCD neat freaks. I don’t fret if the dishes don’t get done that day or if someone messes up my pile of books on the coffee table. I don’t freak out if there are crumbs on the floor after a dinner party.
I just hate devoting a huge chunk of my time tackling filthy things that could have been maintained by lightly tending to them on a weekly basis and I hate spending any time looking for things, filing or sorting, etc.. Junk mail goes directly into the trash bin and never enters my house. I hate having too many choices in my closet so, things I haven’t worn in a year go to the Good Will. Granted, my wardrobe is boring compared to most women- mostly navy blue, black, white and camel but hey, if I lose my eyesight, I would still be able to put together a matching outfit! hahahha
I’m a realist and know that things happen that I didn’t plan on which interferes with my schedule and prevents me from tending to my usual chores- things like flu, car troubles, sick relative, sick pet. I’m a catastrophic thinker- always planning for the worst and try to allow for a 2 hour buffer in my day. I hate rushing to ‘ straighten the house’ should someone want to come by or they do, unannounced. Back in 2003, as I was preparing for a major hurricane, I felt over-whelmed and very rushed but I knew that had my life not been so organized, I would have felt even more stressed and out of control! That’s it- I hate feeling controlled by the things in my life. When I’m not organized, I feel like I’m sitting in a house with a tornado outside and that at any moment it is going to hit me and that I’ll have to put out even more energy and time to recover from it. Uggh. I enjoy the freedom in knowing that everything is in its place. I also know that by taking care of my things that they will last me a long time and need fewer repairs.
I also write down everything I need to do because when it’s on paper, it’s not cluttering my mind with that constant gnawing hum that keeps me in a fog and agitated and ready to redline when someone needs me or asks for something. I have time to devote to more meaningful and enjoyable things in my life and best of all- NO DRAMA!
Yes – no rush, everything in its place, and no drama. I’m with you, sister! Thanks for sharing your thoughts here, Liz.