Your basement, if you have one, could hold all kinds of feng shui secrets. And that’s because everything under your feet resonates with your past. Then I could say, it is what it is, or it is what it has been, and it cannot be changed. However, what really matters is how you feel about it and how your memories affect your current state of mind. So here it is, organize your past and move happily into the present and the future. But what if we don’t have a basement like most of us don’t have here in Florida? So your storage pod, closet, or shed, or whatever you use to store your hidden treasures, is your next target for a comprehensive feng shui evaluation.
All of these capsules and hiding places symbolize your past and your subconscious mind, as Karen Kingston points out in “Clean Your Clutter With Feng Shui.” A cluttered basement, he says, “symbolizes problems from the past that were not addressed.” And by the way, ask “is your heaviest trash in the basement? And how long has it been there?”
Now that you know what’s at stake, let’s create your script to organize your sloppy junk to clear your way into the future.
• Make sure the door to your hiding place opens completely and easily.
• If the door squeaks and creaks, grease the hinges.
• If the lock is rusty, replace it with a new one.
• Get everything out.
• Clean the spider webs and dust and clean the space.
• Spray with a 50/50 vinegar water solution. Spiders hate vinegar.
• If the air is moldy and humid, install a dehumidifier and empty it regularly.
• Think about the bagua as you review what you cannot separate from.
• Financial files and tax records that need to be kept for seven years could go to the wealth corner, called wealth accumulation.
• Luggage, for easy access, can be in the front, to the right, in the travel-related sector of the bagua.
• Old academic records or textbooks should be included in the wisdom / knowledge area.
• For the preservation of important treasures, plastic storage containers are best. They come in all sizes and can be easily stacked.
• Label containers and boxes, clearly marking the contents and dates.
• Make sure there is enough light, if not, replace it with a brighter bulb.
• Try to have a clear area in the front, the bright room in feng shui, where beneficial qi can accumulate and bring good luck.
Since they are generally underground, basements resonate with the earth element. And in a significant correlation, we find that people with strong earth in their element profile are often pack or gatherer rats. Therefore, to counteract the feeling of being stuck in the past, fire or wood can be added to create increasing energy. Your storage boxes, for example, could be red or green.
When everything is done and organized with easy accessibility and visibility, some surprising ideas can emerge that can only be resolved with hindsight and a suitable distance. Looking back, you may have a better understanding of your personal history and how you have reached your current position in life. And you might find out how much there is to be proud of and what all you’ve accomplished is.