Spring Festival Is A Hop Away

Posted on January 11, 2024 by bette

“Fluffiness makes everything better.”
– Anonymous

Feng Shui not only harmonizes your home and honors your relationships, it recognizes the influence of seasonal changes and the importance of beginnings and endings. January 11 new moon the truthful, confident Ox was ushered onto the zodiac stage which makes the Spring Festival (aka The Chinese Lunar New Year) a hop, skip and a jump away. In less than one month the Yin Water Rabbit will relinquish its reign. This brings up a word of caution. Every year between January and February beware of the Year God. The tactful Rabbit might turn tactics and with a “swoosh of its cute bob” send you flying. Instead of anticipating stress, end the year with lucky opportunities and good fortune. In this first of a series of short blogs I have included tried and true methods to ready you for an amazing beginning to the Spring Festival/Chinese Lunar New Year, February 10, 2024.

• Add insurance (accidents).

• Draw upon the super powers of focus, patience, stability and practicality to meet challenges.

• Exercise like yoga, tai chi or walking release excess tension.

• Recite a mantra such as “I am committed to my well being.”

• Look about before you walk or talk, “silence is golden”.

• Keep those protective talismans on (a blog for the Dragon’s BFF is coming).

• Do a good deed every day to ensure the best possible luck. This will enhance your Feng Shui cures.

Communication is key before Spring Festival. When explaining your point of view to others whether a co-worker, partner or child be sure to take the extra step, in fact it might be a good plan to ask them to repeat it back to you before you depart. Also be sure to communicate what is expected from one another and that you are on the same page.

In January the home begins to hum with sweeping, shopping, putting up decorations and planning the Reunion dinner for the Spring Festival/Wood Dragon Year.

January 18, 2024 Laba Festival: Making “Eight Treasures Porridge” is the essence of good fortune.

January 30, 2024 Sweep Away the Old: Clean misfortune from every corner.

Want to know what the Asian community does to prepare for the most powerful time of the year? Click on the link to start making your list for Chinese New Year’s Eve Rituals.

I am very grateful to you for following me on Facebook to discover more ways to align your home with Feng Shui. Thank you!

Wan Shi Ru Yi! (
May everything go as you wish)

Allow me to help you arrange your home where you feel fully supported. I am available for a full consultation service or for an hour telephone conversation. Details are at this link Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

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.

Soulful Winter Solstice Rituals

Posted on December 21, 2023 by bette

“Winter is not a season it is a celebration.”
– Anamika Mishra

In deep darkness Winter Solstice holds the promise of the life-giving force of the sun. Sol’s radiance is celebrated on December 21/22 by nearly every culture in the world with simple rituals that ignite new beginnings. In China Winter Solstice is signified by the I-Ching hexagram, Fu, “Retuning”.

But whar does “Returning” mean for you? Winter Solstice begins the transformation of dark to light. This longest night is a tipping point where sunlight will now rise in prominence again. Setting aside personal time to immerse yourself in winter’s stillness will help you reap the benefits from shedding the old to feeling renewed. Partaking in soulful winter solstice rituals create space to contemplate your inner light and like the sun, to return to trust, to recharge and to carefully develop what is new.

Oh the Soul Loves Ritual
Welcome The Sun With A Solstice Altar
Creating a Soulful Winter Solstice rituals practice includes an altar. They create a deeply personal experience. You can make it as simple or elaborate as you wish. Search for foliage in your home garden or a neighboring green space that is meaningful for you. Gather branches and berries and intertwine these with candles or fairy lights. For the Druids red holly berries were a symbol of fertility and eternal life and were thought to have magical powers because the tree stayed green and strong. Branches and twigs were brought into the home to protect it from malevolent fairies and to shelter fairies from friction between them and the human occupants. Pine, spruce and firs, as well, represent eternal life because they remained green throughout the year. Adding an evergreen bough to your altar will give it a powerful freshness. In traditions long past they were considered to ward off ghosts and illness. Mistletoe, treated as a sacred plant by the Druids, is believed to not only give protection against diseases but is also a symbol of peace and prosperity. Hanging it on the threshold it was thought to ward off evil spirits and ensure vitality and fertility (so hang it from your door and maybe there will be a kiss coming your way).

Anything bright, shiny, gold and yellow symbolizes the sun. The colors of the season, red, white, green and gold come from ancient roots. These colors brighten the home during the darkness of winter and are a reminder that spring will come.
• Red, the color of poinsettias and holly berries, is a symbol of fiery passion and sensuality. It also represents the life force that endures in coldest times.
• Gold depicts sunshine and light and is a symbol of prosperity, abundance and the energy that fuels life.
• Red and gold together are the colors of fire which warms your soul.
• Green represents renewal, eternal life and Nature. It is a reminder of the continuous cycles of growth and rebirth.
• White is the symbol of purity and peace and the serenity of snow. It also signifies the blank slate you’ve created for the coming year.

Foods For Wintertide Warmth
A traditional Chinese winter solstice dish is dumplings while in Korea solstice is celebrated with Patjuk – glutinous rice balls in a sweet porridge made from adzuki beans. Koreans believe that color red wards off evil spirits. The red beans wish good luck for the new year. Pine needles (check for edible varieties) may be made into a hot tea. Pomegranates are a traditional winter solstice food of Iran’s Shab-e Yalda celebrations. Yalda means birth or rebirth. The vibrant red fruit symbolizes dawn and life. Gingerbread is a later yuletide tradition. It’s easy to prepare, warming and delicious. Shortbread from Scandinavian tradition made in round forms represents the sun. In Western European cultures soups, stews and hearty meals were prepared to drive the cold winter away.

Welcome Back the Sun
As early as 900s a tree was placed in the fireplace with the wide end of the trunk first so it would burn from on Christmas day until January 5. In modern times a specially chosen, decorated log is placed in a fireplace to bring luck and fortune to the household. The Yule log symbolizes the light returning to conquer the darkness. It is a ritual of welcoming back the sun and the warmth it brings. Sprinkling minerals or wine onto the burning log would make the log’s flames burn with color such as table salt produced bright yellow, potassium nitrate made violet, borax produced a vivid green.

Set Your Soul Ablaze
One of the Winter Solstice Rituals I enjoy is musing upon an open flame in a fire pit or fireplace. However a burning candle(s) will work too. Gazing into a flame or flames and listening to the soft crackle in the dark evening hours is a beautiful underscore for the mind to contemplate the past year and makes plans for the future.

Time spent on reflection fosters peace, inner stillness and calm. These elements harmonize the body and mind and elevate your emotions. Then as the energy begins to rise in the coming year you will have the inner reserves to meet both opportunities and challenges.

Allow me to help you arrange your home where you feel fully supported. I am available for a full consultation service or for an hour telephone conversation. Details are at this link Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

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.

photo credit: Alena Kondrusik

Feng Shui Fall Decor

Posted on November 13, 2023 by bette

“When everything looks like a magical oil painting, you know you are in Autumn!”– Mehmet Murat Ildan

Spring and summer aren’t the only colorful seasons. Autumn’s story is rich with glowing crimson and vibrant amber hues. Squashes, fruit and flowers possess their summer blaze well into November endowing us with the strength to retain our radiant selves in this season of letting go. If you cherish autumn’s abundance, the following fall decor will enrich your home and your senses while promising hope and good fortune.

Pumpkin
In the tapestry of fall, pumpkins are the prosperity bearer. Align with good fortune when pumpkins are lined up at your front door. Equally you can display them in arrangements at the inside entry. The Chinese believe this edible squash creates golden opportunities. In folkloric tradition, farmer’s wives would carve out the belly and place items in them to attract wealth. You may expect to increase your prosperity, abundance, your good luck from your ancestors, insure your children will have illustrious careers and acquire an enchanting life. This fruit will even draw up the earth energy to manifest gold.

Persimmon
Round, brilliant orange, the auspicious persimmon has the same pronunciation as the word for “matters, affairs or events and also for an “official”or “gentleman”. A persimmon shown together with an apple forms the rebus “may your matters be safe”. Also known as date-palms or Chinese figs, when placed along side a mandarine orange these fruits together symbolize the following sentiment…“May you have good fortune in all your undertakings.”

In Buddhism, they are symbols of transformation. Six persimmon fruits are symbols of enlightenment. The symbolism reveals that green persimmons are acrid and bitter in their immature state, they represent ignorance. As the fruit matures, it becomes sweet and represents wisdom that comes after transformation.

Pomegranate

Pomegranates represent fertility but for the holidays their usefulness can bring happiness to the family as well as good luck for your descendants. Display pomegranates in a table arrangement either at the front entry or the dining room table. If you like the pomegranate’s color and shape, display it as art in your home to attract these qualities year round.

Orange
Filled with intriguing homonyms the Chinese language is a good romp with words. The meaning of the orange connects them with abundance. Orange is called chéngzi in Chinese which sounds like gold, (jin) and represents wealth. Place a bowl of nine oranges on your dining room table or design them into a centerpiece for Thanksgiving. They will incubate money ch’i.

Chrysanthemum
Enhance your Feng Shui Fall Decor with mums. White chrysanthemums represent nobility and elegance and attract good luck to the home and a life of ease. It is revered like the orchid, bamboo and plum. Displaying chrysanthemums in home lifts the Ch’i of, not only individuals, but families and communities too. If you want to cure for wealth, put together a flower arrangement with a lotus, chrysanthemum and plum blossom plus the peony. Together these symbolize “peace and fortune in the four seasons.”

Narcissus
Flowers are a direct path to enhancing your feelings and elevating your sense of well-being. Placing them where they are visible in your home calms the nervous system. This can carry over to your work place creating a frame of mind for happiness and enthusiasm. Narcissus is known as the “water goddess”. At Chinese New Year they bring good luck and good fortune. During other festivities such as Thanksgiving they enliven your Ch’i through the sense of smell.

I am deeply grateful for your presence and participation with Feng Shui. Sending you heartfelt wishes for a season that is bright and joyful. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Feng Shui Space Clearing Tips To Remove Clutter

Posted on October 30, 2023 by bette

“October and Autumn are quite the pair, stirring the winds to blow and conspiring with the leaves to let go.”

If clutter has accumulated in your space. If a melange has surreptitiously collected in your hallways, bedroom, laundry and garage, this holy mess carries a hidden energetic signature. Before you use space clearing tips know that it goes beyond stuff, it’s a vortex that:
gathers dirt
holds disappointment
incites anger
inhibits mobility
escalates unworthiness
muddles memories
spirals unhappiness
spikes disarray

When you see that its emotional magnetism holds you in a trance, it becomes easier to let it go and let yourself move beyond.

Feng Shui philosophy connects you to your own Ch’i and the Ch’i of a space. It’s essence enhances, shifts and corrects energy thereby you and your space coexist harmoniously. If you choose to use Marie Kondo’s thoughtful methods, before you begin, first clear your Ch’i. It will be easier to align your home’s energy then you can be properly committed to the process of asking yourself (as you are holding the item close to your heart), does it spark joy in your heart. You will definitely be clear in your etheric field to experience “your entire body responding with a thrill as if your body is somehow slowly rising up to meet the item, embracing it even.”

Here are five transcendental BTSB ways to help you get started.
• Nourish your brain. Feeling overwhelm? Using both hands, place all ten fingers on your scalp and tap 108 times. Nine is the vibration of completion. You are pulling excess energy (cul de sac thoughts) from your brain and releasing them to the outside of your head. Notice how clear you feel and the spaciousness in and around your brain.

• Lift your vitality. When you want to avoiding decisions, hold your hands left over right, thumbs together and palms up, over your dan’tien (at the level of your navel). Take in a deep breath in through your mouth and visualize universal light, positive Ch’i and good luck enter and circulate throughout your body and all your cells. Exhale in eight short puffs with the last one, ninth, expelling all the negative Ch’i, bad luck and obstacles. Repeat nine times and finish with the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum nine times.

• Alleviate exhaustion. Over thinking can lead to fatigue. Trying to choose which items to keep and what to let go, especially your sentimental items may create frustration. Beating the Heavenly Drum can relieve exhaustion. Put both of your palms over your ears and then put your fingers to the back of your head. Put your palms tightly over your ears and then you snap your pointer finger from your middle (third) finger down onto your head at the occipital bone of the skull. It makes a hollow drumming sound and it is a really good way if you are exhausted to bring your energy back. Perform this nine times.

If you still feel exhausted check for these design features which manifests exhaustion. Lack of risers on your stairs will “steal your chi”. Place a live lush plant (a silk plant will work too) underneath the stairs. The plant’s life force will lift your energy. A contrary door, especially your main door that opens you into a wall (into the small part of the room) is like it’s hinged incorrectly. This is a big part of exhaustion. You might begin to feel a little angry and a little resentful. Move the hinges to the other side of the door or place a large mirror on the wall to open the space (either or, not both).

• Release former Ch’i. Hold three sticks of incense between your fore finger and third finger, rest the bottom of the incense on your thumb to secure them. Light with a torch (not matches). Do not blow on the incense to get it started. Begin at the front door walk either left or right. Brush, in a circular motion, the incense up towards the wall where it meets the ceiling. See any former predecessor Ch’i leaving. Chant Om Mani Padme Hum continuously. See your prayers traveling to Heaven on the incense. With the opposite hand perform the ousting mudra (grab good Ch’i from Heaven with the third, fourth finger and thumb). Release any negative Ch’i to the floor. Repeat this gesture as you walk around the house. End at the front door. Any unburned incense goes into an incense holder at your altar below your deity if you have one.

• Clear old patterns. Between 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. open all the windows of your home and leave open during the ceremony. Cut nine circles from nine oranges or tangerines for a total of 81 orange peels. Break these down and visualize the light of the 10,000 Buddhas entering into the orange peel pieces. Begin at the front door and walk either left or right. Use the “feeding the chickens mudra”. Cast a few orange pieces and see the spirits moving on. Next use the “planting seeds mudra” and visualize new energy and projects coming to life. Finish with “throwing your wishes to heaven mudra” see the 10,00o Buddhas aiding you. All the while chant Om Mane Padme Hum. Walk the entire house, all levels performing the ceremony. End at the front door and finish with saying Om Mane Padme Hum nine times. For the complete version of this space clearing tip email me bette@shenmenfengshui.com. Nine red envelopes are requested.

BTSB Ceremonies

In general when you perform a blessing its important to remember to visualize that the blessings remain. It is not just the blessings of the moment. Your intention should be that these blessings remain. Before you begin: show respect to the items you use, treat the incense like it is a sentient being. Talk to it. Tell the incense sticks that the light of the millions of Buddhas is shining upon them. Their effectiveness is greatly enhanced and the blessing is strong and powerful. Talk to the oranges. Tell them they are being used in the best possible way. Great auspiciousness is created. Offer your thanks.

Feng Shui Crystal Cures For The Holidays

Posted on September 29, 2023 by bette

“Sparkle never goes out of style.”

– Chrishell Stause

The season is beginning to hum with what makes life sparkle. Parties, noshing, social commitments, holiday shopping and decorating your home (check out these Feng Shui holiday decorating ideas) not to mention caring for your family and maintaining your career – you need a super power to get you through. With that in mind I present the unwavering faceted crystal as your ally. I personally have experienced its beauty and strength. It symbolizes the light and generating power of the sun. It will fortify your energy to create a sense of harmony where your Ch’i needs to be uplifted. So if it’s chilly outside, make a warm beverage, have a seat in your most comfortable chair and pull up your most cozy throw. May these Feng Shui Crystal cures brighten your home and add sparkle to your day!

Frost covered windows, whirlwinds of golden leaves, nimbus clouds dominating the sky and the shrinking light can affect your mood, influence your focus and feeling centered. Your enthusiasm may become dampened and your health regime could take a hit. Go to the center of your home to regain your inner composure. A home with a strong center gives you a sturdy base. To feel balanced again hang a 50 mm faceted crystal (Swarovski preferred) in the center from a red cord in increments of nine.

When life is in transition anxiety may increase. Early fall is a transitional time. Autumn winds often disperse Ch’i. This causes your liver some degree of irritation and you could become reactionary and discontent. If support from family and friends evade you this could aggravate your disappointment. Go to the center of your bed and place a 50 mm crystal between the mattress and box springs to set things straight.

Need extra cash for holiday shopping or a long weekend getaway? Perform The Three Harmonies of the Wood element: Wealth, Career, Relationship. Draw a rectangle of your house. Identify Wealth, Career, Relationship on that drawing. If you wish to improve your finances, go to the Wealth gua and place a 40 mm faceted crystal there. Visualize there is an appendix in this area. See your visualization in detail that the Wealth gua protrudes beyond the house. You are creating an auspicious extension. This is the “regular” way to proceed.

However, if you wish to further empower the placement of the crystal in the Wealth gua, place two more crystals. Place one in the Career gua and one in Partnership. These guas are in a Three Harmony relationship with Wealth. This adjustment then becomes the Three Harmony of Wood (as Wood is the element residing in the Wealth gua). Now you have greatly enhanced the position of Wealth.

Feel like money slips through your fingers? Does fatigue cast a shadow over you as soon as you enter the house? Likely you have a stairway facing the front door. Not only will your wealth be affected but your health as well, particularly the organs along the midline specifically your heart. If you rather be with family than at the hospital over the holidays, place a 50 mm faceted crystal between the front door and the stairway. Visualize the crystal is protecting you and preventing precious Ch’i from leaving the house. The bonus: its beauty will dazzle your guests.

The holidays are hard on many people, especially those less fortunate, infirmed or elderly. Take every chance you can get to do something for someone else. Like making them a cup of coffee or brightening their day with a smile. It all builds up, the small and the steady and things are created faster and faster then if you just do an occasional big deed. Be persistent. Practice kindness.

A Feng Shui Sampler For Success

Posted on August 31, 2023 by bette

“The environment we immerse ourselves in profoundly impacts our journey.”

– Dr. Joe Dispenza, author, neuroscientist

When we’re on the verge of something unknown, we may feel like a racehorse at the gate – nervous, excited and not quite sure in what line up we will meet the finish line. Cleaning the mirrors and windows in our homes represent our visions and our clarity of sight. Simple movements calm the brain and engage our focus. Clean windows give us a clear view of the world and a view of the success we could capture.

And when “something isn’t happening”– such as feeling perplexed by our relationships or our career has stalled and solutions fail to materialize, there is 5,000 year old evidence that Feng Shui transcendental adjustments create a shift in our perception. Mercury in its retrograde motion is creating a pause in life. Maybe some confusion too. If you are asking for answers to your concerns you could try any one of the following. Just ask for clarity. This sampler comes from Master “Professor” Thomas Lin Yun of BSTB Feng Shui. It is meant for you to access your success potential. I hope you enjoy. I would an email to hear how this works for you, bette@shenmenfengshui.com.

• Hang a wind chime just inside your front door.

• Hang a wind chime just above your head as you sit at your desk.

• Place books just inside the front door, the office door, or the door to the study.

• Work and sleep so that you can see the door.

• Place a small round mirror under your pillow.

• Hang a bell from a red cord on the inside doorknob of your front door, office door or bedroom door. Choose the bedroom door if the lack of clarity concerns your marriage. Choose the office door if the problem is affecting your career.

• Create open and available horizontal surfaces. Your busy mind will have a place to rest. You can do the same thing by creating strong centers, like a flower in the center of a room. Insights will come, so listen attentively to the ideas that speak to your success.

How To Create A Feng Shui Blue Space

Posted on July 31, 2023 by bette

“The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.”

– Isak Dinesen

Childhood summers weren’t complete without two weeks at the beach. My sister and I spent everyday composing an imaginary life on a deserted, tropical island as we walked to the ocean. At the shoreline we discovered exotic treasures cast off by the tides from another continent, however most of the time we tiptoed over the hot sand to plunge into the cool, frothy foam of the ocean where we swam with the waves and peered into its watery depths for more aquatic mysteries. Happiness was synonymous with blue.

What we knew then science has researched in the past decade: blue space exposure (views and visits) has many “positive effects upon our physical and mental well being from higher levels of vitamin D to better social relations.” The sea, coastline, rivers, lakes, canals, waterfalls, even fountains are the good for the body and mind. They are where we go to let go and let down.

Studies further identify that the presence of water fulfills the need to connect to ourselves and it’s water that restores us like no other Nature experience. We feel happier in a blue environment.

There are three notable markers when one is by a body of water:

• Generally there is more sunlight and less pollution.

• Those who live by aquatic environments tend to be more physically active.

• Water has a restorative effect, reducing negative moods. Although large bodies of water have been rated high in terms of positivity, any body of water will do, this includes retrofitting or creating a blue space in your home.

– Dr. Matthew White, University of Exeter

If you are seeking a natural way to minimize stress and should the coastline or a lakeshore not be possible for you to visit with regular frequency, a blue space in your home will offer you a way to recalibrate and relax. The following Feng Shui design can have a positive influence on your outlook and your future.

• Place a water feature at your front entry. Select a water fountain or water tower that is appropriate to the size of your space, You don’t want to be splashed upon but you do want to feel the essence of water as you enter. It is desirable that it pleases your eyes and ears with its beauty and sound. You are establishing ambience. The effect is to create a palpable shift in your energy when you open the door. The visual appeal, the lilting sound and the water’s ions will lift your mood plus (and this important) will enhance your mental clarity as well.

Now the Career gua (front and central section of the house) is represented by Water element (Five Elements). If the front entry is in this location and a water feature is here, it is a natural placement. A water feature in this location is referenced as Dynamic Water. In Chinese Feng Shui Dynamic Water is related to your career, your network and the helpful people who assist you in doing your job well. Having a radiant water fountain will improve your career and if it’s already great it will enhance it even further. Visualize you are forging a new path of discovery. Set your intention to receive its full effect.

• Create a mini water fall or fountain in the back yard for you and for wildlife. Water is a source of healing and peaceful energy. The sight and sound of flowing water is soothing and will bring energy to your backyard. Likely you will be taking more weekends off and staycations just to enjoy its splendor and the birds and animals who show up will enhance your backyard paradise.

• Set up an outside water feature that is opposite from your bedroom or your office or your kitchen. You want to be able to see it from the bed or the desk or your stove. If you can see it from all three so much the better (but do not over do it with setting up three water features). If the bed in the your master bedroom has a view of the water feature, place a round, fashion convex mirror on the opposite wall from the view. Visualize the mirror is pulling the water across your bed. Since water represents wealth and abundance, the mirror is drawing money across your bed. See how your luck and your finances change.

How To Create Feng Shui Heaven Luck

Posted on June 15, 2023 by bette

“…My mother gave me drive, but my father gave me my dreams. Thanks to him, I could see a future.”

– Liza Minnelli

With the new moon (new beginnings) coinciding on Father’s Day, June 18, Heaven luck is in abundance to accelerate your fortuity. These two events are like a twin turbocharger, they give power and drive to your focus. And what better way to begin this new moon than to set an intention to enhance your luck and success with an impetus from your father and Heaven.

Do you have memories of when you were a child watching your father disappear five days a week and whatever he did made your life comfortable and stable? Days when he wasn’t absent he would be in deep concentration tinkering in the garage. Maybe he oiled your bike’s chains, fixed the lawn mower, redesigned the kitchen clock or built something extraordinary. Whether it was work or play he seemed to be an inventor of energy. Your father was tapping into universal problem solving – creatively manipulating energy – he was generating a vortex of impetus, motivation, inspiration and genius to manifest his vision.

In the realm of Feng Shui we can harness those same principles to realize an idea, goal or desire into form by tapping into what the Taoist masters called “the field of Ch’i”. In fact employing Feng Shui design can shorten the length of time it takes to materialize your goals. So if you are looking to:

• Uncover the Muse to stimulate your creative juices.

• Get an idea off the ground.

• Receive help from a mentor to formulate your plan.

• Find a support team to implement a process.

• Solicit a coach who can help you regain your lost momentum.

• Locate a distributor for your product/line of products.

• Connect with business partners to monetize your creation.

• Visualize the opportunities to line up a new career.

• Retain the right attorney to handle a dispute.

• Be accepted into the college of your dreams.

• Make an offer on a house.

Now that you know what it can do, here’s what you can do to activate Helpful People/Heaven gua in your home.

In this sector energy resides in the Unknown and it takes the generative power of the Creative to move it into the world of form. This gua is located in the front left corner of the house as you are standing at the front door facing the street. Whereas Mother resides in the Relationship Gua, Father resides in the Helpful People Gua. If you need some of his courage, a new perspective to be inventive with a problem or realize your potential, this area will help you succeed in your daily life just like your Dad did when confronted with a life situation.

The process of BSTB Feng Shui begins with the aspects that create “The Perfect Cure”. Choosing the right object, choosing the right day, selecting the right hour…It begins with tidying the area and irrigating the Ch’i so the imprint of your intention is strong, effective and devoid of the previous energy’s influence. Begin by clearing the area of only those objects that no longer resonate for you. Release them to be donated, sold or given to friends. Cleanse with orange peels and leave for three days. If you want your adjustment in place sooner than diffuse orange essential oil during the hours of 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Chant if you know a mantra. It opens a portal between Heaven and Earth and draws in benevolent forces from Heaven. The emphasis of this gua is on the qualities that are related to Yang energy, the male principle, Father, the Creative – generative, firmness, durability, persistence, resoluteness, fertilizing the seed.

Now for your artistry. Choose an object that is most appropriate. An image or statue of a five toe (Imperial) dragon (green or gold not red); eight horses running into your home; a painting of the sky; a beloved teacher, a mentor with whom you would like to study; a Father who has had your back; a place that is elevated, like the islands in the Aegean or a Tibetan temple in Nepal or a monastery in China, a basilica/cathedral (dome) in Europe. See in all details what this cure object represents for you and what you wish to create. Identify with its beauty and strength. Don’t hold back from employing your senses. For emphasis place an adjustment in three areas – your lot, main floor of the house and the bedroom or home office. Enjoy what comes up in your mind as real and certain.

In addition to cure objects there are BSTB ceremonies to magnetize the course of action you wish to take.

• Introducing A Desirable Dream (a method to perform at night)

• Receiving Auspicious Ch’i (wedding Ch’i catapults your dream)

• The Pillow Cure (a cure near the bed is very powerful)

• Planting Auspicious Seeds (sprout new opportunities)

Sharing a ceremony requires receiving red envelopes from you. Please contact me via bette@shenmenfengshui.com if you would like to receive one or all.

Feng Shui Mom Tips For You!

Posted on May 12, 2023 by bette

“Mother is the heartbeat in the home; and without her, there seems to be no heartthrob.”
— Leroy Brownlow

Recently I have been feeling into what my mother meant to me. She was a chef, chauffeur, seamstress, storyteller, confidante, but most of all she championed my life. Her devotion, dreams for my journey and her desire that I have opportunities she didn’t have are what I cherish most and it is why who I am today. Her strong shoulders and listening ear built my esteem and inspire me now.

To honor my mom’s beautiful soul and all of you, Moms, I scanned my heart to see what simple tips would offer you something long lasting like the perennial love you share with your family. So for all mothers – new moms, single moms finding their way, mothers who are re-feathering their nest, mothers who have entered the next stage of their life, dads who are mothers, nannas who are mothers to their grandchildren, aunties who have adopted their sibling’s children, moms who mother the creatures of this earth…Thank you for sharing the gift that is you, here are five Feng Shui Mom Tips/gifts for you.

Let Heaven Help You.
Now it’s your turn. Need a good plumber, pronto? An investment adviser? Better yet, want a fab hairstyle or indulge in a Thai massage? Helpful People make your life easier. They reside in a place called Heaven of the Bagua (the eight life situations that influence our lives). Its location is in the front right corner of your home as you face your home from the front door. Activate this area and initiate the momentum for help from all realms to arrive. Support will be there when you need it most. Horses or a dragon, a picture of a deity or beloved mentor, or place an image of a landscape you love to travel to. A sacred object here appropriate to the gua’s meaning will invite unseen forces to fly to your aid.

Live Life In Full Bloom.
Let your life blossom. May is peony season. Considered a heavenly flower, peonies symbolize prosperity, nobility and honor. Put a little extra cash in your purse for a shopping spree or take a week long trip with your girlfriends when you place nine silk peonies in a vase and wish for peace and prosperity (because the vase symbolizes peace). Mount it on a flower stand in the Wealth gua (far left corner of the house) with a lotus, chrysanthemum and plum blossom and you will have “peace and fortune in the four seasons”.

Don’t Let Anything Steal Your Joy!

Give in and let go. Orange zest opens the neural pathways to joy and their meaning connects them with abundance. The citrus smell of orange peels infusing your bath water will uplift your body, soothe your senses, rebalance your energy and clear your mind. Pamper yourself with scented candles, a soft sponge to let water drip over your body and the sound of peaceful music will clear your thoughts. Sip on a cup of chamomile tea to ease any tension remaining from the day.

Show Up For Yourself.
If you’ve been a stay at home mom, are you a little nervous about submitting a resumé? Are you giving an important presentation to a new client? Negotiating a raise? Relax, this dressing tip will bring success. Red is one of the luckiest colors in Chinese traditions, standing for loyalty, success and happiness. Add red accessories to every outfit. Or play it simple, wear a cute bracelet made of red interwoven Chinese knots around your wrist to ward off bad luck.

Mirror Mirror On the Wall. You’re the Luckiest of Them All.

What do you dream about at night? Manifest them with a mirror at the foot of the bed. Contrary to what you may have read about mirrors in the bedroom, a mirror placed on the wall in front of you will expand the possibility of your future. You see the space in front of your bed represents your future and should be deep. In the process of placing the mirror make sure you remove a bench or chest for these pieces of furniture block your chances for good luck and happiness.

Want more than these Five Feng Shui Mom Tips? Allow me to help you arrange your home where you feel fully supported. I am available for a full consultation service or for an hour telephone conversation. Details are at this link Feng Shui A La Carte. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

Feng Shui: The Power of the Orchid Flower

Posted on April 24, 2023 by bette

“Recent discoveries in Western Science now add to a growing body of evidence suggesting Beauty is a transformational power…”

– Gregg Braden

Cloud-like blossoms floating upon a curvilinear repose, where the orchid finds home, its beauty envelopes the space it inhabits and transforms it into an oasis of calm.

If our homes mirror what we wish to be, then the orchid brightens our outlook on life and gives us a sense of a positive future. Known as a symbol of perfection and elegance, an orchid’s presence fosters thoughts of integrity, nobility and cultivating meaningful friendships. If you wish to bring a new relationship into your life, cleanse the air of toxins, want to have a large family or wishing to gift a loved one, the orchid is your ally in your cause.

Looking for a partner? Qualities like refined and elegant will serve you in seeking a mate. Adding the color of the Relationship gua – a pink or purple orchid to this corner – and you have the golden ticket to reaching your relationship desires. But wait there is more…

Want cleaner air? Natural air purifying agents, orchids, especially the Dendrobium orchid improves air quality by stripping airborne xylene and other chemical solvents that are found in cleaning agents, paint supplies and exhausts.

Does anxiety keep you up at night? Besides elevating the oxygen levels in your bedroom, having an orchid there, especially at night, has a positive and relaxing effect. Our worry seems to melt away. Panic attacks and insomnia are virtually non existent.

Desire a large family? Among its qualities of love, beauty, refinement, mature charm, an orchid represents many children. So add an orchid to your bedroom. From Natural Orchid Boutique: the Greek’s believed the orchid is associated with virility. Greek women believed that if the father of their unborn child ate new, large orchid tubers, the baby would be a boy. If the mother ate small orchid tubers, she would give birth to a girl.

Pressured at work? A low ceiling or beam in your home may create low blood pressure, feeling suppressed and unsupported and anxious about future events before they happen. An orchid’s grace, calm and beauty has the Ch’i to lift the occupants’s spirits and this enables them to feel hopeful about their lives. If you have the sense that you are oppressed by your ceiling, place a healthy orchid in that room.

Seeking a gift that celebrates life’s precious moments? Orchids make a wonderful greeting flower. Though roses have been traditionally given as a gift, orchids have enduring qualities which makes them more suitable. Their loveliness cultivates affection and a a sense of security longer than any other floral gift.

Searching for the right color? Here is what each orchid color means.

Red orchids were a flower that enhanced the Aztec’s power and strength. It was their practice to concoct an elixir of chocolate and orchids. Among their many qualities can be added determination, courage, perseverance, desire, passion, and love. Gifting a red orchid to your beloved displays your deep admiration.

Pink orchids signify grace, gentleness, innocence, happiness, playfulness and fertility. In addition to being a wonderful choice for attracting the right partner (see above), they help growing families and expectant mothers celebrate the arrival of their child. Pink orchids are also a great addition to the trimmings for baby showers, baptisms, and even weddings.

White orchids are emblematic of purity, faith, humility, safety, elegance, innocence, and beauty. They are an elegant choice for a wedding floral, in an display in a place of worship or spiritual devotion or to enjoy their symmetry in your home (see above how they relieve anxiety).

Purple orchids have been a symbol of dignity since the Victorian age. The upper class of the 18th century greatly admired their breathtaking blooms and would grow them in their greenhouses. They represent authority, dignity, and royalty. Gifting a friend purple orchids will show your adoration towards the recipient. Besides pink, purple is the color choice to attract the partner who is right for you.

Yellow orchids are happy, and optimistic. Yellow orchids represent friendship, new beginnings, and joy. It is perfect bloom to send to long-distance friends, applaud a new beginning in a close friends’s life or spread hopefulness.

Orange aligns with creativity, excitement, sunshine, and success. Enthusiasm, courage and self-regard are also symbols of the orange orchid. Is a friend planning a new journey or are you receiving a promotion at work? Bring an immediate boost and inspired look to your office or home.

Green orchids bring auspiciousness and luck. Placing a green orchid in a black planter will bring good fortune, good health and a long life. Sending them to family and friends is a powerful good deed that will boost the effectiveness of your Feng Shui. In the Japanese culture displaying a green orchid in your home or office is believed to bring good fortune into your life and career.

Orchid colors inspired by Welkes

Every wondered how intention works? “Your brain is not a computer. Your brain is a dynamic system that evolves its patterns of activity rather than computes them like a computer. It thrives on the creative energy of feedback from experiences real or fictional. You can synthesize experience; literally create it in your own imagination. The human brain cannot tell the difference between an “actual” experience and an experience imagined vividly and in detail. This discovery is what enabled Albert Einstein to create his thought experiments with imaginary scenarios that led to his revolutionary ideas about space and time. One day, for example, he imagined falling love. Then he imagined meeting the woman he fell in love with two weeks after he fell in love. This led to his theory of a causality. The same process of synthesizing experience allowed Walt Disney to bring his fantasies to life.” When you place your cures on your altar your intention and visualization transform them into sacred objects.

–Twelve Things You Were Not Taught in School About Creative Thinking,

The Creativity Post