Clutterquake 8th Anniversary

“Out of clutter, find simplicity. From discord, find harmony. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

  — Albert Einstein


Hmmm. Eight years ago I started this blog because I felt a need to clear clutter from my life. I have not done so well in sorting through boxes of papers and old photos, closets, and individual drawers. And now? Time is moving along and I feel stuck and panicky with the clutter still in my life. The physical stuff that is in my way compounds to become mental clutter, which, in turn, negatively affects my mental and physical health.

I am sick of it. That's all. I will let you know what steps I take to ensure that in no way could I compose a similar post on the ninth anniversary of Clutterquake. I hope this is the important first step.
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time for emptying

Living in open hibernation
with jade-hued trees —
Water features in their lives,
      and in mine.

The sky takes
notice - shows a sheen more
glowing than my heart's
golden light in this temple
of stone and glass emptying
of itself.

Soon, clouds follow and
the sacred forest listens
as my temple hums and
glistens, emptying.

   ~~~

I wrote this for a writing prompt at my other blog, but afterward thought how it fit here as well. I have been remiss in posting at this blog. That may change as I think I need to use it as therapy in emptying my house of yet more "things" that I do not want.

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Above: 'villa cipea' in nanjing, china by sanaksenaho architects ltd, 2009 Image from the 'contemporary architecture in finland' exhibition at kunst merano, italy.
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Wabi Water 2 by Trevett Allen



New Year Resolve    
         -by May Sarton


The time has come

To stop allowing the clutter

To clutter my mind

Like dirty snow,

Shove it off and find

Clear time, clear water.


Time for a change,

Let silence in like a cat

Who has sat at my door

Neither wild nor strange

Hoping for food from my store

And shivering on the mat.


Let silence in.

She will rarely speak or mew,

She will sleep on my bed

And all I have ever been

Either false or true

Will live again in my head.


For it is now or not

As old age silts the stream,

To shove away the clutter,

To untie every knot,

To take the time to dream,

To come back to still water.



I was surprised to realize how long it had been since posting at this blog. Ironically, the reasons all have to do with clutter, of one sort or another, currently in my life. I owe thanks to Annie at
A Tidings of Magpies for posting this wonderful poem at New Years at her blog. It is telling that a month elapsed before I got around to posting it here. Might be time for me to pay attention to my reasons for creating this blog....


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