Tag Archives: kindness

Black Lives Matter. Let Us Rise Together.

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“We rise by lifting others.”
– Robert Ingersoll

I am reaching out to you because black lives matter more than ever. If you’ve watched the tragedies unfold these past weeks you must be struggling, suffering, angry and hurt. I feel the same. What has happened shouldn’t have. They are reprehensible, damaging to our hearts and scary. Though it may feel the world is careening off a cliff, you, me, we can steady ourselves. We can seek community, solace with our friends, solidarity with our social media tribe and we can help change the future by what we think, how we speak and what we do.

The black community has suffered injustice, racism and inequality far too long. There are Ch’i adjustments for the house, the property, the individual and the natinon. An important transcendental Ch’i adjustment for humans from BSTB Feng Shui master, H. H. “Professor” Lin Yun is perform good deeds daily. Nine, 27 or 108 magnify the intention and smooth out scoundrel Ch’i. These ripple out into the world in full, broad, beautiful waves of love and can offset forces off lesser intent. They give us back our humanity and we transmute hate by doing good. If you have been searching for ways to be helpful and to show loving kindness to the black community here are five links beginning with George Floyd Memorial Fund. At the bottom of those is Glaad.org where you will find more organizations who welcome your donations. Thank you!

Money, time or a smile. Each or all build a hope filled tomorrow.
George Floyd Memorial Fund: The official GoFundMe to support the Floyd family.
In Memory of Tony McDade: The official GoFundMe to support the McDade family.
Justice for Breonna Taylor: The official GoFundMe to support the Taylor Family.
The National Bail Fund Network: A national project that works with organizers, advocates and legal providers across the country that are using or contemplating using, community bail funds as part of efforts to radically change local bail systems and reduce incarceration.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: America’s premier legal organization fighting racial justice through litigation, advocacy and public education.
Ways you can support black community and fight racial discrimination. Glaad

Thank you for stopping in. I am open during shelter-in-place. I have added Zoom consultations to on-site. My services are Feng Shui a La Carte, one hour or Your House Is Talking, full consultation. I wish you well and calmness during this extraordinarily difficult time. I look forward to having a conversation with you.

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.

Feng Shui Design For Better Immune Health

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“You cannot always control what goes on outside. But you can always control  what goes on inside.”
–Dr. Wayne Dyer

Staying healthy is a premium during this Covid-19 quarantine. Immune health isn’t necessarily a goal we connect with our homes but in reality our spaces are the barriers against illness. I have been contemplating what will be useful to you during this extraordinarily difficult time. I have curated ten adjustments and ceremonies (a qigong practice too) to help you minimize stress, strengthen your immune health and a Feng Shui tip for the front door to get clarity about what course of action to take.

Defense against stress
Over the past 20 years scientific studies have reported stress is the number one causes of illness besides inflammation. If you are working from home and if you are looking after your children, place three lush, green plants in every room where you work and also where you supervise your children. Plants enhance concentration, abate air toxicity, minimize tension, increase your immune health and lift your frame of mind.

Light the front entry (the brighter the better), both the outside and the inside of the front door. The front entrance represents your head besides your health, the light brings more clarity to your brain, helping you choose the right course of action to take.

Worried about the future? Adjust any dark small or narrow area near the front door or the door you enter often. Add sound here. Hang a bell on the door or a wind chime from the ceiling. Clean up any untidy plants at the front door.  Adjust the Helpful People area with a statue or an image of someone who is a mentor, teacher, someone you highly respect. It can also be an image of a deity. If a statue of a deity make sure it is up off the floor. Or place an image or statue of a dragon, (not red, that is a cooked dragon). They are mythical creatures who have benevolent intent to help humans. 

Lost your job during this time? Check to see if one of your doors, particularly the front door opens to a wall. This is known as a contrary door. Your shoulders may be starting to weigh upon your heart and lungs, depleting your pulmonary system, weakening your ability to ward off virus and illnesses. Adjust this feature by hanging a mirror (be sure not to cut off the top of your head nor chin) on the wall that you see as you enter. This wakes up your Ch’i .

SARS outbreak of 2003, scientists discovered the infectious disease spread like wildfire throughout an apartment complex via the sewage pipes. Clean your sewage pipes. If you live in an apartment building contact your landlord.

Harmonize Your Energy
Dried orange peels were used for centuries in ancient China. They were an important part of traditional Chinese medicine. Perform a ceremony with nine whole oranges. Cut nine circles out of each orange for a total of 81 circles. Break those down on a plate and while doing so see the light of 10,000 Buddhas being infused into the peels. Start at your front door and walk around your home (either clockwise or counter clockwise) casting the peels onto the floor. Visualize the light of 10,000 Buddhas is removing any sick Ch’i, bad luck Ch’i and bankruptcy Ch’i, instead happy Ch’i, wealth Ch’i and abundant blessings have come to nest in your home. Best to do this at 11:00 p.m.

Acrid odors have been used in China for centuries to stave off illness. Hang one of the following in your space. Be sure it is visible to everyone. You are adjusting by the sense of smell.
Cloves of garlic
Curry, dill or duren
Garlic chives
Red pepper
Raw onions
Orange peel

Besides cleansing your surfaces, take the opportunity to cleanse your lymphatic system. “This system builds immune health by making special white blood cells called lymphocytes that produce antibodies which are responsible for immune responses that defend the body against disease.” (Unity Point) Tai Chi Forest qigong shares a calming, clarifying short video on tapping the lymphatic meridians. 

According to Thich Nhat Hanh, “a mantra is a magic formula that, once it is uttered, can entirely change a situation, our mind, our body or a person. But this magic formula must be spoken in a state of concentration-that is to say, a state in which body and mind are absolutely in a state of unity.” Tara is the “Mother of all the Buddhas” and she protects the welfare of all beings. Find an image of Red Tara to help you focus. Red Tara eats up illness. Her right eye reflects the sun and kills the virus. The left eye reflects the moon. An elixir pours out of her eyes healing those afflicted. As you face her she connects to your heart and the light sends to you comes from your heart and circles the planet. As you visualize the above, chant, “Om Tara Tuttare Ture Soha” 108 times.

Kindness matches the same vibration as abundance. Perform one good deed a day for 27 days or 9 good deeds a day for nine days to improve your luck and strengthen your cures.

I wish for you good health, peace and hope.

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.

Yang Metal Rat: Live 2020 Without Limits

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“If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people.”
– Chinese proverb

Since 2700 BC the “Hsia” calendar, also known as the Chinese almanac, delivers annually a cosmic plan to help us navigate our course through the seasons. In the Zhou dynasty star gazing meant survival for agrarian cultures of China. The emperor would assign his court astrologers to calculate the rotation of the planets to prophesies what actions to take in conduct and character to insure a plentiful harvest and good fortune.

2020: Heaven’s divine order has delivered the Yang Metal Rat, all shiny with an exuberant air and ready to take charge. Metal and Rat are an amalgamation of the Heavenly stems and the Earthly branches which are the oldest known tool for Chinese fortune telling. Yang Metal Rat has imprinted its energetic blue print upon this year gifting humans with the challenges and endowments that will help us to not just survive, but evolve and thrive.

Yang Metal Rat begins a new sixty year cycle. Water is the start of life. It also represents wisdom and social interaction. It is fitting the Rat, who is connected with Water, is the first animal of the Chinese zodiac and wise souls are they. Their clever minds can make a quick witted response to tame a difficult situation. If we adopt Rat’s willingness to take a grounded, peaceful approach when conflict arises, we will be safe from a compromising, perhaps even a dangerous situation. Very social and caring Rat is devoted to family and friends. Find ways to show your loved ones how much you care with displays of affection, small gifts and acts of service like washing the car or taking the garbage to the curb. For the Rat love runs deep and when things go sour they can easily get their toes stepped on. But they are well equipped to transform a sour situation into calm understanding with their philosophical perseverance and grace. Inquire into your partner’s love language. Translated into 16 languages, Dr Gary Chapman’s Five Love Languages® has saved partnerships around the world and may offer some insight into yours. This year consider what it would mean to you, your loved ones and friends if you cultivate a disposition of peace, hope and happiness. The takeaway from the Rat’s inherent nature is be caring. Kindness always wins.

The Five Elements – water, wood, fire, earth and metal – are believed to be the basic components of everything in the Universe. The second factor of the energetic blueprint is the presiding Five Element. It is the modifier that accompanies the zodiac animal’s influence. In 2020 Rat is the “earthly branch” and Metal is the “heavenly stem”. According to Feng Shui master Raymond Lo, Metal feeds Water so we might expect a relatively peaceful year however it’s a Yang (strong) Metal which is often associated with a destructive weapon like a big sword. The characteristics of Yang Metal people are: warrior-like, loyal, honest and reliable with strong leadership skills. They have a deep desire for justice in the world but use fighting to resolve issues. Its influence on Rat will influence Rat to mimic the energy of aggressive ocean water – situations this year are poised to become combative. Keep in your thoughts that diffusing a scene before it becomes heated will get you what you want.

With regards to the environment we can expect to see Water (flooding, heavy rainstorms and tsunamis) and Fire related disasters which include sea and air accidents. Metal and Water weaken Earth so there will be earth linked disasters (landslides, sink holes, mining accidents, earthquakes and buildings collapsing).

The Water element will weigh heavily on the morale of buyers in the stock market. Time for a more conservative approach and prudent expectation in your transactions. That being said certain industries will prosper. For instance “the Rat is a Peach Blossom, (star of Romance) and along with the Metal element which symbolizes the skin, teeth and bones, beauty and grace will be enhanced. There will be a boom in the beauty and entertainment industries.” You may look into these types of investing options but remember always seek professional advice first.

In terms of health, the Metal element represents the lung, nose and skin. The Rat, a Water element, is related to the kidney, urinary system and sex organs. Excessive amounts of Water can cause problems in these areas. Because both Fire and Earth are absent the stomach (digestive issues), the pancreas (diabetes), the immune system and the heart (blood circulation) will be affected. (Raymond Lo) 

The current coronavirus epidemic has brought our attention into sharp focus to maintain a healthy immune response which can be as simple as getting adequate rest, (make sure your bed is in command position for optimal rejuvenation); drink plenty of water; limit exposure to screen time; restrict caffeine and alcohol consumption; eat local, purchase your food, if possible, from a Farmer’s Market and cultivate loving relationships. These practices eliminate stress which is the main cause of disease and illness. “A virus is an opportunistic bacteria looking for a weakened immune system.” – Dr. Joe Dispenza,

The weaving of positive energy into your everyday life brings success. Here are 10 practices to help you prioritize, maybe even help you define your purpose. My hope they will help you rearrange your perspective to live 2020 without limits.
Act as if you are an unstoppable force.
Remind yourself everyday of why you are here.
Visualize your future and live for it.
Express gratitude.
Find your sweet spot.
Look for beauty everywhere no matter how imperfect.
Let yourself go – surrender to your genius.
Share your gifts with others.
Seek to transform chaos into peace.
Remain gentle and do kind deeds

Prosperity
Lù is different from wealth and happiness. It means achieving a high rank which leads to an affluent and fortunate life. Adjust the Feng Shui in your home: place your bed, desk and stove in command position. Make sure the front entry is open, welcoming and free of clutter especially shoes for that means chaos. Place an image of a deer where it is visible for the sound of deer and prosperity in Chinese are identical. One hundred deer represent ‘prosperity one hundred times over’ (bai lù). A symbol for prosperity and nobility, the peony is the flower of wealth, rank and honor. The image of the peony in a vase expresses the wish for prosperity and peace. Place peonies in the wealth gua or at the front door. 

Lunar Leap April (May 23 – June 20)
In the Chinese lunar calendar every three years is a small Leap year and a big Leap year every five years. The line up of the stars creates a unique and favorable situation. Regardless of which Zodiac animal you are, the luck is most likely favorable for everyone between May 23 and June 20. It’s a good time to get married, relocate, start a new business, purchase real estate, make investments, break ground for new construction or remodel your space.

Timing
If you are looking to build a new home, remodel, plan a wedding, purchase a home or sell one, when you start has tremendous influence on the outcome of your event. Beginning on the right foot with an auspicious date and time will bring more success to your endeavor. Contact me, bette@shenmenfengshui.com for details.

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.

Manifest A Golden Year of the Metal Rat

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“Wealth is not just money, it embodies five key factors: financial wealth, relational wealth, intellectual wealth, physical wealth and spiritual wealth.”
– Tony Robbins, Motivational Guru

I receive multiple emails on Feng Shui and Chinese money bags/lucky days. While they are entertaining, they don’t hold a candle to the Feng Shui lucky customs and good fortune cures of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Celebrated for over 4,000 years, The Spring Festival is the perfect opportunity to summon your goals. January 24-25, two billion like-minded families and friends pool their goodwill and good intentions into a collective energy of newness, unity, prosperity, abundance and good fortune. The synergy becomes an avalanche of manifestation. The Year of the Metal Rat is two weeks away. Start your avalanche of golden good luck with these Feng Shui prosperity tips:

Improve the Feng Shui in your home and office.
Start with placing your bed and desk in command position. You want to see the door but not be in line of the door.. Next look at the position of your stove. Is it against the wall? If so you cannot see what is behind you and that will influence the quality of the food you eat, the amount of money you have in your bank account, how well you get along with your family and winning legal disputes. Make sure you know what is going on behind you or you will be blind sided. If you need clarification, send me an email: bette@shenmenfengshui.com

Upgrade your karma. Pay It Forward.
Abundance and charity are at the same vibration. When you perform good deeds everyday (nine is even better) it actually improves your good luck. For humanity’s sake the world needs your kindness and compassion. And the upside, well it just feels good. Whenever you receive a kind deed, pay it forward.

Act consciously. Set intention.
Renew your connection with your inner self. This is where all your inspired ideas come from. Begin with a meditation space, even if it’s a corner of a room. A daily meditation practice will help you stay present when life pulls you off course. This space will soothe your senses and nourish your soul. 2020 is a pivotal year. Meditation is the link to staying grounded through change. If you don’t have a space and want to learn how to create one, I share how to create a sacred space with lighting, sound, decor and color at “Sacred Space Is Where You Will Find Yourself Again and Again”.  

Perform New Year Rituals.
In my 20 years of consulting, ritual and ceremony are equal in artistry and power to decorating with Feng Shui. Build momentum for luck to soar during the Year of the Metal Rat.

Start January 14, 2020 with “Sweep away the old”  to rid your home of last year’s energy. Imagine you’re sweeping away any illness, obstacles, bad luck, negative attitudes and emotions.

Money comes easily when a bowl of oranges is displayed in your home. The word for orange (Chengzi) sounds like gold (Jin) in the Chinese language.

Chinese Lunar New Year’s eve prepare a “lucky eight” foods dinner. Make the evening uplifting and happy; include music and play games with your children, tell jokes and laugh.

Place your knives and scissors in a drawer January 25, 2020. Schedule a hair trim or mani/pedi before Chinese New Year’s Eve “to avoid cutting the luck of the year”.

Keep your peepers open past midnight on Chinese New Year’s eve to ensure good luck will cross your threshold. The sound of sleepiness in Chinese is similar to trouble. Sleepless means no trouble in the coming year.

Bring one new item such as furniture, décor or art into your home and business to stimulate prosperity chi and to increase your sheng chi. In addition give away one item or more. This creates both physical and symbolic space for new blessings. Taoist monks execute these practices every year.

Throw away china, crockery or glassware that are broken, chipped or have hairline cracks, these augur bad luck.

Make amends with anyone with whom you’ve had a row or falling-out.

Receive a handout of these Chinese Lunar New Year customs and more when you book a consultation…

After you have played games and eaten foods that attract fame and fortune, perform BSTB ceremonies to invite bountiful blessings. Want to receive the “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”? See below.

Carry the Golden Rat’s secret friend (talisman) the Ox
“When the Rat and the Ox come together, the joy of this encounter is enough to offset any evil that the moment may harbor.”
–HH Grandmaster Lin Yun

Carry a three dimensional Ox made of bone, boxwood or jade. The exception is if your Chinese animal protector is a Horse or Ram, then carry the Monkey and the Dragon as a pair.

Enjoy A Year of Good Fortune!
The “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet” is back! $27 + nine red envelopes. Email me at bette@shenmenfengshui.com for payment options. Nine red envelopes must be received by mail on or before January 20, 2020 to ensure your mailing will arrive in time. Revel in “Welcoming the Wealth Gods” into your home. Delight in peeling away bad luck during “the Golden Cicada” ceremony and jump up for joy when you throw the orange peel as the clock strikes 12:00 during “Changing the Ch’i….

Receive the Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet and the Five Fold Happiness New Year list when you schedule your on site consultation before January 25, 2020.

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.

De-stress The Holidays With Full Moon Rituals

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“The moon does not worry….It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, it gently influences. What other body could pull an entire ocean from shore to shore? The moon is faithful to its nature and its power is never diminished.”
– Taoist Master, Deng Ming-Dao

Not only is the year ending in a few weeks, but this month closes the decade. Questions are likely distracting you. Will I get it all done? Can I afford the expense of the holidays? Will my family make demands? Will my in-laws get along? There is a light on December 12, a full moon light that has the potential to shift you out of any anxiety and transform that anxious state into bliss; to bring heaven to earth allowing you to enjoy the season with family and friends.

The numerology of the December 12 Full Moon (1212) signifies something has changed for the better and you have gone through some type of portal or gateway. It means “Have faith in your dreams. You are on the right track.” If you read my blogs you are familiar with my message: Feng Shui is a portal through which you can advance your development by consciously designing your space. To access the auspicious full moon energy, I have included four methods to add to your Feng Shui toolkit. These rituals will help you enhance your savvy, establish a mindfulness routine and unleash the power within you because in your being you’ve got this.

Cool down
Full moon light clears your thinking. We are all innately wise but how do we access it at will? The wise men of times past would consult the Heavenly bodies to heal their hearts and minds. If they needed a remedy, a healing, a purification, they consulted the moon or the sun. The December 12 full moon light can bathe you with its restorative power. If you feel fuzzy, distracted, angry or overwhelmed, walk out into a clear space like a park or a field, free from electrical wires. Stand facing the moon. Open your arms to receive. Feel the cool, yin energy. See your body, your mind, your spirit relax and the moon’s essence washing over you. Neither Motrin nor Benadryl have the power like you to put the pieces back together when life is out of balance.

De-clutter
Full moon energy increases your attention to detail. Marie Kondo’s simple and gentle advice for releasing the physical things that no longer serve you is a wonderful full moon ritual. Begin days before the full moon. Take fifteen minutes. Hold the object in question. Ask yourself does it bring me joy? Do I feel love? If not, thank it with sincerity for the time it served you and find it a new home.

Release
Full moons highlight endings. This is an opportune time to purge emotions, trauma, grief (if you are ready), suffering and what has been blocking you. Purchase a new white candle(s), find an area where you will not be disturbed. Best times are 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. If this is not doable, December 12 is an auspicious date so you can perform this ritual at any time that is suits your schedule but ideally you want to see the moon when you look out the window. Orange or lemon essential oil is perfect for purifying your space. Pour a few drops onto the burning candle or use a diffuser. Or cut circles out of the zest of an orange or lemon and sprinkle around your room. Visualize the light of the full moon encircling you. Write down what you want to release on several slips of paper or just one page. Say out loud what you want to let go. Throw the paper into a small fire-proof cauldron or cooking pot or let the candle burn them. Feel the burden lift off of you. Feel your breath deepen in your tan’tien (belly). Feel the transformation in your heart. You have exited one portal and entered a new phase of your life.

Amplify
Full moon power can increase your intuition. Performing rituals illuminate your senses, not just your mind. They have the capacity to activate a full body awareness. This advanced awareness accesses your subconscious which can annex universal information/super knowledge, the source of all creativity (Edison accessed infinite intelligence to create his inventions. Mozart wrote his music note perfect the first time. He said when he sat down to write the entire opus, it would come into his mind and he would simply transcribe it onto paper). If you need an answer to a difficult problem, give it to your subconscious at bedtime and it will download a creative solution. But you are not limited to sleep to source your creativity, you can do this at any time of the day. Maintaining a daily meditation practice is key. It helps you focus on your goals and inspiration will come to you more easily. If you do not have a mediation practice contact me and I would be happy to discuss what BSTB meditations might work for you.

Full moons expand human consciousness. We are in need of big compassion this time of year. His Holiness, Grandmaster Lin Yun gave us a secret to a successful life: perform a good deed every day. By helping another person, you shift, not only their reality, but yours as well. A kind deed will improve your luck, circumstances and income. Kindness is the antidote to the economic down turn. For emphasis do nine good deeds a day and if you need to really shift energy, twenty seven good deeds in one day. But remember that your sincerity is the most important part.

A well designed space allows you to access positive energy at all times. Call upon 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: Old World Witchcraft

Simple Rituals To Welcome Winter

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“Although the night is long, there is a light that never goes out.”
–Sage Goddess

For centuries humankind has celebrated winter solstice with rituals. Stories of herbs and trees transforming into fairies and mythical kings recount the return of the light. Gathered around the yuletide are traditions that honor the spirits of the home and land. “In Italy the ancestral spirits who protect the crossroads also guard the family and live in the hearths where children hang brightly colored stockings to be filled by La Befana. Her name literally means ‘epiphany’, the original meaning of which is ‘manifestation or sudden appearance of a divine or supernatural being’ or ‘sudden understanding as to the nature of something.’ (Circle of the Sacred Muse).” The same ‘sudden understanding’ is observed as a ‘sudden awakening’ in Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui. So perhaps there is a universal truth, a knowing, that transcends time and location where honoring the seasons and performing rituals invoke the blessings of Heaven and Earth.

Simple rituals to welcome winter
Adorning your home summons the blessings that accompany the solstice. Red and green or silver and gold candles along the window ledge lure the returning sun. Boughs of evergreen draped inside represent rebirth with pine symbolizing healing and joy. Holly offers protection from evil influences that roam during winter. Mistletoe above the headboard promotes fertility and abundance. Frankincense when lit purifies and accelerates spiritual growth.

Release and let yourself rise
A new year is approaching. Relinquishing habits and beliefs will help you tap your unlimited potential. Write out what you wish to give up with a new black pen. On the night of the winter solstice light a candle. Add some orange essential oil or burn orange peel on a plate. Silently read the list and thank each entry, then light the paper, watch it flicker and feel the epiphany lift your heart.

Ritual cleaning
Cleaning can be an invocation to create a fresh start. Wash your floors and countertops with rosemary and sage essential oil diluted in water. Move 27 items to generate new luck. Replace the sheets on your bed and add a lavender sachet under the pillow.

Reflect on what brightens your light
Kindness, compassion, mindfulness, charity and camaraderie come to mind. What words and what daily rituals brighten your heart? The year ahead will wax and wane. Begin a regular practice at this peak time will aid you in any shift that eclipses your light.

Replenish your body
Winter can be harsh on the liver and kidneys. Preparing root vegetables like beets, parsnips, sweet potatoes, celeriac, carrots and turnips in warming soups remind us that when circumstances uproot our stability we can look to Mother Earth to ground us. Evergreens like kale and spinach represent longevity and initiate something new.

Repair a heart, pay it forward
The season is a reminder of the good fortune that surrounds us but for some it is filled with suffering and scarcity. If you want to make a positive difference donate food, volunteer your time or perform good deeds. Your efforts may remove the humiliation of those who experience less fortunate circumstances and help them see compassion exists in the world.

“May you find peace in the promise of the solstice night and may your days be abundantly blessed.”

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.

3 Ways To Transform Stress In Your Home

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“As we head into the dark time of year, let’s take a moment to check in with our practice of compassion, for ourselves and others. Let’s notice our reactions as we encounter pain and suffering, our own and that of others. Notice when we open our hearts and make friends with the discomfort and when we go into fear, anger, resistance or stuckness. Our heads might not know where we are at, but our bodies can give us loads of information.”
–Sacred Circle Dance

We are experiencing an unprecedented exposure to media, download of EMFs and anxiety over global events. These kinds of stress undermine our sense of safety and control in the world. If you are having difficulty sleeping; concerned for your family’s safety; wondering how to minimize conflict at home, on the road and in the workplace, there is a way to help your life go right. Not only compassion transforms stress, creating your home as your center of strength can help you act with confidence in an uncertain world. If you are ready to make-over your home, here are three key areas that will help you revolutionize your inner state and create a sense of safety.

Begin with those who make life easier.
Look to the front right corner as you face into the house, this is Chien, Helpful People help us accomplish what we set out to do. In the I-Ching this area is represented by Heaven. Heaven Ch’i is effortless in its ability to manifest.

  • Activating this niche with a Feng Shui adjustment draws Heaven onto Earth. Placing a sacred object here invites the people and sets up the events that come to your aide. An image or statue of dragon (no red dragons for that is a cooked dragon), horses, a goose, lion or elephant represent this area. You could hang an image of a special place that you have traveled to or long to visit. Or mount a wall clock for this gua is associated with time. How we manage our time is a mark of success. Make your visualization precise.

Hold your family together.
Locate the center of your home. A strong center can contain you and your loved in the thick of the intricacies of everyday life. If the center of your home is weak, your life can spin out of control. Check for the following details.

  • A stairway in the center creates instability which can lead to worry and restlessness. Loss of Ch’i can destroy your sense of peace and leak energy from the entire house and your energy too. Hang a wind-chime or a mirror at the top of the stairway. Or paint the railing green.
  • A bathroom in the center will deplete all the life situations that the Bagua contains. Your life’s resources will either vanish slowly or be depleted in an immediate surge down the drain.
    Place a mirror on the outside of the bathroom door. This “transcendentally” removes the bathroom by reflecting what is in front of the mirror, hence the bathroom “disappears”.
  • Other details that should be avoided in the middle of the house: boiler; motor; electrical service box – your main disconnect; oven; fireplace; generator. If something electrical or hot exists in the middle of the house, you can paint it green or decorate it with a green plant or place a green plant on top of it.

Avoid dissonance and exhaustion.
Walk to your bedroom. Check to see if your bed is placed on the edge of a “cleaver” shaped room.

  • If the master bed is on the edge of the cleaver, words may be cutting and sharp. This creates dissonance among family members that can spread beyond the walls of your home and impinge upon your life in exhausting ways. If you have a cleaver shaped bedroom, place a mirror on the wall opposite the bed to pull the bed off the knife edge. 
  • Subscribe to my blogspot for more bedroom help. Receive 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind.

If you want more information about design that contributes to stress, lack of safety, ill health and conflict, check out Floor Plans Matter. I describe one design feature in each of nine floor plans. My hope is that you start to think of your home as your source to regenerate your energy where you can face the world with good humor, trust and feel empowered to make a change for your own good.

Have you decided this will be your year? “Boldness has genius”… start with one hour of Feng Shui A La Carte. One hour with me can transform your current situation. Think of it as a fairy godmother for your house.

Photo credit: LoveFairyGarden, Etsy.com

Feng Shui Flowers That Whisper Good Fortune

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“Hear blessings dropping their blossoms all around you.”
– Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi

If we wish to attract what is good for us, flowers are a direct path to enhancing our feelings and elevating our sense of well-being. Nancy Etcoff, Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General. Hospital and her research team investigated the effects of flowers in the home and they concluded 1) flowers influence people emotionally; they foster compassion and kindness. 2) people feel less negative around flowers. Looking at them first thing in the morning dissipates anxiety or feelings of depression. 3) having flowers at home can carry over to work creating a frame of mind for happiness and enthusiasm. 

In the right place flowers in your home whisper their message, be joyful and blessings will fall like blossoms all around you.

Flowers have a long held importance and cultural significance in Chinese culture. They believe they communicate positive messages.

Here are five of my favorites that I give as Feng Shui adjustments and personally display during the Chinese seasonal festivals.

Peony Their elegant, full blossoms and delicate fragrance make them a favorite of bride’s bouquets and with good reason. The Chinese hold the peony in high esteem because it symbolizes prosperity and nobility. It also represents wealth, rank, female beauty and honor. Yellow and purple varieties are the most desirable. According to Feng Shui tradition, cultivate affluence by hanging either an image of a peony in a vase or placing an actual peony in a vase in the living room of your home. Either one expresses the wish for ‘prosperity and peace’, because the peony represents prosperity and the vase is a rebus for peace.

Orchid We all want someone special who is just right for us. The orchid represents integrity, friendship and nobility. Confucius compared the orchid to a virtuous man. In BSTB Feng Shui tradition to attract a refined and cultured partner place a pink orchid in your Relationship corner. The nuance to this relationship adjustment is visualize you are attracting the perfect person for you.

Lotus The Chinese believe the lotus symbolizes purity, long life, humility and honor. In Chinese Buddhism, Quan Yin is depicted seated on a lotus flower because it rises from the mud in beauty and symbolizes perfection and purity of the heart and mind. Mud represents a meaningful part of the lotus flower’s development. In Buddhist teachings, we humans are born into suffering, it is a vital part of our experience. The sacred lotus grows in the deep mud, far away from the sun. But sooner or later, it reaches the light becoming the most beautiful flower ever. If you’ve struggled to accept your fears. If you’ve felt your burdens have not brought you redemption. If despair reminds you that you feel you’ve failed, it may be difficult to see that these muddy waters make you the exquisite human being that you are, but you are. 

Chrysanthemum The ninth day of the ninth lunar month is the Double Ninth Festival also called Chongyang Festival (this year it is October 17, 2018). Nine is a yang number (symbolizing forever). Celebrating the double nine brings auspiciousness to the household. “Double Ninth” is pronounced the same as the word “forever” so ancestors are also worshipped on that day. Chrysanthemum is a Chinese word derived from “Chu hua” meaning “October flower”. 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 the home and eating Chongyang (double yang) cakes (cake sounds like height so they are regarded as lucky) are popular customs honoring this festival. They lift the Ch’i of, not only individuals, but families and communities too.

Narcissus Narcissus is known as the “water goddess”. It is said this flower can rout out evil spirits. At Chinese New Year (The Year of the Water Pig is February 5, 2019), the Chinese believe daffodil and Narcissus bulbs when in bloom bring good fortune and luck to a home. The modern take: enliven your Ch’i through the sense of smell. This adjustment calms the nervous system and promotes a sense of well being.

The Flower Cure Many times the most unlikely Feng Shui adjustment has the greatest affect. If the valve between the stomach and the esophagus is not opening and closing properly and there is acid reflux, H.H. “Professor” Lin Yun suggested this cure (nine red envelopes requested). The essence of this cure is how the sense of smell affects the body, mind and spirit.

Photo credit: https://www.quitecontemporary.com/2017/01/diy-ceramic-vases.html

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.

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.

May 26 New Moon. Horse Sense.

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“When your heart speaks, take good notes.”
– Judith Campbell

May 26 new moon the friendly, passionate Horse came to the forefront of the Chinese zodiac. With a zeal for life, those born under the Year of the Horse are warm-hearted, fervent and generous. Horse is a loyal companion and consistently there for their friends. Patient when it comes to hearing out what other people have to say, they excel at resolving conflicts, their own and most everyone else’s. Their independent nature and unwavering vitality are key characteristics that help them survive obstacles. Interestingly these traits are the bulwarks that support their rise to the top of their career.

In the Chinese zodiac Horse rules the time between 11:00 am and 1:00 pm. In Chinese medicine this time is ruled by the Heart. 2017 has posed challenges for humankind. Our collective heart is speaking. It is saying spread more love and compassion. Call on your super power, compassion. Give away your patience, your ear, your time and  your heart. In spreading good deeds, acts of compassion form a shield against arguments and tension. Negative energy cannot incubate in an atmosphere of kindness.

It is Chinese summer. The fruit is ready. What delectable harvest might you enjoy this month? Rat: you are in direct conflict with the sign of the month. Set the dial high on your radar. You may encounter unexpected lawsuits and accidents. Best advice: maintain a low profile and be conservative. Ox: you and the Horse are in the most confrontational relationship this month. Pay attention to your health. Be aware that disasters could come out of nowhere. Err on the side of caution and be conservative rather than taking big steps. Tiger: you are in the Three Harmony this month. Helpful people will be assisting you. Revel in the glow of prosperity in your wealth and career. Ride the wind, let things flow and good fortune will find you. Rabbit: luck is not good this month. You may find that matters will be difficult to navigate. Wait for better timing. Chanting the Heart Sutra mantra morning and night will help you maintain peace and a serene frame of mind. Dragon: helpful people will assist  you in attaining your goals. Not only career,  you can expect to gain profits and expand your wealth. Be mindful of partnering with zodiac signs who are not compatible with your own. Conflict will likely show up later. Snake: your luck is laser like this month. Be mindful of business relationships with new friends, you could be taken advantage of and lose money. Horse: best to see things with a philosophical perspective. Safeguard your home and household. Be cautious, be conservative, do not be careless. Think before speaking and avoid vanity and greed. Ram: the month is a six harmony month. You will have the best luck of the year. Stay the course in all your endeavors. Watch for illness and accidents. Monkey: good time for your affairs to fall into a routine. Be cautious and modest and you will avoid scoundrels. Rooster: a month to turn your gaze onto peace and tranquility. Take the high ground and do not gossip or put your nose into other folks’ affairs. Advice: chant The White Robe Kuan Yin mantra. Dog: your persistences pays off, helpful people will back you, luck is at its best. Don’t let trivial things nor petty people bother you. Take more time to relax. Pig: concentrate on your career. Changing jobs is not recommended at this time. If you become sick, seek medical attention immediately. Avoid attending to the bereaved or going to funerals. If you request a cure from this forecast, I will ask you to honor the red envelope tradition. Have a great month, Zodiac friends!

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

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.