Ahhhhhh . . . Spring; a time of rejuvenation and fresh beginnings. Those who practice the ancient tradition of Feng Shui know spring as a season of new growth and opportunities. Pause for a moment and a take deep, relaxing breath and feel the vital energy filling your lungs. In this moment of relaxation, look around you and enjoy the beauty that nature has to offer. You may live where daffodils and crocuses burst into bloom, often peeking through a late season blanket of snow; or you may live in a tropical climate where the plumeria trees are beginning to bloom again with their beautiful array of flowers in shades of yellow, coral, and pink. No matter where you live, these are signs that winter is almost over and soon the air will feel warm and fresh, the leaves on the trees will be green again, and the plants and flowers will be blooming in abundant color.

Spring is the perfect time to create a plan for bringing new vitality into your life, home, and work place. With the gaining popularity of Feng Shui and its principles, many people have become aware of the correlation between blocked opportunities and a cluttered space. For example, there is often a correlation between a cluttered workspace and having a lull in career productivity. Embracing the principles of clearing clutter enables your life to work well and not become stagnant.

Bring new energy into your home by creating a plan for cleaning and clearing out the clutter. Enlist the help of your family members - having each one take on a different room and before you know it you will create an opening for fresh, vital energy to flourish around you and your loved ones. To make this task easier, picture the end result in your mind before you start. Visualize yourself relaxing in your inviting and nurturing home at the end of your busy day. So dont delay, start enjoying the benefits of the spring-cleaning process today.

Try these seven simple tips that will help make your home cleaning project a more pleasant experience.

1. Make a list of all the chores that you plan on doing, such as dusting the furniture, cleaning the light fixtures, donating clothing that you no longer will wear, or washing the windows.

2. Disregard those items that you havent used since last spring (or longer). If youre not ready to let go of these items, store them in an orderly fashion in inexpensive plastic containers or boxes. It helps to label each box with the contents and keep them all in one place until youre ready to use them again or let go of the unused items.

3. Be sure you have all the supplies you will need on hand before you begin. Also, take an inventory of your cleaning products before you go to the store!

4. Make cleaning an enjoyable experience Turn on your favorite music; have energy-packed snacks on hand, or hire a professional cleaning service and go to the movies!

5. After clearing your clutter, bring in some new energy with some fresh cut flowers, or a beautiful new plant. (Note: Remove dying plants and flowers and never decorate with dried flowers, as they cause too much yin or dead energy, according to the principles of Feng Shui.)

6. Maintain the good feng shui of your home by opening the windows regularly to let the stale air escape and fresh energy in.

7. Remember to acknowledge yourself for a job well done or thank the cleaning professional that you hired; then sit back, relax and enjoy a fresh, clean, harmonious home.

Join with other Feng Shui enthusiasts this spring in this chi-renewing, spring-cleaning process. Remember, when you take the time to pause for a moment and reflect on the harmony you have created for your self and loved ones, that you will reap the benefits of your labor by having a good flow of vibrant energy in your home, office, and workplace.

Copyright, Diane Alba-Means, Hawaii Feng Shui, 2006