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Karen Rauch Carter

De-Cluttering

Is Taxidermy Considered Bad Feng Shui?

By Karen
January 28, 2013
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I understand how some people want to remember the big catch or big kill by creating a trophy for themselves and hanging it on the wall, but let’s break it down from a feng shui perspective and see how these kinds of things stack up energetically in the home: 1. Poor symbolism: By placing this symbol of a fish so high up on the wall, you are now living “below the fishes” which is not a natural pattern usually resulting in residents feeling depressed, stagnant, “underwater” or “can’t get their nose above water” or “drowning in debt”, etc. 2. Potentially …Read More

Feng Shui for your Child’s School Paper Overwhelm

By Karen
July 13, 2012
6 Comments

I recently got asked this question by a frustrated mom: School’s out and I’m overwhelmed with all the stuff that is left over. Do you have any ideas on how to get a grip on all the paper that my kids bring home from school so I’m prepared this fall? It got ahead of me this year but I don’t want to make that mistake again…I’m afraid it will take over my house if I don’t have a plan! Great feng shui question, so here’s my answer… I feel your pain sister! Kids bring home TONS of papers – it …Read More

Front Door Feng Shui

By Karen
February 21, 2012
5 Comments

It’s so simple of a concept, yet so many people miss the mark. According to feng shui principles, (and what I also think is common sense,) the easier it is for people to bring opportunities to your front door, the more you’ll have. So, how do you think THIS person is availing them selves to life’s opportunities? I feel like that one cactus is actually kind of “flipping me off!” Don’t get me wrong, as a landscape architect, I can appreciate a good punctuating “specimen”, but, well, we in the design world would probably be preaching “less is more” to …Read More

Time to Sift and Regift! Get Rid of the Holiday Clutter – “Stupid-to-you” Gifts!!

By Karen
January 10, 2012
0 Comments

If you are prone to guilt – hold onto your hats…this next statement may blow it right off your head! This week, is deadline week. The deadline is regarding everything you received as a gift over the holidays, AS WELL AS everything you purchased for yourself during the holiday season. If you have not: used it yet figured out how to use it installed it decided that you even like it then, you may have just picked up a “cling-on!” That’s right – we’ve got trouble my friend, right here in your city! That starts with T and that rhymes …Read More

You Can Start Small When DeCluttering

By Karen
January 5, 2012
4 Comments

First of all, I wanted to say that this entire blog post took me less than 5 minutes to do…most of the time was dedicated to technology issues. I wanted to see how fast I could make a difference in my house from a decluttering standpoint…so one quick trip to the kitchen was all I needed. I have been decluttering the cabinets over the weekend and I knew that had not gotten around to the storage cabinet so I knew it would not disappoint! Here is the before picture: And, in around 15 seconds, I turned it into this: I …Read More

Using Dried Flowers in Feng Shui – Q and A

By Karen
November 15, 2011
6 Comments

Question: I am confused regarding dried flowers/cut branches. I have several wreaths and branches. Should I remove all of them from my home? Is there any place in the home these are OK?   Answer: First of all, now that the holidays are here, I’d like to say that if you have some dried arrangement temporarily (let’s say a month or less) adorning your table or front porch, I don’t think the chi boogie man is going to come out and get you over it. If you like the look of a temporary arrangement like that and your energies (AKA …Read More

Move Your Stuff by Playing “Bigger or Better”

By Karen
October 18, 2011
2 Comments

Oh my gosh, the funniest thing happened. For a few weeks now, I’ve been collecting a pile of oddball items from the house that were either going to go towards a yard sale or head to the Assistance League…but of course,  I haven’t made time to do either yet. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. It was a bunch of neighborhood kids playing a type of scavenger hunt called “bigger or better.” Their job was to knock on doors in the neighborhood asking for something bigger or better then what they had. They offered me a colorful, little …Read More

Feng Shui Tips for the Bedroom for Health and Relationship Improvements

By Karen
September 28, 2011
12 Comments

On average, one third of your life is spent in your bedroom. I think it is practically impossible to “waste money” on creating the perfect bedroom as it is your most impacting room of your house! Here are my tips for bedrooms if your love life seems stale or is non-existent, or your health could use some improvement, or you are looking for a new or different outlook on life: #1 Remove anything that does not support love/passion and health/rest. If your bedroom looks more like an office or multi-purpose room, your environment is working against you. If you want …Read More

Feng Shui Success Stories

By Karen
September 7, 2011
0 Comments

#1 I had been reading here online and started moving my stuff a week ago. Without any notice, I suddenly received a letter saying that my salary was being increased. I then bought your book, which arrived on Friday 1/7/11. I had Friday off and came home and started reading and moving, adapting and cleaning, cleaning, cleaning and cleaning. I finished reading your entire book and cleaning 99.9% of my flat last night. I ached and ached but felt fantastic and went to bed but was suddenly awake 3.39am this morning and have been actively implementing more of your book …Read More

If It Is Worth A Lot Money, Is It Still Considered Clutter?

By Karen
August 20, 2011
1 Comment

After each and every de-cluttering story I write, I get many emails from people trying desperately to justify their “stuff.” Here’s the thing: if you are questioning whether it is clutter or not, it is. This note came in after I sent out my monthly newsletter about hoarding: Hi Karen, A childhood friend gave me the gifts of prints of Old Overcoats whose photos are now in the Smithsonian. He was a resident of McKeesport, PA, the town in which I grew up. He was called Old Overcoats b/c he wore several coats and was homeless. I appreciate the gesture, …Read More