Tag Archives: Winter Solstice

Soulful Winter Solstice Rituals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.

photo credit: Alena Kondrusik

Winter Solstice 2020. Dreaming In A New Era.

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“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

September 20 New Moon. Wag More.

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“Those who teach the most about humanity, aren’t always humans.”
– Donald L. Hicks

September 20 new moon, the Chinese Zodiac Dog chased the stars to be the star on the horizon. Warm-hearted and genuine, Chinese Canines are smart, frank and courageous. One of their finest qualities–loyalty–defines their excellence at completing a job and perfectly. It is their magic too! Caretakers of secrets, they are trust-worthy avatars and astute problem solvers. Fall, the Metal season, is a time of refinement, closure and finishing. When you adopt Dog’s super powers of play and magic, let these help you balance hard work with wonder, awe with steadfastness and you’ll cultivate a healthy curiosity to chase your dream even in difficult times.

Prepare for the shorter days . Practice conserving your energy for when the temperature drops. Discover what the month holds for your Zodiac animal. Rat: let patience be your guide as there is equal misfortune and auspiciousness. Refrain from being picky and arguing with peers, friends and family. Disputes and gossip are likely, be mindful. If you fall ill immediately seek medical attention. Conserve your efforts along with your energy. Ox: it is an auspicious month, enjoy great luck and the aid of Helpful People. Opportunities abound: you may start a new business, relocate or travel abroad. Beware of traffic disasters, perform the BTB “Walking on Red Carpet Secret Cure” before you go on a trip. Tiger: your luck is improving this month. Pay attention to getting into fights with scoundrels then you will be safe from injury and legal disputes. Remaining tolerant and lenient paves the way for adversities to turn to blessings. Do not go into a business partnership or be a guarantor or you might lose your wealth. Rabbit: this month your sign is in direct conflict. Signs do not favor fortune but the opposite, unfavorable. Secure your home against burglary and theft. If you drive under the influence there could be bloodshed. Your overall mood could be depressed. Meditation to create a smooth flow of Ch’i. Dragon: there will be celebrations and harmony and prosperity. Children will be successful and there will be weddings. You may open a business or travel with ease, all will go as planned. This month is ideal to relocate, renovate, get married, do a remodel or build a new home and sign contracts. Snake: everything will go smoothly and as planned. Wealth is expected, you will build your coffers, effect your prosperity to soar. Always do your homework and do not rush into purchasing real estate. Horse: good fortune is arriving at your door with the prospect of a job promotion. Business goes well and a partnership shows results however be mindful this will have its ups and downs. There may be discord in the home. Focus on creating harmony to dissipate discord this month. Ram: not everything is going to be perfect, recognize when you are being too critical. When a situation arises and you don’t know what to do, you may get emotional. Look at the traits of an opportunist and watch that while dealing with your investments. It’s not a time to take risks. Monkey: Helpful People will come to aid you and you will achieve results with little to no effort. There will be merits and fame and wealth and profits. Do not believe in the slander you hear so as not to get caught up in it. Rooster: this month month fluctuate and your mood will swing with the pendulum. Plan your investment portfolio wisely, do not put all your eggs in one basket. Dog: it is a mutually offensive month, a mixed bag between auspiciousness and misfortune. Your health is likely to fluctuate, be cautious with your diet and travels. Perform BTB “Golden Cicada Sheds Its Shell”, at midnight on the first day of this lunar month. Pig: your luck is fair. Your mood swings will cause confrontations and distress with those you interact with. Your anxiety comes from your hesitation in dealing with the situation. 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 your unfailing 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.

Natural Remedies To Drive The Cold Winter Away

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“Don’t think the garden loses its ecstasy in Winter. It’s quiet but the roots are down there riotous.”
– Rumi

Nature is a pharmacy of natural remedies. It may seem counter to our modern sensibilities of running at top speed that the wet, dark slow cold is Winter’s cure. But conserving our life force brings a more robust Spring. Wintertide supports extended periods of rest and rebuilding your reserves. Imagine the hawthorne submerging its energy into its roots; the gestating acorn dreaming of becoming the mighty oak; the bear huddling in its cave, breathing an imperceptible but rhythmic breath. It is a time when your physical strength and psyche are succored by your ancestors’ wisdom. For those of us in the northern hemisphere the weather may be cold this time of year, but for all of us worldwide, we can put to good use these five forbearers’ customs that bring in good cheer.

Create A Circle Of Harmony. Celtic custom: Our entry protects us from the outside so what we place on our door is important. A wreath blesses, unites and insures harmony. A circle is a key feature of a wreath, it suggests inclusion and encloses that which is sacred and our homes are our sacred space. Winter Solstice and Christmas evergreen wreaths cast a field of vitality that protects us during the cold winter months. Look forward to escaping to a holiday instead of setting an appointment with a doctor.

Bring Life To The Dark. Viking custom: Pine, spruce and firs represented eternal life because they remained green throughout the year. Boughs were hung above doorways and over windows as a reminder of the bountiful crop ahead and to ward off ghosts, witches, evil spirits and illness. Evergreens adorned homes on the Winter Solstice, primarily in the belief that the sun, made sick by winter, would be restored to good health at the solstice being both the shortest day and longest night of the year.

Foot note: 25 -30 million real Christmas trees are sold and discarded in the United States every year. When an acre of trees are cut down, the daily oxygen needed for 18 people is destroyed. If you put up a live tree consider one of the following: rent a living tree that is delivered to your doorstep in a pot. Or plant a tree in your yard and on Christmas you can gather around the tree and celebrate with hot cider and songs. (resource from Raeanne Rubenstein)

Decorate With A Splash of Red! Chinese custom: Outside or at the inside of the front door, don’t forget a splash of red. It means happiness and auspiciousness. Its radiance is a heart/mind protector and it dispels negative Ch’i. And who will know but you that you are keeping your home safe and out of harm’s way.

Cleanse With Citrus. Chinese custom: Purchase nine oranges (or lemons). Cut nine round circles from the zest for a total of 81 circles. Break them down with your fingers onto a plate. Take the plate and walk to the front door, then begin clockwise or counterclockwise walking the interior perimeter of your home casting the peels using the “planting seeds mudra”. This space clearing cleanses your home of unwanted energy. Where lemons calm, lighten and refresh, oranges are auspicious and bring good fortune. Leave them one day, three or nine days. And if you are looking to tame your cat, the peels will keep your fur baby at bay.  I am again offering the Chinese Lunar New Year Ceremonies where you can purchase the complete version of this ceremony (see below). 

Hyggelig Your Holidays. Norwegian custom: Hygge is a Norwegian word for “well-being”. It is believed to have made the cold and dark winters more tolerable. Hygge (get cozy) is about spending quality time with no agenda. It’s about warmth, humor and being connected. It’s about spending time alone and with family. Remember if you get out your to-do list, it will vanish.  Next time you are with friends, throw into the conversation “this is hyggelig,” and see if you don’t get a smile. (source PBS Newshour)

Ritual celebrations help us link to the past. It strengthens our ties and builds our Ch’i. Celebrations are necessary for society and for the individual–for they are about cultural identity, life transitions and personal discovery. The Chinese believe they form a spiritual protection against unseen forces. Creating stability leads to success and prosperity.

My mission is to help you strengthen your Ch’i. I have put together “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”+ Two Bonus Cures and the Three Secret Reinforcements (body, mind, speech) to amplify your intentions. $27 + nine red envelopes. Please remit with your payment + nine red envelopes by January 19, 2017 to receive “Three Lucky Feng Shui Secret Traditions Packet”+ Two Bonus Cures ceremonies to you before Chinese Lunar New Year”s Eve.

Wishing you supreme abundance and infinite joy for now and the coming year!

Welcome the light with Recipes For Living Coloring Journal. Turn your writing into an ecstatic journaling experience plus give yourself permission to color and dream. Each chapter ends with a mindfulness “recipe” to help you integrate the practice.

Have you decided this will be your season? “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.

Sacred Space: Incubate Your Dreams In 2016

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“Sacred space is an absolute necessity for anybody today. You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes to you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first you may find that nothing happens there. But if you have a sacred place and use it, something eventually will happen.”
– Joseph Campbell

Contrary to belief that winter is a season of sleep, there is evidence it is a transformative time. While plants and wildlife slumber in dormant bliss, celestial events conspire to help us prepare for the deep well of opportunities coming this year. Winter Solstice the light returns to the Northern hemisphere. The days lengthen and swell with the increasing light. January 1, our inner light is ignited with the entrance of the a new year. Midpoint between Winter Solstice and the Vernal Equinox, February 4, “Lichun”, the light of Spring arrives. Bursting through the frost, the hearty, winter plum blossom exemplifies forging ahead and so we tackle our plans. The timed cues between Heaven and Earth remind our spirit to renew our vow to ourself and the year ahead. 

Our spirit is the mystical, intangible part of our nature and important because it knows precisely when to act and what makes us happy. If we fail to recognize its value, joy remains beyond our grasp. This is reason alone to honor its place within us and create a space of its own. The highly respected Joseph Campbell, The Power of Myth, says of sacred space, “To live in a sacred space is to live in a symbolic environment where spiritual life is possible, where everything around you speaks of the exaltation of the spirit….This is the place of creative incubation…Your sacred space is where you find yourself again and again.”

If you’ve always written out your resolutions it might time to blend them with a spatial solution. Here are some basics to help you create a sacred space that will give you the support you need to incubate your dreams in 2016. You want it to be comfortable and away from noise. It can be a bedroom, study, workspace, a corner of a room, chair or your backyard. Keep in mind it is an intentional space that quiets your mind, frees you from stress and provides peace and healing. 

Create an altar or area where you can place special items to heightened your awareness of withdrawing from the world and honoring time alone. You may place fresh cut flowers, life force such as a plant or plants, an aquarium or a water fountain. Sights and sounds should be pleasing and meaningful. Scent is also a powerful tool to follow a path of awakening. A diffuser or dish of orange or lemon essential oil bring clarity or place a bowl of nine oranges. These add color and good fortune. Burning incense is a form of prayer. These methods engage your five senses and enhance the purification of your mind. If your space only has room for a table with a candle, add natural elements such as a shell from a favorite beach, a rock from a lakeshore or a special piece of wood that you picked up from the mountains. If there is a deity that is near to your heart, a statue or a painting is appropriate. If it is a Buddha statue like Quan Yin, Green Tara or Amitabha Buddha honor it with water offerings, food offerings, incense and candles that are placed on a tier below. Devote 5-30 minutes a day to meditate, journal, read or draw. At first you might feel resistance to getting started but if you select a time each day you can commit to, the demands of the world will vanish as you fall in love with this quiet, still time in your day. And when you leave give gratitude to your space for giving you sustenance and joy.

Have questions about your home? Want to feel more vitality and joy?. There are tried and true Feng Shui design principles that my clients share have garnered them success. I want you too to receive the same opportunity so I created Feng Shui A La Carte to get you there.

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.