Tag Archives: Feng Shui holiday decorating

Highly Sensitive? Keep Your Holiday Sparkle With Feng Shui

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“Being highly sensitive is a gift that fosters peace. Help create a kinder, gentler world by embracing it.”
– Amy Leigh Mercree

Some holiday stress is expected but if you are particularly sensitive to family gatherings you may be a highly sensitive person. Licensed social worker, Melody Wilding, defines a highly sensitive person as acutely aware of their environment. They notice details and are conscientious to a fault. They agonize over their decisions because they are concerned how it will impact those in their sphere. They have a clear intention to create harmony, yet often it comes at their expense.

Don’t get swept under the table by family stress. Well before guests arrive, please peruse this check list (below) and see if the Feng Shui in your home could be, in part, contributing to your angst. I’ve included adjustments too! Smoothing the Ch’i in our homes helps us hold strong to who we are and enjoy family, friends and festivities with all the trimmings.

A home that is too close to the street (not in balance between the front and the back yards) may create difficulties in all areas of your life, including family. One of the cures for this placement is to hang a wind chime or place a mirror, on the front of the house to deflect the ch’i.

When the corner of a house points at the house next door and if both point at each other, the families may constantly bicker. This can escalate into hostility and possibly a lawsuit. One effective cure is to install a spinning element between the two houses.

A path has an important relationship to the house. If less than the width of the front door, those who live in the house will have difficulty expanding their mind and heart. If there are opportunities they won’t be able to take advantage of them due to feeling inhibited and closed off.

Feng Shui problems in the bedroom will affect the feelings, actions, and speech of the entire family. A round mirror in the bedroom can help eliminate tension and rough talk.

Lack of command position in the bedroom and at the desk and stove affects self image. Someone can feel less than. If that is the case place a plant in the bedroom where the leaves reach upward. This will lift the person out of their circumstances.

If family members are headed in different directions, check the center of the house. Does it appear empty or is there too much going on? A strong center can stabilize a family, holding everyone together. Hang a crystal ball or wind chime in the center of the house.

Doors represent a mouth and an adult’s voice. All doors need to work suitably for our voice is what speaks of our longings and passion. “Arguing Doors” bump up against one another when they open. The bumping creates contention. When they are at the front door conflict may spread throughout the house. Re-hang the door or doors so they do not touch. Or Perform the Arguing Door Cure (red envelopes requested).

“Biting Doors” are misaligned doors. When they are misaligned by one half, may cause verbal and physical fighting. A family member may leave and not come home. Hang a crystal ball between the doors to lift the Ch’i and the hearts of the family.

An “Empty Door” is a door without an actual door. This strongly suggests lack of communication. If an empty door is in the Family gua, there may few loving words or meaningful conversations. Install a door or paint the trim with color.

Many doors in a small space can be “noisy” because all the doors are talking at once. Listening may be difficult at best. Hang a crystal ball or a light fixture with crystals on it in the center to quiet the voices. It will help harmonize the guests at the holidays.

“Piercing Heart Doors” are three or more doors through which you could walk in a straight line. This design is like an invisible obstacle through the house which creates separation between parents, parents and children and between siblings. Over time communication breaks down as each family member is focused on their own desire and achievements. A different color in each room along the path works well to dissolve the obstacle.

A highly sensitive person may be prone to stomach ailments. When a door is at the end of a long hallway there can be digestive upset and distress. A simple comment from family or a friend may having the HSP recoil and demonstrate behavior that is out of proportion to the situation. Place a mirror on the outside of the door.

A dining room too close to the front door may send friends and family out the door. The colors pink, green and blue stimulate the appetite and may invite guests to stay longer for dinner parties. Or hang a crystal ball between the front door and the dining room.

Interested in more design suggestions for the holidays? Savor Thanksgiving Dinner With Six Feng Shui Trimmings. How to mix tinsel and soul and magic: 10 Feng Shui Decorating Ideas That Can Stay Up After The Holidays.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”…start with one hour of 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.

10 Feng Shui Decorating Ideas That Can Stay Up Past The Holidays

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An interior is the natural projection of the soul.
–Coco Chanel

Some people are natural born decorators, they have a flair making their home picture perfect for the holidays. But if that gene bypassed you, relax. I will help you release the worry and doubt associated with, “I could never do that.” Spread the good cheer when you use these 10 Feng Shui Decorating Ideas That Can Stay Up Past The Holidays. I have selected Feng Shui objects and intentions that radiate beauty long after Christmas, Hanukkah, Solstice and Kwanzaa have transformed into memories of sugar plums and bliss.

Here’s how to mix tinsel and soul and make magic.

Refresh your state of mind Space clear the house. This is the most important. Perform this ceremony before you start decorating. This removes any unhappy emotions and low energy. From a Feng Shui perspective citrus is the number one choice. Its scent clears a sterile environment and brightens a room. But more than that, the orange’s power lies in its ability to transform that is why has been used for centuries by the Chinese. The Chinese word for orange sounds like gold. Sprinkling peels you have infused attracts abundant energy in your space and in your life. Procedure: Purchase nine oranges. At 11:00 p.m. open all the doors and windows of the house. Cut nine round pieces of orange peels from nine oranges. You will have a total eighty-one pieces of round orange peels. Break the orange peels into smaller pieces. Begin at the front door, take a small handful, toss the peel upward, visualize that all misfortune, illness and bad luck are leaving. All is well. Take another small handful and with palm down, sprinkle the peel, sowing seeds of auspicious light and visualizing any negativity being replaced with new growth of good fortune, health and positive events. See sunlight or universal light filling every corner of your house. The light will evict any bad Ch’i and misfortune and replace it with happy Ch’i, prosperous Ch’i and auspicious Ch’i. Leave in all the rooms of the house. Say a prayer of grace and you are complete. Leave the peels for one night, three nights or nine nights for greater emphasis.

Magnetize healthy Ch’i When the lighted candy canes have reached their due date replace them with electric lighting. Lights draw healthy Ch’i up from the earth, stimulating the energy of the entire front yard.

Create progress for the coming year Purchase a beautiful wind chime. Visualize how it will bring good luck into your household. Hang the wind chime from a red ribbon outside your front door at 11:00 a.m. Say a prayer of grace, this reinforces your request. This enhancement takes your eye level gaze and preoccupation with worldly affairs and redirects them up. At this position, you invite the power of heaven to create joy, stability and forward movement.

Empower your good name Red in Feng Shui symbolism means happiness, righteousness, courtesy, power and strength. The key to your holiday happiness is balancing anxiety with respect. As you paint your door red visualize these qualities and see your neighbors, family and friends admire your color scheme and honor your good name.

Relax your mind A water feature placed near the inside of the front door creates an illusion with sound. With a modest home it adds dimension and gives a spacious impression. And the sound of laughter from the water falling smoothes the Ch’i, putting your guests at ease and in a relaxed state of mind.

Continue your good fortune Lemons, tangerines and oranges are a highly prized fruit. Fruit, in general symbolizes life and new beginnings. Orange or “Kum” in Chinese sounds like gold. It is also a prayer or wish for good fortune. Create an orange wreath with bay leaves for your wall or create a lemon, orange and mandarin garland for your stairway. After the holidays, if your stairway is facing the front door, paint the railing green to lift the Ch’i and keep good luck from rolling out the door.

Attract a prosperous attitude A Harvard study showed that we feel less negative around flowers. “The positive mood that results from looking at flowers is likely to transfer to others – it’s what is called mood contagion.” A seasonal flower for this time of year, the narcissus plant, is a good choice to display. It is both fragrant and it attracts prosperity for the year to come. Adjusting by sense of smell calms the nervous system. Feeling relaxed smoothes your Ch’i and puts you in good spirits when Aunt Sally shows up.

Invite a fresh perspective Pomegranate symbolizes fertility but I am suggesting you use them at the holidays to 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.

Invoke a hardy resilience The holidays are unfortunately stressful. Family relations go through strain. Pine trees symbolize friendship and loyalty. But also any type of evergreen symbolizes durability and endurance. They never lose their positive energy and can create an optimistic spirit. Place a young, live pine tree in a pot at your entry or in the great room. Trim it with family photos and decorations and see your family feeling unified. After the holiday take it to the forest, plant it and visualize you are replenishing Mother Earth.

Keep your energy well directed Maintain your positive outlook by maintaining your health. If you are prone to sniffles and headaches, place nine lush plants at the front door. The front entry is representative of the health of the entire family, your head, helpful people and career. Visualize that everyone’s Ch’i remains balanced or if stress reaches unbearable proportions, a family conference is held to clear the air. This cure you can keep indefinitely.

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.

Five Holiday Giving Ideas That Reclaim The Spirit Of The Season.

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“You’ve always had the power, my dear. You’ve had it all along. You are capable of more than you know.”
– Glinda, The Good Witch Of The North, The Wizard Of Oz.

I danced around the house the day of the TV screening of The Wizard of Oz. I fell in love with kindly Glinda. I wanted Dorothy’s dark curls and ruby slippers. Scraggly Scarecrow, the melancholy Tin Man, the silly Lion and scrappy Toto filled my child’s imagination. It was all I needed at the time, but the story said so much more. It took 40 years for me to understood the power in it: your rewards in life are not so much about the adventures but the characters who become friends. They do not slide into your life by accident, they have the one unique skill that will burn the witch when you are under fire. Because of their love, generosity, grace and good-heartedness you survive in this world. And you are this gift for someone too. The holidays are almost here. Will the spirit get buried in the hustle and bustle this year? I’ve put together five holiday giving ideas that, I believe, reclaim the spirit of the season.

A reminder of why.
“Some thoughts as we enter the holiday season…It is important to remember that not everyone is surrounded by large wonderful families. Some of us have problems during the holidays and sometimes are overcome with great sadness when we remember the loved ones who are not with us. And, many people have no one to spend these times with and are besieged by loneliness. We all need caring, loving thoughts right now. Share this to give a moment of support to all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune.”
–Facebook post

Do it for all of us.
Dorothy did have the power but it was the good heartedness of her friends that got her back to Kansas. The same can be said of our collective goodwill and personal abundance, they are dependent upon each other. Rather than keep the power, we stimulate more good when we give it away. We have an opportunity to turn one life or a community around this holiday season. These five holiday giving ideas keep everyone’s spirit up and our spirit alive.

  • Love
    Spread your heart. Fear and hopelessness come from feeling isolated. Giving your partner, family member or friend a twenty-two second hug releases the bonding hormone and neurotransmitter oxytocin, which is nature’s anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drug. For a stranger, give them a grin, it’s a gesture they won’t forget.
  • Forgiveness
    Rewrite your story. Is there a grievance with a friend that hasn’t been resolved? Call or write them a letter. Sincerely express your feelings. Ask for forgiveness. You may change their heart and definitely you will have changed the past for a better future. If you need a prompt, here is the loving forgiveness prayer of  Ho’oponopono written by Dr. Joe Vitale: “I love you, I’m sorry, forgive me, thank you.”
  • Kindness
    Stop your humbug. Simple gestures performed with compassion create miracles. Pay a compliment, share your seat on the bus, play with a child or walk an elder across the street. This spreads a contagion of abundance and interconnectedness that is needed most right now.     
  • Generosity
    Give your time. Treat holiday panic by doing something for someone who could never repay you. Serve soup at a homeless shelter. Adopt an assisted living care resident for the holidays. Converse with them, read a story, bring a gift. Involve your children with making handmade gifts for the Christmas bazaar or prepare dinner once a week for a shut-in neighbor. Engaging your hands with your heart feels good.
  • Peace
    Calm your heart. You don’t need to take on the ills of the world nor even one person’s misfortune, but when you give a bit of loving kindness, your generosity, your time, your talent you give a bigger gift: you expand borders from your heart to another and you defeat depression and build community. Performing good deeds with no expectation creates peace and that makes things right with the world.

Gifts for you.
I received such an overwhelmingly positive response to these two blogs last year that I am sharing them with you: Take Back The Holiday. Look East To Savor Thanksgiving Dinner With Six Feng Shui Trimmings and Restoring Grace: A Ritual To Replenish Your Spirit During The Holidays.

Blessings for an abundant November!

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.