During the past decade or so, health-promoting Eastern traditions, like yoga, tai chi and green tea, have been slowly but steadily trickling into mainstream American culture.

Judging by magazine articles and the titles lining book store shelves, Americans are bringing the East into their homes, literally. Feng shui (pronounced fung shway,) is the ancient Chinese art of placement. Feng shui seeks to balance the energies of any given space, thereby bringing harmony and good fortune to that space and all who inhabit it.

Open any book about feng shui and you’ll find the first step is clearing clutter.

Clutter’s consequences might seem innocuous -- feeling frustrated because a roll of Scotch tape has gone AWOL just as you are last-minute wrapping a gift for your coworker’s baby shower or spilling coffee on that all-important document that should have been tucked neatly in your brief case but was instead sprawled across the countertop (next to the coffee pot) -- but according to feng shui, clutter has the power to stifle your career, thwart your finances and drain your mental energy, leaving you anxious and depressed.

Feng shui principles assert that every item in your home or office gives off its own vibration. The disorganized energy patterns that arise from clutter disrupt the flow of Qi (sounds like chi,) the Universe’s life force. And when Qi isn’t good, nothing is.

Clutter is defined as anything you don’t use or love.

Some feng shui experts recommend walking through your home or office touching every item you own, asking, “Do I love this? Do I use this?” If the answer is no, the item must go.

Using this principle, I ditched the brightly colored, hand-painted turtle figurine I bought myself as a souvenir from Arizona, a cute knickknack I could never quite find a place for.

However, I kept the Frida Kahlo tote my grandmother bought for me during that same Arizona trip. I use it on my weekly grocery outing in lieu of paper or plastic. Each time, I pause and smile, remembering my wonderful visit with my Sheehan grandparents in the Grand Canyon State.

Now, “love” is a strong word, and “use” can be ambiguous. For the not-so-clear cut items, there is the dated box method.

Collect items you’re reluctant to part with in a cardboard box, seal it shut (if you can find your Scotch tape) and label it with that day’s date. Next, choose a second date (a month or two, maybe a year) and write that date, too. Then, neatly place the box in storage. If the time period passes and you haven’t needed to open the box, you can now get rid of its contents.

I inadvertently tried the dated box method when I came across a box in my basement marked “misc.” It had been sitting, untouched, in my basement since last June when I first moved into my house. My curiosity kept goading me to open it, so I knew what “misc.” I was discarding.

It wasn’t easy, but I did it. Without peeking. It felt awesome.

Making the decision to release your belongings can be tough but finding a home for your relinquished goods is easy.

Nonprofit consignment shops like Volunteer Services, Grace Place and St. Vincent de Paul are happy to take your gently used clothing and household items.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore accepts furniture and building materials: http://www.winonarestore.org/

You can meet the future owners of your discarded goodies at the Really, Really Free Market, a sort of rogue rummage sale in which items and services are “sold” for one low price: $0. The next Free Markets will be held at 11 a.m. Aug. 24 and Sept. 21, at Gabryck/Sobieski Park on the far east end of town, on the corner of Eighth and Buchanan streets.

If you don’t want to haul your stuff away, groups such as the Epilepsy Foundation - Minnesota send a collection van straight to your boulevard to pick up donations. Just label your bags or boxes “EF” so the driver knows where to stop. Check the foundation’s Web site to find out when a van will be in your neighborhood: http://efmn.org/

You can list your unwanted items online at Winona’s Free Store: http://www.winonashares.org/ . If someone in the community is interested, they’ll come to your house and grab the goods. This is a great venue for mattresses, desks, TVs, entertainment centers or baby furniture and toys.

Lastly, there’s always the curb.

If, like me, you want advice from a professional, Community Education is offering four two-hour home organization classes, including “Clutter Control” and “Home Paper Management 101,” for $8 each, led by professional organizer Donna Fakler of It’s About Time Organizing Services. I’ll be there.

Register online at: https://ssl.dwebsite.com/secure2/ce_winona/php/public.php?action=listClasses&categoryId=6&programId=4

Food for thought: “Cleanliness becomes more important when godliness is unlikely.” -- P.J. O'Rourke