Feng Shui Your Stuff Away—Breaking the Clutter Cycle
I recently participated in my town’s annual garage sale. From a financial point of view, my profit was $203.00; not too shabby. From an emotional point of view, however, I made quite a bit more.
To prepare for the big day, I started doing inventory in the usual clutter hangouts, the attic, garage and shed. I then found my way into more personalized clutter spaces such as the closets, bedroom dressers and nightstands.
During the clearing process, I went thru items such as old paint, tools, toiletries, CDs, linens, magazines, books, jewelry, and the insidious holiday decorations. There was no stopping me.
I came home from work one night and before I was consciously aware of it, I was tackling the kitchen. My cleansing ran the gamut, from the obvious junk drawer to the fertile breeding ground of tupperware. Even canned goods were victims of my maniacal purge. Continue Reading…
Clutter – Take It or Leave It
As a feng shui consultant, I generally categorized myself as a clutter minimalist. That was, of course, until recently.
I just returned from a visit to Southern California, which is truly one of my favorite places. The visit was magical and nourishing and taught me a lot about myself – including the fact that I have no idea how to pack a suitcase. This knowledge, of course, would ultimately lend itself to a more interesting realization.
While living overseas many years ago, I had the luxury of routinely traveling to many different countries. I am not really a novice traveler, but for the life of me I couldn’t narrow down what to bring on this particular trip. Will I be warm or cold? There was stuff for yoga, stuff for hiking, sunning, lounging, eating, thinking – you name it.
By the time I was done packing and repacking, my travel bag was comparable to a chosen victim of the show What Not To Wear. I guess I should have known I was in trouble when the limo driver called my bag the beast from the east. Continue Reading…
Fundamentals of Feng Shui Gardening
One of the earliest meanings of feng shui is the study of climate, geology and vegetation. It was thousands of years ago in China that the seeds of this natural science were sown.
Natural climatic conditions such as wind and water were viewed as sacred signs that were looked upon by shamans as ways to help determine the most auspicious places for houses, altars and graves. When ideal spaces were not attainable, their search for remedies led to the ideology of feng shui, blending Taoism, astronomy, alchemy, astrology and shamanism.
In early times, Chinese philosophers seeking refuge and the serenity of nature headed to the countryside to paint landscapes of majestic mountains reaching up toward misty skies with winding rivers and pine trees. Their awe of natural beauty was expressed on silk scrolls, screens and ceramics, as well as through verse, poetry and calligraphy. It was from this desire to be in harmony with the natural world that the philosophy of Taoism was founded, based on simplicity, intuition, spontaneity and the way (Tao) of nature.
Feng shui is about the flow of chi and how it affects the human energy field. Taoism is about the unity of humanity and nature. Combining the two, it became apparent that having comfortable and harmonious environments helped inhabitants to survive and thrive.
Perspective! Perspective! Perspective! Hard Can Be Easy
Recently, I embarked on a 10-day journey that would take me into rather deep levels of soul searching while visiting the Catskills in upstate New York. Anyone who knows me has full realization that I am not much of a snowy-mountain girl, but rather a sun & beach lover. Hence, a bit of physical and psychological adjustment was in order.
Upon my destination I received an email from my supportive partner sending me wishes to find myself or lose myself – whatever it was that I was looking to do. Not only did this strike me as quite comical, but it also made me realize that maybe he was on to something. Life really is all about perspective, isn’t it?
Feng Shui and Old Man Winter
“It sure been a cold, cold winter
My feet been draggin’ ‘cross the ground
And the fields has all been brown and fallow
And the springtime take a long way around”
~ M. Jagger/K. Richards
In 1943, the American psychologist Abraham Maslow first introduced his theory of personality widely known as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. The hierarchy consists of five basic needs:
- Biological and Physiological—basic life needs such as oxygen, food, water and sleep
- Safety—protection, security, law and order
- Belonging— family, affection, relationships
- Esteem—self-respect, achievement, status
- Self-Actualization—personal growth, fulfillment
While the hierarchy indicates that our physical survival is the basic need, Maslow’s observation was that a person will not feel the second need until the first one has been satisfied, nor will they fulfill the third level without satisfying the second one.
Summer Time and the Living is Easy – Feng Shui and the Fire Element
I realize that hot weather isn’t for everybody, but for me summer is the time of year that gives me the most energy and fills me with tons of enthusiasm.
All winter long I look forward to being outside where I can connect with nature, eavesdrop on conversations that the birds are having, and absorb the warmth of the sun on my skin as I maintain my garden. The aromatic fragrances that the peonies, honeysuckle and magnolias have to offer only add to my rejuvenation process. I am truly in a sensorial heaven.
Our Connection with Nature
The system of living in harmony with the natural elements and forces of earth is referred to as feng shui. This ancient Chinese philosophy examines how human beings respond and react to their environments. Continue Reading…
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