Tag Archives: Chinese Summer

Light Your Fire With Feng Shui

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“Life is a pure flame and we live by an invisible sun within us.”Thomas Browne

Search the internet and you will see hundreds of Feng Shui articles on wealth, abundance, family dynamics, partnership goals and health, but a lesser in-demand reader topic is how your home can light your fire and bring your unique gifts, talents and skills to your friends, neighbors, community and the world.

I am speaking about your reputation. It’s an important aspect of both your professional and personal relationships. A good reputation leads to numerous benefits: it can forge trust and credibility, attract opportunities and enhance social standing. A positive reputation makes it easier to build your relationships, gain access to resources, command a better salary and influence others. If you are reading this, it’s your sign that you are favored to light your fire and manifest your dream career, step into a leadership role in your community, develop a successful side hustle and/or improve your customer loyalty. The Feng Shui Bagua can help you “you get the word out without saying a word”. So where do you begin?

In the middle back sector of your home. The Fame and Reputation gua, also known as “Li”, is located there. Li is nestled between the Wealth gua (Hsun) to its right when facing the door and Partnership (Kun) to its left when facing the door. Associated with brightness, nurturance and the ability to discern and differentiate, Li epitomizes nurturing yourself and others through interdependency. In the Book of Changes Li is  “Clinging Fire”. One of the attributes of Fire is that it clings to whatever it is burning – a natural condition that also applies to your reputation in your community. Chinese summer (May 5) makes this an auspicious season to ride this Fire energy. It will ignite your good name and expand your good fortune. Should you accept this mission your next move could send sparks into your community, illuminating your career path and expanding your joy.


Get Recognized. Light you fire with red for it is the color of Fire. Red is an energy source, a stimulator and a way of expelling bad Ch’i. If your reputation has been maligned, if you want to enhance your reputation, step into a new role or extend your reach beyond the city in which you work, paint a red wall in the Fame gua and set your intention accordingly.

Enhance Your Renown. The Three Harmony Adjustment is based upon the Chinese Zodiac and the auspicious relationships of the 12 zodiac animals. Enhance your renown by locating the Fame gua, the Knowledge gua and Helpful People gua in your home. This becomes a Three Harmony of Fire. As long as these areas are fully intact, place the same shape of mirror (for example a round mirror) on the wall in each gua. Visualize the mirror is creating an auspicious extension beyond the walls of your home. These protrusions will enhance your good standing, creating trust within your sphere of influence and beyond.

Restore Your Reputation. A bathroom in Fame will dampen the Fire element and deplete the gua. The heart may become weakened. We need the warmth of Fire to speak from our heart, to soften cold words, comfort grief from within or succor a loved one. We may also experience damage to our reputation, status and honor. Mount a full length mirror on the outside of the bathroom door and visualize it assumes the image of whatever is in front of it. See the bathroom disappear and your reputation restored.

Claim Your Fame. Adjust Fame in three places. 1) In the backyard place a topiary that is triangular or plant a tall columnar or oval tree which are auspicious in the Fame gua. They will add visibility. 2) In the house add a light in the Li gua to light up your stature or hang an image of a Phoenix which represents Fire. 3) Place the Five Buddha Firecrackers (yunlintemple.org) in the Fame area between the mattress and box spring of your bed to impel your name.

Activate Your Standing. Make sure to check in at your office and sit in your office chair. Avoid bad luck by activating both Career and Helpful People. You might add a water feature in Career for it represents Water. This can either be in your front yard, house or home office. In Helpful People hang the image of a Dragon or Horses (eight is an auspicious number)or an Elephant. Or you may hang an image of a fruit tree that comes into full glory in the season of Heave which is late autumn. You can then engage your mind and heart to create a powerful adjustment with deep roots.

Want to enhance what is already a good relationship with your home, family, your job or partner? I would be happy to help you with your place. My signature offerings are, Your House Is Talking, full consultation or take a smaller bite with Feng Shui A La Carte. I look forward to talking to you soon! 503-232-2543 or bette@shenmenfengshui.com

.photo credit: Andre Furtado, UnSplash

Beltane Rituals. Soothe Yourself With Beauty.

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“Ritual is the act of sanctifying action – even ordinary action – so that it has meaning. I can light a candle because I need the light or because the candle represents the light I need.”
– Christina Baldwin
The Yin and Yang are always at work. April taught us lessons, some difficult, some compelling. May teaches us sweetness. It comes to our aid absorbing the pieces into its vast well of beauty that we can tap into all month long.

In diverse cultures around the world, Summer is the midpoint between the vernal equinox and summer solstice. May 1-2 is Beltane (Fire of Bel) or May Day. May 4 in the Chinese lunar calendar is Lixia, (The Inauguration of Summer).

The beginning of each season provides an opportunity to create a fortuitous beginning. In sanctifying the season, we invoke our own potential laying the path for abundance and success. In January I shared Spring Festival (Lunar New Year) rituals. Now, four months later, life begins anew with the imminence of Summer. Its energy potential fertilizes the seeds of intention we plant during this time. This blog will focus on Beltane. The Beltane rituals below are simple and easy to implement. Select what feels right for you.

May your day be blessed, your morning bright, your evenings filled with fae and sprite…. Beltane honors life and new growth. One of the eight solar sabbats celebrated by Wiccan cultures, humans offer their prayers and gratitude to the Earth and human fertility is celebrated with rituals. Traditionally groups come together but you can create a private Beltane ritual in your home or backyard. So ring a bell to scare away bad spirits (yes, we do that in Feng Shui too!) and add candles to your spring altar to welcome the Fire of the Sun. Here are eleven easy  Beltane rituals to celebrate abundance and the promise of prosperity.

• Create a bonfire. Bel is a Celtic Sun God. He is the father/protector/husband of the Mother Goddess, often known as nature/earth. Bonfires are a way to symbolize Bel and his fire, and encourage him to bring life to the earth.

• Leave an offering for the Fae. The veils are thin between the worlds. Fairies are mischievous beings who often cause chaos. Offerings of Rowan branches or hawthorne placed above the windows and doors were a sign of protection. Food is left on the steps for fairies. Leave what is seasonal in your area which can include crystals and little lavender cakes to show your respect.

• Arrange Flowers At Your Front Door. Flowers’ beauty and fragrance represent nature and the fertility of the season. It was common to gather flowers and weave crowns or wreaths from them. Hanging them on doors is a sign of abundance and prosperity. Flowers traditionally associated with Beltane are roses, lilacs, bluebells, primrose, daisies, and marigolds.

• Bathe To Welcome Summer. The element of water is refreshing and rejuvenates our senses. It is believed that if you bathe in the dew gathered before dawn on Beltane morn, your beauty will flourish throughout the year. Draw a bath for yourself and add essential oils of lavender or lilac. Light yellow, green or pink candles. Saying a prayer of appreciation for all that you have is the theme of this day.

• Dress in Green. Emerald or any color of green refreshes your body and spirit. Green is a common color in nature – grass, trees and vegetation – it can help us feel grounded, creative and calm. Green shades have a stress-relieving and rejuvenating effect. In color psychology, colors of shorter wave lengths relax and cool the human body and mind. Green invests you with tranquility. Jade, forest, mint, sage or any variation of green is easy on the eyes and you can look at green for a long time and not experience eye strain. Green equalizes, relaxes and balances painful processes. Need to address an issue? Wrap yourself in a deep sage or an emerald green throw. Quietly sit by candlelight, touch your heart with your hands and breathe.

• Make An Altar. An altar or shrine in your home helps you manifest the abundance and fertility of Beltane. Add lilacs, daffodils, budding branches. Place oats and honey too.

• Stroll In Nature. Connect to your inner child. Explore the woods, run through a field of flowers and absorb the abundance of new life all around you.

• Adorn Your Home. Wreaths, bouquets or garlands of containing yellow flowers celebrate Beltane and the b. Marigold and for wild flowers: Golden Ragwort, Yellow Sorrel, Yellow Goat’s Beard, Dandelion and Coreopsis.

• Walk Your Property. Give thanks and ask for protection for the coming year.

• Decorate A Tree. Use colorful ribbons that represent your wishes for the coming year.

• Take Action On A Project. The planets are lined up to nurture a project(s) that is near to your heart. It will gain traction and meet with success.

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.