Trash Can Punch

 

How is a simple thing like trash can placement affecting your space?

Feng Shui is a wonderful practice for bringing mindfulness and intention to your space. Even when you are not able to strictly adhere to the ideal version of every concept or principle, being aware and conscientious about your space will raise the vibration of it--and you-- through the application of your loving attention.

 

Today we take a look at the feng shui of the trash can. This humble servant of the home is incredibly useful for keeping a space tidy and hygienic, and yet placing it prominently in a room or space emphasizes what is not useful, what is being discarded or drained away, and when unattended, can create visual and olfactory (smell) disharmony that is unwelcoming and chaotic. Your trash is the way your home excretes and just as you would like your own body's excretion process to be smooth and regular to feel your best, so too is it important for that of your home.

 

Consider these guidelines for best trash can practices in feng shui, no matter where they are placed:

• Empty your bin immediately when there is an odor, and otherwise daily or weekly, at minimum. Daily bin emptying is required in many office building codes because trash poses a fire hazard. The energy of discarding is dull and stagnating and may lead to or attract blockages and hygienic hazards, as well.
  
  
• Blend your trash can with your decor. Choose a design that is attractive to you and matches with the room where it is placed. Discard and replace any trash bin that is broken or damaged or visually antithetical to your space immediately. The items in the receptacle are being discarded, but your bin is staying and should not detract from your energy every time you see it!
  
  
• Conceal your trash can or use one with a lid. A prominently placed trash creates a feeling of uselessness and waste in the entire space, emphasizing what is discarded and not what is helpful and beloved. A trash can stored under the sink or in a pull-out cabinet is wonderfully convenient and helpful for odor minimizing, but a well-chosen lidded version, discreetly-placed, works just as well.
  
  
• Size and number matters. When you have an outsized trash can or a space filled with trash bins, consider the implication for how much trash you are creating energetically with your life. The ideal locations for a trash can are in the kitchen and bathroom(s), where the most trash is typically generated. Keep the size moderate and empty them frequently.

It's most ideal not to place trash bins...

• at the entrance to your home (inside or out), which is where fresh energy is drawn in and enters your space (the mouth). Aside from detracting from the appeal and warmth of your home visually, a trash bin will sully this energy and opportunities and relationships may feel junky or worthless.
  
  
• next to your desk in an office (home or business), which is symbolic of throwing away opportunities. If a bin in this space is a must, try keeping it under your desk or in a less prominent space, as well as blending it with your decor and having a lid.
  
  
• in a living room or dining room, which detracts from the impact of the energy gathering, mixing, and amplifying
  
  
• in your bedroom, which detracts from restful sleep
  
  
• in the wealth section of your home, a room in your home, or office. How do I find this? There are a lot of answers to this question based on the school of feng shui and the facing direction of your house and the application of the bagua. One simple answer is that from the front door of the house or room or office, the wealth and prosperity section will be to the back, far left of the space. Practitioners who rely solely on the cardinal directions will say it is the southeast corner of a space. Either way, go with your intuition. If you walk into a room and can see the trash immediately, it is not an optimal placement.

Like these tips? If you are ready to embark on a restorative journey of creation that supports and nurtures you every day as you do whatever you're meant to do in life, it's time to create your high vibe home. If you would like to have an in-home consultation or personalized coaching on your timeline and with your specific needs in mind, I would be so honored to help you sort it out as your coach. Visit the contact page of my site to book a session or send me a message to set up a discovery call.