“From the Vault” - Your Clutter is a Teacher with Star Hansen

“If we don't attack the heart of the issue - the fear, guilt, and shame in our lives that cause us to buy what we don't really need - we are going to use that clutter to build our own prisons and keep us from connecting with others.” ~ Kathi Lipp

Welcome to Exploring the Seasons of Life: Travel Edition! I’m so glad you’re here. I’m excited to bring you some of our earliest episodes this November and December—stories that delve into beginnings, endings, and everything in-between.

Every Friday, we’ll revisit these "from the vault" episodes and reflect on the moments that truly shape our journeys. So, let’s embrace the twists and turns of life’s transitions together, each one bringing us closer to where we’re meant to be.

 Your Clutter is a Teacher with Star Hansen was originally released on August 24, 2021

Guest Introduction: 

I’m Cindy MacMillan and welcome to Exploring the Seasons of Life. You’re listening to episode 73.

This podcast is for women with a big heart on a spiritual journey. Each week I interview coaches and spiritual explorers about beginnings, endings + the messy bits in-between. Self-love, well-being and mindset are at the heart of our conversations because once you change the inside, the outside will begin to change as well.

If this is your first time joining me, I’m especially glad you’re here. I often say this podcast that has followed the breadcrumbs of my own interests and healing journey. 

Today’s interview is part of a self-care series called Life in Full Bloom: Living From the Inside Out and I am delighted to introduce my guest today, Star Hansen.

Star Hansen is a Certified Professional Organizer and Clutter Whisperer who helps people use their clutter to overcome blocks in their lives. Her unique approach has been featured on HGTV, OWN, TLC, Style, A&E, and TEDx.

Here’s a glimpse of our conversation:

Hi, Star. Thanks so much for joining me today.

2:00 I'm in the middle of developing a class right now called The Meaning of Stuff that's launching in September. It's so incredible, because my whole career, I've been able to track what the clutter means, like what the symbolism of people's where you have your clutter and what your clutter is, tells me a whole story about your life. 

3:33 You know, it's funny because when you think about it, it's disorder, it’s untidy, clutter is it's a crowd, it's a mess. And yet, and yet something can look like a mess to one person and feel like home to someone else. So, it's subjective. 

5:11 I was on the phone with a client for two hours today, discerning the symbolism of their storage areas, and how it's not just, it's not cut and dry. It's like an onion, there's, you know, you're not a simple being, we're complex beings as humans, and we have lots of, you know, emotions and, you know, journeys tied in. 

16:56 Or maybe you make a sign that says creative party in place. And you know, create a party in progress and you hang it on the wall. And you say you can come in. But this is a laboratory of creativity, and you don't mess with my creative Juju. Like you just claim that you set that intention. That's like yeah, that's not welcome here because we're in the middle of something. 

18:29 So the interesting thing about clutter is that it is rarely one sided. So, the client I was talking to today, her clutter was inviting her to step into her purpose to really choose to step into her purpose. At the same time, that clutter was inviting her to punish herself. So, it was doing both. 

28:21 So keeping an entire house of stuff doesn't serve us because the more we keep the less we see. And what I've done for the people that I love dearly who've passed away is I'll create a box or two of items from them that mean the most to me. So, journals, clothes, things that smell like them, like I had my grandpa's shirt in a Ziplock bag for years before the smell went away. But what you want to do is create a box or somewhere that you can go and revisit that loved one.

37:23 Thank you so much, Cindy, this was such a treat. And thank you to everyone for listening. It's really wonderful to connect energetically with you all.

You can find Star Hansen at:

 Website Instagram Facebook YouTube

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Thanks again, Until next time live inspired!