Research indicates that 20 million people in the U.S. are suffering from some form of depression.

While this is a staggering statistic to digest, it does not sound so far-fetched when you consider the over stimulating world in which we live.

Factor in that most folks spend their working days in front of computer screens under fluorescent lighting with recirculating air, and it is no wonder that lethargy and despondency are so common. 

It’s time to follow nature’s lead and get yourself outside and play.    

In feng shui, each season is associated with an element. Spring brings in wood energy, which represents new beginnings.   Summer corresponds with the fire element.  From fire comes action. 

Natural light and fresh air can make such a difference in your life.  It can help you increase your level of energy and decrease your level of stress. 

Here are some feng shui tips for getting yourself out in nature. 

If you are in a slump and lacking motivation, there is a cure… sunlight. With its yellow color, sunshine evokes feelings of joy and warmth and releases the feel-good hormone serotonin. Nature is handing us an organic healing drug for free – why not get out there and take it?

Next time you go for the car keys stop and ask yourself if walking or bike riding is a viable option. Every bit of outdoor exercise will energize you.

Look for ways to find even the smallest window of alone time. Dawn is excellent for a short meditation, which can serve as a wonderfully grounding way to start your day.

Stay in touch with nature by creating an outdoor seating area. This little retreat can be a patio, porch or corner of your yard. Space permitting, use it for dining out! 

Find a local park and encourage a friend to join you for daily walks. As it becomes routine, you will motivate each other. 

Start a mini garden, even if it is one planter. Studies reveal that flowers trigger happy emotions. Plant and give yourself a be well bouquet. 

Grow your own…herbs. Basil is not just for fresh pesto, it can relieve headaches. Mint refreshes drinks and reduces hunger. Rosemary helps to improve mental clarity. Parsley is more than a garnish; it is also an antioxidant. 

A vegetable garden allows you to eat foods that are chemical-free. You will find yourself spending more time outdoors as you care for them and watch them grow.

If planting isn’t your thing, shop at local farm markets for fresh produce. There are a variety of benefits including a healthier diet consisting of organic/pesticide-free food, the support of local business, and the social interaction /connection with others from your community as you spend time outdoors.

Check out the stars and take a moonlight stroll. 

What about yoga on the beach?

Just think of all the ways you can spend time outside connecting with nature!

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.

Kailua-Kona is a magical land located on the West Coast of The Big Island of Hawaii.

It was my privilege to spend a glorious vacation swimming with wild spinner dolphins and experiencing the stunning corals, fish, turtles, and humpback whales who call this gorgeous island their home.

The instantaneous bonding of love and oneness that I felt deep in my soul as I integrated with pods (groups) of dolphins in the healing waters of Kona is something words cannot describe. 

These very playful and social creatures are pure love, joy, and wisdom. 

Their cohesive behavior is a clear parallel to one of the most important aspects of feng shui – the Tao connection. 

Taoism teaches us that we are all connected.  From a feng shui perspective, who we are is influenced by where we are, and our interaction and relationship with the natural world is crucial for happiness and health. 

I thought it would be fun to tap into the playful and wise dolphin energy and see what they might teach us about feng shui using the bagua.

Considered a mapping tool, the bagua reveals how different areas in our space are connected to specific aspects of our lives.  Hold it so that the bottom sectors, Wisdom, Self, and Helpful People, are aligned with the entry to a room (as if you are facing towards it and about to step in.) 

If you see an area that you would like to enhance, see tips for incorporating corresponding color and elements.

Using the bagua, feng shui tips that dolphins might share! 

You have all that you need.
Self Empowerment
Prosperity and abundance 
Purple, Red, Green, Gold, Wood, Water 

Respect all of nature, yourself and others. Lead by example.
Future
Integrity and honor
Red, Fire, Wood

Share your feelings.  Choose equality, love, kindness. 
Accept each other.
Relationships
Unconditional love
Pink, Red, Earth, Fire

Let’s get along with others.  Think pods–not being at odds.
Community/Family
Interconnectedness
Green, Black, Blue, Wood, Water

Eat what is in your environment. Support local farm markets. Be aware of your breath.
Mind Body Spirit
Health and diet
Yellow, Brown, Orange, Earth, Fire

Play, be flexible; jump for joy…just because. 
Creativity
White, Yellow, Metal, Earth

Teach and protect the young ones.  Meditate for inner peace.
Wisdom
Clarity and faith
Blue, Black, Green, Earth

Be inspired and fearless.  Do what you love. Allow.
Self – The Journey
Self-actualization and grace
Black, Blue, Water, Metal

Be compassionate towards yourself and others. Smile.
Helpful People
Support and selflessness
Silver, Gray, White, Black, Metal, Water

Let’s learn from these intelligent, non-judgmental, and playful beings.  Feel free to email me with any questions:  susan@balanceyoursurroundings.com

Mohala i ka wai ka maka o ka pua.

Unfolded by water are the faces of flowers. Flowers thrive where there is water, as thriving people are found where living conditions are good.  

Hawaiian Saying

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!

I identified the problem to be that I was both wired and tired at the same time – a strange cycle of somewhat opposing feelings.  This deduction made me think about yin and yang, which are described in feng shui as the extreme opposites of each other. 

Yin is considered quiet/cool energy and relates to winter, while yang is more active/hot and is associated with summer. 

It turned out that taking into consideration the possible implications of a yin/yang imbalance brought me right to the heart of the matter. 

Because I am a warm weather person I have a tendency to let cold winter weather lessen the time I spend outdoors, which is exactly what I was doing. 

It was like my body just wanted to tap into the yin-like energy of winter and remain quietly inside, but on the flip side it craved that vital connection to nature and just knew it needed to get out there and feel more alive – hence the wired state.

I decided to go for it and got bundled up preparing myself to spend the day outside. I started by raking leaves and it wasn’t long before a sense of peace kicked in.

Just taking in the sun and filling my lungs with fresh air snapped me right out of my lethargy.  Sound and activity from chirping birds energized me and brought in the liveliness of yang.

Feeling the cold and solid earth beneath me satisfied my need for yin as I kneeled to clear out flower beds.  I was amazed to realize that the very thing I was avoiding (being outside in the cold) ended up to be what grounded and balanced me. 

As I gathered leaves from around my lavender plant, it graciously released that distinctly soothing aroma to instantly calm me.  What a simple and beautiful offering. 

I felt so restored and rejuvenated that when I was done with the leaves I went and took an extended walk on the beach! 

The Taoist philosophers were certainly onto something.  Working hand in hand with the rhythms of nature, feng shui not only teaches how important balanced yin/yang energies are, but also reminds us that the Tao connection – our interaction and exposure to the natural world – is essential for overall health and happiness. 

How blessed we are to be gifted with the healing properties and wonders of nature.

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.”

Basically, all things are comprised of chi or energy.  It is the invisible life-force that is present in everything that exists in nature, connecting the yang energy of heaven with the yin energy of earth.  Without it nothing would survive.

Because our five senses help us interpret our environment, chi can also be described as what we see, smell, hear, taste and touch.

Feng shui is about tuning into your environment and learning how to balance and enhance the flow of chi.  A sensorial experience is lacking when there is an imbalance of chi.

According to the Touch Research Institute, pre-term infants that were massaged experienced a 31 to 47% weight gain over newborns that were not receiving massage therapy.  Now, that is a sensorial experience!

Skin is considered our largest sense organ.  Nerve endings in the skin transmit sensations to the brain.  The sensation of touch helps us to experience our space via physical contact.

An instant calm comes to me through the simple action of petting my cat.  Feeling the vibration of her purrs, the softness of her fur, and the heat of her body as she is curled up in my lap brings me such peace.  Tapping into my sense of touch during this interaction brings in a harmonious flow of chi.

Most of us love the pampered feeling of freshly laundered sheets against our bodies, the comfort of that perfect bed pillow or the warmth that the softness of a chenille blanket provides on a cold night. 

Interestingly enough, however, physical contact is not always necessary to experience touch.  We are affected by the mere appearance of certain fabrics such as satin or velvet.  Just by having them in our space, we can experience in our minds how they feel. 

Through the chi of touch, we can also apply the aspects of yin and yang.  A smooth surface represents the metal element and can encourage going within or yin; a course surface represents fire and action and is considered yang.   The key is to learn how to balance out all five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) and yin/yang.

Textures can provoke emotions or bring fond memories. Fabrics that invite touching are likely to project the desire to connect on an emotional level.  Apply a little feng shui and consider the messages being delivered by your furnishings. 

Paying more attention to your tactile experiences will help you to create a space that is comforting and nourishing for you!

I enjoy a morning ritual of yoga and when weather permits I take my practice outside to my deck.  I find that connecting to nature immediately upon rising is a nurturing and grounding way for me to start my day.

At the break of dawn one morning, my auditory senses seemed to be more tuned in than usual as I became keenly aware of an amazing orchestra of sounds.

Against the soothing backdrop of water flowing from my fountain, there was the harmonic toning of crickets, the mewing sound of a catbird and the distinct cawing of crows.  Their individual contributions made me realize the impact that sound has on our experiences. 

A goal of feng shui is to engage our senses and become more aware of our environment.  By doing so, we can analyze how the energy in certain spaces make us feel, and incorporate beneficial changes.  

It is said that the sound of our mother’s body is the first sensory experience we have in the womb.  Before it can see or smell, a fetus can hear.  I think this is pretty amazing.

The use of bells and wind chimes is common in feng shui, primarily because their vibrations serve to change energy and purify a space. 

Research indicates that various types of sounds such as the human voice, music, drumming, lapping ocean waves and chirping birds all serve to heal the body.

Conversely, because we absorb the energy of sound, an environment filled with TV violence, loud/irritating noises or negative words can have detrimental effects including a rise in blood pressure, muscle tension and stress.

Consider the emotional impact that sound has on you.  Like most things in life, balance is the key. There are times you need the lively chatter of conversation as you connect and laugh with family and friends.  Other times you may need stillness so you can gather your thoughts or concentrate.  

Technology can be quite distracting and can lead to stress. Turning down the noise in your environment will help to turn down the noise in your mind. 

Check out CDs that use nature as instruments, or open the windows and let the real-time sounds of the natural world bring in a sense of community and calmness to your environment. 

Nature offers free sound therapy – what a shame if it falls on deaf ears.

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.