If Spring cleaning is on your mind, good! As much as HouseHeal is about releasing the energetic & emotional hold “stuff” can have on you, Spring is not typically a time for personal reflection. Spring is a time for action!

So, take advantage of the collective energy around Spring Cleaning, put on your jeans and get to work.

Here are 5 HouseHeal tips to make your Spring Cleaning extra powerful this year:

1. Focus on what you can do yourself without someone else’s permission – things like culling your wardrobe, or your books and papers. If you choose to work on a shared area such as the kitchen let go of needing or wanting other people’s participation, as it may or may not happen. Relax and discover just how much YOU can do, joyfully, yourself.
2. Completion is vital – have an immediate exit plan for your “stuff”. Sorting clothes for charity doesn’t help you if the bags are still in your bedroom three days later. Once you have things packed, head to a drop-off box immediately. Put “free stuff” on your lawn with abandon. Take advantage of local enviro-recycling days for old electronics. Adopt a new mantra “I release with ease” and feel the freedom.
3. Start where it feels easiest – enjoy the thrill of instant gratification. Unless dealing with “heavy energy” calls to your soul right now, leave detailed sorting for another time. It’s more productive to box up old financial files that are ready to be shredded than to try sorting a box of old photos and letters. Shredding services are fast and easy these days – and clearing out old files frees up BIG physical and emotional space. Whether it’s papers, books, furniture, old bedding – go for the easy-to-identify first, and when you start to feel stuck, switch stuff. Spring cleaning is about volume and speed.
4. Splurge on hiring help for actual cleaning, even if just for a day. As much as you can, focus your time and energy on the tasks that require your personal attention…like purging.If you are determined to clean behind appliances, wash floors and cupboards yourself, then go for it, but hire someone to help (or bribe a friend) and then work along with them. Remember, people who live in Green Zones seek and welcome help (if you don’t understand this reference, please read my book!).
5. Imagine how it would feel to have your home feel “Spring cleaned” all year. Close your eyes and imagine what it would be like to have everything neat, clean and organized, with your home bright, beautiful, functional and welcoming, full of love, with happy and wonderful things going on inside – every day. Picture it. Feel it. Smell it. Breathe it in deeply. Hold the vision, and say thank you. Remember to go back to that feeling, again and again. Enjoy – and see what happens!

Good luck! Have fun! Do all you can (plus a little more!) – and remember to be kind to yourself. Always. Let me know how you do – I always love to hear from you.

P.S. Remember, your home doesn’t reflect who you are, it reflects how you are. Who you are is always beautiful! If ever you need to be reminded of that fact, I encourage you to read (and re-read) my book HouseHeal: Transform Your Life through the Power of Home – it is truly life changing. You can order it here.

P.P.S. If you (or your friends and family) live in the Toronto area, I am offering a small group in-person course of HouseHeal into Practice starting after the long weekend in May. HouseHeal into Practice is a powerful course for people who feel called to bring more love, ease and beauty into their lives, beginning at home. Help get word out – there are just 7 spots in each class. Registration details are here.

This past weekend I found myself with time at home with no mental or physical energy – I didn’t want to write, I didn’t want to read…I didn’t want to do anything, but I also didn’t want to do nothing…it was kind of frustrating – and then I remembered one of the basics inspirational tips of HouseHeal…when feeling stuck go do a 15 minute burst of tidying and organizing – so I went down to our basement and got started. Our basement is where floor to ceiling with furniture, lamps, rugs, pillows and more, for getting Gary’s clients’ homes ready for sale, and throughout the year is in varying states of order – this time of year is typically its most chaotic. After 15 minutes of sorting, I felt calmer, more energized and inspired, so I did another 15 minutes. Almost immediately I could feel the wheels turning for the next phase of organizing…and felt energized and inspired to do a LOT of things. The shift in me this week has been really quite remarkable. It’s like taking care of the tiniest of physical details at home helped me to put the bigger pieces of my life into flow.

Everything is energy. Each of us is like those tiny details of home…as we each get our own home life (starting with our thinking at home!) into alignment with Love, Truth and Beauty, the bigger pieces of our lives – and the world – begin to flow into alignment as well. Imagine it. Each of us has the power to change the world for the better, just by taking care of the details of our own lives. HouseHeal teaches that as you continue to expand your Awareness of your Universal connection, clarify your intention, and deepen your Willingness to acknowledge what feels right to YOU, beginning at home, you will see more and more changes in your life and world…some subtle, some big….some quickly, and some over time, but wonderful, undeniable changes.

After just the first week of HouseHeal into Practice I received this note from a participant…“I am noticing some real changes with respect to awareness. I see time passing more slowly somehow (able to fit more in than I used to, or thought I could), my thoughts about myself and others are more positive, find myself smiling for no particular reason, and changing some habits to keep things more tidy around me.” And that was just Week One! I love the “smiling for no particular reason”, don’t you? It affirms the fact that a more beautiful, love-filled home begins within you.

I have different emotions during my in-person HouseHeal classes. One is a feeling of profound love and respect and excitement for the people engaged in the course (like the person above!). Their passion, wanting and commitment inspires me. What opens up for people over the 4 weeks of the course demonstrates beyond a doubt the power of HouseHeal to transform lives (and homes!).

On another level, I find myself still in disbelief that what I am teaching is not common knowledge in our world. HouseHeal is still relatively new, but the laws on which it is based are universal (i.e. they apply to every person on the planet!) and have been known since the beginning of time. What HouseHeal does, essentially, is teach you how to use your natural internal operating system to bring more joy, love, beauty and ease and into your life, beginning at home.  In terms of importance, the basic skill is pretty much next in line to breathing, yet so few people know it’s even in them to use. It happens every time I teach a course, that as people begin to understand the deeper implications of what they are actually learning, I hear the question “why weren’t we taught this before?”

I don’t have the answer to that question, but I do feel deeply grateful to be sharing HouseHeal at this time, helping people to transform their lives simply by teaching them how to use the amazing natural powers that have been within them all along (what some people call, among other things, The Law of Attraction). Home just happens to be the perfect starting point to practice using those powers.

If you are ready for change, if you truly want an easier, more beautiful life – a life that includes, among other things, a more beautiful love-filled home, here is what’s coming up on the HouseHeal calendar to help you – mark the dates now!

Free Teleseminar – Wednesday, February 26 at 7 p.m. This call is the first of 2014 and will focus on helping you to know what you (truly, deeply) want at home – and get it with ease.  If you already are on my HouseHeal e-mail list you will get the details on how to join in the call in advance. Tell your friends! There is no cost to join in the call – just show up with curiosity and enthusiasm – and your questions!

HouseHeal into Practice (In-Person – Toronto) The next in-person course will be starting Saturday mornings starting May 31^st  (4 weeks) and with a second course Tuesday evenings starting June 3rd (4 weeks).  This class is for people who are truly ready for change at home. Register now – details are here. There are only 7 spots in each class (really!) so claim your spot now!

HouseHeal into Practice (telecourse) – Fall 2014 – If you do not live within easy driving distance of Toronto for the in-person classes, watch for details about a new telecourse coming up, still live and interactive, just “virtual”.  Still a great way to go deeper with this work!

And of course, always available to you is my book HouseHeal: Transform Your Life through the Power of Home. If you do not yet have a copy, order it here. The teaching goes deeper each time you read it – you will see!

 If something inside you is telling you it’s time for a change, it probably is!

Set your intention right now to have a magical Christmas season.

1.  Let go of financial worries.  Christmas is not about money or gifts. Really it’s not. If money is tight this year, make a conscious effort to catch yourself if you go into vibration of “I don’t have any money” with your thoughts. Change your thoughts to the vibration of “I have money for everything that truly matters.” And feel the difference. If you have children, focus on a magical Christmas season      for them. Set clear intentions, practice a deep-down knowing that all is well, do your best every day and watch what happens. If your finances are good this year, take extra care to spend money with thoughtfulness,  gratitude, love and clear intention to bring the most joy possible to you and others.  

“All my needs are looked after with ease. I feel the Joy of Christmas within me.” 

2. Let go of feeling like you don’t enough time. Think about it – you have all the time in the world, the same as everyone else – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you feel stressed, stop and take a deep breath. Remind yourself that you have all  the time you need. Have a look to see what you might be doing out of a      sense of obligation, rather than desire. What on your “to do” list is optional?      Be honest. Where can you get help? What could you get done if you just      stopped worrying about it and did it? Where are your thoughts, beliefs & habits contributing to you feeling under pressure? Pay attention, choose wisely and watch time issues dissolve.

“I have time for everything that is important to me.”

3. Let  go of emotional drama. Dramas can occur more easily around the holidays, especially with family.  If tensions and emotions flare up in your home, don’t engage. Easy, right? Ha! Maybe not – but you can do it if you really make an effort.  Whether with parents, in-laws, ex-spouses, brothers and sisters, aunts or uncles –whoever pushes your buttons, let it go. Christmas is a season of Joy, yes, but it can be stressful when people are on automatic. Decide to be      genuinely joyful and see other people with compassion. The more you can disengage from old emotional patterns and be a genuine beacon of joy and peace for  others, the bigger the difference you will make at home and in the world.

“I choose peace in all situations. I see others with love and compassion.”

4. Let go of stuff. Despite the season being strongly associated with shopping, there’s nothing like finding unused gifts from Christmas past in your closet to      give you perspective on “stuff”. Take advantage. Dedicate even 15 minutes a day between now and Christmas to clearing things you don’t use or need out of your closets and cupboards and give them to charity. Play your favourite Christmas music while you do it – and feel lighter for it!

“I release all that no longer serves me. I make room for good things to come.”

5. Let go of how things need to be. Christmas traditions warm the heart – like when you get your tree, when you open presents, having family skating outings, making old family recipes, watching your favourite movies (ours is Christmas Vacation!), but, like everything, they can change with time. Notice what you do at Christmas because it genuinely brings you joy, and what you do from habit.      If something doesn’t really work for you any more, think about what you might      do differently. Is it time to re-think your Christmas Eve menu? Cull your      decorations and change how you decorate your tree? Try a new cookie recipe? Get new lights for outside? A new stocking? A new mug for your hot chocolate? Is it time for some new music? Perhaps it would be fun to invite different people to join you through the holidays – maybe even mix friends with family? Plan a pyjama day or two? Reflect on your traditions, keep what you like, and have fun making any changes that feel right.

“I love and honour traditions – and accept when it’s time for a change.”

6.  Let go of tolerating mess and dirt. Okay, maybe not a festive topic but it’s important. Mess and dirt make your home feel heavy and “stuck″ and make it difficult to be of good cheer, even at Christmas. Even if it’s not high on your list of things to do, deep clean and tidy as much as you can, even when you are busy. It can be Joyful, really! – a minute, five minutes, twenty minutes whenever you      possibly can. Twenty extra minutes a day from now until Christmas can work      wonders. If you live with other people and can get them to help, great, but don’t make it a big deal. This is not the time for confrontation. Send love, and hope they follow your lead. Hire cleaners for a day if you can. Here are a few suggestions to help you:

• Go though your kitchen cupboards & drawers and toss out stale-dated spices, chipped dishes, rusted utensils – it takes only a few minutes once you start. Give away the bundt pan you haven’t used in 15 years. Practice saying, “I invite freshness into my life. I release all that is out-dated and broken.”
• Empty your dishwasher as soon as it is clean and load dirty dishes immediately. If you don’t have a dishwasher, make it a habit to always wash and put dishes away right after use.
• Take 15 minutes to organize your refrigerator and make sure everything there is fresh and clean.
• Clear your kitchen counters of everything but your toaster, a bowl of fruit, a coffee-maker or kettle, and some oils and spices by the stove. Notice how good it feels as space opens up. It will still get messed up every day, but make a joyful effort to have counters clear and pristine just once a day, and notice how good it feels.

“I surround myself with order and beauty.”

7. Let go of DIY – ask for help! Remember you can ask both humans and Angels for help! Ask your Angels for inspiration on gift ideas! Set clear intention…Angels please guide me to the perfect gift within my budget. If you are wondering how to get everything done at home, ask for help. Your Angels can only help you if you ask! Ask to be inspired, guided and helped – and feel all through your body a deep knowing that you are supported and guided in every minute! Feel the magic of Christmas flow through you…and listen for your guidance. It doesn’t even matter if you believe in Angels – they will help you anyway!

“I am open to help and inspiration. I feel the love and support of my Angels.

Let all you do this Season flow from a place of joy in your heart. Understand that you are connected to Universal Unconditional Love not dependent on you being naughty or nice!  Feel how that Unconditional Love is especially powerful at this time of year. If you can feel truly grateful for all that you have, know that all good things come to you when you align your energy to them, and be kind to yourself and those around you, that’s really all you need to do – all good action flows from there.

Years ago I heard social visionary Barbara Marx Hubbard give a conference keynote address that has stayed with me every day since. She explained how those of us living now have a greater responsibility for the world than any previous generation, because for the first time in history we are creating with the awareness that we are creating. She said we can no longer hide behind “not knowing” why things are happening in the world, pretending that we don’t see our power to make different choices, both individually and collectively. As much as I agree with what she said, yesterday, as I heard the heartfelt tributes to our war veterans, knowing that horrific wars are still going on in the world, I had to acknowledge a major challenge in her premise. It’s like we have learned nothing.

With awareness comes responsibility, yes, but the problem is that people are still shockingly unaware of their own influence in life – even the people with shelves filled with “spiritual” books, even people who appear to be doing pretty well. We have an epidemic of people going through the motions of life feeling slightly out of control, feeling not good enough, feeling scared, sad, angry, worried, stressed about time, money, relationships, work and all kinds of other stuff, trying to do their best, oblivious to their own power to create whatever they want in life. Seriously – with people walking around with mini-wars going on inside of themselves is it any wonder we still have bigger wars going on in the world?

Nowhere is lack of awareness of personal power more visible than in people’s homes. Trust me – I see it all the time. People are living in various levels chaos (visible and not), in the very place where they have the most control in the world, without knowing how to change it. That’s why I love my HouseHeal teaching. HouseHeal teaches people healthy awareness every day at home – an awareness that not only stays, but continues to grow and brings incredible change with relative ease. I always warn people at the beginning of class – don’t be here if you are not prepared to take on responsibility for your life, because once you know what I am about to show you, there is no turning back. You will no longer be able to pretend that you don’t know the power you have.

Barbara Marx Hubbard is right – with awareness comes responsibility, but we need a lot more people with awareness. When more people truly understand their power to create for themselves we will see more change in the world. I know deep in my heart that if each of us can simply create a home filled with love, kindness, peace and beauty, it will have a huge impact on the world. Peace in the world begins at home.

If you want more peace, kindness, love and beauty in your home I invite you to experience my new in-person course HouseHeal into Practice starting in Toronto in January.