Decluttering with Harry Potter

A second weekend of being a homebody...I have truly been enjoying the mundane simple chores of washing dishes, laundry, organizing, cleaning out unneeded things finding a home for everything. I feel very successful and accomplished. I have realized that it has been a year since I have had this time to clean out my home, my closet, etc. A year? I know. Long overdue for a deep cleaning. Weeding through the clutter that surrounds me is not heartbreaking, but time consuming and uplifting.

A Harry Potter marathon is playing in the background, a great break here and there in between chores. I am reminded about the depth of the yogic idea of "cleanliness" or sauca, meaning purity and cleanliness, the first niyama. Sauca has both an inner and an outer aspect. Outer cleanliness simply means keeping ourselves clean besides taking a shower and personal hygiene. The idea that "cleanliness is next the Godliness" has truth in it. Spring/Fall cleaning, decluttering, feug shui and also relates to the fifth yama, Aparigraha, which means to take only what is necessary, and not to take advantage of a situation or act greedy. If we only take what we have earned; if we take more, we are exploiting someone else. The yogi feels that the collection or hoarding of things implies a lack of faith in God and in himself to provide for his future.  Aparigraha also implies letting go of our attachments to things and an understanding that impermanence and change are the only constants. So bye, bye to items I don't use or will never get around to fixing or no longer need. One's outward cleanliness is said to reflect their inner cleanliness. I do feel lighter in my kitchen when it is clean.  Inner cleanliness has as much to do with the healthy, free functioning of our bodily organs as with the clarity of our mind. Practicing asanas or pranayama are essential means for attending to this inner sauca. Asanas tones the entire body and removes toxins while pranayama cleanses our lungs, oxygenates our blood and purifies our nerves. "But more important than the physical cleansing of the body is the cleansing of the mind of its disturbing emotions like hatred, passion, anger, lust, greed, delusion and pride." I guess I have it backwards...I need to refocus on how to keep my external environment clutter free and my on the clean side of things...so the mind and emotional clutter isn't so easy to hang on to....