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!

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.

Life wakes up from the deep sleep of winter and everything comes alive.  People just can’t wait to shed layers of clothing and feel the warmth of the sun on their skin.  Nature responds the same way. The crocus and daffodil plants push their way thru the earth as they sprout new stalks and reach for the sun.  Shrubs and trees start to form buds and are turning green.

The Chinese system of living in harmony with the natural elements and forces of earth is referred to as feng shui.  This ancient philosophy demonstrates that the world is defined by the following five elements of nature:  wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

Each element has its own specific characteristics, and can be described in terms of season, direction, color and shape.  As a feng shui practitioner, it comes as no surprise to me that wood is the element of Spring, and that the direction associated with wood is east, where the sun rises and the day begins.

Wood promotes change.  It represents flexibility, growth and new beginnings. Wood is represented thru the color green, which is also the color of photosynthesis.  The shape for wood is tall, rectangular or treelike – all traits that are perfectly revealed during the Spring season.

Cyclically, Spring it is a natural time for us to focus on removing physical, mental and emotional clutter from our lives.  Anything that is neglected, forgotten, unwanted, or unused will cause the energy in your home to slow and stagnate.  Subsequently, you will feel clogged and stuck in the past – as if your life is not moving forward.

Disorder, confusion, chaos and blockage are not signs of a healthy space.  When the energy in your home gets congested, so does your body.  The stagnant energy of clutter pulls your energy down with it, which can lead to fatigue or depression and even illness.

Everything in your environment mirrors your inner self.  A cluttered space actually reveals secrets about you. For instance, a garage that is in disarray from useless items and trash could indicate procrastination, while a basement packed with stale junk may signify living in the past or fear of an unknown future.  Folks with attic clutter may tend to worry more about the future than others, which is a direct result of having all that stuff constantly “hanging over their heads.”

Having obstructions at the main entrance of your home can restrict the flow of opportunities coming to you.  When furniture or other miscellaneous items, such as coat racks or hooks, prevent doors from fully opening, the energy is not allowed to flow freely in your space.  As a result, everything you do takes more effort.  Objects hanging from doorknobs are another form of thwarted energy.  All of these obstructions may seem slight, but through the eyes of feng shui they symbolize stumbling blocks that can hinder us from feeling comfortable and balanced in our environment.

Clutter can be described as a confused multitude of things, but it can also be defined as follows:

• Anything that is not being used
• Things that are disorganized or disorderly
• Having too much stuff in a small space
• Anything that is unfinished

Inherited belongings that you don’t particularly like and unwanted gifts also fall into this category.  Even unwelcomed and non-relaxing sounds can be counted as clutter!

Physical clutter in your home equates to clutter in your mind.  Piles of paperwork, books, magazines, memorabilia, unused toiletries, etc., all have an insidious way of multiplying and haunting you in the process. Having a disorderly space creates mental clutter in the form of stress, frustration or depression. Other examples of mental clutter include worrying about finances or concerning yourself with goals that were never achieved.

From an emotional standpoint, there is a parallel line when dealing with clutter and dealing with difficult emotions.  When we get rid of clothes that no longer fit or will likely never fit again, it reminds us that our aging bodies have changed. Removing possessions that belonged to a previous partner or someone who has passed on requires us to come to terms with our loss and feel grief, or to let go without feeling like we are betraying our love.

Getting our physical space in order allows us to regain a sense of clarity and order in our thoughts.  To live without clutter is to trust and have faith in the choices we make. By becoming more conscious of what you allow and keep in your home, you will develop an ability to trust the decisions you make in life.  The more you trust yourself, the more fulfilling your life will become.

Take the time to inventory your home (or office).  De-clutter by asking yourself the following two questions: “Do I really need this?”  “Is it something I really love?” The answer should be yes to at least one, but preferably to both of these questions.

A simple method to help you along is to get some boxes or garbage bags and label them:

• Trash – remembering to recycle.
• Give Away – which is really another form of recycling.
• Put Away – for the things that have made the cut and will find their way to another place in your home.

You may also need a separate bag for repairs, but you must commit yourself to taking the time to get them repaired.  There will be things that you just cannot part with at this point in time.  Put them aside and give yourself a reminder to revisit them at a later date.  Once you start the clearing process, however, you will feel so empowered that you will be surprised how easy it will become to release things!

Remember to get the belongings out of your space entirely.  Putting them in nicely labeled boxes or bags and placing them in a garage or storeroom defeats the purpose as it keeps you psychically linked to them.  Take that extra step to fully remove them from your property

Remind yourself that it is safe to let go.  Difficult feelings will likely come up as you work through this process.  Acknowledge them and be gentle with yourself by taking baby steps and working at your own pace.   Make a list and set realistic goals.  Try one closet, one drawer or one shelf at a time and then give yourself the satisfaction of crossing if off your list.  Each small area you clear releases energy and offers inspiration to continue.

Rather than look at the removal practice as a chore, consider it a way of honoring yourself and taking back control of your life.  Remember, you are free to create a personal living space of your own choosing.

Let a little Spring cleaning and clutter clearing lighten your load physically, mentally and emotionally.  You will see procrastination dissolving and find yourself motivated for a lifestyle change.  Follow nature’s lead – now is the time to be like wood.  Welcome change and try new things; take a few risks and be flexible in your thoughts and actions.