FengShuiWesternMass

THE BELIEVER...

2011-12-18T06:50:00.000-08:00

By C.K. Chesterton –

What has happened to me has been the very reverse of what appears to be the experience of most of my friends. Instead of dwindling to a point, Santa Claus has grown larger and larger in my life until he fills almost the whole of it. It happened in this way. As a child I was faced with a phenomenon requiring explanation. I hung up at the end of my bed an empty stocking, which in the morning became a full stocking.

I had done nothing to produce the things that filled it. I had not worked for them, or made them or helped to make them. I had not even been good – far from it. And the explanation was that a certain being whom people called Santa Claus was benevolently disposed toward me…

And, as I say, I believe it still. I have merely extended the idea. Then I only wondered who put the toys in the stocking; now I wonder who put the stocking by the bed, and the bed in the room, and the room in the house, and the house on the planet, and the great planet in the void. Once I only thanked Santa Claus for a few dolls and crackers; now I thank him for stars and street faces and wine and the great sea.

Once I thought it delightful and astonishing to find a present so big that it only went halfway into the stocking. Now I am delighted and astonished every morning to find a present so big that it takes two stockings to hold it, and then leaves a great deal outside. It is the large and preposterous present of myself, as to the origin of which I can offer no suggestion except that Santa Claus gave it to me in a fit of peculiarly fantastic good will…

GLASS HALF FULL...

2011-11-11T10:46:00.000-08:00

After a pitch-black, cold night listening to the awful sound of tree limbs cracking outside, it was pure joy to be awakened the next morning by the hum of all the electric infrastructure of my world coming back on – including the lamp next to my bed. (The last official act being part of a tantalizing chapter in a good book.) But that morning held even greater rewards: warmth, music – and coffee!

After the devastating nor’easter of October 29, most of Western Massachusetts and Connecticut woke up to an improbable winter landscape and no power. As the week wore on, the recorded messages from town officials kept reporting only very gradual return of power, and the opening of shelters and warming stations. Our neighborhood became a refuge for family and friends whose homes continued to be “off the grid”. My friend, Elise, whose power didn’t get restored until Friday, came over for a shower most nights.

All this past week the weather has been beautiful – sunny, with temperatures climbing towards sixty degrees. Elise had a day off from work, and we went for a walk. She told me that, in a way, she was disappointed when her electricity finally came back on. She would come home every day to find that her house was still dark and cold. She would put her thermals on, so never felt the chill, and then she would – relax. With no power there was really nothing that could be done, so there were no pressing matters to attend to, and no expectations. And later, she would snuggle into bed for a really good night’s sleep, cozy and warm, under layers of blankets.

In her book, Creating Sacred Space with Feng Shui, Karen Kingston describes the Balinese annual Space Clearing ceremony, called Nyepi. On the night before Nyepi, there are parades, fireworks, crashing symbols, and music making at full-blast to scare away the angry or low-level spirits. On the next day, silence reigns over the island. No one is allowed to work or go out; fires are not lit; there is no drinking, smoking, or gambling; and no radio, telephone, or TV. In many villages, electricity is shut off. It is a day for quiet contemplation of the year that has ended, and prayers for the year to come.

Now that the lights are on again in our communities, there is little wish to return to those dark days of last week. But, for those who were able to adjust to nature’s own version of Nyepi, all the surprises were not bad. Even then, there was a glass half full…

THE FOREST FOR THE TREES...

2011-09-22T12:03:00.000-07:00

I had lunch with my friend, JoDee, the other day, and over our scrumptious shared poached pear dessert, she asked me if I was still writing my Blog. I was taken aback for a moment, and she pointed out that I hadn’t made an entry since May. Caught.

I offered some lame excuses, such as, “Does anyone really read these things, anyway?” She was quick to set me straight: yes, they do. She, in fact, checks in on a number of Blogs on a regular basis; and, just as with the magazines she also reads, there is no evidence of the reading having been done.

Taking another bite of the now pleasantly melting ice cream, I was able to admit that I had come up against some walls during the past few months. During June, I found that I had nothing to say; during July, I was lazy (an object now not in motion); and during, August, I found that I did have something to say, but I was afraid to say it. Aha.

JoDee, a writer, told me that lately she has really been inspired by Betsy Lerner’s The Forest for the Trees. Lerner is a long-time editor who offers up savory stories and pungent advice for many categories of writers on the creative path. And, although I don’t see myself as a “real” writer, I can’t help but identify with some of the same issues. In being reluctant to describe a situation which could be construed as critical or uncomfortable, something gets repressed – and just as with any physical clutter, a stagnant energy starts to collect and build.

Feng Shui encourages us to recognize the places within our homes to which we don’t want to go. When we can bring some light to these less than favorite areas, we are beginning to find a new balance within our space. In having the courage to be creative, to find that inner voice that connects to the heart of the matter, something within is also allowed to breathe, unfold, relax, and get released. And in that process, there is likely to be a shift in understanding -- from the trees to the forest. Okay, onward -- thanks, JoDee.

NOT JUST MEMORIES...

2011-05-30T08:46:00.000-07:00

My mother’s cousin, Eunice, came for an overnight a few days ago, including a visit to my house in an alumni reunion weekend at her alma mater, Mt. Holyoke class of 1956. Eunice and her mother have been the family historians, compiling genealogy records that reach back into the distant past. She brought along photos to share, as well as a “Birthday” book of her mother’s – a small volume, received as a gift in 1916, but recording birth dates of family members covering about a century. It was strange to see my own birthday recorded here – another thread in the family tapestry.

Feng Shui takes care to acknowledge the importance of the past. Within the Bagua map, a grid resembling a tic-tac-toe board which is laid over the floor plan of a space and used to adjust its energy, there is a section, or gua, devoted to ancestors, family of origin, teachers and mentors. Called Thunder, and found in the middle left section of the bagua, this gua represents the vitality of life that is the feeling of early spring. Our parents gave us life; and they, in turn, were given life in a chain which reaches back to the far depths of the past. In the springtime we feel the full force of this impulse toward life, which after a long winter can be as shocking as a clap of thunder.

Eunice also brought along some stems from her garden – lovely white Siberian irises. These plants are thriving in her garden at home in Scarsdale, New York, and have spread down along a hillside in her backyard. The original plants came from the garden of her Aunt Mildred, in North Adams, MA – my great-aunt, whom I never met. I’ve been using my close-up lens to try to capture the beauty of these gorgeous blossoms – and realizing that the past might be as close as my ability to focus on it.

ARE WE THERE YET?

2011-04-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

There was a message on my answering machine yesterday from a friend who asked me to call her as soon as I could – she had had a dream about me, and she thought I should hear it. I thought, “Uh-oh” and felt a wave of dread, but I decided that I needed to hear the message, whatever it might be. At the same time I was curious, because I can’t remember when someone has called to tell me they’ve had a dream that featured me – this was a first.

My friend Sherri told me that she had been on vacation in a tropical setting in her dream. She didn’t know that I was there, too, but ran into me on the beach, where I was relaxing in the sun, celebrating the publication of my new book. I showed her the book (of course, I happened to have a copy in my beach bag), and she said that it was beautiful, creative, and filled with feminine soul energy. I was very happy about it.

What Sherri didn’t know as she picked up the phone to call me, was that I have been working on a book – a beginner’s manual of Feng Shui. It is the pulling together of ten years worth of notes and informational sheets that I use for teaching into one unified and distilled booklet. It’s been going along well and smoothly, and I’ve been having fun with it. But, I reached nearly the halfway point last week -- and I suddenly got an attack of cold feet. It’s almost like I had been swimming in the current, enjoying the ride, and then looked up to see that I’m really far away from that safe place where I started. Uh-oh.

But one thing that I’ve learned in working with the nourishing energy of Feng Shui is that the universe does move in mysterious ways. I think that Sherri’s dream was meant to reassure, and to say, “Go ahead, keep going…you have a green light!” So, that’s what I’m going to do. The next chapters are already there, waiting for arrival. I’m jumping back into the stream and letting the current carry me along. Thanks, Sherri, for having the courage to pick up that phone!

WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT...

2011-03-31T12:19:00.000-07:00

A good friend recently told me that after years of trying to write, and being unable to, she’s finally broken through. “What happened?” I asked her. She answered that it’s been a combination of things: someone new coming into her life with wonderful words of encouragement, loving support from people who’ve always been there, and, also – the timing is right. Where there has been frustration in the past, now her words, thoughts, and recollections are fully there and ready to be expressed. When she’s writing she’s in a clear place -- a real and centered and safe space, in which she’s found her voice. And because she’s writing from the heart she knows that her words and experiences will touch others.

According to a very old form of astrology called 9 Star Ki or I Ching, 2011 carries the energy of 7 Lake. This is a perfect time to pick up creative projects that have been waiting on the sidelines, because the essence of the 7 Lake “house” is finding your expression. It is also a time for enjoyment, celebration, reaping the rewards of our efforts, and recognizing achievements. It represents the harvest and the fullness of life. More than ever, we are encouraged to experience and fully appreciate the world through our senses -- tasting, touching, smelling, seeing, and hearing the richness of our lives. Memories, too, may be especially vivid this year.

I am excited that my friend JoDee is clearing the way for her writing to come center stage into her life. It’s uplifting to be around someone who has found her creative expressive self because it encourages me to find that place within myself. Feng Shui teaches us that we all do have a creative and very wise inner being which is looking for expression not only in our homes, but our lives. In fact, maybe there’s a project or two I’ve had on the back burner which can come forward into being. This is a very good year for cooking with some new ingredients!

A TIME FOR SETTING SAIL...

2011-02-28T10:40:00.000-08:00

Cultural anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson visited the Odyssey Bookshop last week to speak and read from her latest book, Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom. Ms. Bateson, the daughter of Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson, is now 71 herself, and has spent the last few years focusing on the stage of life that Baby Boomers are now entering – a stage she calls “Adulthood II.” She says that because people are living longer, enjoying better health, and staying active, the old stereotypes of aging are no longer accurate (and certainly not helpful). She contends that “Adulthood II” is actually a new stage, one in which those of us who have made it this far get to use our accumulated experience to redefine ourselves -- and reshape our lives.

This year, the Chinese Solar New Year, which began on February 4, carries the energy of 7 Lake, according to an ancient form of astrology based on the I Ching, or Book of Changes. A 7 Lake year is a time for enjoyment, celebration, reaping the rewards of our efforts, and recognizing our achievements. It represents the harvest and the fullness of life. More than ever, we are encouraged to experience and fully appreciate the world through our senses -- tasting, touching, smelling, seeing, and hearing the deliciousness of our lives. A 7 Lake year is also all about creativity – finding the joy of our own expression.

During her talk, Mary Catherine Bateson stopped to adjust her gray turtleneck and pull out a silver necklace that had slipped beneath it. She explained that the lovely, sparkling, and very intricate chain had been made by one of the dozen people she had interviewed for her book, a man who had been a boatyard worker during his working life. After retirement, he and his wife sold their house and possessions, bought an RV, and headed for Arizona. He took a class in silvermaking at the senior RV park where they stopped. He now has a new and even more fulfilling career as a maker of fine jewelry and art objects.

For those of us approaching Adulthood II (and also anyone who can visualize that stage ahead), this is a great year to drop some ballast, feel the wind in our sails, and embark on a new adventure…

THE YIN AND YANG OF IT...

2011-01-31T14:18:00.000-08:00

With the weather people forecasting another “monster storm” heading our way, the panic is on. I went to three stores this morning looking for a telescoping roof shovel, something I wouldn’t give a thought to most of the year; but today, they’re all sold out. I was welcome to call back as early as 6 a.m. day after tomorrow to find out if the shipment has arrived.

At this stage of the game, it is truly challenging to believe that spring is around the corner. But it is just now, in the deepest chill of winter that the promise of warmer times begins to assert itself again. The ancient sages perceived that our universe naturally expresses itself in two fundamentally different ways. These two expressions – Yin and Yang – do not exist separately from each other; but, instead, are interdependent and in constant flux. At the moment that either expression reaches its greatest capacity, then it begins to change, perhaps subtly, even invisibly, at first. John Fitzgerald Kennedy stated this principle in another way over half a century ago:

“Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope…

And the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable…”

Yin and Yang are really two sides of the same coin – one does not exist without the other. Hot and cold, dark and light, wet and dry…each shift and dance with the other. In Feng Shui we are working with these seeming opposites, always striving for that place of balance, of hope -- the promise of spring.

MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU...

2010-11-30T08:14:00.000-08:00

We had to say good-bye last week to one of our favorite places, Carried Away Consignment Shop in Greenfield, MA. The store closed on November 27, after three years at 10 Miles Street, just up the hill from Greenfield’s Energy Park.

I have found so many nifty, fun, unusual items at Carried Away over the years – from a vintage egg beater in pristine condition, to glassware from the old Sweetheart Restaurant on the Mohawk Trail, to a solid rock maple sideboard just perfect for storing Feng Shui supplies.

One of the key concepts in Feng Shui is transformation – the idea that something dull, stagnant, unwanted can become lustrous, alive, and nourishing. The proprietor of Carried Away, Mona Minor, had a special gift both for attracting consignors with good “stuff”, and for knowing just how to place those items, so that they became interesting and attractive. I usually had to visit the store at least once a month just to see what was new on the shelves. For me, it was always a refreshing experience, with the promise of fun and surprises around the corner.

There was a sign next to the front door, a quote from Karen Kingston, the godmother of the Clutter Clearing revolution:

“Life is constant change. So when something comes into your life, use it, enjoy it well, and when it is time, let it go.”

We’ve enjoyed our visits to Carried Away; and, even though it’s sad to see the doors close, we want to say Thank You, Mona, for a wonderful and magical three years!

NO TIME TO SAY GOODBYE...

2010-10-21T06:25:00.000-07:00

I learned of Ted Andrews’ Animal Speak several years ago, and have referred to it often to add layers of depth and understanding to the moments when the representatives of the animal kingdom touch my own life in some way. I’ve recently thought that it would be great to take a workshop with Mr. Andrews; and when I went to his website to see what his upcoming schedule might be, I read that he had passed away last year on October 24, 2009.

Truly a man of many talents and interests, Ted Andrews was a bestselling author of over forty books which have been translated into more than two dozen languages. Some of his interests included hypnosis and acupressure; healing with sound, music, and voice; study and use of herbs; past life analysis; dreams interpretation; and auras. But he was best known for his work with animals. Mr. Andrews was a long time volunteer at the Brukner Nature Center in Troy, Ohio; and held state and federal permits to work with birds of prey, regularly performing wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. He was a champion of animal rights, conducting animal education and storytelling programs accompanied by his own animals in school classrooms.

One of my most memorable and moving experiences with the animal kingdom was in 2003 when I received word that my cherished position as librarian in a children’s hospital was to be cut in half due to the economic downturn. My assistant’s job was to be eliminated completely. Later that afternoon, upset and angry, I decided to take a walk to a nearby park to clear my head. As I walked along the sun-dappled path watching the leaves of autumn flutter through the air, I was startled by a huge movement just behind me. I turned to see a great swooping of wings not more that five feet away, and then she lifted off – a beautiful and powerful red-tailed hawk! I was shaken but inspired, and felt that there was a message for me in the encounter. Later, when I looked up red-tailed hawk in Animal Speak, I learned that this bird helps us discover our true purpose in life; and shows up to remind us that there is always a bigger picture to consider when things are not going well.

It was certainly no coincidence that only a week before the hospital layoffs, I had completed the final phases of my Feng Shui training, and received my certification. In the intervening years, I have continued to walk this path – learning, growing, and savoring as I visit the homes and businesses of fellow “journeyers”. I often think of that moment in the park as the closing of one door, and the opening of another – with red-tailed hawk showing the way.

A MANY-SPLENDORED THING...

2010-08-07T06:48:00.000-07:00

My current favorite writer, Jane Smiley, defines love as “ever-renewed desire to see someone and a constantly flowing pleasure in their presence…” This is as good a description as I’ve ever read of a quality of experience that most of us would wish to enjoy in our lives. If our relationships don’t quite measure up to this index, it might be worthwhile to take a look at an area of our living space that refers to our closest relationships, according to Feng Shui principles.

Feng Shui uses a tool called the Bagua map to divide a space into nine sectors that correspond to major life issues. This imaginary grid, which looks like a tic-tac-toe board, is oriented to the front door of any home, business, building, or room – and adjusts to the shape of the space. As you are standing in the doorway of the space and looking in towards the interior, the square that in the far right corner in the back is called Earth, and is all about the quality of our relationships.

I once did a consultation for a couple who told me that they had lost some of their old pzazz, and were having difficulty relating to each other in an intimate way. Their relationship seemed to revolve mostly around money, paying bills, and other business issues. I suggested that we take a look at their Relationship area, and what we found was an eye-opener for them. Here in their most precious corner was a four-drawer steel file cabinet loaded with receipts, work-related papers, and unpaid bills. They “got” it, and moved the file to another place, added something that expressed the two of them in a positive way – and their relationship improved almost immediately.

Feng Shui is effective because it grounds our intentions in the physical world. By making changes to our physical space, we also change the energy behind the scene, and create something that is more in line with what we want in our lives. In that way, as author Smiley describes, we find ourselves looking at the faces of our loved ones – even if they are crabby or unpleasant – and smiling in spite of ourselves at how charming they are.

SHE'LL BE COMING 'ROUND THE MOUNTAIN...

2010-06-04T07:09:00.000-07:00

Most people I meet while doing this work tell me that they have a problem with their “stuff.” I’ll let you in on a secret – we all do! And I do believe that we will have to deal with “stuff” – the physical residue of the activities of our daily lives – as long as we are alive. Most people are overwhelmed by the task of keeping clutter under control, and Feng Shui can offer some helpful advice.

Feng Shui uses a tool called the Bagua map to divide a space into nine sectors that correspond to major life issues. This imaginary grid, which looks like a tic-tac-toe board, is oriented to the front door of any home, business, building, or room – and adjusts to the shape of the space. As you are standing in the doorway of the space and looking in towards the interior, the bottom left-hand corner of the Bagua is known as the Mountain area. Mountain is all about finding your center amidst the stresses of everyday living. It reminds us that there is always a bigger picture; it is here that we find knowledge and a new vision of our lives.

When you feel overwhelmed, look to the Mountain area of your home, office, desk, or within any room. If you don’t know where to start clutter-clearing – start here! You will soon feel a sense of relief – and gain a new perspective.

LOVELIER THOUGHTS, MICHAEL...

2010-05-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

In the timeless children’s musical of the 1950’s Mary Martin as Peter Pan entreats the Darling children to “think lovely thoughts”. When the children are able to uplift their thinking sufficiently -- they can fly!

It is a Feng Shui maxim that energy follows thought. Our thoughts, the focus of our mental and emotional activity, are a creative force that is working for us – for good or not-so-good. These images and impulses are essentially forming containers into which the universe pours a response. We don’t have to struggle, scheme, or pray to make this happen: it just does. When we have conflicting thoughts or emotions, we are actually creating an energetic container of static and disharmony – and, unfortunately, that is what we receive.

The solution? A few minutes spent each day in a clear place of gratitude, happiness, joy, playfulness, beauty – either in meditation or in our daily life – can begin to tip the balance in a better direction for ourselves and those around us. With better thoughts we, too, can reach that wondrous state of “lift off” found by Michael and his siblings one London evening long ago.

OPENING YOUR MOUTH OF CHI...

2010-05-11T06:29:00.000-07:00

From a Feng Shui point of view, one of your greatest assets is your front door, also called your Mouth of Chi. It is through this opening that the world arrives, bringing with it good fortune, new opportunities, and fresh energy. Taking the time to create a welcoming uplifting tone at the architectural front door of your home or establishment is an investment well worth the effort.

For a moment, put yourself in the shoes of your guests or clients and ask yourself some questions about your front door. Is it easy to see? Is the approach user-friendly and clearly understood? If there is landscaping, is it well-trimmed and not obscuring the door? Are all the plantings healthy? Does your entry give your guests or clients the message that you value them and are glad to have them coming in? Is your front entry clean, safe, and free of debris?

Many homeowners, especially in New England, neglect their front door in favor of another entry, usually through a garage or mudroom. While this approach may be more “convenient”, it also creates an expectation of utility or workaday chores. It is difficult to relax and be refreshed when your first impression of home is a cluttered garage or laundry room. While switching your regular approach to the front door may not be realistic, it might be fun to see what changes will occur by varying your approach just once a week. Why not utilize your Mouth of Chi -- and take a bigger bite out of life?

WALKING THE WALK...

2010-04-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

A local community college radio host recently interviewed environmental practitioner John Francis, the author of Planetwalker: How to Change Your World One Step at a Time. The memoir describes Francis’ self-imposed break with fossil-fuel powered transportation after the damage he observed following a massive oil spill near the Golden Gate Bridge in 1971. In a walking journey that stretched to 22 years, 17 of which were spent in silence, Francis traversed the country many times; and earned undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a Ph.D. from the prestigious Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies in Madison, Wisconsin.

The natural world offers us constant reminders to slow down – see, smell, taste, and listen in new ways. Feng Shui literally means Wind and Water, refreshing and redefining our spaces, as well as ourselves. Because we are a part of our environment, we have the ability to influence and change it for the better. For Francis, our environmental problems are not just about pollution, man-made ugliness, and loss of habitat, but are truly a manifestation of how we treat each other. In finding the ability to respect both ourselves and others we will truly be walking the walk – and making a difference.

POWERING DOWN...

2010-04-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

The Associated Press recently reported a movement among institutions of higher learning to encourage students to turn off their electronic devices and find the “silence within”. Cited was the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life project which found that 82 percent of 16- and 17- year olds own cell phones. 94 percent of teens spend time online. College leaders are finding that, after some initial resistance, students are actually enjoying the opportunity to unplug and get centered.

In Feng Shui terms, electronic gadgets, computers, televisions, and so forth, are considered the Fire element. This is very strong agitated energy, and constant exposure requires balancing for the sake of good health. Unplugging is a good idea; as well as reducing the impact of all that Fire with the Earth element. Spending time in nature, the colors brown or yellow, furniture and accessories in a square shape – these are all examples of the Earth element, and can help to calm down an anxious mind. Students who can bring themselves to sit quietly for awhile are discovering that they have a best friend less than a click away – themselves.

when the world is mud-luscious...

2010-04-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Twentieth century avant-garde poet e.e. cummings delighted in reminding the reader that life is mysterious and wonderful. Cummings experienced his share of life’s difficulties, including serving in the Ambulance Corps in France during World War I, and the early death of his father in a car accident – yet he continued to find a way to praise the world in his art.

Feng Shui teaches us to take a good look at what is, not to cover it up or deny it – and to never lose sight of what can be. It is as though we are functioning on at least two levels, one that accepts and one that is creating a space for something new. When the seasons are in transition, we have a chance to see a world that is fading away as well as a completely different reality emerging. In the “Just-spring” of poet cummings, there is something ancient, as well as the delicious irresistible pull of something fresh and still unformed -- the mystery of life.

FINDING THE BEGINNER'S MIND...

2010-04-01T07:41:00.001-07:00

The greatest artist of the twentieth century, Pablo Picasso, remarked that he had spent his whole life trying to learn to paint like a child. Picasso was amazingly productive throughout his long life, working right up to his death in 1973 at the age of 91. His work continues to inspire the world.

Feng Shui encourages us to cultivate an awareness that is present within each moment – not defined by thoughts of the past or future. For most of us who lead busy lives, this task seems about as easy as standing on your head or flying through the air on a toy airplane. However, it is from this overactive and nonproductive mindset that we need to bring ourselves back – again and again – to a receptive open state. The more we are able to allow ourselves to tolerate or to be in a place of “not knowing”, also called “the beginner’s mind”, the more effective and useful we can be. As Picasso so clearly demonstrated, it is by being empty that we become full of possibility.

PACK UP YOUR SORROWS...

2010-03-25T06:20:00.001-07:00

Quechua, the ancient language of the Andes, contains a concept called hucha, the heavy dense shadow energy carried around by human beings. People are unique among the animal kingdom in their ability to carry this energy, the accumulation of worry, anger, fear, low self-esteem, guilt -- negative thinking in all its myriad forms.

One of the greatest skills we can develop as human beings is the ability to let go of this burden, to find ways to lighten our load. Some simple ways are to go outside into nature: sit or lie on the ground, or lean up against a tree. Take some deep breaths and imagine that you are breathing in refreshing sparkling energy; as you breathe out imagine that your cares and worries are leaving you. You may see this heaviness as a dark gray smoke or a muckiness. Interestingly, you may even “give” this energy to the tree. The Andean shamans tell us that, to the earth, our unwanted sticky energy is “food”. Lucky for us, the earth “knows how to use it…”

Saol fada chugat...

2010-03-18T07:18:00.001-07:00

This charming Irish blessing translates:

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And the rain fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you

In the palm of His hand.

We are always looking for that “just right” feeling in Feng Shui. We can achieve it when we combine our intention for balance with a feeling of gratitude for all the many blessings in our lives. These wonderful words in the ancient and mysterious Gaelic language are a reminder that people have always desired the same things -- safety, and also the sweetness of life.

ONLY CONNECT...

2010-03-11T09:30:00.000-08:00

E.M. Forster penned this phrase in his novel, Howards End, exactly one hundred years ago. The thought continues, “Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer…”

One of the promises of Feng Shui is a life that is more congruent, more satisfying on many levels; but to achieve this, we need to “walk the walk”. In doing this work, there is sometimes the expectation that there is a magic wand that will solve all of our problems and challenges in one stirring swoop. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way –- we have to get involved. We need to roll up our sleeves and stir up the batter of our lives, maybe add some new ingredients. Sometimes we have to let things go –- old habits, old ideas, relationships that don’t work, work that isn’t satisfying, possessions that don’t really make us happy. If we can surrender to the process, even a little, it will truly carry us through to another cleaner, richer -- more connected -- version of our lives.

OUTSIDE THE K'AN LINE...

2010-03-04T12:39:00.000-08:00

A client wrote from her new home in Arizona to let me know that she is settling in happily after a rocky 2009. Last year she not only coped with a serious health issue, but left the company for which she had worked for over two decades after her position was eliminated. She is wondering, as many of us are… What comes next??

Feng Shui uses a tool called the Bagua map to divide a space into sectors that correspond to major life issues. This imaginary grid can be applied to homes and businesses alike, and is oriented to the front door, along which runs the bottom perimeter of the grid, called the K’an line. Anything outside the K’an line is considered, well, outside.

After the financial upheavals of the past year, many of us are finding ourselves outside the K’an line of our former lives. What had been familiar, dependable, unshakable is now a thing of the past. We are in new waters, trying to chart a new course, stay afloat. Although we may not know what is next for us, and the temptation may be to look back with longing or bitterness toward an old familiar world –- it’s time to let go. If we can actually surrender to the process of change, there is a promise of finding a deeper sense of safety and home within ourselves -- one in which we are always inside the K’an line.

MOLLUSKS DO IT...

2010-02-25T06:55:00.001-08:00

According to researchers from Australia’s Museum Victoria, the veined octopus retrieves empty coconut shells off the coast of Northern Sulawesi and Bali in Indonesia, and fits them together to create shelters. This behavior has amazed the scientists, who up to now have attributed the intelligence to use tools only to the “higher” forms of life.

Apparently, the need to create a safe secure environment for ourselves is one that transcends species. It is a universal impulse. One of the basic tenets of Feng Shui is to put ourselves in the most protected and powerful position. We are much more likely to succeed and be effective in the world if we are coming from a place of safety, strength, and confidence. The sea critters have wowed the scientists in another way, as well -- before they stack their shells together, they blow jets of mud out of the bowl. Could it BE that there is a link between cleanliness and feeling safe?

AFTER THE SNOW...

2010-02-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

A local college radio station recently played a tune entitled, “Is it not True Simply Because You Cannot Believe It?” penned by jazz tenor saxophonist, Billy Harper. Much of what we deal with in Feng Shui concerns what is visible, fixable, moveable –- tangible. We want to make sure that things are safe and working well.

After that, however -- or underlying it -- is the intention to improve what is not seen: the energy of a place, the chi, the vibes, how it feels to us. Nature is constantly urging us on by demonstrating that there are a myriad of ways to view the so-called familiar. Just because we are used to experiencing our space in a certain way does not mean that it cannot change and become more alive. A new world is revealed after a snowfall – can you dig it?

LOVE THE ONES YOU'RE WITH...

2010-02-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

19-year old Emma Roberts, one of the stars of “Valentine’s Day”, told TV host Jay Leno that she was planning to spend her own Valentine’s Day with her friends. Leno pressed her to be more explicit about the boyfriend status, and she revealed that, although she had one “this year”, she was still going to spend the special evening with her girlfriends eating chocolate and having a party. It is something she loves to do every year.

This year, Valentine’s Day and the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Tiger fall on the same day, February 14 – an unusual occurrence. The traditions of Chinese New Year call for celebration, for being with family and friends, and for welcoming in the hope and energy of a New Year. It is a time to forgive and forget the past, and especially to let go of clutter, both physical and emotional, which holds us from our true joy. So, on Sunday clean your house – and connect with those people who make you smile!!

GET OUT YOUR HIKING BOOTS

2010-02-04T11:38:00.000-08:00

GET OUT YOUR HIKING BOOTS, because it’s an 8 Mountain year, according to an ancient form of astrology based on the I Ching, or Book of Changes. The Chinese Solar New Year begins on February 4, and the I Ching – or 9 Star Ki – astrology uses the year of birth to determine your star sign. We have just emerged from a 9 Fire year, in which things hidden or concealed are brought to light – for good or bad. It is as though a giant lightbulb is turned on revealing what is truly going on beneath the charming façade – a Bernie Madoff, John Edwards, Tiger Woods swan song.

We now start another cycle, and the energy is very different. In an 8 Mountain year, we have the opportunity to re-think and re-consider from the vantage point of all we have learned in the previous year. We need to retreat to the Mountain to regain our sense of equilibrium and find a new balance. 8 Mountain is also known as Wisdom -- and we are called upon to find a new vision. It is a good year for listening, thinking, and being still; and for resisting the urge to rebel, react, or dig in our heels. Time to get above the fray and find a bigger view.