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Year Of The Fire Monkey. Tune In. Turn On. Take Action.

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Your inner comedian is waiting.

February 8, 2016 begins the Year of The Fire Monkey. And no joking, loquacious Monkey is going to flip the year on its head with mirth and laughter. After two years of intense, focused Wood energy, optimism will rise and hidden intuitions will surface. Featured themes are mixing things up, creative change and taking risks. Monkey’s enthusiasm, need for stimulation and play, plus their inquisitive nature naturally lightens the mood. Their infectious sparkle will indeed rub off on you. Your energy will be bright, upbeat and you will just feel good about your ambitions with a plentiful supply of courage to push you out of your comfort zone and into action.

Yang Fire dominates Metal and will weaken Metal. However it doesn’t create a danger because Monkey is a strong Metal Element. Fire melts Metal and when Metal becomes fluid it means change will happen quickly. The two elements create the atmosphere for spending money, especially on travel and trendy items. Flexibility and humor are assets to cultivate and will serve you well in this Monkey Year. Expect anything can happen because it will. And watch for deception or you could be taken advantage of. Have your senses about you in all your dealings, especially concerning your finances and business.

Communication predominates and witty repartee will highlight social interactions. We will find our inner comedian and enjoy the spontaneity of conversation. There is better than good luck available but it will be random. Cleverness and the ability to solve problems will be enhanced. Taking small risks, original ideas and style will receive recognition and rewards.

Fire emits joy but the flip side is feeling scattered and disorganized which leads to frustration. Tempers will flare but move on quickly. Don’t be surprised if you feel impetuous which could lead to giving something valuable away or acting in ways that are not in alignment with your values. Think first!

Monkey’s continuous dialogue and Fire’s excitement may keep you up at nights. Balance your life with relaxation. Baths, walks in Nature, qigong and yoga will help settle a restless mind. The nervous system will be affected, possible nerve pain and we may see more cases of Shingles than previous years. Fire depletes Water. Watch out for inflammatory conditions of the kidneys and the bladder. Be careful about fire in your home, burns and accidents. On the upside the Metal element present your efforts to exercise, watch your diet and lose weight will be rewarded.

Entertainment, fashion, marketing/advertising, real estate, home remodel and renovations, food business, automobile industry, banking are favored. High tech can expect a decline. Airline industry will not do well and there may be more accidents. The popularity of drones and robots will increase.

What’s happening to your Chinese Zodiac animal this year? Well you might want to hang on to your knickers! Here is a brief synopsis of what’s coming up in the Year of the Fire Monkey.

H.H. Grandmaster Lin Yun Rinpoche taught us that, “When the Snake meets the Monkey all will be overcome by their capable wisdom.” The Snake is the most compatible sign to the Monkey but check your Zodiac animal reading to be sure the the Snake is the appropriate animal to carry or wear for 2016.

Rat It’s a banner year with the Rat forming a Golden Triangle with the Monkey. Expect lucky connections that reward your ambitions. Very likely you will receive a promotion. You might consider starting your own business or if self-employed expanding your business. Your confidence and health are at their best. Finances are good. Romance is happy. Be mindful of jealousy. Balance the need for fame and exposure and being humble in your dealings with people. Social life is enhanced. Your health is good but watch your kidneys. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Ox Luck is average. Remain slow and steady and stay home more often. The quiet life will serve you best this year. In order to avoid pitfalls, do not gamble. You will make money when you focus on your career not from speculation. If you are married your relationship will improve. If you are single look for a partner. You will see improvements by the end of the year. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Tiger People born in year of Tiger clash against the year. It’s okay to move your home, change jobs or travel. But take extra precaution, don’t engage in risky sports like driving an airplane, scuba diving, driving fast cars or parachuting. Heed Chinese superstition of the year and do not gamble nor speculate. Money may come and go. Romance is a bit complicated and family life tense but even with these setbacks your professional career will be good. In your health be aware of sharp objects. Chanting the Five Thunders for protection. Ask me how to get this mantra. Carry the Dragon and the Rat for good luck.There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”. Performing “The Golden Cicada” three nights in a row at Chinese Lunar New Year is advised. Ask me how you can acquire this ceremony.

Rabbit You will be surrounded by Helpful People and your compatibility with peers will also be enhanced. Your reputation is your good fortune more than money this year. Keep your coins in your pocket, do not wander into gambling casinos. Avoid speculating on the stock market or start up businesses. Team work is favored and business partnerships. Don’t engage in risky sports and be careful around sharp objects  otherwise your overall health is good. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake to make your good luck even be better. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Dragon Dragon and Monkey form a Golden Harmony. You will do well financially with help from other people. Building a nest egg will be easy if you stay focused on work. Reach out to elders and young people, the year favors these type of positive relationships. If you are married give extra attention to your spouse and children. Because Metal is sharp objects be especially mindful of using sharp utensils. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake to make your good luck even be better. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Snake You are Monkey’s “secret friend” which gives you special status and the enjoyment of good luck but be mindful of minor conflicts. Controversies might rise. Stay low key in order to get things done. Your money luck is strong this year and will help you with investments. If you haven’t diversify your portfolio, look into it. Personal relations will go smoothly. If you are not married consider tying the knot. If you are married listen more and be loving. Your overall health is better than in years past. Be careful when driving. Carry a three dimensional Snake for good luck. Carry a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Horse Good luck and good fortune are highlighted. A year to travel by cruise ship or train will be relaxing ways to get up close and personal. Your finances will be plentiful more so than your fame. The more authority you have, the more money you can make. Be on the look out for love triangles. And if you are married, beware of extra-marital relations. If you are single, focus on work. Not a year for romance. Your health is favorable but be careful when driving or using knives. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Ram There is some clash with the Year God. Communication can be misconstrued and misunderstandings can ruin a great relationship. Before you speak swallow your saliva three times. You could be accident prone carry a three dimensional image of the Snake. Good news your wealth luck is stable. Be conservative in your investments. Not the year to pursue a relationship if you are single. Pay attention to your blood pressure, stay hydrated and don’t let your thoughts run away. Take needed time to be alone. Pursue you artistic sensibilities to release and relax. Performing “The Golden Cicada” three nights in a row at Chinese Lunar New Year is advised. Ask me how you can acquire this ceremony. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Monkey You sit atop the Year God. You may be given to party all night long which leads to overstimulation and exhaustion. Have fun but keep your sights on balance. You will naturally be more of what you are: funny, witty and charming. But remember to be tactful. Starting a career in the healing professions is ideal (and heals you). Your wealth luck is good. You will receive opportunities to get a promotion. If you are self-employed the energy favors expanding your business. Gambling is not advised. Performing “The Golden Cicada” three nights in a row at Chinese Lunar New Year is advised. Ask me how you can acquire this ceremony. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Rooster A good year for you. Helpful People flock to you and your finances are stable. Your interpersonal relationships are glowing. Your reputation supersedes your finances so make strong connections. You may be occupied with more than one romance. Enjoy the variety and act responsibly. If you are married beware of extra-marital relations. If you are single find a matchmaker and get serious about a life long partner. Enjoy your circle of friends. Your health overall will be good. “Receiving Auspicious Ch’i” improves love relationships as well as career. Ask me how you can acquire this ceremony. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Dog Mobility is featured. You might move your home or travel. Your money luck comes not from investments but the good relationships you form. If you are married focus on being more loving. An opportunity for marriage may present itself but not without making your Feng Shui suitable. Place your bed in command and if possible move the bedroom to the back of the house. Include colors of love: pink, peach (until you find your partner them move that color out), green to maintain health and yellow for stability. Plants raise the oxygen levels and that clears the brain for communication. A stable headboard, (doesn’t necessarily have to be wood or solid and definitely not metal which increases the electro-magnetic frequencies) joins you with your partner. “Receiving Auspicious Ch’i” improves love relationships as well as career. Ask me how you can acquire this ceremony. Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Pig A very auspicious year! Heaven, Earth, money luck are all good. Your relationships will go well. Your finances are stable. With your generous nature you help friends financially, buy don’t go into business partnerships. You may feel deserted and feelings of loneliness will come up where romance is concerned. “Receiving Auspicious Ch’i” improves love relationships as well as career. Ask me how you can acquire this ceremony. Be understanding and forgiving with family, there may be some volatility under foot. However your social contacts are fine. A good year for health. You will feel vibrant! Carry Monkey’s secret friend, a three dimensional Snake for good luck. There is a ceremony that turns this lucky animal into a sacred talisman. It is included in the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”.

Thank you Paul Ng and Khadro Crystal Chu  for your inspiration.

Ritual celebrations help us link to the past. It strengthens our ties and builds our Ch’i. Celebrations are necessary for society and for the individual–for they are about cultural identity, life transitions and personal discovery. The Chinese believe they form a spiritual protection against unseen forces. Creating stability leads to success and prosperity.

I have put together the main ceremonies in “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”+ Two Bonus Cures with a special lucky cure and the Three Secret Reinforcements (body, mind, speech) to amplify your intentions. Cost: $36 discounted to $27 + nine red envelopes (allow time for mailing the red envelopes to me).

Perform these good fortune traditions on Chinese Lunar New Year’s Eve (Year of the Fire Monkey in the US is February 7, 2016), along with thousands, our collective wishes strengthen each other’s intentions and empowers our actions.

Welcome the Wealth Gods Bring the Wealth Gods right into your home with this midnight tradition. Fortunate blessings, safety, protection, better health and prosperity accompany their blessings for the year to come.

The Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell Remove all work problems, relationship problems, all the things that are not going well in your life, health problems and bad luck. In this ceremony you are peeling them off like the shell from the egg. Your true self, your good chi can surface from the crust of life’s difficulties and you can attract what you desire with a clear heart.

Changing The Chi Of The House and Transforming The Fortunes For Individuals and Residences Space clear and bless your home. Eliminate the residue of old patterns, negativities and resentments. It wakes up the house with fragrance and invites new beginnings and happy chi (which by its nature attracts good health, abundant wealth, fame and prosperity).

Bonus, Cure For Uncomfortable Fluctuations Ceremony for when business and personal life are going up and down, up and down. If your health or finances are swinging from bad to worse.

Bonus, The Red Slipper Cure It can stop with the occurrence of bad luck. If you are at the end of your rope this maybe the perfect cure for you.

Secret lucky cure, Receiving Auspicious Ch’i  This method can be used to attract all the good fortune, health and abundance that light up on a wedding day. If you want to be married, try this method. It can also bring good fortune to the proceedings of a legal battle, worry about finances or trials of a marriage.

Three Secret Reinforcements The main amplifying tool for any cure or adjustment in the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui. It is a ritual way of adding extra strength to any cure. It is an active blessing that combines three mystical ingredients of body, mind and speech.

Contact me via email: bette@shenmenfengshui.com to order your packet.

Gong Xi Fa Cai! May you experience supreme good health, boundless good luck and infinite prosperity!

The Meaning Behind Chinese Lunar New Year
The Five Fold Happiness are five attributes the Chinese honor, cultivate and renew every Chinese Lunar New Year celebration. I have included folkloric customs of what to display and activities to do at Chinese Lunar New Year’s eve. 

One thing I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

 

January 9 New Moon I Holy Cow!

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“We rise by lifting others.”
–Robert Ingorsoll

Will this new moon bring a horns of a dilemma or a precautionary tail?  The last month before Chinese Lunar New Year is referred to as the “tail end of the year”. For the next 28 days take time to be aware. Take a sniff, look about and when the coast is clear, tread softly and lend an ear. A kind word can curb that cute curly Ram tail from sending you high flying. 

Ox loves to help. The beautiful bovine is steady, practical, perseveres and has great strength, qualities that serve us in meeting life’s challenges. With the post holiday stress it is the perfect time to take account of how you feel. But it requires that you slow down. One way is to fit a few moments of exercise into your lifestyle. Not as a resolution but an opportunity to listen to your body. Go for something different: a yoga program, walking the neighbor’s dog, swimming at the community pool….The social time and the good it does for your body and spirit enliven your Ch’i. Choose something that energizes you and you enjoy and most of all invite a friend to join you. The mantra, “I am committed to my well being.” can also read, ”I am committed to my friend’s well being too.”

A bit of divine guidance can bring fruitful results. Here are soundbites for you in the Month of the Ox. Rat: the Heavens are watching. If you working diligently, Helpful People will come to your aide. “Once you have gathered a favorable time, an advantageous locality and the support of the people involved, prosperity will come to you.” Ox: it’s a mixed bag. Some good luck, some not so good. Watch your spending and financial loss. At work avoid getting into fights. Perform a good deed each day to turn events in your favor. Tiger: celebrations and worries. Good luck and bad. Your career is going well but take precaution against exhaustion. You may find friends and family turn against you. Meet it head on and resolve the matter. Rabbit: big emotional ups and downs but if you chant the Heart Calming Mantra, Gate Gate Para Gate, Para Sam Gate Bodhi Swaha, nine times, you will have the clarity to be objective and come to a resolution. Perform good deeds to help you get past any adversity. Dragon: a month to be flexible and open minded but know to quit when you are ahead. Avoid talking about others and listening to rumors. Snake: a Three Harmony month! Bad luck turns good and your spirits are lifted. If you want to win an argument use tolerance and appeal to the other person’s senses. Don’t visit funerals or grave sites. Horse: you luck has gone south. Work through issues in a low profile and diligent manner. Focus on family harmony, arguments may bring you bad luck. Ram: a month of “Direct Conflict”. Beware of financial loss and traffic accidents. Do not take risks with investments that appear precarious. Monkey: overall you are lucky and everything goes well. Help others gladly, perform a good deed daily to accumulate virtue and increase your merits. Rooster: a Three Harmony month! Everything should run smoothly. Prosperity is yours. Listen to experts for advice, especially in the case of your career. And help out with the health of a family member. Dog: a ”Mutually Offensive” month. Take time for self reflection and correct your mistakes. Blaming others is like spitting in the wind, it comes back to you. Pig: though you receive a lot of money this month be aware of unknown disasters.

Chinese Lunar Year’s Eve is February 7, 2016. In my next blog I will share an opportunity for you to join in the celebrations, Zodiac Friends! May all your wishes come true!

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have questions about your home? Design it with vitality and beauty and feel at ease with Feng Shui A La Carte.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Sacred Space: Incubate Your Dreams In 2016

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“Sacred space is an absolute necessity for anybody today. You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes to you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.”
– Joseph Campbell

Contrary to belief that winter is a season of sleep, there is evidence it is a transformative time. While plants and wildlife slumber in dormant bliss, celestial events conspire to help us prepare for the deep well of opportunities coming this year. Winter Solstice the light returns to the Northern hemisphere. The days lengthen and swell with the increasing light. January 1, our inner light is ignited with the entrance of the a new year. Midpoint between Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox, February 4, “Lichun”, the light of Spring arrives. Bursting through the frost, the hearty, winter plum blossom exemplifies forging ahead and so we tackle our plans. The timed cues between Heaven and Earth remind our spirit to renew our vow to ourself and the year ahead. 

Our spirit is the mystical, intangible part of our nature and important because it knows precisely when to act and what makes us happy. If we fail to recognize its value, joy remains beyond our grasp. This is reason alone to honor its place within us and create a space of its own. The highly respected Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth, says of sacred space, “To live in a sacred space is to live in a symbolic environment where spiritual life is possible, where everything around you speaks of the exaltation of the spirit….This is the place of creative incubation…Your sacred space is where you find yourself again and again.”

If you’ve always written out your resolutions it might time to blend them with a spatial solution. Here are some basics to help you create a sacred space that will give you the support you need to incubate your dreams in 2016. You want it to be comfortable and away from noise. It can be a bedroom, study, workspace, a corner of a room, chair or your backyard. Keep in mind it is an intentional space that quiets your mind, frees you from stress and provides peace and healing. 

Create an altar or area where you can place special items to heightened your awareness of withdrawing from the world and honoring time alone. You may place fresh cut flowers, life force such as a plant or plants, an aquarium or a water fountain. Sights and sounds should be pleasing and meaningful. Scent is also a powerful tool to follow a path of awakening. A diffuser or dish of orange or lemon essential oil bring clarity or place a bowl of nine oranges. These add color and good fortune. Burning incense is a form of prayer. These methods engage your five senses and enhance the purification of your mind. If your space only has room for a table with a candle, add natural elements such as a shell from a favorite beach, a rock from a lakeshore or a special piece of wood that you picked up from the mountains. If there is a deity that is near to your heart, a statue or a painting is appropriate. If it is a Buddha statue like Quan Yin, Green Tara or Amitabha Buddha honor it with water offerings, food offerings, incense and candles that are placed on a tier below. Devote 5-30 minutes a day to meditate, journal, read or draw. At first you might feel resistance to getting started but if you select a time each day you can commit to, the demands of the world will vanish as you fall in love with this quiet, still time in your day. And when you leave give gratitude to your space for giving you sustenance and joy.

Have questions about your home? Want to feel more vitality and joy?. There are tried and true Feng Shui design principles that my clients share have garnered them success. I want you too to receive the same opportunity so I created Feng Shui A La Carte to get you there.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

December 11 New Moon. Dancing With The Stars.

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“That’s what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, get all tangled up, just tango on.”
–Lieutenant Colonel Frank, Slade, Scent of a Woman

Dancing with the stars and the December new moon, Rat skillfully glides onto heaven’s indigo sky. Rat, the first animal of the Chinese Zodiac is associated with water, the start of life and wise souls are they. Life shows up for everyone as an occasional unexpected event or un-welcomed change but with Rat’s clever mind, quick-witted response and steady persistence, he/she can untangle a difficult situation and tango on with ease. Grounded, peaceful, social and caring, Rat is devoted to friends and family. Love runs deep and when things go sour, they can easily get their toes stepped on. However with philosophical perseverance, they gracefully two step through sorrow to come back to their inherent disposition of peace, hope and happiness. If conflict arises, take a hint from Rat and tango on. The holidays are here to enjoy!

For some Chinese zodiac animals the month may feel like a switch in tempo. Be prepared with these Month of the Rat soundbites if your dance partner waltzes you into a fox trot and onto a rumba. Rat: helpful people are watching your back but it is not an excuse to drive in the fast lane. Be conservative and you will easily gain what you desire. A month to focus on harmony in relationships. Ox: a Six Harmony month! The auspicious energy will have you feeling your best. Wealth luck is extremely good. Potential for a wedding or special occasion is in the air. Besides all this luck continue to perform good deeds then your success will take little effort. Tiger: a good month to be reserved. Speaking could lead to mistakes. The stars indicate accidents or disasters could happen. You could be offered a promotion, accept it! Rabbit: focus on family and your partner this month. Your finances are on the upswing. You have the opportunity to make money from proper and alternative sources. Perform good deeds to help you get past any adversity. Dragon: a red banner month! Career, happiness, wealth and good fortune find their way to you. Helpful people are nearby to support you. Be careful about impulsive actions. Snake: luck is riding on your shoulders! Your finances rise and your investments pay dividends. Wherever you have put your efforts, the energy comes back to you, even in the form of a promotion opportunity. Horse: be mindful, the energy has shifted and there are dark clouds on the horizon. An accident involving blood is possible. Don’t be drawn into other people’s affairs. Live honorably and play it safe. Ram: a “Most Confrontational” month. Not only will you experience obstacles but your peace of mind will be affected. There may be malicious gossip about you. Keep a low profile and remain conservative. Monkey: money and fame follow you everywhere. Your family is united or reunited and there will be great joy from this. If you are a business person you receive a promotion. If you are a student you receive recognition. Rooster: you may be feeling unstable. You and your loved one may have spats that affect you at work. With your colleagues be compassionate. But that applies to everyone too. Dog: adversity is around the corner, focus on calm to get you through. Never trouble until trouble, troubles you. Pig: like a beautiful lake everything looks calm when in fact you have a lot on your mind. You may experience disputes with family and peers. Settle quickly with an agreement.

Happy Holidays, Zodiac Friends! May all your wishes come true!

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have questions about your home? Design it with vitality and beauty and feel at ease with Feng Shui A La Carte.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

How To Manifest Peace

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“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster’, I hear my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing there are so many helpers–so many caring people in the world.”
– Mr. Rogers

The tragedies that have pierced the heart of the world were such a force that I had to step back these past several weeks to think deeply how Feng Shui may empower us to create a world that is safe. The story we tell this time of year is about peace, goodwill towards all. I asked myself, “How do we maintain a peaceful coexistence throughout the year?” “Build it into the world!” whispered in my ear.

It is through H. H. ‘Professor’ Lin Yun rich legacy of Feng Shui and dharma teachings that I am able to share this wisdom with you. I have selected six Feng Shui precepts that I believe will help us to help each other live under an umbrella of peace. At the least may they be a foundation to harmonize our hearts and mend strained relations and not just the United States, but around the world too. Because when we show we care, we feel safe.

Solidarity In a sense right now we are all vulnerable. Professor Lin said planting bamboo will help vulnerable areas. Bamboo is an uprising force. It provides support. It can drive away negative forces and has the power to suppress evil Ch’i over time. Bamboo is hollow and soft inside, these characteristics symbolizes humility. When you plant bamboo, you add that quality to your own nature. You create solidarity and help your neighbors, near and far, when you place bamboo or the imagery of bamboo in your home and/or plant bamboo on your property. It will wrap its long limbs of peace and safety around you.

Safety New homes that consume an entire lot are on the rise in major and mid-sized cities. They create pressure among neighbors. Everyone feels the narrow space and tight fit. Like a pressure cooker that has to release steam an adjustment to your home can deflect a crisis before it happens. Plant greenery, especially plants with colorful flowers in your lot, both front and back yard. The colors release the pressure of being crowded. It is also vital we maintain our city parks and not let them be sold to developers. Stay up to date on city policy and stay closely connected to your neighborhood associations.

Stillness Take time to be still and shake off negativity by meditating. Start with chanting. The Sanskrit chant, Om mani padme hum, has been practiced all around the world for thousands of years. As you chant and meditate you may realize you have all the power, clarity and the omniscience of the Buddha. If you do not ascribe to the Buddha, then place your focus on God or your higher power. As you practice meditating you unify your inner being, your heart comes into coherence. You let go of divisiveness and inner conflict which is the pathway to peace.

Softness His Holiness, the 14th Dalai Lama has often expressed that feeling warm-hearted allows him to smile and be happy even in the company of strangers. Being kind and nice towards others creates an atmosphere  for them to be kind in return. A smile works wonders in a potentially unfamiliar situation. When you can help another person feel at ease neither you or they feel alone. Your lives become much easier. Practice kindness, sympathy and generosity daily.

Simple beauty A son and father interviewed after the Bataclan attack. The son is fearful the gunmen may return and he wants to leave. His father speaks calmly to him and says, “They may have guns but we have flowers.” The son feels reassured comforted and a look of peace washes over his face. 

In 2007, Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D. of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital and her research team investigated the effects of flowers in the home. Flowers foster compassion. Participants noted that they felt influenced by flowers emotionally, causing them to feel kindness and more compassion for others. Looking at flowers first thing in the morning, particularly in the kitchen, dissipates anxiety and feelings of depression. Having flowers at home can have a positive carry-over impact on your mood at work too. They energize your time at work.

In the Chinese culture flowers served as a significant vehicle of communication. They convey epic messages that express powerful positive emotions. A peony, the national flower, stands tall and symbolizes prosperity, happiness and peace. Plum blossoms, the harbinger of spring, represent firmness and solidity. The lotus whispers, that which may not be sullied. Chrysanthemums brave the frost to bloom in a vast array of colors. The narcissus is known as ‘the fairy over ripples’. They speak of the correct way of living, indicating being clean and healthy. If you want a flower’s quality to support your endeavor, display a picture purchase flowers and usher in the force they represent. For those suffering from acid reflux Professor Lin shared The Flower Cure.

Self Care If you are suffering from stress or depression caused by the tragedies or you can’t quite put your finger on what the stress is but you feel pressure, make an adjustment in Helpful People. It could be the house, office, bedroom, or any Helpful People gua. If you need more strength, place three cures, one in each of three places. If you live in an apartment, one could be the home, bedroom, and desk. If you live in a home with property, you can adjust the bedroom, house and lot.

Have questions about your home? Minimize stress by designing it with vitality and beauty with Feng Shui A La Carte.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

 

November 12 New Moon. Pigmalion.

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“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”
–George Bernard Shaw

Generous, honorable, an Epicurian when it comes to chocolate, the happy Pigs walks in with a wink and smile at November 12 new moon. Pigs are lucky animals for the Chinese. Pig is a three harmony with the Ram. In 2015 almost everything is achievable.  There will be much luck and the Pig’s career advances. Pig has a nose for style–clothing (tutus), fine foods (truffles), and furnishings (satin and silks). “Pig often over eats but they do it with good taste.” Upon meeting a Pig you might think they are too good to be true–they are careful and caring. If you are a Pig, people will feel they can trust you and you won’t let them down. You love helping others; it is a true pleasure for you. You care a great deal about your family and friends and work hard to make life agreeable for everyone. But it is he who is an unlucky fellow who has crossed you in love and business. You are highly intelligent and a perennial scholar, loving to learn and share your knowledge.

Need help discerning what direction to take? Here are monthly soundbites for your Chinese zodiac animal in the Month of the Pig. Rat: although your career is going smooth watch how much you spend your money. If you do a good deed daily you will avoid a thousand evils. Ox: stay under the radar. The less exposed you are, the fewer mistakes you make. Abundance comes when you show caution. Tiger: a Six Harmony month! Blessings and fortune rise to the sky. Harmony with family and auspicious events will show up easily. But refrain from spreading rumors or getting into a ruckus. Rabbit: you will be recognized for your work. If you visit a hospital be careful about minor illnesses. Carry nine orange peels for good luck. Dragon: go with the flow and let events develop as they will.  Try not to complain and watch household expenses. Snake: matters will come to a boil. Avoid people who mean you harm and talk behind your back. Be careful of traffic accidents. Horse: good month for salary increase and promotion. You will achieve what you wish and all will be well within the family. Ram: a “Three Harmony” month. All sadness will be dispelled. Be assertive in planning your future. Opportunities happen for those who are prepared. Monkey: it is a most confrontational month and you will be involved with lots of disputes. Do one good deed a day to dispel the bad luck. Rooster: you will enjoy good luck. Your plans will go through as you wish. Work, studies and career have the green light. It’s a Yes! month. Dog: out of misfortune comes bliss. You get a windfall. Act prudently and keep your nose to your own business. Pig: you experience both good and bad luck. Inadvertently you spoil an opportunity. Obstacles will thwart  your efforts. Stay focused on the big picture and let go of minor frustrations.

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have questions about your home? Design it with vitality and beauty plus feel at ease with Feng Shui A La Carte.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

What To Practice Before Space Clearing.

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“The very center of your heart is where life begins – the most beautiful place on earth.”
–Rumi

Have you noticed that what you do in a worried state affects the results and the people involved? Have you noticed the opposite? Results are by far more successful when you feel calm and clear. Before you cleanse your land of unwanted energy it makes sense to cleanse your heart. There is a simple and profound yogic gesture, a mudra, that is recognized in the west as a prayer posture. It nourishes your heart and calms your mind. It encourages connection first to yourself and then to the Divine in other. It is as universal and timeless as the Tao itself.

Mudra in Sanskrit means ‘seal’ or ‘sign’. Sacred hand gestures and whole body positions are mudras that invoke a prescribed inner state. The Anjali mudra, the prayer posture, is an offering, in fact the word means offering. It is the practice of seeing the Divine in all of creation. When we bring our hands to our heart, we are meeting in the middle. It positions us at the core of our being. The roots of BTB Feng Shui stem from Hinduism. Many of the BTB Feng Shui mediations and adjustments on the cosmic scale, place the human, the mediator, in the middle, between Heaven and Earth.

When you bring your hands together you return to your heart. Literally you connect the right and left hemispheres of the brain. In yogic practice the energetic heart is visualized as a lotus at the center of the chest.  “Anjali mudra nourishes this lotus heart with awareness, gently encouraging it to open as water and light do a flower.”– Shiva Rea, The Yoga Journal

Before purifying the land and space clearing with Feng Shui ceremonies, it is essential to nourish the lotus heart within you. It is then easier to be present and joyous with the ceremonies. The salutation involving the Anjali mudra “aligns your mind (awareness), feeling (heart) and actions (body).” The BTB method that incorporates this yogic gesture is The Purification of Negative Karmas. We begin with stretching our arms wide and then bring our palms together, holding the Anjali mudra over our crown chakra or sahasrara. This posture is accompanied by the chant, Om. As the sound reverberates in the space, we gently bring our awareness and palms to our mouth/throat, vocalizing the sound, Ah. Next lowering our palms to our heart chakra or anahata, suspending them in this place we express Hum. Completing the cycle here, we bring our palms together briefly and then cast our hands down our sides to the Earth with the request that all karmas are purified rapidly, the sound we utter is Shia. This is repeated two more cycles with the second cycle removing negative karma from the body, speech, mind. The third cycle involves releasing bad luck and sick chi and finish by inviting virtuous deeds and positive karma to blossom rapidly. This purification is a way of bridging inner and out experience; it can cool the fires of stress or when you feel reactionary. From here you can begin any activity from a place of connectedness. This purification stabilizes your body and mind before performing a space blessing. With peace and clarity your land or home receives your deepest intentions.

Want to focus on one or two areas of your home? Feng Shui A La Carte is designed get you started on harmonizing your space right away.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Emergency Preparedness: Feng Shui Space Protection.

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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
–Margaret Mead

Hurricane Sandy, New York and New Jersey, October 29, 2012. EF5 tornado, Moore, Oklahoma, May 20, 2013. Cascadia Subduction, what is being called The Big One, Pacific Northwest, date unknown. Weather patterns have increased in intensity in the last ten years. That is why I chose to teach Emergency Preparedness, Bless Your Space With Spiritual Protection. I believe Sandy and Moore were wake up calls. The thought of this happening again makes me shiver. But instead of feeling paralyzed I believe it is time to take action. There is evidence to show that instituting a barrier of spiritual protection around your home is a means to surviving devastation, in at least, modify its impact. Here are two stories to support that theory.

Years ago a qigong instructor, Fabien Maman, recounted a story about an earthquake that had totally devastated a remote Chinese mountain village. One building remained and logically should have fallen too. It was a temple where they practiced prayer, meditation and qigong. After the attack on the World Trade Center, St. Paul’s Chapel should have toppled along with the twin towers. The back of the church faces opposite the east side of the World Trade Center. The church survived without even a broken window. Church history declares it was spared by a miracle sycamore on the northwest corner of the property that was hit by debris.

If history repeats and the reports say the affirmative, we may experience heavy weather patterns that lean toward catastrophic in the near future. But this is not unalterable. Space clearing methods are the first line of defense in protecting us from unexpected events. The Emergency Preparedness kit from the Black Sect Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui contains blessing ceremonies and Feng Shui adjustments that address the unexpected.

“Orenda” is alive in everyone. Orenda is an Iroquoian word that means “a mystical force present in all people that empowers them to affect the world or to effect change in their own lives.” BTB ceremonies empower you to express the orenda inside of you. One of its many strengths is the lineage. It supports you as you stand on the shoulders of the tens of thousands who have come before you and used these ceremonies and seen results. If you want to improve the condition of your land; if you have heard miracle stories and wondered how they happened; if you are like me and think now is a good time to help your family, friends and community, I invite you to join me. I believe protecting one home links it to the next and onward until we have a network that can defy disaster big or small.

New Renaissance Bookshop
Saturday, November 14, 2015 
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 
Class fee is $20. Bring nine red envelopes.
Registration is through New Renaissance Bookshop, call 503-224-4929.

Want to focus on one or two areas of your home? Feng Shui A La Carte is designed get you started on harmonizing your space right away.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

Harvest The Best In Your Life – Feng Shui Tips

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“To everything there is a season and a time and purpose under Heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1

Here in Portland, Oregon, the leaves are a blast of crimson and gold. The fields were harvested weeks ago and we’ve begun to set the table with hearty soups, squashes and vibrant root vegetables. Autumn reminds us to wind down. Mother earth is letting go. We pull in and stock up as the cool, crisp mornings prompt us to winter’s imminent arrival. For humans, we take into account what we have accumulated and appreciate what we’ve accomplished. The abundance of summer has been assimilated and now it is time to integrate the wisdom gained from the events over the year. Fall, the Metal element in the Five Elements, lays the space to refine your relationship to the Earth, to yourself, to your home and harvest the best in your life. Here are four tips to create a spacious, harmonized body, mind and home this Fall.

Conserve In Autumn your body wants to conserve energy. As you draw inward, you are being pulled outward by the same responsibilities as in other times of the year. Uplift your energy and harvest the best in your life by taking time to give some oxygen to your thoughts and emotions. This nurtures  your Ch’i and will place you ahead of the holiday triggers that stir up conflict. But if discord is already snooping about, create a spacious and clear mind with an orange peel bath. Cut nine circles (skin only) of one orange and wash your entire body, even your head. Make it a ritual for nine consecutive nights for good measure. The warm, fresh, sweetness of orange conveys joy and positivity, dispersing moodiness and irritability. Letting go in this positive way encourages peace of mind. This is what gives the orange its reputation as embodying “good luck”.

Clear out As the leaves fall and you are bringing out your warm, snuggly sweaters and rain wear, this is a good to time clear out unused items in your closet(s). If you find it’s not easy getting started, Professor Lin Yun shared this valuable piece of advice. “Speak to the item. Thank it for faithfully serving you.” Then say, “I appreciate you but now it is time to part ways.” By liberating the space in your closet(s) you send the message that you are in tune with the best in your life and ready for the prospects coming your way.

Clean Now that you are refreshed and have more energy, you can turn your attention to creating spaciousness in your home. You are probably familiar with spring cleaning but the shift from warm to cool temperatures encourages mold to propagate and your health is likely to be compromised. I encourage a good fall clean especially the stove the seat of our wealth and family unity. And what’s more, fall cleaning is an act of completion of the four previous seasons (winter, spring, summer and the middle season of harvest time). This could also be the perfect time to convert to green cleaning products, even make your own. Here is one recipe for an all-purpose cleaner from Rodale’s Organic Life: 9 parts water to 1 part white vinegar. I like to add rosemary essential oil to the cleaner. The plant is considered to “renew enthusiasm and bolster self-confidence.” As an herb of remembrance, it helps us not only to recall loved ones but to remember our own true path and for me, to remember to harvest the best in my life.

Consider Some folks live without a roof over the head nor sleep in a bed. Consider passing along some of your good fortune. Lend a helping hand when you see a person in need. Kindness ripples out and has a positive effect on the world.

Have questions about your home?  Feng Shui A La Carte, think of it as a fairy godmother for your home.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

October 12 New Moon. Man’s Best Friend.

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There is no instinct like that of the heart.
– Lord Byron

Man’s best friend is believed to be an auspicious animal by the Chinese. If a dog has shown up at your doorstep it symbolizes that fortune is not far off. Dog is fearless, they “eat up” the difficulties in daily life. This noble characteristic allows them to create harmonious relationships with others. Just one of their heart-warming (loyal, responsible, clever and courageous) traits that draws people to them.  

This month dear Dog will be challenged with obstacles by the year god, Ram. Because you are clever your best maneuver will be to watch and listen. If Dog is your animal protector you will sharpen your instinct and get the most out of every situation by practicing patience. Love, family life and money issues are favored right now so focus there. Career choices may not be simple nor easy but the best move is to heel and opportunities will find their way to you. If you are faced with an obstacle do not use force. Act calmly and put first things first. Best advice for man’s best friend: “In every situation, people born in the year of the Dog will gain from listening to more experienced people. An enlightened intelligence and a sharp intuition will allow them to, not only feel danger from a distance and avoid it, but also discover and obtain what is good.”

Need help discerning what direction to take? Here are monthly soundbites for your Chinese zodiac animal in the Month of the Dog. Rat: your mood will be affected by the fluctuation in your luck. There is a possibly of a knife injury or a traffic accident, take precaution. Ox: you may be challenged and find roadblocks to getting what you want but the good news is helpful people will be there to get you through. Treat others with sincerity or you may find your family and friends shipping off to better shores. Tiger: a Three Harmony month! Congratulations! You are riding the wave of success. But the best advice is to plan ahead and save for a rainy day. That is the Yin-Yang balance of life. Rabbit: it is an auspicious month! Finances are on the upswing; expect more romantic evenings with your sweetie. Stay focused and be discerning, you will be in a better position to capture opportunities. Dragon: luck will be blocked. Losing some money may help avert an even bigger disaster. The stars may not be on your side when it comes to driving so pay close attention while in traffic. Perform a good deed a day to counteract any inauspicious events. Snake: foreign business opportunities are quite possible as helpful people will be there to support you. Be careful when signing agreements. Horse: fortune and happiness are readily available. Be careful not to spend beyond your means. Watch your words someone may have an ill intent and try to distort your them. If anyone close to you (including you) becomes sick, immediately seek medical help. Ram: the Ch’i is variable. Be prepared for the changes coming your way. Remain calm and maintain your composure. Practice breathing. Monkey: avail yourself of the favorable conditions present and push things through. Review your words before you speak, be lenient in your attitude, considerate to others and watchful, above all help your friends and family and acquaintances save face. Rooster: it is a confrontational month. Do not make hasty decisions or act on impulse. Avoid conflict with others. Make peace in your heart. Dog: happiness and sorrow are split this month. You’re busy but your efforts do no bear fruit. Focus on good relationships and turn enemies into friends. Pig: you are successful this month but there are things are weigh upon your mind. Relax and take it easy. Think before you speak because your words can determine your fortune.

Thank you to Khadro Crystal Chu, Black Sect Esoteric Buddhist Feng Shui for your unfailing command of Feng Shui and Chinese metaphysics.

Have questions about your home? Design it with vitality and beauty plus feel at ease with Feng Shui A La Carte.

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.