by Simone Sanders

Now that spring has officially sprung, it’s time to clear out the clutter and make way for a brand new season of growth. Here are 10 Feng Shui cures designed to bring renewed energy into your life. Feeling overwhelmed? Start with the cure that corresponds to the most compelling problem you are currently facing. Once that’s out of the way, it will be much easier to enact subsequent cures.

Love & Romance: Clear Out the Space Beneath Your Bed
If you'd like a happier, healthier love life, look under the bed. Relocate any items you use regularly, then discard or donate the rest. By keeping the space beneath your bed totally clear, you'll resolve any deceptions, hidden resentments and childhood traumas that have affected your romantic relationships.

Communication: Erase Old Messages
Do you feel misunderstood or unappreciated? Then empty old messages from your e-mail account and answering machine. Letting messages accumulate can make it difficult to get your wants and needs across. If you want to hang on to messages for sentimental reasons, print them out or record them onto a cassette.

Family: Put Stray Photos into Scrapbooks
If you're struggling with family squabbles, put stray photos into albums. Frame ones that conjure up good memories, and display them in the gathering spaces of your home, like the living room and kitchen. Keep family photos out of the bedroom, especially if you want to maintain healthy boundaries with relatives.

Health & Wellness: Clear Out Your Kitchen Cabinets
Do you feel tired, unhealthy or depressed? Then clean out your cupboards, refrigerator and freezer. Throw away any items that are past their freshness. Donate any canned goods that you don't want to charity. If you are really determined to improve your health, purge your kitchen entirely of junk food.

Support: Donate Nine Items to Charity
Does life seem like a constant struggle for you? Do you feel like you're all alone? Collect nine serviceable items that you no longer want or use, then give them to charity. Of course, you don't have to limit yourself to just nine items – the more stuff you give away, the easier it will be to attract the support you need.

Esteem: Empty Out Your Medicine Cabinet
Suffering from low self-esteem? Clear out your medicine cabinet! Get rid of any outdated prescriptions, old cosmetics and unwanted grooming products. Be honest about what you use and what you don't. By streamlining your medicine cabinet and vanity area, you'll project a much more confident image.

Time to Enjoy Life: Scrub the Bathroom Until It Shines
Do you have time for the activities you love? If not, you need to scrub your bathroom from top to bottom. Bathrooms represent self-care. When yours are sparkling and clean, you'll find more time for the people and things that give you joy. Splurge on new towels, bath mats and shower curtains while you're at it.

Friendship: Stop Toting Garbage Around
If people accuse you of being overly judgmental, lighten your personal load. Clean out your purse, briefcase, book bag and pockets. Don't forget your wallet! Do this every evening for a week. The more streamlined your portable storage, the easier it will be for you to form new friendships and sustain old ones.

Inspiration: Wash Your Windows
If you feel uninspired or lack motivation, wash your windows. Windows represent your outlook on life. If yours are clean and sparkling, it will be easier to find your heart's desire. This is a great cure for people who are in dead-end jobs or suffer from depression. Hire a professional if you're not up to this labor-intensive task.

Energy: Empty Out A Single Drawer
If you're caught in a rut, do yourself a favor and empty out one drawer. It could be anywhere: your desk, your bureau, your kitchen. Throw away anything you don't need, and relocate the rest to other areas. Leave the drawer empty for an entire week. Soon, you'll find the energy to launch a full-fledged spring cleaning!

About the Author
Simone Sanders is a Feng Shui practitioner, astrologer, numerologist, and Tarot card reader whose work is heavily steeped in Jungian philosophy. A passionate traveler, she has studied with various New Age masters from around the world, including Egypt, Nicaragua and the Czech Republic. Simone is an avid movie fan and reader, and lives with her 2 cats in Carmel, California.