According to Wikipedia, the definition of workplace stress is: ‘The harmful physical and emotional response that occurs when there is a poor match between job demands and the capabilities, resources, or needs of the worker.’
 
With added responsibilities many people are wearing several hats, and working 9 to 5 surely seems like a thing of the past. 

Increased hours are needed just to keep up with the pressures of fast paced technology and social media. 

Remote employees often find themselves putting in more time at home than if there were physically in the office.
 
From a feng shui perspective, environmental conditions such as poor air quality, fluorescent or other harsh lighting, noise, and even work stations that do not have an ergonomic set up, all play a huge part in creating stress. 
 
Peace of mind and feelings of safety are just as important at work as they are at home.

A Room with a View

Desk placement is of utmost significance in office feng shui.  The intention is to feel ‘supported’ at your desk by having your back face a wall (rather than a window or open area).

Having exposed spaces behind us as we work can cause distraction or uneasiness, putting us on guard. 

A way to bring in supportive energy and empowerment is to hang a picture of a mountain or landscape behind you.  

If you are in an open cubicle with a path behind your chair, creating an energetic barrier with furniture or plants will give you a better sense of security. 

Reflection from a mirror or shiny object that is strategically placed can prevent others from ‘sneaking’ up on you.

For any folks who work at home, please be sure to separate your work area from your personal space.  You can designate boundaries easily enough with partition screens or plants.  

Reboot your Body 

Night is yin/quiet energy and day is yang/active energy.  Get adequate sleep to bring your body back to its natural balance of yin and yang.  Insomnia, or excessive yang, is an inability to recharge.  It is important to determine how many hours you need to feel restored and productive.      

Mood Lighting 

Reduce the strain of fluorescent glare by adding a task lamp.  Go online for full-spectrum bulbs as they closely mimic natural light. 

Elemental Balance 

Irritability and anger could be an imbalance of the wood element.  Healthy plants help to mitigate these detrimental emotions.  They also clean toxic air. 

Let it Flow

Water in feng shui symbolizes money.  Add a tabletop fountain or beach scene to the entryway of your space (north corner of the bagua). This yin element also helps to offset yang energies found in work spaces.
 
Got (Good) Chi?

We are affected by the energy in all things.  Clutter breeds chaos and stress.  Organize and clear off your desk.  Give yourself breathing room by keeping only what is used daily.  No piles on the floor, please!  Don’t forget about digital de-cluttering.  ’Out with old’ means ‘in with new’…thoughts, energy, opportunities, etc!  

Get Personal 

Create a sense of belonging at work by having things that you own and love.  The view as you look out from your desk is a main focal point.  Add something motivational or conceal what is unsightly.  Blue reduces tension.  Black is calming. Flowers make us happy.  

Get (Tao) Connected  

Go outside daily for small breaks to reconnect with the natural rhythm of nature. Natural light and fresh air alleviates anxiety.

De-stress through Gratitude

Decrease the negative; increase the positive.  Rather than ruminate on the undesirables, come up with two positives for every negative.

Finally, try to maintain a sense of humor.  What better way is there to relieve tension than a good belly laugh?

These words, commonly heard during feng shui consultations, usually refer to the most disorderly of rooms – garages.

Often times it seems that these scary places are not considered to be part of our living space. Instead, they become storage sheds attached to our houses.

In some instances they are packed with so much stuff that a car cannot even fit.

Folks would rather park in a driveway and endure rain, cold and snow than participate in the daunting act of clearing out unused or unwanted items.

The room’s purpose goes from car protector to stuff collector.

It is a misconception that a garage that is packed to the gills does not affect us on an energetic level.

Every time you enter a disorganized space, whether on foot or by car, your subconscious mind goes into “I need to get to this” mode.

Instead of feeling relaxed that you are home safe and sound, the chaotic energy brings on unnecessary stress.

Give your garage purpose and make use of the space. Use pegboards and shelving for easy access of garden tools and cleaning supplies.

Pay particular attention to the wall directly in front of you as you enter. This is a perfect spot to change an unwanted pattern with a supportive saying or plaque.

Treat it like a room. Cleaning and sweeping the area not only clears out stale chi, it prevents the dirt from being tracked into the house.

Color is an easy way to change the energy of a space. Hang some artwork that is bright and cheerful.

Toxins from paint can meander into your living space. Go through old cans and dispose of them in an environmentally safe way.

All your belongings contain energy. Insidious clutter brings in stuck, negative energy that can prevent you from moving forward in life. Clear out the space and break the cycle of procrastination.

Don’t let the stagnation of clutter create energetic barriers that prevent you from manifesting what you desire.

With the energy and newness of spring, now is the time to organize and clear out what no longer serves you. Discard/donate/sell.

Consider making a donation with your proceeds to offer relief for Japan. It will make you feel good.

You know, it just occurred to me why they call it a garage sale.

On the East Coast the snow is finally melted and there is but a hint of spring in the air. 

With morning birds chirping and daffodils sprouting tiny buds, I am so ready to trade in my fleece gloves for gardening gloves!

Give me just that little extra bit of daylight and I can already feel my energy increasing as we move from the stillness of winter to the growth energy of early spring.  All these subtle changes are gentle reminders of how much nature affects our behavior. 

Feng shui, literally translated as wind and water, is about how we respond to our environments. Imagine energy (or chi) flowing like wind and water in your home. Through this mental exercise, try to identify places where chi might get stuck.  

As we transition into spring, it is a perfect time to inventory our homes, clear any blockages, and rid ourselves of anything that is no longer needed or useful.   Starting slowly, here are some areas to focus on.

Getting the Skeletons (etc) Out of the Closet

Sort through clothes and footwear and give away/donate anything that you haven’t worn during the winter season.   This includes belts, hats, gloves, scarves – even jewelry.  A general rule of thumb is that if it hasn’t been used in the last year, it’s time to go. 

Need some motivation?  Remind yourself that letting go of old things only opens the space for the new.

Slaying the Paper Tiger

You can do it.  Get rid of that daunting pile.  I have to tell you…in a typical scenario of the shoemaker’s kids having no shoes, a year or so ago I came upon a giant bin of ancient bills and miscellaneous paperwork that was somehow hidden in a far away corner of my attic. 

I was stunned to find such cords to the past.  It was a trip down memory lane, for sure, and often times not exactly pleasant.  But, the joy and liberation I experienced going thru hours of shredding every little piece of paper was simply indescribable.  It was like I was deleting and rewriting history.    

Living by the Book(s)

We all have favorite books that we go back to over and over and continue to learn from.  But, beware.  Some books have a way of finding a spot and refusing to budge.  If you are holding onto too many of them, perhaps you are limiting yourself to the certain belief system they represent  Maybe you are too rigid in your thinking, which could prevent you from seeing different perspectives. 

Keep the ones that you use and recycle/give away the others.  Keep in mind, there’s always the library.  Separation anxiety?  Go visit them. 

Food for Thought

When was the last time you went through your pantry, kitchen cabinets or refrigerator?  If you happened to have a weak moment at a can-can sale, make a much needed donation to your local food bank.  Also, check use-by dates on all that stuff  hidden in dark places. 

(While you are at it, take into consideration kitchen gadgets, you know the ones that sounded so fabulous in the infomercials.)

Is the Medicine Worse than the Malady?

Toiletries have a way of reproducing themselves.  Bathroom closets and medicine cabinets are huge breeding grounds for clutter.  This adds stress to a room that is meant to make us feel refreshed.  From a health risk aspect, check for expired medications and makeup that may be outdated.

Again, don’t forget those abandoned lotions and potions that didn’t  quite do the trick.

Gearing Up for Spring

We’ve been insulated all winter breathing recycled air.  As the days become warmer open the windows and circulate fresh air.  This will help to release any stale chi.

As human beings we have a natural affinity to nature.  Make it a habit of taking walks.  Your body and soul will be grateful.

Mother Earth goes thru the process of change without resistance.  Follow her lead and make the changes necessary to create a space that has free flowing energy. 

Use the decluttering approach of feng shui to free your home…and mind of useless clutter.

In feng shui, the element for this season is water.  With its introspective energy, water is considered yin. 

In a quiet state, we turn inward and nurture ourselves as we prepare for the approaching newness of spring. 

Emotionally, a new year offers a clean slate.  What better time is there for a little life review?  No pressure; no declarations.  Just some suggestions for potentially improving your lifestyle.

Change Your Mind

Negative thinking is very detrimental.  It keeps us stuck in old patterns and behaviors.  Make it a point to really listen to your thoughts.  Remind yourself that each thought is powered by you, and only you can change them to become the person you want to be! 

Change Your Space

The simple act of adding or removing something in a personal space frees up energy, space and time for new things to come in.  Everything has a certain vibrational energy.  Lower energies come from things that are unwanted, unused, broken and unloved.  Releasing what no longer serves you brings in positive energy and a true sense of renewal. 

Change Your Eating

Alter your diet so that it aligns with the season. Warm the body by eating hearty soups, stews, whole grains, root vegetables and squash.  Avoid cold liquids and food.  Being in harmony with the natural world helps us to maintain good health.

Change Your Pace

Follow nature’s lead and slow it down.  Stress wreaks havoc on the immune system.  Get adequate sleep to restore and replenish your body, but be sure to connect with nature by spending time outside in fresh air and sunshine.  Find the balance.

Change Your Routine

Clutter causes stress, potential health issues, de-motivation and lethargy.  Its stale energy prevents us from moving forward in life, making it harder to make necessary changes and accomplish goals.  Eliminate things that are not important.  Releasing stuck energy will get you out of a rut and inspire you to do the things that do matter.

Change Your Need to Control

Loosening the reigns and trusting in the universe empowers us.  The process of letting go brings in clarity and focus.  We can then trust the decisions we make as we choose what and even who we want to live with.   

Change Your Life

Winter is all about reflective yin energy.  Use this opportune time to assess what works in your life – both literally and figuratively.

May you experience peace, balance, excellent health, prosperity and love in 2011!

Accepting the change in seasons and learning to appreciate the beauty each one has to offer is a way of honoring nature and trusting in the natural rhythm of life. 

In a state of surrender, I was recently clearing my deck and bringing in plants to protect them from the cold.  I was alarmed by one’s broken branch, but my concern soon turned to intrigue as it allowed me to notice the beautiful intricacy of the leaves.

It got me thinking about how Mother Earth is constantly nourishing us and tending to our senses.  She paints a beautiful landscape through flowers, plants, shrubs and trees.  She feeds us with fresh fruits and vegetables. 

She heals our bodies through herbs and essential oils.  She offers aromatherapy that soothes us and awakens our olfactory senses.  She lets us walk all over her as our feet get massaged in ocean sand or fresh cut lawns.

We can learn a lot from her unconditional love.  Why wouldn’t we reciprocate by being loving and respectful in return?  Learning to respect nature and all things will inherently teach us how to respect ourselves and others. 

Feng Shui is about connecting with and imitating nature to maintain a balanced flow of chi (energy.)  Taoism is based on the desire to live in harmony with the natural world.  Combining the two led to the discovery that having comfortable and harmonious environments helps inhabitants to survive and thrive.  

We know that it is detrimental to stay in relationships that do not support us.  Similarly, when we consider that everything is comprised of energy, we can understand that surrounding ourselves with clutter or objects that are broken, unused or neglected creates an unhealthy environment. 

When we increase our awareness and take care of the objects in our space, we are demonstrating respect and gratitude, which brings in positive energy.   

When we choose to clean, paint or rearrange furniture/furnishings, we bring in new energy, which sets the stage for making desired changes in our lives. 

A key aspect of Feng Shui is the ‘tao’ or way of being in tune to nature.  Just as Mother Earth nourishes us, we can learn to show respect for all things – animate and inanimate – and create spaces that support us physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. 

Just think about the positive effects this could have on a global level.  I like this quote by John Muir:  “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”

I am still not quite sure how this happened.  The replacement rug was the exact same size as the one that I previously had so it should have been a quick swap! 

It never ceases to amaze me how the uncomplicated act of introducing one new item into a space can lead to a change in furniture placement, different lighting, rearranged artwork, and a huge cleaning binge.  A total shift in energy positively affected me and my entire home. 

My first attempt at replacing the rug was unsuccessful. It was too thick and prevented my front door from fully opening.   It was returned immediately as I considered the feng shui implication that a door that does not open freely results in blocked energy or chi. 

The front entrance of your home is referred to as the mouth of chi.  It is very important that you allow vital energy to enter and nourish your home.  The deterrent of a ‘stuck’ door can metaphorically mean missed opportunities, stubbornness or inability to move forward in life.

In the spirit of clutter clearing, it is said that getting rid of things that are unwanted makes space for the new to come in and I must say that this was certainly the case for me. 

Rather than putting the old rug back, I donated it to the animal shelter with the expectation that a new one would arrive shortly.  Lo and behold, just a couple of days later I found the perfect, affordable rug in a beautiful earth tone color.

In feng shui it is important to balance the five elements:  wood, fire, earth, metal and water.  The element of summer is fire.  It occurred to me as I took in the renewed energy that I was most likely drawn to a grounding color since earth (yin) reduces fire (yang).  As we experience the heat generated from the dog days of summer, a little yin brings in the energy of coolness.

Take a moment to experience the current energy in your space.  Allow yourself to intuitively feel what needs to be moved or replaced.  It is not necessary to do major redecoration. 

Change cannot occur in a stagnate environment.  See how even the subtlest of changes will refresh you and bring a sense of balance to your environment and life.

I instantly felt very fortunate that it didn’t occur as a blowout during highway driving, and I was doubly reassured that the angels were indeed watching over me when the Roadside Assistance rep was aptly named Michael.

Even the response time seemed to hold some divine intervention. Help arrived within a mere 30 minutes of my call.

As I was waiting for assistance, I started to think about the applications of feng shui to my car. My conclusion? A flat meant there was some imbalance in my life. For me personally, the implications were likely too much work and not enough play!

Majority of people spend a great deal of time behind the wheel. Start to look at your vehicle with feng shui eyes and you will discover how it can mirror your life.

Brake problems could symbolize the need to slow down and relax. Overheating could indicate the need to deal with anger or cool down.

What is your vehicle telling you?  Is she cluttered or in need of TLC? If so, perhaps you are dealing with some mental confusion or need a bit of nurturing and down time. 

Caring for your vehicle is no less important than caring for your home. It is, after all, your personal space and can affect your sense of peace.

Remember to keep her clean and healthy, and don’t let clutter build up allowing negative chi to linger.

I am happy to report that my girl is all better. My mobility is no longer compromised and with a regained sense of balance, I can now move forward in life.

After this experience, I will certainly be looking for any feng shui clues that may be hiding out in my car.

A basic concept of feng shui is that everything is comprised of energy or chi.  We are constantly giving and receiving chi.  We’ve all heard the expression what goes around, comes around.  This can be applied to the exchange of chi.  What we put out, we get back.  

To really know somebody, take a peek at what things they have decided to live with. This exercise is much more revealing than words in a conversation! 

From a scientific point of view, all objects are made up of molecules and atoms.  These objects give off vibrations and are constantly in motion.  Subtle energy permeates everything in our lives, and has a profound effect on how we experience a place.

Feng Shui is about getting in touch with your surroundings.  It is about opening your eyes, really taking note of the things in your space, and then investigating how those things make you feel.

The items we live with are an expression of ourselves.  By taking inventory, you will be surprised to learn just how revealing your surroundings can be.  It is normal human behavior to stop seeing the obvious after having lived with it for periods of time, so imagine that you are a first time visitor to your home.  Put yourself in their shoes (or eyes) as you search for hidden messages and take the time to notice the furniture styles, colors, patterns, accessories and objects of art that make up the design of your home.   

We see and respond to shape, form and pathways.  Observe how freely you can move through a room, as well as how comfortable you feel when going from room to room.  Are there obstacles in your way such as overcrowded furniture that can impede the flow in the room?  Gentle movement of chi is the sign of a healthy space.  Blocked chi causes disharmony and imbalance. 

What we have in our homes can affect us in either a positive or negative way.  Having clutter equates to stuck or negative chi.  Then again, when you surround yourself with things that you love, positive energies flow and you will feel nourished. 

Overcrowding a space not only means having too much stuff, such as piles of paperwork, magazines, books or collectibles, but can also mean having too many patterns, which can be distracting and cause agitation.

Some other not so obvious things to look for that might be having a negative effect include:

Artwork that is gloomy or depicting threatening nature scenes, unhealthy plants, cracked or chipped items, leaky faucets, broken objects or cracked window panes. 

Investigate how the wall colors in your rooms make you feel.  Colors give off vibrations and everyone reacts differently to those vibrations.  Color brings out particular emotions that affect our moods and energy levels, and adding/modifying color is an easy way to change the energy of a space.

When scoping out your space, identify a goal you want to achieve and then figure out what in your environment is working for you or against you. 

For instance, suppose you are interested in finding a new partner.  Do you still have belongings from previous relationships? Is your bedroom so full of stuff that you do not have ‘space’ for another? Is there access to the bed from both sides? Are your closets so maxed out that you can barely fit another article of clothing? If so, you are not symbolically making room for someone new to come into your life and would benefit by clearing out an area in the closet or at least one dresser drawer.

Feng shui is about your relationship with energy.  View your home thru feng shui eyes and become more aware of your surroundings.  Creating a personal space of your choosing supports you physically, emotionally and spiritually, and will help you to achieve personal goals.

Feng shui teaches us that to make changes in our lives, we can start by making changes in our environments.  Feng shui is about tuning into our personal spaces and taking inventory of what works and what doesn’t – both literally and figuratively. 

Clutter clearing is a branch of feng shui that helps us to sort our lives and restore balance.  As we clear out old energies, we bring in the new.

We learn from scientific studies that all things are comprised of energy.  Addressing our clutter and removing any unused, broken or unwanted objects helps us to release lower energies from our surroundings.  As a result, we can then experience a renewal of positive life force energy and make way for new things to come in.

Clutter in one’s space not only leads to stress and potential health issues, but it also results in demotivation and lethargy.  The stale energy that clutter breeds prevents us from being able to move forward in life, thus making it harder to make necessary changes and accomplish our goals.

We can set the stage for change simply by adding or removing something in our personal environments.  Decluttering and eliminating things that are not important frees up energy, space and time for the things that do matter.

The process of decluttering, however, can be quite overwhelming.  To mitigate procrastination, start with a small area – such as one drawer or closet shelf.  Because we spend 1/3 of our lives in the bedroom, I would suggest that you focus on this room first.

If you need an extra bit of discipline, set a timer to help manage your time.  Set aside 10-15 minutes a day and make the commitment to sort through the items one at a time.  During the process ask yourself why you are keeping it, and then make quick decisions on what should be kept, trashed, recycled or donated.  Things that make you feel good and contribute to the quality of your life belong on the stay list; all else can go.  A good motto to keep in mind:  if you don’t use it – lose it!

Once you get on the clutter ride you will be amazed at the amount of energy you gain and just how contagious it becomes.  The momentum will grow and your 15 minutes will easily turn into 30 minutes.  Before you know it, an hour will have gone by and you will feel a noticeable energetic shift and uplifting, as positive energy flows in your surroundings.

Decluttering brings in clarity and focus, and helps you take control of your life.  By paying attention to what is going out, you will naturally become more aware of what is coming back in.  The personal decisions you make as you manage your clutter will allow you to create an environment of your own choosing.  You will feel nurtured as you surround yourself with things that you love.

It’s time to release that stuck energy and get out of your rut.  Start the New Year by letting go of the past and making space in your life for new possibilities!

Mother Nature is a wise teacher.  She is flexible and loving, and through her actions shows us the beauty of going with the flow of  life.

Outwardly, it may appear that there is reckless abandon, but an order of universal intelligence lies at her core.  The basis of feng shui is to harmonize with nature by reverently and respectfully tapping into that universal intelligence.

Merging taoism, astronomy, alchemy, astrology and shamanism, feng shui is the system of living in harmony with the natural elements and forces of nature.  It is about the flow of energy (chi) and how it affects the human energy field.

The literal translation of feng shui is wind and water.  In order for all living things to survive, air (wind) and water are crucial.  Envision the movement of chi like wind and water over your landscape and how the blending of these qualities correlates to the rhythms of nature.  With every changing season, new energy is brought in.

Metal:  The Element of Autumn

In feng shui, the world is defined by the following five elements:  wood, fire, earth, metal and water.  Each element has its own characteristics and can be described in terms of season, direction, color and shape.

Metal is the element that is associated with autumn.  During this time, cooler weather comes in and vegetation starts to wane and withdraw in preparation for winter.  Concurrently, humans do the same thing as we modify our wardrobe, eat different foods, and get ourselves ready for shorter days and longer nights.

Coming away from the fire of summer, a very active (yang) time of year, we begin the transition into a more relaxed (yin) environment through the cyclical contraction of metal.

The direction associated with metal is west, where the sun sets and daylight ends.  It is a time of letting go.  Just as trees begin to shed their leaves, we can de-clutter and discard the things that no longer serve us. Clutter in the home equates to clutter in the mind, and having stagnant chi causes stagnation in our lives.  Associated with order and clarity, now is the time to pay attention to detail and really take inventory of our lives to see what areas need change.

Metal is represented by anything shiny or metallic and is expressed through the colors of white, gray or silver.  Round in shape, metal energetically symbolizes completion or endings as things come full circle.

Along with spring, autumn represents a significant cycle change in nature.  It is a time to release any unwanted items, behaviors or thoughts, allowing us to concentrate, get creative and achieve new goals.

Trust and follow the rhythms of nature.  Drawing on metal energy, tune into feng shui’s elemental cycle and use this period of transition to get focused and clear out any clutter from your mind and life. 

Learn to simply.  Letting go of the old only opens the space for the new.