The Questions That Make Decluttering Books So Much Easier

I'm about to suggest something that may make you want to unfollow me.

Just promise me that you’ll consider my suggestion - if even a tiny bit - before you do.

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THE SUGGESTION….

Look at all of your books and see if there are any that need to be decluttered.

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I know. Books are sacred. Especially to my writers, creatives, and spiritual seekers.

But books can sit on our shelves for years without us realizing what energy they're carrying — and every belonging in your space has the power to raise or lower your vibration.

If you had asked me a week ago whether I had any books to declutter, I would have told you no. I’m good.

And then I read a news article.

It was about Deepak Chopra’s association with Jeffrey Epstein — including some of their email exchanges. It made my stomach turn.

My first thought was: I don’t have any Deepak Chopra books. My second thought was: Maybe I should double check.

Sure enough, What Are You Hungry For was nestled amongst the wellness books on my shelf.

I took it out and started thinking about what to do with it. Donating didn’t feel right. But in feng shui, we love rituals — especially ones that invoke the element of fire, which transmutes energy. So out came my witchy cauldron, where I burned the book cover.

Some authors, it turns out, you just don't want in your home anymore.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT BOOKS TO DECLUTTER

I know decluttering books can feel difficult, so I’ve compiled a list of questions you can ask yourself to help determine if your book falls into the keep or let go pile.

The very last one is the question I asked before letting go of my Deepak Chopra book.

THE PRACTICAL

• Do I have space for this book? Or is it overcrowding the books that I really love?

• Is it a reference book that’s outdated?

• Is it a reference book where I can more readily find the information elsewhere?

• Could I easily replace this book if I later decided I wanted/needed it?

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THE HONEST

• Is this a reference book that I’m actually using? Or am I just keeping it because I think it should be useful?

• Is this book part of a collection that’s meaningful to me?

• If I’ve already read the book, will I realistically re-read it?

• If I haven’t read the book, will I realistically read it in the next year?

• Have I started reading the book multiple times, but never finished it?

• Does this book have sentimental value that’s truly meaningful (not rooted in guilt)?

• Am I keeping this book because I think I should read it, or because I genuinely want to?

• Do I feel joy and curiosity when I pick up this book — or obligation and guilt?

• If I didn’t already own this book, would I seek it out?

• Was this book a gift I’m keeping out of loyalty to the giver rather than love of the book?

• Am I keeping this book for future generations — or is that just an excuse to hold onto memories I’m afraid of losing?

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THE ENERGETIC

• Am I keeping this book as physical proof of some aspect of my identity?

• Has my relationship with this author or their ideas changed since I bought it?

• Would I want to invite this author into my living room?

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NOW OVER TO YOU

Have your feelings about an author ever changed the way you feel about their book? I'd love to hear your story.

Let me know in the comments.

xoxo
Dorena
Space Doula®