Have you ever wondered what to do with the belongings of a loved one who has passed away? It’s a tough situation, but according to feng shui, there are some guidelines worth following.
As painful as it is, holding on to everything can actually bring you down and make it tough to accept what happened. At the same time, remembering them in a good way is important, too. The trick is finding a balance between keeping what makes you smile and letting go of what makes you sad.
If someone close to you died recently, here are some ideas on how to thoughtfully deal with their things.
Deceased Loved One’s Belongings: Keep Them or Let Them Go?
According to feng shui, it’s important to let go of belongings from loved ones who have passed away. Keeping them in your space can negatively impact your energy and make it difficult to move on.
Clearing out what was theirs lets you clean up both the physical space and your emotions. This allows you to make room for new opportunities and relationships to come into your life. If you hold onto everything they owned, you might feel like you’re stuck in the past instead of moving ahead.
But letting go of their belongings doesn’t mean you have to throw it all away! You can donate what you don’t want anymore, give items to people who may need them, or store them somewhere other than where you live, like in an outside garage or shed.
You don’t necessarily need to get rid of them, but I’d keep them out of the main areas of the house, like the bedroom and living room. It’s probably best to put them somewhere outside or in another part of the home, away from where you spend most of your time. Keeping them separated from the main living spaces is a good idea.
Your Space Should Have “Living” Energy
Deceased belongings carry the energy of the past with them. While keeping mementos to honor loved ones who have passed is understandable, too many deceased belongings in your home can weigh it down with “dead” or “non-living” energy and make it difficult to move forward.
In feng shui, non-living energy is anything that is not beneficial for you. For example:
- ashes of pets or deceased loved ones
- belonging of deceased loved ones or pets
- old receipts or documents
- dust, dirt, spiderwebs
Avoid Keeping Deceased Belongings In Bedrooms or Living Areas
If keeping some belongings, place them in storage or designate a separate area of the home for them. Bedrooms and living areas should be reserved for the energy of the living.
As hard as it is to let go, leaving a loved one’s possessions in the places you sleep or relax can disrupt the energy of the space. You may find it difficult to truly unwind knowing their clothes are still hanging in the closet or photos of them are all around. And guests coming over probably won’t feel super comfortable, either.
Perform A Cleansing Ritual
After sorting through belongings, perform a cleansing ritual like smudging with sage or ringing a bell to help release any trapped energy. Open windows to improve airflow. This refreshes the space and gives the remaining belongings a clean slate energetically before bringing them back into your home. Even on a cold day, just open them for 10 minutes or so to refresh the energy. All that new air flowing in does wonders for making the space feel light and bright again. It’s like giving the room a restart so whatever you bring back into it doesn’t have the burden of the past weighing it down.
How to Respectfully Handle A Deceased Loved One’s Belongings
When a loved one passes away, their belongings can be a painful reminder of the loss. However, according to feng shui principles, it’s best to handle these items respectfully. Avoid throwing or giving them away too hastily.
Take Your Time
Don’t feel rushed to go through your loved one’s belongings immediately. Give yourself space to grieve before making big decisions. When you’re ready, go slowly and be gentle with yourself. Have close ones with you for support.
Keep What Sparks Joy
Keep items that hold cherished memories or that your loved one used often. These familiar belongings provide solace and help you stay connected to happy times together. Whether it’s their favorite shirt or kitchen gadget, save what sparks joy.
Donate The Rest
Donate or gift other useful items to people or places your loved one supported. This allows their belongings to continue bringing purpose, which feng shui says helps their spirit rest peacefully. Call local charities, shelters or places of worship to arrange pickups or drop-offs.
Share Stories
As you handle each belonging, share stories with friends and family. Reminisce about the item’s significance and the role it played in your loved one’s life. This helps honor them and the memories you made together. Their things may be gone, but the joy they brought lives on.
Závěrečné slovo
As much as keeping mementos of loved ones who have passed can bring comfort, according to feng shui principles it’s best not to clutter your space with belongings from the deceased. While it may be difficult, clearing out those items will help create room for new energy and opportunities in your life.
Make sure to go slowly and be gentle with yourself during the process. And if you’re having trouble parting with something, try taking a photo of the item or selecting a few special pieces to keep in a memory box. Your space and your spirit will feel lighter as a result. The memories will remain while making space for new joy and meaning.