NYC Organizing & Productivity Consultant - Home & Office Organizing, Moves, Home Staging and (One Day) Interior REdesign <meta name="description" content="Professional Organizing Services in Manhattan and the greater New York City metropolitan area" /> <meta name="keywords" content= "professional organizer, new york professional organizer, new york city professional organizer, NY professional organizer, organizing services, organizing help new york, organizing help new york city, professional organizing services, New York City, NYC, organize, productive, A. J. Miller, Miller Organizing, clutter, efficient, order, disorganization, get organized, personal organizer, home organizer, home organizer new york, home organizer nyc, get organized NYC, moving, selling a house or apartment, stage" /> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow" /> <meta name="googlebot" content="index,follow" /> <meta name="author" content="Miller Organizing" /> <meta name="copyright" content="Copyright (c) 2004-2008 Miller Organizing" /> <link href="css/screen.css" rel="stylesheet" media="screen" /> </head> <body> <div id="wrapper"> <a name="top" id="top"></a> <div id="banner"></div> <div id="nav"> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><a href='index.php'>Home</a></p> <p><a href='overwhelmed.php'>Overwhelmed?</a></p> <p><a href='our_philosophy.php'>Our Philosophy</a></p> <p><a href='faq.php'>FAQ</a></p> <p><a href='our_services.php'> Our Services</a></p> <p><a href='feng_shui.php'>Feng Shui</a></p> <p><a href='inspiration.php'>Inspiration</a></p> <p><a href='before_and_after.php'>Before & After</a></p> <p><a href='testimonials.php'>Testimonials</a></p> <p><a href='columns.php'>Newspaper Column</a></p> <p><a href='gift_certificates.php'>Gift Certificates</a></p> <p><a href='referral_program.php'>Referral Program</a></p> <p><a href='terms_and_conditions.php'>Terms & Conditions</a></p> <p><a href='resources.php'>Resources</a></p> <p><a href='about_us.php'>About Us</a></p> <p><a href='about_our_company.php'>About Our Company</a></p> <p><a href='contact_us.php'>Contact Us</a></p> <p> </p> <p>_________________</p> <div id="napo"><img src="images/napo_logo_colored.gif" width="120" height="88" alt="National Association of Professional Organizers" /></div> <p>_________________</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p class="aj"><em>A.J. Miller <br/> Founder & <br/> Chief Executive Organizer </em></p> <p> </p> <p>(212) 228-8375 <br/></p> <p> </p> <p><em>Helping busy <br/> New Yorkers <br/> get organized!<br/></em></p> <p> </p> </div> <div id="content"> <h1>Feng Shui</h1> <h2>The ancient art of arranging possessions to create <br />balance and harmony in your life.</h2> <br /> <div class="right"><img src="images/fengshui.jpg" width="214" height="302" alt="A.J. Miller" /></div> <ul> <li><a href="#fp1">How Clutter Affects You </a></li> <li><a href="#fp2">Feng Shui Principles, Guidelines & Practices</a></li> </ul> <br /> <p>Feng Shui (pronounced Fung Shway) originated in China more than 4,000 years ago and has its roots in the belief that <h9><strong>we are deeply affected by our physical and emotional surroundings and living with rather than against nature benefits both humans and our environment</strong></h9>. Although similar ideas for living a more balanced and harmonious life have existed in other parts of the world at one time or another, Feng Shui's universal concepts have transcended time, geography and culture to become well-known and widely practiced all over the world today.</p> <p>Whether you choose to practice Feng Shui in depth or simply take advantage of the basics to clear out clutter, it can be an effective way to get organized. If you have any doubts about whether or not Feng Shui actually works, you can easily prove it to yourself by clearing just a small area of clutter. Before you start, note how you feel when the area is full of clutter and the Ch'i is stuck. Ch'i, the basis of feng shui, is the vital energy that is present in and links together all living beings and non-living objects. Then note how you feel after you have cleared it and the Ch'i is released and begins to flow naturally. If you're like most people, you'll feel the peace and contentment that a clutter-free space radiates. </p> <p>_________________________________________________________________</p> <br /> <a name="fp1" id="fp1"></a> <div class='h8'><strong> How Clutter Affects You </strong></div> <br/> <br/> <p> Things you do not use or love, things that are untidy or disorganized, too many things in too small a space and unfinished things are some of the greatest obstacles to the smooth flow of Ch'i, the energy that connects all things in the universe together. As a result, clutter starts to accumulate, causing a vicious, self-perpetuating cycle that creates chaos and stuckness in the lives of those occupying the space.</p> <br /> <h2> Clutter can... </h2> <ul> <li><h9><strong> cause you to feel disorganized </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> cause you to become disorganized </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> cause you to feel tired and lethargic </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> depress you and others with whom you share your space </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> cause disharmony at home and at work </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> be a fire and/or health hazard to you and others </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> create the need for additional cleaning </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> affect the way other people view and treat you </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> cause you to feel ashamed </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> cause you to procrastinate </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> distract you from important things </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> affect your interest in and ability to enjoy life </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> cost you financially </strong></span></li> <li><h9><strong> confuse you </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> keep you in the past </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> cause you to put your life on hold </strong></h9></li> </ul> <br /> <p><strong>Very simply put, clutter is a hindrance, not a help to your life.</strong> Using Feng Shui to eliminate clutter will create physical and emotional environments that affect and support you in a positive way and help you to live your best life.</p> <p> </p> <p><a href="#top">back to top</a></p> <p>_________________________________________________________________</p> <br/> <a name="fp2" id="fp2"></a> <div class='h8'><strong> Feng Shui Principles, Guidelines & Practices</strong></div> <br/> <br/> <h2>Principle I - <h9> Everything Is Alive with Ch'i. </h9></h2> <p>The first principle of Feng Shui is that a subtle, vital, invisible flow of electromagnetic energy called "Ch'i" flows through all things in the universe. </p> <br /> <h2> Principle II - <h9> Everything Is Connected by Ch'i. </h9></h2> <p>The second principle of Feng Shui is that every person, place, and thing is linked together by Ch'i. Not only does Ch'i connect us to our own personal environment, it connects us to the entire universe.</p> <br /> <h2>Principle III - <h9> The Ch'i in Everything Is Always Changing. </h9></h2> <p>The third principle of Feng Shui is that the only constant in life is change. Nothing stays exactly as it is. Weather, time, our finances, friendships, career possibilities, life opportunities, health, children, parents, daily activities, insights, thoughts and feelings all are forever changing and becoming something else. <br/> In Feng Shui, change is looked at as a gift to be embraced and invited to continually make our lives better. So long as we are alive, we are changing. When our environments reflect those changes, we move forward harmoniously.</p> <p>_________________________________________________________________</p> <h2>Guideline I - <h9> Love It or Lose It. </h9></h2> <p>Only live with what you love. You can achieve this by being thoughtful, creative, intentional and particular about the choices you make when designing, furnishing and arranging your home and workspace. Choose what YOU love. Don't be swayed by what design magazines recommend. If you have to settle for or live with something you don't love, offset it by placing something nearby that makes your heart happy. </p> <br /> <h2> Guideline II - <h9> Safety and Comfort Come First. </h9></h2> <p>When designing, furnishing and arranging your home and workspace think about safety and comfort first, beauty last. Beauty does count, but NOT if it comes at the expense of safety, comfort and practicality.</p> <br /> <h2> Guideline III - <h9> Simplify and Organize. </h9></h2> <p> There are <strong>two types of chaos</strong> in our environments:</p> <p><strong><h9>1. ACTIVE CHAOS</h9> is creativity at work.</strong> It's the natural and necessary spilling out of the tools and materials that are needed for the creative process <br/> to occur. It's the reference materials spread around a writer, the brushes and paints strewn around the painter and the pots and pans surrounding around a cook. Active chaos' vitality and energy are attractive, uplifting and inspirational.</p> <p><strong><h9>2. PASSIVE CHAOS</h9> is creativity that is thwarted by clutter and disorganization.</strong> The longer the clutter lasts, the more the Ch'i energy deteriorates and creativity eventually ceases. And, because even hidden clutter and chaos drain creativity and vitality, it's not enough to free rooms of their visible clutter only. Storage areas hidden away behind the closed doors of closets, attics, garages and basements must also be cleared of unloved and unnecessary items. However you go about it - whether you do it yourself, ask a friend or relative to help or hire a Professional Organizer - it may not be easy to do, but it is essential to simplify and organize your possessions. The benefits of restored creativity, vitality and imagination undeniably outweigh the effort. </p> <p>To help you make decisions and clear away passive chaos while sorting through your possessions, ask yourself these questions:</p> <ul> <li><h9><strong> Do I love it? </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Do I need it? </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Do I believe it to be beautiful or treasure it for reasons of my own? </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Does it reflect and support who I am at this moment in my life? </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> What positive and/or negative thoughts, memories or emotions do I associate with it? </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Does it need to be fixed or repaired and am I willing to do so now? </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> If I moved tomorrow, would I choose to take it with me? </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> If it's time to let it go, am I going to sell it or give it away and when? </strong></h9></li> </ul> <p>_________________________________________________________________</p> <h2>Practices </h2> <p> The best time to practice Feng Shui is <strong>TODAY</strong>. By balancing the vital energy constantly flowing through you and your environment, you will make harmony, prosperity, good health, success and happiness your daily companions. Waiting for the right moment to start practicing Feng Shui is like waiting for the right moment to start taking better care of your health. If you truly value your life, your goals and your dreams for the future, you can't afford to wait. Whether you own or rent your home or workspace, make them the best they can be right now.</p> <br/> <p><strong>"QUICK TIPS" </strong> to help improve the Ch'i in your home or work environment.</p> <ul> <li><h9><strong> Eliminate clutter. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Remove dead or unhealthy plants. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Display fresh cut flowers. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Surround yourself with the colors you love. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Install works of art and decorative objects if they'll add to your enjoyment of the space. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Use water features like table top fountains, etc. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Fix everything that is broken or in disrepair. Fill in any holes in the walls, touch up the paint, repair chips or cracks. Make sure that furniture, appliances, and tools are in perfect working order. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Use mirrors anywhere - the bigger the better - except in the bedroom. </strong></span></li> <li><h9><strong> Sound makers like music, wind chimes, bells, instruments, ticking clocks and the sound of running water all attract Ch'i. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Add light, mirrors, candles, oil lamps and crystals to dark corners and spaces. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Set-up Wind Dancers like mobiles, whirligigs, flags, banners and weathervanes. </strong></h9></li> </ul> <br/> <p><strong>"QUICK TIPS" </strong> to help improve the Ch'i in you.</p> <ul> <li><h9><strong> Eat well. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Exercise. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Maintain a positive outlook. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Meditate and/or pray daily. </strong></h9></li> <li><h9><strong> Make time to have fun and laugh often. </strong></h9></li> </ul> <p> </p> <p><a href="#top">back to top</a></p> <h6>Being organized is about being able to get everything done when it's due and finding everything you need when you need it. <br/><br/> © 2005 - 2008 MILLER ORGANIZING. All rights reserved. <br/> 14 Stuyvesant Oval<br/> New York, N.Y. 10009 </h6> </div> <div id="footer"> <div id="clear"></div> </div> </div> </body> </html>