4/20/03
BODY PARTS
Not only is each sector of the bagua associated with colors, shapes, materials, and nature’s wonders, they are also linked with parts of the body. So if your gall bladder is galling you or your back was better a week back, look at your home as both the potential problem as well as the cure. We’re not guaranteeing miracles here, but it’s worth a look. Here’s the gua by gua breakdown. Hips are Wealth; eyes, heart, and small intestines are Fame; reproductive organs are Love; stomach and spleen are Health; mouth is Children; head is Helpful People; ears, kidneys, and bladder are Career; hands are Wisdom; and feet, liver, and gall bladder are Family. Even more interesting is the analogy of the back and the roof line of your house. Imagine your head at the front door and your tailbone at the back. That means that you’re crouched in froggy pose with your feet to the left and right of the back of the house. If your front and back doors don’t align, you might end up with a few extra unwanted twists and kinks. Plumbing problems can effect the intestines and bladder. Electrical messes can foul up your nerves. So tell us what you think and e-mail us a little “bio” feedback.
4/20/02
WHAT’S THAT SMELL?
Years ago when my daughter was trying to decide which of two colleges to attend, I took advantage of a well known fact about her. She has always had a sensitive nose. So I reminded her that the college she was wavering on was in a very stinky town (no name!). “Remember when we go to the Cape,” I reminded her. “And about a third of the way, you always complain about the smell?” That was that. She was off to Boston. Fragrance is one of the many “cures” of Feng Shui. If something isn’t quite right or needs to be activated, fragrance is a wonderful possibility. We New Englanders are just now waking to the smell of Hyacinth, and roses aren’t that far away. If you have a romantic corner where you go in the evening to sip wine together, why not assist the experience with the deep aroma of Midnight Madness Petunias draping from a hanging basket. Perhaps a potted Heliotrope nearby would be pleasant. And who could deny the lovely smell of roses in a bed below. If the breezes are just right, that fragrance will be there to enhance the romance. Incense burning can be a powerful cleansing fragrance. Likewise, the Native Americans use sage to cleanse a space, cedar for forgiveness, and sweet grass to open the heart. That first glass of wine just beckons you to sniff it. Conversely, be sure to empty the garbage, bring out the compost, and close the bathroom door.
2/22/03
TALK TO ME
As a Western Astrologer, I have been aware of many oppositions in the last two weeks. Without boring you with all the details, suffice it to say that relationships and communication have been taking a hit. So if you’ve been bickering lately, it’s not ALL your fault. But what can we do? From a Feng Shui perspective, the Love sector, far right, is about communication in any relationship. We explained this to a business manager once. We told him that if he just needed to fire someone, keep them in front of the desk with their back to the door. But if he needed to get a good employee to understand the way he wanted things done, take them away from the desk to the two chairs we moved to the Love sector. Since his desk was in the Wealth/Power sector, back left, AND facing the door, he was in a very powerful position. An equal relationship was difficult with him sitting there. So where ever you are when communication breaks down, suggest that the conversation be moved. Find a place where you will be in the far right sectors where both of you can see the door. And of course, that’s an ideal seating for a romantic dinner out.
2/16/03
LOVE’S IN THE BEDROOM
Sure it would be peachy keen if your bedroom were the far right corner of your home or apartment. But that isn’t always the case. If you have relationship issues you must also look in the bedroom. Whether it’s in Wisdom, Children or Wealth, it still is a part of considering love in your life. You may love being single! In which case the Love Sector and the bedroom should be a shrines to onesies. If you’re in a relationship and want to maintain it or not in one and want one, the bedroom should become a place to worship twosies. Neither the bedroom nor the love sector is the place for three candelabras or three fancy pillows on bed. So if your bedroom isn’t the far right corner, you have two places in your home to look at and manipulate love. What an opportunity!!!
2/8/03
OLD FASHIONED LOVE
In the old days, really old day, the caveman and woman went to the back of the cave to sleep because it was the furthest from the entrance. It was a matter of safety. The further in, the more time to respond to danger. And because the majority of the population was right handed, they headed for the back right of the cave. Thus today when we enter any space, the back right one ninth is considered the love sector. It’s the place to create relationship and the best place to communicate one on one. It’s a nice place for a bedroom, but don’t think it’s bad Feng Shui if the kitchen or something else is there. Putting things in pairs is great here. And when you go out to dinner on Valentine’s Day, head for the back right of the restaurant and see if it makes the evening just a little more romantic.
2/2/02
ST. BRIDGETT VS. THE GROUND HOG
According to the Celts we should light thousands of candles to let the world know that Spring is coming instead of watch some furry little creature for a sign of his shadow. St. Bridgett of Ireland is said to have started that brilliant, fiery tradition. Talk about good Feng Shui! Candles are fire and can increase your Fame. Becoming a Saint ain’t too shabby! Not only that, but candles are very Yang. This masculine energized Ch’i is a welcome change from the wet, cold Yin of winter, especially back in those drafty castle days. During these shortened wintry days, the ritual of lighting candles when you come home from work can help chase away the blues, increase romance, stimulate new ideas for bringing greater wealth, or simply brighten up a darkened corner. The only place where you do not want an overabundance of candles is in the Children/Creativity sector which is the middle right one-ninth of any space. Because the element here is metal and fire melts metal, it has the power to destroy. If you want a candle or two here, go for round white ones. Because fire creates earth, candles in the middle one-ninth are fabulous. They can be a wonderful stimulation to robust health. Go for yellows, oranges, reds, and earth tones here. Obviously the corner sectors of Wealth, Love, Helpful People, and Wisdom can benefit by lighting candles of appropriate colors, purple for Wealth, pink for Love, silver of gray for Helpful People (but not too many here) and blue for Wisdom. Remember to always light the candle with intent. Think what it is you would wish for, just like on your birthday, then light the light.
1/12/02
FEED THE CRITTERS
Movement and sound are powerful activators of ch’i. Our feathered friends will provide both for a song, or close to it. Let’s say you’re looking for more romance. Select or make a red or pink bird feeder, one with hearts, or better yet, a pair of feeders. For more power, place the birdie diners outside a window of whatever room is in the far right or Love sector of your whole home. We have one in our dining room window. When we eat, we can watch them eat. And the location is in an area where our home indents and leaves us lacking in Wealth. The movement of the birds to that window is very good Feng Shui. In locales where there is less activity outdoors because of the cold, you can encourage all kinds of critters by providing water as well as food. Don’t forget that you can divide your yard into nine equal sectors and create some miraculous changes out there as well as inside your home. So if you want more creativity, find the middle right one ninth of your whole yard and plunk a shepherd’s hook into the ground for that feeder or place a heated bird bath there. The birds will worship you. Wow! How creative to have a hot shower in the thick of winter. If you are not sure how to orient the nine-sector template on your yard, just imagine the Queen of England coming to call. Where would her people escort her onto your property? Usually this is the driveway since it is often parallel to the front walk, but sometimes the driveway and front walk are on different sides, especially if you have a corner lot. If this is the case, chances are the driveway leads into the garage and or the back door of your home. This is not the formal entrance. So before you activate in your yard, figure out it’s orientation. Then create an outdoor habitat of good ch’i.
1/5/02
WHAT’S IN A NUMBER
Don’t forget to write 2002 on your checks and letters. Just as our addresses carry numerological significance, so do the years. All this year we’ll be seeing two twos. The number of romantic love is two. That’s why in the bedroom and in the Love sectors (far right) it’s best to see things in pairs if you are wanting to find or maintain love. So now every time we see the year, we get a double whammy of love. The year 2000 was greatly significant for love because it was a pure two. This year we have to add the the two twos in order to get the true vibration of the year, which is a four. Most Chinese authors do not like the number four considering it to be bad luck. On the other hand, Western numerologists see more bad luck, or volatility, in odd numbers in general while the even numbers tend to signify more stability. The actual definition for Westerners of a four IS stability. Most tables and chairs have four legs. Think of the instability if you took one away. A three legged table is certainly a bit more tippy. In a four year it may also be important to address boundary issues. So the next time you look at the year, think of relationships becoming more stable and substantial. After all, a four is half of and eight which Easterners AND Westerners both agree is a power number. So how could a four be bad luck?
10/27/01
HALLOWEEN
The original purpose of getting into costume is similar to why people hire a Feng Shui consultant. Think of All Hallow’s Eve as a big wish day. And what you dress up as is symbolic of your wish. Let’s say you want more humor in your life. On Halloween you’d dress up as a clown. If you want more wealth, you might dress as a King or Queen. I’ve heard that military gear will be all the rage this Halloween. Now that’s a scary thought! Now transfer the concept to Feng Shui. If you want more peace of mind, start “dressing up” your home with more blue things, Buddhas, and crystals. If it’s love you want, start arranging things in pairs. We can all get the things we want. It’s simply a matter of imprinting that “want” on the subconscious brain. The subconsious is a powerful “go getter”. So before you make or rent that special costume this year, give some thought to what you want. And when the Halloween parties are done, look to your home. It’s a year round manifesting tool.
9/15/01
ROSH HASHANAH
There will be more solemnity than festivity when the New Year starts this week for those of the Jewish faith. The tragedies of Tuesday have left us all little to celebrate save the indomitable spirit of our nation. Prayer is what is needed now. Whether you have already established sacred space, an altar, or a meditation room, remember that the Wisdom sector is always the most powerful place in your home or office to reflect. This near left one-ninth of any space should be free of clutter with a minimum of furnishings. Anything blue, watery, and anything that is representative of spirituality to you is essential here. Obviously prayer can be done anywhere, but when you seek solace in your own space, the Wisdom sector is a nice haven. If you don’t have the luxury of a separate room, try to avoid putting your altar in the bedroom as it already has two functions, love and healing your body while you sleep. A quiet hall or window seat would work just fine. And your sacred space can be in the near left of a single room. It does not have to reside in that sector of the whole home. If that little nook in the Wisdom sector of your study is where you like to be, it does not matter if the study is in the Wealth sector of the whole home. Take your seat and pray for us all.
8/11/01
TRUCK DRIVER’S WEEK
Wow! This is a big one! Don’t forget to celebrate all those HELPFUL PEOPLE who bring you your food, clothes, and everything else you need! Did you know that your car/truck can be Feng Shui’d? Of course! You can use Feng Shui principles anywhere. If you look at your car, the “mouth of ch’i” is the driver’s door, so depending on the vehicles proportion many cars are entered a little left of center between Career and Wisdom. A truck’s entrance is definitely in Wisdom with all the cab that comes after the driver’s door. Tweaking WISDOM each time a truck driver gets in to drive is a wonderful thing. It spells fewer accidents. So if you’re looking to activate a part of your life while you’re on the road, orient the nine-sector grid on the driver’s door. That means, you sedan owners, that if you want to work on getting more help, creativity, or love, you’re going to have to clean out the trunk. Have fun!
5/12/01
MOTHER'S PLACE IN THE HOME!
In Feng Shui, every family member has a places in the home. Is it any surprise that Mom's place is the love sector? For you who are still learning the nine-gua divisions, that is the back right one-ninth of your home from the main entrance. Although this part of the home is often associated with romantic love, it supports love of any kind! So head to the back right of your home, even if it's in the bathroom, and feel the love!!