Winter Solstice 2020. Dreaming In A New Era.

“If you can see yourself as an artist, and you can see that your life is your own creation, then why not create the most beautiful story for yourself?” 
― Don Miguel Ruiz

Winter Solstice 2020 heralds the return to light but this year is exceptional. We will experience an astrological phenomenon of a grand design. Saturn and Jupiter in a rare, dynamic rendezvous will ascend upon the horizon just after dusk. Their massive, celestial bodies will appear like starry lovers embracing on a dance floor. Look to the west-southwest and you will see the coupled planets shining through the twilight.

What does this mean for humanity? Compared to the Christmas star that guided the wise men, the Great Conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter means old, tyrannical ways will be released. Saturn and Jupiter in Aquarius will help us dream in a new era where humans will experience an expansion of consciousness, compassion and concern for the well being of the eight billion people on this planet. We will become global citizens. We will see more humanitarian policies set in place. Climate change will be addressed in more aggressive measures. Technological advancement will seem beyond miraculous, so buckle up.

What it means for you personally? There will be a greater impetus to realize your purpose. If you want to write a book, change your career or begin a project, this conjunction is fresh with innovative ideas. It’s the best time to tune in. Meditate and the small, still voice will whisper with clarity. Hold your thoughts in sincerity and devotion and you will be set on a trajectory to create something new and meaningful. Give it your full expression and heart, and it will receive the support it needs.

This conjunction is considered the beginning of the Age of Aquarius. We will use empathy to change the world. “Everyone will feel encouraged to embody the highest vibration in the form of social and progressive social activism.” Gandhi’s quote will be more relevant than ever, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. 

Consider the following if you want to align with the momentum of the Winter Solstice 2020 and the new energies of Saturn and Jupiter in Aquarius. Plan time to meditate and perform rituals. Engaging your senses with your psyche you will nourish your body and spirit. These practices will help you hold your life’s vision while you “write the most beautiful story of yourself”.

Straighten your house. Begin with the front entry. Remove clutter, especially shoes (or organize them). When they are in disarray (in the Chinese language it means chaos or evil reside here)  the mouth of Ch’i becomes unruly. Bad luck follows.

Wash with orange peel. Cut nine circles from the skin of the orange. You will only want to use the zest (one of the reason oranges are used is their roundness means is not only as a symbol of gold but also completeness). Break down the peels to release their essence. While you are breaking the peels into smaller pieces, visualize the light of 10,000 Buddhas is emitted into the peels. Or visualize a deity of your choice. Chant Om Mani Padme Hum nine times or say a prayer. Draw a warm bath and drop the peels into the water. Let it sit a few minutes to infuse the water. Step in and wash your body. Do not forget to wash your hair. Feel the purification. Feel your Ch’i revived and refreshed.

Purify your space. Purchase nine oranges. The night before the Winter Solstice, this year, Sunday, December 20 at 11:00 p.m. open all the windows in your home. Cut (as you do with the orange peel bath) nine circles out of each orange for a total of 81 circles of orange peel. Break down the peels to release their essence. Nuance: talk to the oranges. Tell them they are being used in the best way possible. While you are breaking the peels into smaller pieces, visualize the light of 10,000 Buddhas is emitted into the peels. Or visualize a deity of your choice. Chant Om Mani Padme Hum continuously (at least 108 times) until the last circle is broken down. Begin at the front door. Quiet your body, mind and spirit. Walk around the house either clockwise or counter clockwise. Take a very small handful and scatter the peels out, as if you are feeding chickens. This mudra feeds “the hungry ghosts”.  At the same place take another very small handful of the orange peels, cast them straight down. You are ”planting auspicious seeds”. Stay in the same place and take another small handful and throw up into the air, chant Om Mani Padme Hum in excitement. You are sending blessings to heaven. Move throughout the house, upstairs and downstairs until you have covered the house. As you are scattering the peels visualize that tens of thousands of Buddhas’s light are filling every corner of your house. Stand at one open window, take a deep, deep breath and exhale while chanting Om Mani Padme Hum nine times in short puffs (use only one breath – do your best). See the mantras cleansing the room of any negative ch’i such as illness, bankruptcy, death, etc. See the room filled with positive ch’i and good fortune. You and the room receive the blessings of Heaven and Earth. Close the windows and end the ceremony at the front door with the Calming Heart Mudra and chant Om Mani Padme Hum nine times. You are complete. If you are experiencing digestive issues do this adjustment. It will remove old patterns, resentments and vendettas.

Meditate to focus. Find a comfortable sitting position. Hold the ‘gyan’ mudra, (The Mudra of Knowledge). It will improve your mental and physical health – increasing your memory power, pituitary gland production and improves the nervous system. Touch the tip of your index finger to your thumb. Hold the other three fingers straight and stretched. Be sure they are parallel to each other. Do the mudra with both hands. Rest your hands onto your knees. Close your eyes. If you can open them slightly and focus on your nose bridge if that is comfortable. Breathe in for the count of five and exhale for the count of five. Keep your spine straight during the mediation pose. Let your mind become empty just watching your breathe (in and out). If you choose you can chant Om or Om Mani Padme Hum at least 108 times to 216 to 324 times. Hold this for at least 15 minutes if not 30 minutes. The posture will promote the flow of prana; improves focus; enhances memory and promotes of sense of balance.

Journal after meditating. The flow of Ch’i will be enhanced and your mind will be open to channel ideas and insights not available to your rational mind. Write whatever comes into your consciousness. Do not censor. Appreciate the stream coming to you and the ideas for your new project, new career or new book will flow.

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

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: Daily Express

The Creative Power of the Pumpkin

“I’d say the first thing you need is … a pumpkin.”
– Cinderella

For centuries the Chinese have displayed pumpkins in their homes in the fall believing this edible squash has the alchemy to create golden opportunities. It began with a folk tale. A scanty village girl named Huang Hua lived with her sickly parents who were unable to care and feed themselves. One day searching for food she came across an oddly shaped melon in a field and took it back to her thatched cottage. She figured out how to prepare the large melon and fed it to her parents. Not long afterwards they made an inexplicable recovery. Since it was found near South Mountain they named it “south melon” or “nangua” which is the Chinese word for pumpkin. 

Since that time eating pumpkins have become an integral part of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival that is held at the full moon (the 15th day of the eight Chinese Lunar month). The tradition started in ancient China. Poverty stricken families living south of the Yangtze River ate pumpkin because they couldn’t afford the fancy ornamental mooncakes.

In folkloric tradition, farmer’s wives would carve out the belly and place items in them to attract wealth.

Their symbolism is as generous as their size. You may expect to increase:
• Prosperity
• Abundance
• Attain good luck from your ancestors (this quality derives from the ‘flood myth’).
• Insure your children will have illustrious careers.
• Acquire an enchanting life
• Draw the earth energy to manifest gold.
No wonder they are so revered around the world.

Welcome prosperity Ch’i and good fortune with pumpkins lined at your front door or incorporate them in arrangements at the inside entry to magnetize abundance.

How did the old couple survive just eating pumpkin you ask? Pumpkin has high levels of carotenoids, proteins, antioxidants and vitamin C. It health benefits are as massive as its size: it will boost your mood, keep your eyes keen, help you repair after a work out, assist in weight loss, reduce your cholesterol and advance your immune system. Its even thought to reduce the risk of cancer.

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

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

“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.