Rating: Summary: Not a feng shui book, but motivated me to clear things up. Review: I agree with many of the reviews which state that this is NOT truly a Feng Shui book. While I think it's shameless Ms. Kingston has inserted the word "Feng Shui" to jump on the bagua bandwagon, overall she does have reasonable ideas and philosophies in why it's time to clear it out.I would recommend this book as a quick motivational pick-me-up in anti-accumulation. I have referred back to it now and then to remind myself to go thru my closets every season. As for Feng Shui, I would recommend books by Lillian Too, or the book mentioned by the previous reviewer, by Terah Kathryn Collins. The chapter on internal clutter is laughable, and somewhat brings into question her sanity and credibility. Had it not been for her unsupported claims, I would have felt comfortable giving her at least 3 stars, unfortunately, this is not so. Overall, this is an "OK" book for clutter clearing, but don't buy this if you are looking for feng shui, it simply is not in here much.
Rating: Summary: Highly Recommended Review: I purchased this book and started reading it one Friday night while relaxing. After finishing a couple of chapters I had a sudden urge to get up and rearrange my living room, which I did. Over the next few days while finishing the book, I began "cleaning house". I got rid of years and years of accummulation - I mean boxes and boxes and bags and bags of "stuff". I got to the point that I could not wait to get home from work to clear out more clutter. And the more I got rid of the more energetic I felt. I had never in my life expended much energy on housecleaning - I had always done "just enough" to keep home presentable. But clean I did after reading this book - a deep and thorough clutter clearing and cleaning. When my daughter visited, she was absolutely shocked at the change in my living environment. After what I learned from this book about how clutter impacts my life, I'll never get back to my previous clutter-filled state.
And guess what? While clutter clearing, I ran across "Clear Your Clutter With Feng Shui by KAREN KINGSTON". I had already purchased this book and apparently didn't remember for it was hidden in all of my clutter.
I highly recommend this book.
Rating: Summary: Out out damn clutter Review: This little book changed my life. Kingston, by devoting an entire book to the importance of de-cluttering, offers this "clutter free" book to wake us up. Easy to read, understand and relate to, she outlines step by step instructions for beginning this process. Who would have thought it would be that tough to throw out stuff? I came away with a clear understanding of the important role my 40 years of clutter was playing in my life, and TOOK ACTION. It's been a long process, but embedded in my psyche is my new credo - simplify simplify simplify. Thanks to Kingston I can breathe again.
Rating: Summary: More than Feng Shui - you too can become clutter free. Review: I have a messy house. My sister bought me this book, because she's a neat-a-holic. I avoided reading it, because I didn't need yet another person telling me I had a problem. When I finally started reading it, I realized I should have started sooner. It wasn't all foo-foo new agey stuff. The author has real advice on going through and getting rid of your junk. I can't stand the spare modern look - it seems so empty and cold to me. She points out that clearing clutter doesn't have to result in this - you simply clear out the old, worn, unused things you don't like to make way for things you DO like. Her approach to why we hang onto things - the emotional investment - helps a lot. While she does talk about Feng Shui and it's relevance, she focuses more on helping you become clutter free. It was a transformational book for me. Yes, I still have a messy house. But now it's not so bad. I'm no longer paralyzed by it, and I can throw things out guilt-free. I recommend this book to everyone like me who needs a little "help," even if she won't admit it.
Rating: Summary: Easy to understand and use Review: This is a wonderful book on Feng Shui. It doesn't have glossy pictures or fancy text. It is, however packed with information in an easy to understand format. I would imagine that almost anyone could read this and put it to good use. She never actually states it but it seems to be based on the Black Hat System.
Diagrams of houses and rooms are included as are examples from some of her consultations. The elements are explaned in an easy to understand manner as are the nourishing and controlling elements. I believe that Ms. Collins training in NLP is an asset to her and has contributed to her concise explaination of a sometimes complex system.
One of the things I have always enjoyed about Feng Shui is the strong element of honor involved in and woven through it. This book doesn't contain any of the traditional ways to bless the home but she does touch on the significance of some of the cures.
Rating: Summary: Changed my life Review: I agree with some of the reviewers that this is not necessarily a book about Feng Shui, as I thought it would be. But it was just what I needed. This is a book about clearing your clutter, through Feng Shui principles. It helps you to think about your situation differently.
I joined www.flylady.net, which started me on my clutter clearing journey. This site has helped with so much more than clearing clutter. I found this book through a recommendation from flylady.net. This book made me WANT to clear my clutter and live a better life. It gave me a bigger push than my favorite website did.
This book has helped me in so many ways. I feel I can conquer materialism and live a freer life.
Rating: Summary: Great for Pack Rats Review: This book is a nice guide to allow potential feng shui enthusiasts to declutter their home. It points out the necessary factors of why the effort is critical to increase the effects of feng shui if and when it is practiced. A lot of people do not realize how critical it is to clear out the stuff horded over the years and how their positive energy simply sits and becomes stale. This is not a book on feng shui, but rather, a resource to motivate and to inspire the reader in attaining harmony by letting go unnecessary wants and to bring newness into one's life. This is quite interesting as many older Chinese generations strongly believe in holding on every item in their possession in the idea that there may be a need for it someday. The problem is, you end up with limited closet space because the inessential clutter is being stored while the important items get lost in the mix. Accumulation of these items over the years can really amount into something. So, for those of you who can't seem to let go of anything, read this and it may very well inspire you. It worked for me!
Rating: Summary: This book is truly amazing - a life changer Review: This book has permanently altered my relationship to things and energy. It is so much FUN! After I read it I went out and bought four copies and gave them away making each recipient promise to then pass it on to the next person! You'll love it.
Rating: Summary: Laugh out loud funny! Review: Author Karen Kingston needs to stick with what she knows, and that is obviously about dealing with clutter. That portion of the book is useful, but doesn't really say anything new. Where she totally loses credibility is when she makes gigantic, illogical leaps and says things like, "..if the previous occupants were happily married, it is likely that you, too, will find marital bliss there." I could have done without the chapter on de-cluttering your colon (really), her assertion that wearing bras causes breast cancer (puh-leese!), and her instructions to clap in my corners to relieve the static energy there. Probably my favorite quote would be, "...leave exorcism to trained professionals." 'Cause, you know, we're all wanting to de-clutter our homes of those evil spirits. If you're swamped with clutter, get real and throw stuff out, recycle it, or give it to someone else who might be able to use it. If you're highly motivated, have a garage sale. There, now you don't have to buy this book.
Rating: Summary: This Book Helped Me Review: Whether or not you are a practioner or believer in Feng Shui, this book is helpful. It's easy to read and makes you think. I have read it more than once and having lent it out on more than one occasion, find myself having to repurchase it because the people I lend it to love it so much. It is a good book to get you started in clearing out the clutter in your home & in your life. I didn't jump right in and create a perfect world for myself. But I did take the lessons to heart and started off slowly. I came to realize that my stuff was controlling me instead of the other way round. When I allowed myself to look at my belongings the way Ms. Kingston suggests, I was finally able to start clearing my home of the un-needed stuff & low energy. I have been working on this for a year now. And everytime I go through a certain part of my home, even if it is just to dust, I clear out even more. (I originally started as a way to eliminate dust collectors due to allergies). It has even helped me curb my spending habits. I need less space to live in now and have managed to tackle some other things that needed doing to help myself emotionally & physically. This book isn't a cure all, but it is a great way to get jumpstarted. I now keep more than 1 copy to give out to anyone who expresses an interest in how I helped myself find a better way of life.
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