Whether you are a Chinese or not, here are some of the tips you can consider to prepare your home and welcome the Year of the Monkey on a high note.
The first thing you can do is to declutter. It's always nice to see everything clean and organized, isn't it? Since it is Chinese New Year, you have the excuse to get all OC and put things in order. Energy therapist and Feng Shui educator Mellisa Yamaguchi, via Asian Journal, recommends getting rid of old files, including old business cards, saying that they are "old information and old money spent."
While decluttering, you may find things that you don't just want to dispose of to the garbage. Gather items that you know will still be useful to others and donate them to, say, charity. "When we are stagnated by things that are old, it really blocks new energy from coming in," Yamaguchi said.
Now that your house is neat and clean, go decorate it with some items for the Chinese New Year. The Straits Times has a number of suggestions including red poufs, porcelain sets, gold tea pots and paper flower vase. Some of these items are actually good to retain all-year-round because they bring color and brighten up your house. You can also add plants, particularly those that are fit for the festivities, such as flowering and fruit plants. Learn how to choose and take care of them with the tips from another article on The Straits Times.
Pay your outstanding bills and debts, including utility bills, even just in partial if you can't afford all as "a symbol of positive action," according to feng-shui.lovetoknow.com. By clearing off what you owe, you are "tying up past issues and problems."
If you're up for some Chinese tradition to attract positive energy and good luck into your home, you may want to try the Qi Cleansing Ritual following the guidelines from feng-shui.lovetoknow.com.
