One of my clients recently reminded me of the importance of sorting through the contents of your drawers and closets and removing everything that no longer represents who you are. She realized how this process brings a sense of freedom from "stuff." All of our possessions hold the energy of their entire life cycle. If you are sorting things out and you are not sure about an item, consider these questions:

What is this?  What is its purpose?

Who owned this previously? Is the association positive?

Where has it been located? What is its history?

How is it used? Is it relevant to my life?

Do I love it or use it?

If the item has a negative association or no longer has a place in your life, pass it along to someone else. If it cannot be reused, re-purposed, repaired, reclaimed, or recycled, toss it out.

Clutter clearing can be draining. As a result, we often avoid it and allow other activities to take priority. Meanwhile, we continue to tuck things away that we think we can't live without, think we need, or intend to use or pass along to someone else. Our cupboards, closets, rooms, garages, attics and basements fill up. When they become too full we sometimes add on another room or rent a storage unit. Sometimes we rent multiple units. We allow our "stuff" to consume our lives. We work for it, we fill our spaces with it, we spend endless hours maintaining it, and when we are ready, we release it and begin to realize how less is really more. When you have less "stuff" that requires attention, you have more time to spend doing things that you love.

Just a few days ago a friend shared her philosophy of life with me, that fits this scenario perfectly. She said:

We spend the first third of our lives dreaming about what we want.

We spent the second third or our lives acquiring what we want.

We spent the last third of our lives discarding what we've accumulated and no longer want.

Rather than being tied to our spaces and possessions, begin to thin out and release everything that you no longer need to use or love. If you let something go that you may need in the future, it'll come back to you in one way or another.

As you sort through your items, you may recall memories about a variety of people, places, events, and circumstances, all of which are energetically packed into each item. It is important to acknowledge and honor your emotions that come to the surface. Give yourself time to process what is happening and then move forward.

The most supportive time to clutter clear is the two-weeks between the full moon and new moon. This month, it's August 21 through September 4th. It's a period when you are more likely to have the energy to let go of things, since the moon's energy is waning. If you focus on clearing clutter from the Center of your house over the next two-weeks, you'll be in very good alignment for setting intentions for September. Read more about this below.

Thank you to the Huffington Post for these amazing photos and story!