Fiona Brewer
Laura Mackey
Simon McGarr
Fergal Crehan
Gary Malone
Mattie Lennon
Sarah Byam
Anita Kiely
Fred Roe
Keisha Poiro
Emma Pearson
Fluffy Dutton
Donal O'Driscoll

What is it that brings into our lives one Asian art, science, food or trend after another, affecting many, enabling many to find their calling, second career or lost self (and sometimes fortune too) and makes us look at our life and ourselves a little differently. Bridge East and West? Spirit vs. material? Does it really matter?

I love sushi, believe that the wok is a great way to prepare my food, release my backaches with acupuncture and think that Jasmine tea is one of the greatest drinks one can have. And I believe in some key principles of Feng Shui.

Literally wind-water, Feng Shui is the ancient Chinese practice of space arranging, based upon enabling the movement of chi or natural energy through our environments. Following the patterns and flow of nature, we place everything, from individual objects in our surroundings, the location of our desk to the positioning of a building on property. Feng Shui is about how to support the flow of energy in our lives to augment health and prosperity.

My first personal encounter with Feng Shui was when I moved from New Jersey to Massachusetts. A loving friend sent me a photocopy of a chapter from a new book about Feng Shui. The chapter of her choice was about clutter. The elimination of clutter is a core principle in Feng Shui. The most effective way to start letting the Chi move freely in our dwellings is to start with removing clutter. When the Chi is blocked, it stagnates and drains our energy. Interesting reading material, but does it mean anything, or is it another new age, self-healing hype? I read the chapter again, and again, sitting on one of the boxes that the movers unloaded from their truck. I figured there's no harm in trying by challenging the old Chinese tradition with my ignorant attitudes.

As I was unpacking, I tried to be more selective than usual. According the Feng Shui, the test that each item we surround ourselves with is giving a "yes" to these challenging questions:

Do I really need it? Does it make me feel good, happy? Do I love it? Did I use it in the last 12-18 months?

There's no pride in having a lot of anything. On the contrary, is it an indication that we are stuck on some unclosed issue or experience that drains our energy and blocks the flow of Chi. And so I started challenging the items I was taking out of the boxes. How much linen does one need? How many glasses do we need to last between one load of the dishwasher to another? What am I ever going to do with all these pens from hotels around the globe? To be honest, it still took me few weeks to move all the bags out. The fear that the day after it's gone, I need it, or miss it, was anchoring the bags to my home. Fear that in Feng Shui language implies my inability to trust that world to provide my needs. This Fear implies that I can't let go of the past, and therefore I cannot move into my better future.

From the hallway, they moved to the car and couple of weeks later they became the responsibility of the nearby collection point. I became happier, lighter, freer, a little liberated. Now, five years later, I am opening a the container the housed my earthy belongings for the past 30 months, only to realize that I got a lot to give away, as if I never cleared my clutter.

What does it all mean to you? That when there's no room left in your cupboard, closet, in your drawers, and you are left with a small island of workspace among the mess on your desk, it is time for you to let go and unclutter. Let go to your past experiences, frustrations, mistakes, the shirt that you bought after a fight, the vase that you keep not to offend an in-law, but find it offensive to your aesthetics. Give it away, claim it broke or say the truth, but don't keep it. A few months back, I made an old boyfriend very happy by giving him all the photos I had from our years together. It wasn't a great relationship, to be honest, and letting go of these pictures meant I let go of the pain, disappointment and emotions invested in him and in the mistakes I (we) made. Letting go, and moving on.

Mr. Right is not at my door yet, and I cannot promise that your life will change instantly, but the promise I do make is one: you will feel better, and your home will feel better to you and welcome you in. Now if you illuminate all the dark corners and make it feel bright and comfortable, resting at home will take a new, better meaning.