'By tidying so much, I've learned all things have spirit in them' - Marie Kondo

Image | Marie Kondo

Caption: Decluttering sensation Marie Kondo. (photo by: Natsuno Ichigo)

Audio | Tapestry : Marie Kondo

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We're going to be straight with you: we strongly suspect the decluttering craze sparked by Marie Kondo(external link), author of the bestselling The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up(external link) and Spark Joy(external link) is about something more than getting rid of all your junk.
In fact, in this episode of Tapestry, we suggest that people all over the world are smitten with the "KonMari Method" - and the #konmari hashtag(external link) where people post their before and after photos - because she's touching on something a little more profound than simple housekeeping.
You may have heard about it: you touch your old sweater, or book, or teapot, to see whether or not it "sparks joy". If it does, you keep it. If it doesn't, you thank it for its life of service to you… and then you let it go.

Image | Marie Kondo living room

(from Spark Joy by Marie Kondo)

This is part of the process that Marie Kondo outlines in her KonMari Method. When you explore the philosophy behind her thinking, you begin to find a resemblance to many of the tenets of Shinto, a Japanese religion whose origins date back many centuries.
Kondo was a "miko", a Shinto shrine attendant, for five years and her method reflects the tradition's guiding principle of respecting the life-force in all things - even in 'inanimate' objects.

Image | Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

Caption:

CONTEST CLOSED: Win a copy of Marie Kondo's latest book Spark Joy

We have three copies of Marie Kondo's latest book, Spark Joy: The Illustrated Guide to The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up(external link), to give away.
To enter your name into the draw, send us an email: tapestry@cbc.ca.
Click here(external link) to read the CBC's generic contest rules.