2/9/02
HAPPY NEW YEAR FEB. 12TH
While we Westerners are celebrating 2002, on Tuesday the Chinese will be celebrating the year 4699! And it’s out with the snakes and in with the horses. In this Year of the Black Horse, black symbolizes the Water element. There are 12 animals and five elements to deal with thus creating a 60-year cycle. This is similar to Western astrology’s 60-year cycle of the planet Jupiter, the planet of abundance. Anyone who has done any research on money cycles, easily can see that money trends run in 60-year intervals. I don’t know about you, but I love to see different systems agree with each other, especially when East and West come to the same conclusion. So what kind of a year is a Black Horse Year? If we were supposed to shed old skins and go through major transformations last year, what’s in store for us now? Like horses, we should see a great deal of adventure and passion for life. Horse is generally good for the economy. As horses run a lot and tend to be quite vital, this should be a good year for health and fitness, too. As some of you know, Gayle was in a life changing car accident in June. This year she will be rebuilding her body, and believe it or not, her physical therapist has offered to let her be one of the first to try out their new therapy. It’s called Hippotherapy and is done on horseback. Now that’s amazing! What will be your adventure?
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.
1/26/02
DESTRUCTIVE CYCLE BASICS
Get out the wrecking ball guys and girls! It’s time for the destructive cycle. Is this the bike that Evil Knievel rides? No, class! First it’s about NOT doing any harm first. Then we’ll talk about actively destroying as a good thing. Certainly you are tired of hearing this, however, clutter is most destructive to good Feng Shui. Clean up! Next, you want to look into each sector of you home or office for colors, shapes, and elements which are harmful where they are. For instance, the middle one-ninth is about Health. It’s color is yellow, it’s shape is square, and it’s element is earth. Think yellow terra cotta tiles, or square clay pots with yellow flowering plants. What is supportive of your health in this sector is anything red, pointy, or fiery. Try those red candles you forgot to burn during the holidays, or some gold stars. What’s destructive here and has the potential to harm your health are tall columnar things, green things, and wooden things. So that big armoire that you painted antique green is a big no no in the middle of the whole house. Put it in the Family sector, left middle, or even in the Fame sector, far middle, where it can do some good. Refer to your Ch’i Sheet for the rest of the this information. If you don’t have a Ch’i Sheet, you can donwload it from our website. Okay, now we can start thinking about destroying things. Let’s say you have a bathroom in the Fame sector of your whole home. That “water closet” in the far middle has the potential to destroy or diminish your fame and reputation. So if you really want to get on the Leno show this year, think about how the water puts out your fire. The thing to do is to “destroy” the water that is there by introducing the color, shape and/or element that will destroy water. That element is Earth. If you have a boggy section on your land and want to get rid of it, you’re going to call for someone with a bulldozer and a couple truck loads of dirt. So if you bring in yellow tiles, yellow or earth tone towels and square things to that bathroom in Fame, you’re going to tone down the water. So that’s how it works. Remember that water puts out fire, fire melts metal, metal chops wood, wood uproots earth, and earth soaks up water. Class dismissed.
1/19/02
YOUR DESK
Whether you are composing music at your writing desk in the den looking out at the river in the back yard or planning business strategies on the twenty-seventh floor overlooking Central Park, your desk is your creative station. First and foremost, it should be in a position of power. This means that it should be kitty corner from the door facing out so that you can have a full view of anyone entering. If you must sit looking at a wall or out a window with your back to the door, PLEASE position a mirror so that you can see movement. If you have your desk directly across from the door, you are in a power position but the door may be constantly beckoning, “Wanna leave?” Now you need something supportive behind you like a wall, a tall cabinet, or large pieces of art. Get specific. If you’re an architect, maybe a couple handsomely framed Frank Lloyd Wright buildings would be appropriate. If you’re a clothing designer, perhaps an intricate tapestry. If you’re a landscape designer, perhaps a couple orange trees. Be specific so that as you head to your desk to work, you affirm what you do. While you’re working, you won’t see these things, but you’ll feel their presence. When you look up from your work, there should be something in front of you that reminds you of why you work. If you dream of retiring to a lake, perhaps a photo of a rowboat on a shore or a pair of real oars mounted on the wall would do. If you dream of your composition being played at Tanglewood, you should look up and see something about Tanglewood. Be specific. The part of the brain that will go and get you what you want craves detail. Now look at the rest of the room. If it’s cluttered and messy, your work is likely to reflect that. Remember, what you see is what you’re gonna get! Is the color conducive to your work or does it leave you cold? If you want to be bolder in your work, don’t sit in a baby blue office. Try to look at the whole picture as a stranger might, and notice what it says about your work. You may be surprised!
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.
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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?
12/29/01
OUT WITH THE OLD
Now you know I1m going to talk about getting rid of clutter. Nothing new will come in if you're all full up! So if you want to ring in a little new, ditch a little old!! I remember a woman who said she wanted to bring someone into her life, but when we went around her home, there was no room for anyone. The place was filled to the brim with wonderful things from her past travels. Even the bedroom was jam packed. I couldn't imagine where a person would even set down a glass of water next to the bed. The place just didn't invite anything new! Remember R.D. Chin's philosophy: The clutter of our lives is intrinsically connected to the clutter of our soul. Years ago I was plagued with requests for paintings that I did not want to do. But when I brought down my French easel and canvases from the attic and sold them, the requests ended. So it was me threading to my past as a painter that caused people to ask for works of art. That was probably the strongest example I've seen in my life of this philosophy at work. Think about it as you approach 2002!
12/22/01
RING IN THE NEW!
Sound is a powerful and diverse activator of good Ch'i. Whether the stereo is playing, the parakeet is singing, church bells are ringing, or a picture of a piano just sits on a wall reminding you of the potential sound, all will function as activators. An activator is a stimulation not only of general good Ch'i, or energy, but of specific intent in certain areas of your life. For instance, if you're looking for more creativity, look to the middle right one ninth of any building, yard or room. Metal chimes and bells, round bells and drums, and that old piano that you painted white are perfect. Think of the feeling you get with different sounds. Thunder is powerful. A flute can be uplifting. A waterfall can be soothing. The sounds of wind chimes are playful. A dog barking can be a warning. The wind blowing in the trees is magical. Find a sound that matches your need and place it with intent. The bell that rings in the New Year is nothing accidental. It is made more powerful with your wish for the New Year. So, ring them bells!
12/15/01
YOU ANIMAL, YOU!
The place for Fido is the far middle or Fame/Reputation sector of any yard, home, or room. Think about the metaphors...a pride of lions...proud as a peacock...survival of the fittest. So that's why we feed our dog in the dining room, not because it's where we humans eat but because it just happens to be located in the far middle one ninth of our whole house. We've put her food dish is in the far middle of that room so her presence is a double whammy for our Fame and Reputation. She activates this part of our lives simply by her nourishing activities there. Her fancy, cone shaped dish (the point being the proper shape here) sits on a wooden (Wood feeds Fire) pedestal. Her water dish is in the front middle sector of that room in Career. Originally we placed her water dish next to her food dish but quickly caught our mistake. Water puts out Fire, and Ginger doesn't seem to mind crossing the room to wet her whistle. Out in the yard, Ginger is on a run activating Wealth which is somewhat missing where our home indents. Where there are missing sectors, it is important to make up for the loss in other places. Call us crazy, but we have her in a purple harness.
12/8/01
EVERY WHICH WAY
The front entry to your home is where you invite in Ch'i. The metaphor as well as the physicality of your entrance sets the tone for your home as well as your life. I know that there are entry issues when I hear statements like, 3I just don't know what direction to turn in!" or 3I1m so confused." Recently I consulted at a lovely two-story house. When I was invited in through the garage, I knew they were either telling me that they liked me already without knowing me that I was invited in through the "friendly" entrance, or that there were issues with the front door. After a brief introduction of Feng Shui and how I work, I said, "Let's start at the front door." I noticed a slight tension. And there it was. Total confusion! As I turned from the front door to survey the layout, this is what I saw. To the left was an entrance to a formal dining room, then the stairs to the bedrooms, then straight ahead a long hall to the kitchen, and to the right was a entrance to a small formal living room. Neither the living room or the dining room had doors. My clients laughed with me as they saw what I saw. They were relieved when we talked about directing the flow of Ch'i with their own intent. Once they decided that they wanted to invite it directly into the kitchen, we talked about placing plants on pedestals to push Ch'i away from the dining room and the stairs. In order to get energy to flow down the hall, they needed better lighting. Then we talked about putting French doors on the living room to keep the energy from taking a detour. The living room had three entrances and no one wanted to be in it very long. With Ch'i rushing in and out, who would want to sit there? And the only place for the couch left you sitting with a full view of the front door. "Hey, I'm outa here!" Not a pleasant statement in a room where you are supposed to sit and chat and relax. Their son in college had given them the consult as an anniversary present and called a week later to tell me how excited they were about the changes they were making. Everything I had said made perfect sense to them and they were happy to be making conscious choices. I1m sure this conscious choosing soon became an easier thing in their lives.
12/1/01
SANTA'S LIST DAY
According to Blue Mountain cards, December 4th is the day to figure out what you want for Xmas. So as not to offend non-subscribers, let's just look at the idea of making a wish list. Whether you're wishing for one thing or seven things, there are several ways to help make your wishes come true. Now I don't believe that we get everything that we wish for. Often what we get is "more perfect" at a soul level. But that's too much to discuss here. Let's just look at empowering your desires. Whether you want someone close to you to get well, to finally get that raise, or your child to be accepted in a certain school, Feng Shui can help. First of all, make the wish real. Put it in writing. You can enhance this first step using color. Go to your Ch'i Sheet and look at the center sector. If your wish has to do with Health, you might use Red ink on Yellow paper. Red is the color of Fire which creates Earth which is Yellow. Now the wish needs a container. Because we put the wish out into the world, we are in essence asking for help. Aha! Helpful People sector. The color is gray, but wouldn't silver be better? So a silver wish box for your wish is your next step. As Karen Rauch Carter points out in Move Your Stuff, Change Your Life, if you can't find silver, wrap any old box in tin foil. The visual affirmation is still there. Now place the box WITH INTENT in the Helpful People sector of you home, office, one special room, or bury it out in the yard. Every time you pass the box, whether visible or not, your brain says, "Oh yeah. That's my wish. Oh, please! Please!" Or for you ", "Oh, thank you! Thank you for what I am about to receive!"
11/24/01
CREATIVE CYCLE BASICS
From time to time all of us need to be reminded of basic Feng Shui principles of living in harmony with nature. That means that we need to remember the Creative & Destructive cycles. Feng Shui as well as Chinese Medicine works with the five elements. They are Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. The Creative Cycle is simply this: Fire burns and leaves or creates ash which is Earth. Earth under pressure creates Metal. That means that rocks are Metal elements. Then the Metal creates Water which condenses on its surface. And Water nourishes the trees, or Wood Element. Finally, the Wood feeds the Fire and thus a circle is created. The destructive cycle is not simply this in reverse. Now that you have a circle, the destructive cycle forms a star inside the circle if you draw a line from one to the next. Here's how it goes. Fire melts Metal. Metal chops Wood. Woods uproots the Earth. Earth soaks up Water. Water puts out Fire. It makes sense, right? Putting two elements together that are destructive diminishes the power of one of them. The classic example is putting the refrigerator or the sink next to the stove. The close proximity of a Water features diminishes the power of the Fire box. In this case a simple fix would be to place a wood chopping block between the two. The Water would feed the Wood which would feed the Fire. Often you will see water fountains with candles in them. This is not a good thing since the water puts out the Fire; but if ALL of the elements are present in the feature, this is good. So if the fountain is made of clay with a bamboo spout for the water which splashes onto rocks, all is in harmony. Now take a look around your environment and see where there is a disharmony and where there is harmony. Chances are you feel instinctively edgy or comfortable.
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11/17/01
REMINDERS OF HARD TIMES
What if every time you come into your office, you are greeted by Uncle Henry's handsome credenza? Well, it depends on what Uncle Henry brings up to you on an emotional level. If he leapt from the ledge during the Great Depression, the credenza's not a good idea no matter how gorgeous or valuable it is. If, however, Uncle Henry hung in there and eventually met with wild success, the credenza is fabulous. Just make it yours in some way. Once again, let me remind you that a large part of Feng Shui is metaphor. What you see is what you're going to get. Some think it's a bad idea to buy an antique desk for your new office unless you know it's history. The desk will carry the energy of success as easily as it will carry the failures of it's previous owner. I do believe, however, that things can't be cleansed. What I like best is purging items with the smoke from burning sage. Saying a prayer or affirmation of intent along with the sage is ideal. The same goes for those jeans with the tattered knees. They might be fine for a Saturday cleaning the house or washing the car, but if you meet someone new in them, no matter how cool you think they are, they give the impression of hard times, perhaps college days when you couldn't afford a new pair. The briefcase you were carrying when the bus hit you may want to be replaced or cleansed. Photos can be reminders of hard times and should be carefully considered and reconsidered. That picture of your daughter with your ex-husband who never paid child support is a constant reminder of hard times. If it's a great shot of your daughter, crop out the ex. Get the picture?
11/10/01
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS WEEK
During this special week of pursuing happiness, let's look first to what can depress us. Clutter and dirt come to mind immediately. When our environment is dirty, messy, and heaped with STUFF, it's hard to feel anything but overwhelmed. Next would be lighting. Dark is nice for sleep and soft lighting is good for romance; but if your home or office isn't brightly lit, you're going to feel depressed. Obviously you don't want to be under glaring light in every room, but natural light from windows and artificial light from well placed fixtures is important. Make sure that all your lighting doesn't shine down. A few up lamps will do the trick. Some of us need to spend extra on full spectrum lighting. Seven days of rain can be downright depressing. Overhead beams and sloping ceilings can be charming, but some folks feel oppressed underneath them. Windchimes, faceted crystals, and flutes will disperse the downward pushing energy. A room with more doors than windows tends to oppress as well. Murals, pictures of far off scenes, and mirrors with window panes can help there. A space where all the colors are muted or even all white will not be a happy environment either. Think bright! Think electric blue, pumpkin orange, and fire engine red here and there. Even the names of some colors can be happy! Got the idea? Now go get happy!
11/3/01
SLEEP COMFORT WEEK
Believe it or not, this is an important week for looking at your bedroom, unless of course you sleep in the living room. No matter where you sleep, Feng Shui can play an important role in improving the quality of your zzzs. On 9/29 I wrote a bit about sleep directions. That concept can be taken a little further. Most of the Lillian Too books will help you find your personal best directions. This is a brief formula involving your birthdate. The end result is that there is a best direction to face for success, health, romance, and personal growth. Your sleep direction should probably be your best health direction. Our rule of thumb, however, is to try first to be in a position of power where you can see the door and yet not be in a direct path from the door. For instance, if the path of Ch'i from the bedroom door goes over your head, you are inviting headaches. Once those criteria are met, if you can also be in an auspicious compass facing, you've got great Feng Shui for sleeping. Now look around and make sure there are no protrusions pointing at you while you sleep. That could come from an overhead beam or jutting out wall. If this is the case, a faceted crystal or even a ribbon hanging in front of it will soften the "poison arrow" effect. Avoid plants in the bedroom as they reverse their chemical emissions after the sun goes down. At night they take oxygen rather than giving it. The bedroom is a perfect place for cut flowers. Remember that dead is dead. Think twice, therefore, about dry flowers where you sleep. Since where we sleep is where you heal, you may want to have a yellow square napkin or swatch of cloth between the mattress in the middle of the bed. Yellow is the color for the center one-ninth of anything, and the shape is square. The element of the Health sector is earth. Okay! Night night!
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