Wednesday, December 06, 2006
The Little Things
I believe that the little things we deal with on a daily, or even hourly basis, can have more impact on our lives than many of the big things. For instance, there was an item in my medicine cabinet that I used every day, and it was stored behind something else. So, every day I had to move the other thing to get at the item I wanted. Now, this took only a moment, so it wasn’t important enough to do anything about it. But finally one day I decided to clean out the medicine cabinet and put the things I used most often in the front. And then I noticed what a big difference it made for me in the morning when I was getting ready for work! I think most of us have a bunch of these little annoying things in our lives, and each one is a minor inconvenience. But when you add them up, how much impact do they have on your daily life? Try paying attention, so you can identify the little things, and take a few minutes each day to fix one of them. In a week you’ll see a big difference in your daily life.
The Big Things
So you only have a few minutes, and you have already taken care of all the little things. But now you have a few big things that have been on your mind lately. The kind of things that keep popping into your consciousness and you keep pushing them right out again. Maybe the garage needs to be cleaned out so you can fit your car into it before the winter, or you need to make a will but that involves calling a lawyer for an appointment and making lists of things and dealing with paperwork. These projects are going to take hours (and hours), and you don’t have that kind of time right now. Maybe some day next week… But, let’s be honest. You are never going to have the kind of time you will need to complete one of these projects all at once. So you have two choices. You can keep hoping you will somehow find that big chunk of time, or you can do a little bit whenever you can find a free few minutes or a couple of hours. I vote for doing a little bit whenever you can, because I see the people who work that way getting it done eventually, and the rest of us not getting it done at all! I know you’re disappointed, and I wish I had an easier, more magical solution for you, but I am still looking and when I find it I will let you know!
Lighting for Businesses
If you own a business you can use lighting to your advantage, especially during this time of year when we have so many hours of darkness. Did you know that if you give people a view into your space, the more they can see, the more they will be drawn to come in and purchase your products or services? It’s human nature. If we see part of something we want to see the rest. If we can’t see it at all we have no curiosity at all, nothing to encourage us to explore further. So make sure your space is well lighted, and that the windows and doors provide a view for people passing by. And leave some lighting on at night to keep the view visible and make the space look alive and active.
Let There Be Light!
I have noticed that when I watch a decorating show on TV the designers use a lot more lighting in their rooms than I tend to see in most people’s homes, and I wondered why. In the end I decided it’s because many of us don’t have enough lighting! You really should end up with more lighting than you need to just light up the room. Put lights and lamps in different locations in the room for different moods and tasks. Assume you will never have all of it on at the same time. What you are giving yourself is the flexibility to change the function and feeling of the room. Aside from paint, lighting is the quickest and easiest way to bring about a big change in the way a space looks and feels. If a room is small, lacks natural light, is in a basement, or feels cramped, add some up lighting to light and visually lift the ceiling. You can use floor lamps (torchieres), table lamps, sconces or ceiling hung fixtures that reflect light upwards. This provides even lighting that mimics natural daylight and does not add glare to computer screens and televisions. In a large room or a very open space use some lamps and fixtures that reflect light downwards to make the room feel more cozy. And this time of year you might want to add some accent lighting with candles, strings of lights, small lamps and decorative items that light up or glow. From now until spring we’ll need all the light we can get!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Quote by Fritjof Capra, from The Tao of Physics
“It is interesting to follow the evolution of Western science along its spiral path, starting from the mystical philosophies of the early Greeks, rising and unfolding in an impressive development of intellectual thought that increasingly turned away from its mystical origins to develop a world view which is in sharp contrast to that of the Far East. In its most recent stages, Western science is finally overcoming this view and coming back to those of the early Greek and Eastern philosophies. This time, however, it is not based on intuition, but also on experiments of great precision and sophistication, and on a rigorous and consistent mathematical formalism.”
Friday, August 11, 2006
Feng Shui Is...
Excerpts from the Website of Nancilee Wydra
Feng Shui is the science of how human beings connect with their physical spaces. Feng Shui evolved in China through several millennia, developing in various schools and sects and draws from Taoism, a Chinese philosophy. The words feng shui literally mean "wind water". The practice came about as an effective way for people who lived in the mountainous regions of China to protect their dwellings from harsh winds and dangerous water.
Coming to America changed feng shui in response to a completely different culture with a diverse set of customs, symbols, and traditions. We often synthesize wisdom and knowledge from all of the schools of feng shui while filtering out cultural and geographical proclivities, and placing heavy emphasis on current social and physical sciences. Some fields that support Feng Shui include geology, meteorology, cultural anthropology, molecular cell biology, neuroscience, cognitive science, physiology, and psychology, to name a few.
Feng Shui is an information system that reveals how a home or workplace can affect health, relationships and self-actualization. Our experience in life cannot be isolated from the language of our environment.
“Where we are is as important as who we are.”
When merely a few cells old, where we are situated in a womb determines if we will survive. But our survival is not the only biologically programmed determinant. The threads separating us from many other species is the cognition of our own condition.
“We strive to be happy.”
The relationship of person to place provides simple, easy-to-implement solutions for inauspicious conditions of an environment, that can tip a balance in our favor. Feng Shui fills a void at a time when we are beginning to acknowledge that our experience of place is integral to a quality life.
Feng Shui is the science of how human beings connect with their physical spaces. Feng Shui evolved in China through several millennia, developing in various schools and sects and draws from Taoism, a Chinese philosophy. The words feng shui literally mean "wind water". The practice came about as an effective way for people who lived in the mountainous regions of China to protect their dwellings from harsh winds and dangerous water.
Coming to America changed feng shui in response to a completely different culture with a diverse set of customs, symbols, and traditions. We often synthesize wisdom and knowledge from all of the schools of feng shui while filtering out cultural and geographical proclivities, and placing heavy emphasis on current social and physical sciences. Some fields that support Feng Shui include geology, meteorology, cultural anthropology, molecular cell biology, neuroscience, cognitive science, physiology, and psychology, to name a few.
Feng Shui is an information system that reveals how a home or workplace can affect health, relationships and self-actualization. Our experience in life cannot be isolated from the language of our environment.
“Where we are is as important as who we are.”
When merely a few cells old, where we are situated in a womb determines if we will survive. But our survival is not the only biologically programmed determinant. The threads separating us from many other species is the cognition of our own condition.
“We strive to be happy.”
The relationship of person to place provides simple, easy-to-implement solutions for inauspicious conditions of an environment, that can tip a balance in our favor. Feng Shui fills a void at a time when we are beginning to acknowledge that our experience of place is integral to a quality life.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Tips for Selling Your Home Quickly & Profitably
Selling your home is a completely different experience than living in it, and it requires a very different mindset. When you are creating a home to live in, your goal is to make it comfortable for you and your family. When you are selling a home your goal is to make it look like a model home. Forget the reality of every day living. Just make it look good so you can sell it quickly and for the highest price. The longer your home is on the market the less your chances are for getting the price you want.
1. Depersonalize. Pack up all of your most personal and visible belongings so that prospective buyers can imagine themselves living in the space.
2. Make it look spacious. Remove enough furniture and accessories to make every room look big and uncluttered.
3. Say no to clutter. Pack it or throw it away, but don't try to hide it, because perspective buyers will probably find it!
4. So simplify each room until it has just one function so that buyers will not feel confused.
5. Don't hide any great architectural features behind furniture, drapes or accessories. And if there is no architectural focal point in a room, create one by accessorizing a coffee table, dining table, window, bed, or bookcase.
1. Depersonalize. Pack up all of your most personal and visible belongings so that prospective buyers can imagine themselves living in the space.
2. Make it look spacious. Remove enough furniture and accessories to make every room look big and uncluttered.
3. Say no to clutter. Pack it or throw it away, but don't try to hide it, because perspective buyers will probably find it!
4. So simplify each room until it has just one function so that buyers will not feel confused.
5. Don't hide any great architectural features behind furniture, drapes or accessories. And if there is no architectural focal point in a room, create one by accessorizing a coffee table, dining table, window, bed, or bookcase.
What You See Is What You Get!
Is Your View Working for You? We have all heard the saying "What you see is what you get.", but for now I'd like you to think of it in a different way. "What you look at is what you get." The things that you see the most every day have a definite influence on you and on your life. If you have a positive reaction to what you are seeing, then that object or view will have a positive influence. If you have a negative reaction, then you are looking at something that is a negative influence, on both you and on your life experiences.
Take a few moments to think about the places where you spend a lot of time, and how you feel about what you can see when you are there. Think about the view from your bed, your favorite easy chair, and your seat at the dinner table, in addition to what you see from your desk or workspace. Is there something you can do to change your view when you feel that it is having a negative effect on you? You may be able to decide which item is causing the negative feeling, and remove it or screen it from your view. And see what you can do to add something that you really love, to enhance the positive effect of your view.
When you want to do something to improve the quality of your life, decide what you want to get, and make sure that is what you are seeing!
Take a few moments to think about the places where you spend a lot of time, and how you feel about what you can see when you are there. Think about the view from your bed, your favorite easy chair, and your seat at the dinner table, in addition to what you see from your desk or workspace. Is there something you can do to change your view when you feel that it is having a negative effect on you? You may be able to decide which item is causing the negative feeling, and remove it or screen it from your view. And see what you can do to add something that you really love, to enhance the positive effect of your view.
When you want to do something to improve the quality of your life, decide what you want to get, and make sure that is what you are seeing!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
Quote by Terah Kathryn Collins
“Feng Shui views your home or workplace as a living entity that you are either in harmony with or in discordant partnership with. When you honor its aliveness, recognize its vital connection with the quality of your entire life, and make the changes that keep it fresh and alive, it remains a delightful place to be. It nurtures, protects, and supports your growth and movement through life”.
Friday, April 28, 2006
Quote by Brian Scudamore, Founder & CEO of 1800GOTJUNK?
"It’s difficult for people to get rid of junk. They get attached to things and let them define who they are. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this business, it’s that you are what you can’t let go of."
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Space Clearing with Sea Salt
Sea salt is very effective in absorbing negative energy. Use the natural salt without iodine or any other additives. Get together enough cups, bowls or saucers (plastic is good because it’s unbreakable) to place one in each corner of each room. Don’t forget basements, attics and other storage spaces. They can also be placed under desks, beds, and in closets. Put 1 to 2 tablespoons of salt in each and place them on the floor. If you have pets or young children consider placing them up higher for safety reasons. Leave the salt in place for 24 hours, then flush it down the toilet to remove the salt and negative energy from your environment.
If there has been a lot of negative energy in a space repeat this procedure 3 days in a row. To maintain an energetically clean space repeat this procedure once a week or once a month, depending on how much negative energy collects in the space.
If there has been a lot of negative energy in a space repeat this procedure 3 days in a row. To maintain an energetically clean space repeat this procedure once a week or once a month, depending on how much negative energy collects in the space.
Space clearing with Candles
Perform this energy clearing ceremony only when there are no young children or pets awake in the house. Please use all appropriate safety precautions when burning candles.
Place a 9 tea light candles on a heatproof surface (saucer or candle holder) in three rows of three, one to represent each Gua of the Bagua Map*. The candles can be placed anywhere, either in the space you are clearing or in another space. Make sure each candle is a safe distance from the others and any flammable objects. Light each candle while speaking aloud or to yourself an appropriate version of this intention:
“My intention for the burning of this candle is to release and remove all non-beneficial energy from the (name of gua such as Health & Prosperity) of the building (identify the building – where I live, where I work, etc.), and to replace it with beneficial and uplifting energy.”
Let the candles burn until they go out, if possible. Check them regularly during this time to insure that they are burning safely.
*The Bagua Map consists of 9 sections, each called a gua. This is an important Feng Shui tool that is used in many ways. In this case it is just being used as a template for the space clearing. The 9 guas are: Wealth & Prosperity, Fame & Reputation, Love & Marriage, Health & Family, Center, Creativity & Children, Knowledge & Self-Cultivation, Career, and Helpful People & Travel.
Place a 9 tea light candles on a heatproof surface (saucer or candle holder) in three rows of three, one to represent each Gua of the Bagua Map*. The candles can be placed anywhere, either in the space you are clearing or in another space. Make sure each candle is a safe distance from the others and any flammable objects. Light each candle while speaking aloud or to yourself an appropriate version of this intention:
“My intention for the burning of this candle is to release and remove all non-beneficial energy from the (name of gua such as Health & Prosperity) of the building (identify the building – where I live, where I work, etc.), and to replace it with beneficial and uplifting energy.”
Let the candles burn until they go out, if possible. Check them regularly during this time to insure that they are burning safely.
*The Bagua Map consists of 9 sections, each called a gua. This is an important Feng Shui tool that is used in many ways. In this case it is just being used as a template for the space clearing. The 9 guas are: Wealth & Prosperity, Fame & Reputation, Love & Marriage, Health & Family, Center, Creativity & Children, Knowledge & Self-Cultivation, Career, and Helpful People & Travel.
Monday, April 17, 2006
We Were Made for These Times
by Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Author of Women who Run with Wolves
My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world right now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people.
You are right in your assessments. The lustre and hubris some have aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous against children, elders, everyday people, the poor, the unguarded, the helpless, is breathtaking.
Yet, I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is that we were made for these times. Yes. For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plain of engagement.
I grew up on the Great Lakes and recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see one. Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able vessels in the waters than there are right now across the world. And they are fully provisioned and able to signal one nother as never before in the history of humankind.
Look out over the prow; there are millions of boats of righteous souls on the waters with you. Even though your veneers may shiver from every wave in this stormy roil, I assure you that the long timbers composing your prow and rudder come from a greater forest. That long-grained lumber is known to withstand storms, to hold together, to hold its own, and to advance, regardless.
In any dark time, there is a tendency to veer toward fainting over how much is wrong or unmended in the world. Do not focus on that.
There is a tendency too to fall into being weakened by dwelling on what is outside your reach, by what cannot yet be. Do not focus there. That is spending the wind without raising the sails. We are needed, that is all we can know. And though we meet resistance, we more so will meet great souls who will hail us, love us and guide us, and we will know them when they appear.
Didn't you say you were a believer? Didn't you say you pledged to listen to a voice greater? Didn't you ask for grace? Don't you remember that to be in grace means to submit to the voice greater?
Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely.
It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing.
We know that it does not take "everyone on Earth" to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.
One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws parks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire.
To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these - to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both, are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it.
If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do. There will always be times when you feel iscouraged.
I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it; I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate.
The reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here.
The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours: They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here.
In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for. This comes with much love and a prayer that you remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth.
My friends, do not lose heart. We were made for these times. I have heard from so many recently who are deeply and properly bewildered. They are concerned about the state of affairs in our world right now. Ours is a time of almost daily astonishment and often righteous rage over the latest degradations of what matters most to civilized, visionary people.
You are right in your assessments. The lustre and hubris some have aspired to while endorsing acts so heinous against children, elders, everyday people, the poor, the unguarded, the helpless, is breathtaking.
Yet, I urge you, ask you, gentle you, to please not spend your spirit dry by bewailing these difficult times. Especially do not lose hope. Most particularly because, the fact is that we were made for these times. Yes. For years, we have been learning, practicing, been in training for and just waiting to meet on this exact plain of engagement.
I grew up on the Great Lakes and recognize a seaworthy vessel when I see one. Regarding awakened souls, there have never been more able vessels in the waters than there are right now across the world. And they are fully provisioned and able to signal one nother as never before in the history of humankind.
Look out over the prow; there are millions of boats of righteous souls on the waters with you. Even though your veneers may shiver from every wave in this stormy roil, I assure you that the long timbers composing your prow and rudder come from a greater forest. That long-grained lumber is known to withstand storms, to hold together, to hold its own, and to advance, regardless.
In any dark time, there is a tendency to veer toward fainting over how much is wrong or unmended in the world. Do not focus on that.
There is a tendency too to fall into being weakened by dwelling on what is outside your reach, by what cannot yet be. Do not focus there. That is spending the wind without raising the sails. We are needed, that is all we can know. And though we meet resistance, we more so will meet great souls who will hail us, love us and guide us, and we will know them when they appear.
Didn't you say you were a believer? Didn't you say you pledged to listen to a voice greater? Didn't you ask for grace? Don't you remember that to be in grace means to submit to the voice greater?
Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely.
It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing.
We know that it does not take "everyone on Earth" to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.
One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws parks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire.
To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these - to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both, are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it.
If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do. There will always be times when you feel iscouraged.
I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it; I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate.
The reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here.
The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours: They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here.
In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for. This comes with much love and a prayer that you remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Feng Shui & Fashion
If you would like to be more…
Of a Leader - Sociable - Powerful - Charismatic
Then wear and surround yourself with Fire Element…
Items from animals such as leather and feathers, silk and wool, animal prints, triangular patterns, and red tones.
If you would like to be more…
Intellectual - Independent - Discerning - Organized
Then wear and surround yourself with Metal Element…
All metals including gold and silver, natural gemstones and crystals, circular and oval patterns, white and light pastels.
If you would like to be more…
Spiritual - Inspired - Relaxed - Sensitive
Then wear and surround yourself with Water Element…
Flowing and free-form patterns, glass, mirrors, lead crystal, black and all dark tones including charcoal and navy.
If you would like to be more…
Intuitive - Creative - Flexible - Expansive
Then wear and surround yourself with Wood Element…
Plant-based fibers like cotton and linen, floral motifs, stripes, wood and paper, and the colors blue and green.
If you would like to be more…
Physically Strong - Sensuous - Practical - Stable
Then wear and surround yourself with Earth Element…
Square and rectangular patterns, plaids and checks, tile, ceramics, brick, and the colors yellow, beige and brown.
Of a Leader - Sociable - Powerful - Charismatic
Then wear and surround yourself with Fire Element…
Items from animals such as leather and feathers, silk and wool, animal prints, triangular patterns, and red tones.
If you would like to be more…
Intellectual - Independent - Discerning - Organized
Then wear and surround yourself with Metal Element…
All metals including gold and silver, natural gemstones and crystals, circular and oval patterns, white and light pastels.
If you would like to be more…
Spiritual - Inspired - Relaxed - Sensitive
Then wear and surround yourself with Water Element…
Flowing and free-form patterns, glass, mirrors, lead crystal, black and all dark tones including charcoal and navy.
If you would like to be more…
Intuitive - Creative - Flexible - Expansive
Then wear and surround yourself with Wood Element…
Plant-based fibers like cotton and linen, floral motifs, stripes, wood and paper, and the colors blue and green.
If you would like to be more…
Physically Strong - Sensuous - Practical - Stable
Then wear and surround yourself with Earth Element…
Square and rectangular patterns, plaids and checks, tile, ceramics, brick, and the colors yellow, beige and brown.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
“Feng Shui views your home or workplace as ...
a living entity that you are either in harmony with or in discordant partnership with. When you honor its aliveness, recognize its vital connection with the quality of your entire life, and make the changes that keep it fresh and alive, it remains a delightful place to be. It nurtures, protects, and supports your growth and movement through life”.
Terah Kathryn Collins
Thursday, February 09, 2006
What Feng Shui Really Is…
By Beth Herosy
Many people believe that Feng Shui is about moving furniture, and sometimes it is. But it is always about people and their lives. In my work as a Feng Shui consultant I derive great joy from helping people change their lives in a positive way.
We create our home and work environments as mirrors of ourselves, and they serve to reinforce who and what we were when we created them. But as we grow and change, and as our lives change, our environments can hold us back making us feel as though we are stuck.
Our goal in Feng Shui is to be proactive. We decide who and what we want to be today, tomorrow, and into the future; then we arrange our home and work environments based on this ideal. So we end up with an environment that is pulling us forward into the future we desire, instead of backwards to a past we have already lived.
What kind of future do you want for yourself?
If it includes a relationship, make sure your bedroom is set up for a couple—with access to both sides of the bed, two nightstands and lamps, and a cozy relaxing atmosphere. Use warm colors; and don’t crowd the bed with pillows, stuffed animals or pets because you need to leave room for another person.
When you are challenged by a health problem display photos of yourself when you were looking and feeling healthy and vibrant. Keep in view anything that represents the positive steps you are taking to regain your health such as exercise clothing and equipment, healthy foods and cookbooks. Put away anything that reminds you that you are not healthy right now. Take good care of all the living things in your home. If you have houseplants that are not healthy, revive them or replace them!
If you’d like to start a business set up an office, even if it’s just in a spare bedroom. Make it as professional as possible, and make sure that you have a view of the door from your seat at the desk.
Take a fresh look at the things you choose to keep around you. What do they say about you? What do you want them to say?
Many people believe that Feng Shui is about moving furniture, and sometimes it is. But it is always about people and their lives. In my work as a Feng Shui consultant I derive great joy from helping people change their lives in a positive way.
We create our home and work environments as mirrors of ourselves, and they serve to reinforce who and what we were when we created them. But as we grow and change, and as our lives change, our environments can hold us back making us feel as though we are stuck.
Our goal in Feng Shui is to be proactive. We decide who and what we want to be today, tomorrow, and into the future; then we arrange our home and work environments based on this ideal. So we end up with an environment that is pulling us forward into the future we desire, instead of backwards to a past we have already lived.
What kind of future do you want for yourself?
If it includes a relationship, make sure your bedroom is set up for a couple—with access to both sides of the bed, two nightstands and lamps, and a cozy relaxing atmosphere. Use warm colors; and don’t crowd the bed with pillows, stuffed animals or pets because you need to leave room for another person.
When you are challenged by a health problem display photos of yourself when you were looking and feeling healthy and vibrant. Keep in view anything that represents the positive steps you are taking to regain your health such as exercise clothing and equipment, healthy foods and cookbooks. Put away anything that reminds you that you are not healthy right now. Take good care of all the living things in your home. If you have houseplants that are not healthy, revive them or replace them!
If you’d like to start a business set up an office, even if it’s just in a spare bedroom. Make it as professional as possible, and make sure that you have a view of the door from your seat at the desk.
Take a fresh look at the things you choose to keep around you. What do they say about you? What do you want them to say?
Monday, January 09, 2006
More About Space Clearing
Excerpted from the introduction to Space Clearing A-Z by Denise Linn.
Have you ever walked into an empty room and immediately sensed that the atmosphere was laced with tension? You may have had no idea what occurred there prior to your arrival, yet you somehow knew that it was something unpleasant. By contrast, another place you entered gave you a feeling of joy and well-being for no apparent reason. The differences between rooms that feel great and ones that seem depressing can be explained, at least in part, by the fact that some environments are simply more beautiful or physically inviting than others. However, there is a deeper truth underlying these explanations, which relates to energy. Some environments exude an energy that is nurturing, while other spaces can deplete you and even cause you to feel depressed, irritated or angry.
We all have the ability to sense energy. When we enter a space, we not only react to the style of the furnishings and various colors and textures, but we also perceive the energy surrounding us. Positive energy makes us feel good. Negative energy brings us down. Space Clearing offers a simple and highly effective way to turn the latter into the former. It can turn a depressing place into a haven of beauty, harmony, and effervescent joy.
Many people have heard of the art of Feng Shui for creating harmonious environments; however, most people haven’t heard of Space Clearing, which is a mystical component of this ancient science. Results produced are dramatically deepened by Space Clearing, because a Feng Shui cure implemented without clearing the environment is like placing a beautiful bouquet of flowers into a dirty vase. The two done together can generate lasting, powerful results in your life.
For the past 30 years I have practiced the art of cleansing and balancing home energy, a skill I named “Space Clearing.” Some people call it “home healing,” “smudging,” or “home harmonizing.” Whatever name is used, present-day Space Clearing techniques have their source in ancient techniques practiced throughout human history. The methods and tools have varied from one culture to another, but the intent has been the same—to create greater harmony and balance. Ancient ceremonies that brought vitality to human structures generations ago are once again being used to instill peace and equilibrium in today’s homes and businesses. Many people are finding that these traditional rituals can be adapted very successfully for modern-day use.
People who may have never heard of Space Clearing before are now ringing bells, burning sage, and chanting mantras for the simple reason that their homes feel better as a result. Many businesses are hiring professional Space Clearers in order to dramatically accelerate their property sales. Land-management corporations are employing Space Clearers to perform blessings on the land before they build large suburban housing developments. It seems that an ancestral memory of an ancient practice has awakened, and found fertile soil in today’s world.
The Space Clearing techniques that are reemerging have their source in the distant past. Throughout human history, there have been rituals for purifying and uplifting the energy of homes, temples, shrines, and public meeting places. Since earliest times, people have been performing these Space Clearing ceremonies for a very simple reason—they work!
Ancient healers understood the effect of an environment on an individual’s health and well-being. In native cultures, the village shaman would perform special ceremonies to consecrate a new home or village lodge. If someone was ill, the shaman would chant, drum, and use smoking herbs—not only for the health of the person, but for cleansing and healing the entire environment they lived in. Although different tools were used in different cultures, the effect was the same. For example, Native Americans used drums, rattles, and burning herbs in their rituals. If a drum was used, its sonorous rhythm would penetrate the soul of the man or woman who was being treated, even as it simultaneously cleared the energy field of their home. The Chinese used gongs, chanting, and incense. In Medieval Europe, salt and prayers cleared energy; and in the Middle East smoldering resins such as frankincense and myrrh were used to invite blessings into a home. After a clearing, the occupants of a dwelling felt healthier, happier, and more at peace.
There are remnants of these ancient practices that have been passed down through the generations to the present time. The Chinese still set off firecrackers to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. They believe that the loud noise breaks up the old stagnant energy and prepares the way for fresh new energy to flow in with the coming of another year. The practice of throwing salt over one’s shoulder in order to avert evil is another example of an ancient practice that has survived into modern times. Salt has been recognized around the world as a powerful cleansing agent and is a vital component of many ancient ceremonies.
As the pace of modern living has accelerated, I believe that it is increasingly important for us to create oases of repose and serenity in our lives. Because Space Clearing has the power to transform the energy of our homes and offices, it can play a very important role in restoring balance and meaning in our lives. It is a practice that can be used on a regular basis whenever you want to shift the energy of your environment. Doing a thorough clearing of the energy of your home following an argument, after someone has been ill, in the wake of an unpleasant visitor, prior to moving into a new home, before bringing a new baby home, or even if you’re just feeling out of sorts can really make a difference in your life. Space clearing offers an easy and amazingly effective way to turn your home into a haven for your soul.
Have you ever walked into an empty room and immediately sensed that the atmosphere was laced with tension? You may have had no idea what occurred there prior to your arrival, yet you somehow knew that it was something unpleasant. By contrast, another place you entered gave you a feeling of joy and well-being for no apparent reason. The differences between rooms that feel great and ones that seem depressing can be explained, at least in part, by the fact that some environments are simply more beautiful or physically inviting than others. However, there is a deeper truth underlying these explanations, which relates to energy. Some environments exude an energy that is nurturing, while other spaces can deplete you and even cause you to feel depressed, irritated or angry.
We all have the ability to sense energy. When we enter a space, we not only react to the style of the furnishings and various colors and textures, but we also perceive the energy surrounding us. Positive energy makes us feel good. Negative energy brings us down. Space Clearing offers a simple and highly effective way to turn the latter into the former. It can turn a depressing place into a haven of beauty, harmony, and effervescent joy.
Many people have heard of the art of Feng Shui for creating harmonious environments; however, most people haven’t heard of Space Clearing, which is a mystical component of this ancient science. Results produced are dramatically deepened by Space Clearing, because a Feng Shui cure implemented without clearing the environment is like placing a beautiful bouquet of flowers into a dirty vase. The two done together can generate lasting, powerful results in your life.
For the past 30 years I have practiced the art of cleansing and balancing home energy, a skill I named “Space Clearing.” Some people call it “home healing,” “smudging,” or “home harmonizing.” Whatever name is used, present-day Space Clearing techniques have their source in ancient techniques practiced throughout human history. The methods and tools have varied from one culture to another, but the intent has been the same—to create greater harmony and balance. Ancient ceremonies that brought vitality to human structures generations ago are once again being used to instill peace and equilibrium in today’s homes and businesses. Many people are finding that these traditional rituals can be adapted very successfully for modern-day use.
People who may have never heard of Space Clearing before are now ringing bells, burning sage, and chanting mantras for the simple reason that their homes feel better as a result. Many businesses are hiring professional Space Clearers in order to dramatically accelerate their property sales. Land-management corporations are employing Space Clearers to perform blessings on the land before they build large suburban housing developments. It seems that an ancestral memory of an ancient practice has awakened, and found fertile soil in today’s world.
The Space Clearing techniques that are reemerging have their source in the distant past. Throughout human history, there have been rituals for purifying and uplifting the energy of homes, temples, shrines, and public meeting places. Since earliest times, people have been performing these Space Clearing ceremonies for a very simple reason—they work!
Ancient healers understood the effect of an environment on an individual’s health and well-being. In native cultures, the village shaman would perform special ceremonies to consecrate a new home or village lodge. If someone was ill, the shaman would chant, drum, and use smoking herbs—not only for the health of the person, but for cleansing and healing the entire environment they lived in. Although different tools were used in different cultures, the effect was the same. For example, Native Americans used drums, rattles, and burning herbs in their rituals. If a drum was used, its sonorous rhythm would penetrate the soul of the man or woman who was being treated, even as it simultaneously cleared the energy field of their home. The Chinese used gongs, chanting, and incense. In Medieval Europe, salt and prayers cleared energy; and in the Middle East smoldering resins such as frankincense and myrrh were used to invite blessings into a home. After a clearing, the occupants of a dwelling felt healthier, happier, and more at peace.
There are remnants of these ancient practices that have been passed down through the generations to the present time. The Chinese still set off firecrackers to celebrate the beginning of the New Year. They believe that the loud noise breaks up the old stagnant energy and prepares the way for fresh new energy to flow in with the coming of another year. The practice of throwing salt over one’s shoulder in order to avert evil is another example of an ancient practice that has survived into modern times. Salt has been recognized around the world as a powerful cleansing agent and is a vital component of many ancient ceremonies.
As the pace of modern living has accelerated, I believe that it is increasingly important for us to create oases of repose and serenity in our lives. Because Space Clearing has the power to transform the energy of our homes and offices, it can play a very important role in restoring balance and meaning in our lives. It is a practice that can be used on a regular basis whenever you want to shift the energy of your environment. Doing a thorough clearing of the energy of your home following an argument, after someone has been ill, in the wake of an unpleasant visitor, prior to moving into a new home, before bringing a new baby home, or even if you’re just feeling out of sorts can really make a difference in your life. Space clearing offers an easy and amazingly effective way to turn your home into a haven for your soul.
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Feng Shui by Touch...A to Z
A Feng Shui Consultant's Self Consult - Annie Pane, East Coast Feng Shui
I touched everything. And I mean everything. Three times this year I touched all the stuff in my home. Just like I advise my clients.
The first time I touched everything, I did the middle floor where the living areas were. The second time, I did the middle and the top floor where the bedrooms were. And this last time, I did the middle, the top and the garage level, I did everything.
My home was a Feng Shui consultants dream...and nightmare...at the same time. I learned things about myself and about Feng Shui that I didn't know...or worse, realized I knew but didn't 'get it' in my body.
I learned that most of us, throughout our lives, have never lived or worked in an environment of total harmony. Our bodies do not know what total harmony feels like. And when you feel it...it's scary and comforting and emotional, and cleansing, and it strips away all pretense of who you thought you were. And more important, the affect your surroundings have on your body is subconscious, until you feel this harmony.
You become your surroundings. Literally. We all know that. If the fame and reputation area of your home is cluttered with dirty dishes, no appointments come in. If something's broken or the toilet's leaking in the wealth and prosperity area, there's a slow steady drain on your money. If the exercise equipment is still in the love and relationship area, then we're still working too hard at loving, rather than letting ourselves be loved.
I wanted to not only know 'who' my surroundings said I was, I wanted to make sure it said exactly who I wanted to become. So I touched it all. I made the decision of who I wanted to become with each thing I touched, kept or discarded. And Feng Shui changed my life...again.
I touched every knick knack. I touched every dish towel and potholder. Every book. Every half used container of makeup. I touched every piece of clothes I owned. And I gleaned. And gleaned. And gleaned. And I gleaned.
I touched my every possession with intent... and appreciation for it being in my life. And I touched...knowing that some of those things, perhaps most, would no longer remain with me. There were keepers. There were goers. And there were the guilt ridden 'hangers on' that needed to be either embraced or released. And that my friend was hard.
Everything in your life is there for a reason. And there are no mistakes. We know that. But during this process I realized just how much stuff was in my life that had no earthly meaning whatsoever. And, this stuff defined my life and who I was! and if I didn't know why it was in my life, then for what reason should it be there? I asked that question thousands of times...as I touched...everything.
I was on a mission. I wanted to create the kind of environment that was an example of what I preached and taught to my students and clients. I had to walk the talk. Big job. Not easy.
Facing what I was eventually to call a catharsis, I knew I had to keep on with this until it was finished, or I would fall back into the energetic pattern or my previous surroundings. The pattern of denial and being stuck at being someone I was no longer. The dye was cast. Feng Shui had again made me continue to push through self imposed limitations.
As I went through my possessions, one at a time, I kept only those things that made me feel good...or better. No matter what the cost, financially or emotionally, I dumped, sold, gave away, but somehow got rid of everything else that didn't belong in my New Life.
I prayed God would give me the strength to continue this process. It was like divorcing myself. Divorcing the me that I no longer wanted to have any part of...the me I didn't want to be anymore. I knew I now had the ability and the tools to become who I knew I could be. The real me. I had the key to the process.
Everything in your space talks to you. Everything. If you look around and really study something in your home, you will begin to feel what meaning that object has for you. If it's a good feeling...it's a keeper. If it's a bad feeling...it's not. If it's a hanger on it's really important! This is how you must look at the things and people in your life. Or you will live your life at the mercy of your environment or other people's wishes.
Stuff. You can keep it, get rid of it, or you can address the things that are hanger's on by setting them aside. Just separate them...and wait three days. At the end of three days your opinions will change about the possession...it will become a keeper or a goer. But it will no longer be 'hanging on' to you. And it won't be your own guilt or someone else, making decisions about your life.
You will know this in three days, because in three days you will be different. Your energy will have changed based on what you previously kept and what you previously threw away. And you will become clearer on how you feel about the item previously in question. Guaranteed.
Your energetic pattern, or your body's personal energy, is composed of what is constantly being said to you by your surroundings. This is the energetic pattern you take out into the world. It is this pattern, composed of the collective meanings of your surroundings, that defines how you see the world and how the world treats you.
If you change your energetic pattern by changing your surroundings, you change your presentation of who you are to the world. If you change your presentation of who you are to the world, the world will respond to you differently. The world only responds to you how you tell it to respond. You create it all.
Feng Shui becomes a tool to help you learn to 'live better in your own skin' and a tool used to get what you want out of life. It has a map that will not let you forget any arena of life. You are constantly creating who you are by how you live, what you have in your space, and the meanings you have attached to these things around you. You can live the life you choose, you can have the kind of life you want, but you have to take responsibility for creating it.
By using all the principles of Feng Shui, I was able to define who I wanted to become...for now. I created a new conscious definition of the me I wanted to be. No longer would my surroundings dictate in a haphazard way who I was.
I decided what everything meant in my home. And, I now know what everything says to me subconsciously and why. I gleaned my possessions so that what I already owned, defined who I was, and I added appropriate symbology to define who I wanted to become.
This is the real secret of Feng Shui. You decide who you are or who you want to become, and what you want. Then, with intent, you make your surroundings support that image and those desires. You are then well on your way to making it real. Your body interprets the meaning of your surroundings subconsciously, and you become what your surroundings represent.
It's like the books. I had thousands. But I only kept books that were representative of who I am now, or who I want to become. The novels went away. The old school books went away. The last of the trashy romances bit the dust. On my shelves now are books asking life's greatest questions, or those telling it's greatest secrets. I decided what I wanted to absorb from my book shelves, and that is all I kept.
I now know what harmony feels like. I can literally feel it. This feeling permeates my body. It is reinforced by my surroundings everyday. I created a new energy in my home and my body absorbs it sub-consciously. When I walk through my home I feel it.
I am different out in the world. And, I like how the world is responding to the new me. I am more relaxed, calmer, more focused, much more clear, and accepting. I love this place...and I love how it makes me feel.
But the truth be known, it wasn't easy. My body went into near shock after I finished this process. I felt a sense of calm I had never felt in my life. My old destructive energy pattern was truly broken. And that fact rattled me. All my life, I realized, I had lived in chaos. And now my surroundings no longer supported chaos. I was amazed. What a different feeling! My body felt lighter and I knew I was somehow different. But better.
I am in awe of how I react to events and situations and people in this new energetic skin. I am forging new ground, and becoming who I always said I wanted to be. Anger doesn't exist anymore, frustration is subsiding every day, and love or acceptance has taken on a whole new meaning in relating to the people in my life. Yes it is amazing. You decide, you do the work, and you become who you really want to be. What a concept!
So change your life, Feng Shui your space. Recognize that you can have whatever kind of life you want. You can create that life, one step and one day at a time, just like I have. Go ahead, start with the medicine cabinet!
I touched everything. And I mean everything. Three times this year I touched all the stuff in my home. Just like I advise my clients.
The first time I touched everything, I did the middle floor where the living areas were. The second time, I did the middle and the top floor where the bedrooms were. And this last time, I did the middle, the top and the garage level, I did everything.
My home was a Feng Shui consultants dream...and nightmare...at the same time. I learned things about myself and about Feng Shui that I didn't know...or worse, realized I knew but didn't 'get it' in my body.
I learned that most of us, throughout our lives, have never lived or worked in an environment of total harmony. Our bodies do not know what total harmony feels like. And when you feel it...it's scary and comforting and emotional, and cleansing, and it strips away all pretense of who you thought you were. And more important, the affect your surroundings have on your body is subconscious, until you feel this harmony.
You become your surroundings. Literally. We all know that. If the fame and reputation area of your home is cluttered with dirty dishes, no appointments come in. If something's broken or the toilet's leaking in the wealth and prosperity area, there's a slow steady drain on your money. If the exercise equipment is still in the love and relationship area, then we're still working too hard at loving, rather than letting ourselves be loved.
I wanted to not only know 'who' my surroundings said I was, I wanted to make sure it said exactly who I wanted to become. So I touched it all. I made the decision of who I wanted to become with each thing I touched, kept or discarded. And Feng Shui changed my life...again.
I touched every knick knack. I touched every dish towel and potholder. Every book. Every half used container of makeup. I touched every piece of clothes I owned. And I gleaned. And gleaned. And gleaned. And I gleaned.
I touched my every possession with intent... and appreciation for it being in my life. And I touched...knowing that some of those things, perhaps most, would no longer remain with me. There were keepers. There were goers. And there were the guilt ridden 'hangers on' that needed to be either embraced or released. And that my friend was hard.
Everything in your life is there for a reason. And there are no mistakes. We know that. But during this process I realized just how much stuff was in my life that had no earthly meaning whatsoever. And, this stuff defined my life and who I was! and if I didn't know why it was in my life, then for what reason should it be there? I asked that question thousands of times...as I touched...everything.
I was on a mission. I wanted to create the kind of environment that was an example of what I preached and taught to my students and clients. I had to walk the talk. Big job. Not easy.
Facing what I was eventually to call a catharsis, I knew I had to keep on with this until it was finished, or I would fall back into the energetic pattern or my previous surroundings. The pattern of denial and being stuck at being someone I was no longer. The dye was cast. Feng Shui had again made me continue to push through self imposed limitations.
As I went through my possessions, one at a time, I kept only those things that made me feel good...or better. No matter what the cost, financially or emotionally, I dumped, sold, gave away, but somehow got rid of everything else that didn't belong in my New Life.
I prayed God would give me the strength to continue this process. It was like divorcing myself. Divorcing the me that I no longer wanted to have any part of...the me I didn't want to be anymore. I knew I now had the ability and the tools to become who I knew I could be. The real me. I had the key to the process.
Everything in your space talks to you. Everything. If you look around and really study something in your home, you will begin to feel what meaning that object has for you. If it's a good feeling...it's a keeper. If it's a bad feeling...it's not. If it's a hanger on it's really important! This is how you must look at the things and people in your life. Or you will live your life at the mercy of your environment or other people's wishes.
Stuff. You can keep it, get rid of it, or you can address the things that are hanger's on by setting them aside. Just separate them...and wait three days. At the end of three days your opinions will change about the possession...it will become a keeper or a goer. But it will no longer be 'hanging on' to you. And it won't be your own guilt or someone else, making decisions about your life.
You will know this in three days, because in three days you will be different. Your energy will have changed based on what you previously kept and what you previously threw away. And you will become clearer on how you feel about the item previously in question. Guaranteed.
Your energetic pattern, or your body's personal energy, is composed of what is constantly being said to you by your surroundings. This is the energetic pattern you take out into the world. It is this pattern, composed of the collective meanings of your surroundings, that defines how you see the world and how the world treats you.
If you change your energetic pattern by changing your surroundings, you change your presentation of who you are to the world. If you change your presentation of who you are to the world, the world will respond to you differently. The world only responds to you how you tell it to respond. You create it all.
Feng Shui becomes a tool to help you learn to 'live better in your own skin' and a tool used to get what you want out of life. It has a map that will not let you forget any arena of life. You are constantly creating who you are by how you live, what you have in your space, and the meanings you have attached to these things around you. You can live the life you choose, you can have the kind of life you want, but you have to take responsibility for creating it.
By using all the principles of Feng Shui, I was able to define who I wanted to become...for now. I created a new conscious definition of the me I wanted to be. No longer would my surroundings dictate in a haphazard way who I was.
I decided what everything meant in my home. And, I now know what everything says to me subconsciously and why. I gleaned my possessions so that what I already owned, defined who I was, and I added appropriate symbology to define who I wanted to become.
This is the real secret of Feng Shui. You decide who you are or who you want to become, and what you want. Then, with intent, you make your surroundings support that image and those desires. You are then well on your way to making it real. Your body interprets the meaning of your surroundings subconsciously, and you become what your surroundings represent.
It's like the books. I had thousands. But I only kept books that were representative of who I am now, or who I want to become. The novels went away. The old school books went away. The last of the trashy romances bit the dust. On my shelves now are books asking life's greatest questions, or those telling it's greatest secrets. I decided what I wanted to absorb from my book shelves, and that is all I kept.
I now know what harmony feels like. I can literally feel it. This feeling permeates my body. It is reinforced by my surroundings everyday. I created a new energy in my home and my body absorbs it sub-consciously. When I walk through my home I feel it.
I am different out in the world. And, I like how the world is responding to the new me. I am more relaxed, calmer, more focused, much more clear, and accepting. I love this place...and I love how it makes me feel.
But the truth be known, it wasn't easy. My body went into near shock after I finished this process. I felt a sense of calm I had never felt in my life. My old destructive energy pattern was truly broken. And that fact rattled me. All my life, I realized, I had lived in chaos. And now my surroundings no longer supported chaos. I was amazed. What a different feeling! My body felt lighter and I knew I was somehow different. But better.
I am in awe of how I react to events and situations and people in this new energetic skin. I am forging new ground, and becoming who I always said I wanted to be. Anger doesn't exist anymore, frustration is subsiding every day, and love or acceptance has taken on a whole new meaning in relating to the people in my life. Yes it is amazing. You decide, you do the work, and you become who you really want to be. What a concept!
So change your life, Feng Shui your space. Recognize that you can have whatever kind of life you want. You can create that life, one step and one day at a time, just like I have. Go ahead, start with the medicine cabinet!
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