by llenore | Aug 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
As I mentioned last week in Part 1, in Feng Shui we look at the symbolic meaning of flowers, yet I had never heard a specific word to describe this science until the previous week while I was watching a television show. The word was “florology.” I also found another word used to describe the language of flowers, which is “floriography.”
Bachelor Button
Today I had an opportunity to visit Filoli in Woodside, California. You may know it as the Carrington Mansion from the television show of many years ago called Dynasty.
Filoli is one of my favorite places to go relax, enjoy nature, and find “secret gardens” where I can sit for awhile. And now, after last week when I took an iPhone photography class at Filoli, I can take really fantastic photos more easily.
Beautiful pink begonia entices a bee
Did I have fun today as I took lots of photos of flowers (and lots of nature, including several secret gardens) to post as part of this blog on Sacred Spaces Sunday! For as I have mentioned before, you can create a sacred space in almost any location where you spend time.
In addition to the gorgeous weather, the love-of-my-life, Hilory, was there with me. We had a lovely late brunch in the café while talking about the many things that have happened during the week.
To add even more enjoyment to the already perfect day, Filoli was having a special event – a Jazz concert. We could hear it in many locations as we walked through the gardens, yet we were also able to enjoy the sound of birds and quiet locations as we walked further away from the tennis courts where the concert was being held.
Nasturtiums growing on bamboo tepee.
Sunflower
Here are some of the flowers I found while enjoying sacred spaces throughout the Filoli Grounds.
Sweet Pea
Bachelor Button: Single blessedness, celibacy
Begonia: Beware, a fanciful nature
Nasturtium: Patriotism
Rose (Yellow): Friendship, jealousy, infidelity, apology, a broken heart, intense emotion, undying love, and extreme betrayal
Rose (Red & White together): United
Sunflower: Pure and lofty thoughts
Sweet Pea: You have my thanks
Zinnia: Thoughts about “Absent Friends”
In one of the secret gardens I was surrounded by hydrangea, a white lattice wall and under the shade of an oak tree that must have been several hundred years old. I’ll talk more about “tree” energy at a future time.
Yellow Rose “Marco Polo”
If you have a flower you want to know what its meaning is, please contact me. I’ll let you know what I know about it.
by llenore | Aug 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
Sacred Spaces Sunday – Florology
In Feng Shui we look at the symbolic meaning of many things including plants and flowers, yet I had never heard a specific word to describe this science until last week – in of all places – while I was watching a television show. The word was “florology.” In researching this information, I also found another word used to describe the language of flowers, which is “floriography.”
Gladiolus, coral rose, Peruvian lily (Alstrameria) and hydrangea greet guests at this anniversary celebration.
While attending an anniversary celebration with lots of floral decorations I started to think about the meaning of the flowers they had used and wondered if it could affect the energy of the gathering. Not knowing the meaning for several of the flowers, I really couldn’t say until I looked them up. I decided to be very observant to the dynamics of this diverse group of people.
Up close view of arrangement where you can see the lily more clearly.
Before I share further, let me say I know from experience the power of flowers first hand from having worked in a flower shop, garden nursery and my own garden. In the flower shop we were sometimes asked what flower represents “love” (red rose) or “remembrance” (Rosemary.) Then add a little knowledge of literature where William Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Frances Hodgson Burnett used the language of flowers in their writings and you have an interesting topic for conversation.
Magnolia leaves on the fireplace
Even J.K. Rowling used the language of flowers in the first Harry Potter novel, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.” According to Wikipedia:
“Professor Snape’s first question to Harry–phrased as a hostile interrogatory–is “Mr. Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel with an infusion of wormwood?” Asphodel… means ‘My Regrets Follow You To The Grave’ and Wormwood means both ‘absence’ and ‘bitterness.’ Together this becomes a poetic way of Professor Snape to express that “I bitterly regret your mother Lily’s death” in a way without directly revealing what he is saying.” ”
Coral roses and Alstromeria
Not only have I worked in flower shops, I’ve had my own personal positive outcomes by doing ceremonies involving flowers and trees. My first most profound experience was creating a sacred space with a peach tree when I desired to have a “soul mate” come into my life. Within 3 days of creating this sacred space, the love of my life and Soul Mate, Hilory, came into my life. That was about 23 years ago.
Having had many personal experiences including several dozen clients who have also attracted their Soul Mates using this same process, I know there is power in the vibration and energy of plants, especially flowers. Just think about the flowers you have received in your life and how they have made you feel.
Here are the flowers used in various locations of the home where the anniversary party was held. Some were used throughout the house while others were only used in one or two locations.
Tuberose and orchids
Gladiolus: Strength of character, honor, conviction
Hydrangea: Frigidness, heartlessness (negative), heartfelt gratitude for being understood
Lily (White): Purity
Magnolia: Love of nature
Orchid: Refined beauty
Peruvian Lily (Alstromeria): Clearing competition, see the other side of the story, releasing ego-based thoughts
Plumeria: Perfection, springtime, new beginnings
Rose (coral): Desire, passion
Rose (white): Silence or innocence, wistfulness, virtue, purity, secrecy, reverence and humility
Tuberose: Dangerous Pleasures, Mistress of the Night
It’s interesting what the meanings these flowers have. I would say some of the energetics are a little questionable. Others are “Right on!” for creating the desired Sacred Spaces energy for this special occasion – an anniversary of the heart.
by llenore | Aug 14, 2013 | Uncategorized
Feng Shui: Connecting Home and Garden with Heart and Soul
Pathways, Plants, Ponds and Porches are part of the tools we use in Feng Shui to connect the home and garden to enhance our lives by touching our Soul.
The hearth (heart) of the home has been celebrated by numerous cultures throughout the ages. It refers to the central fire as well as the “warm-fuzzy” feeling we associate with home as haven for body, mind and spirit. In this presentation you will:
- Discover tips for creating a welcome and nurturing home and garden
- Understand techniques to make your home feel wonderful, reduce stress, and allow your creativity to flourish
- Learn to create balance in and around your home with Yin/Yang & Element Theory
- Identify Areas of life represented in your home and garden
- Understand how small changes connect you with heart and soul to your home & garden
Come join me for this presentation in Los Gatos on Thursday, August 15 from 6:30 to 8 pm.
It will be held at:
Los Gatos Birdwatcher
792 Blossom Hill Road
Los Gatos, CA 95032
Call the store to register and pay for the class at:
(408) 358-9453
by llenore | Aug 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
Sacred Spaces Sunday – Everyday Dining Table as Heart of Home
Today’s “Sacred Spaces” is going to focus on the table where we eat; not the counter where we grab food and run, but the location where we join to “break bread” and focus our attention on the bountiful life we are blessed to live.
When I do my all-day presentation, “Balance, Order & Beauty: Feng Shui for the Woman’s Soul” – which I did again last week – I share a verse about Vesta: The Goddess of the Hearth. The “hearth” used to be the location where we cooked food; we gathered for warmth and communicated with others living in the same household.
Creating a special setting for a “Secret Anniversary of the Heart” table when there is a time you remember something wonderful happened in your life.
Now the “Great Room” serves several of those purposes. Yet the dining room or kitchen table may serve as a hub for communing when the television is off. In that case, let’s think about how we can make it more special – more “sacred” – even during the non-holiday occasions.
Setting the table with conscious awareness of the process could be one of the first areas to consider. Use a tablecloth or placemats to “decorate” the table. Find some pretty napkins instead of “everyday paper napkins” so often used for convenience. They still could be paper, but instead are a bright, beautiful color or have a pattern on them.
Next, place a small floral arrangement in a clear glass vase on the table. Or have a small object in the center of the table to add a focal point to the table. It could be a pair of unique salt-and-pepper shakers, trivet or decorative plate. Having candles is always a positive influence. Dim the lights while eating to create ambience and calm the energy to enhance digestion.
Having wooden tables is a plus in Feng Shui since the wood element represents family. In this way you are supporting family on an “elemental energy level” – reinforcing family energy instead of under-cutting it through the use of the element a metal table would create.
Setting the stage for outdoor dining is just as important as indoor dining for creating sacred spaces.
The shape of the table can also play a role. Square and rectangular tables with sharp corners can create “sharp” words. Having gently rounded corners is preferred. If you don’t have rounded corners on your table, using a tablecloth can soften those sharp corners. An oval or round table can bring family members together for enhanced communications.
Even the shapes on the table can influence the overall energy of this “heart of the home” when we desire to create balance for our “sacred spaces” energy. I’ll share more tips on this in upcoming posts. For now, consider what you want to create within your home and set your intention for love, beauty and gratefulness as you gather at the “hearth” of you sacred home – the everyday dining table.
by llenore | Aug 9, 2013 | Uncategorized
Closets, Clutter and Communication
Most people know clutter is not good, especially if they know anything about Feng Shui. Clutter drains our personal energy and is a form of stuck energy. It often makes us feel as though we aren’t good people. Some people think that if it’s “out of sight” – hidden behind doors or inside closets – they don’t need to worry about it. The reality is just the opposite.
Closets represent the inner parts and hidden parts of us. When they are in disarray, our lives usually aren’t going as smoothly as we would like. Where the closet is located within the home expresses the area of life most likely to be affected.
Creating orderly shelves in a bedroom closet can improve both communication and romance in a relationship.
For instance, an entry closet will reflect the energy of our career and how it is going. A living room closet represents our social life. Our bedroom closet expresses our relationship with ourselves as well as other intimate relationships. The closets closest to the front of the house represent how we express ourselves out in the world while the closets toward the back are more representative of our inner, more private selves.
When we clean a closet, we are clearing away old beliefs, habits, attitudes and behavior patterns that can cause blockages and confusion in our life on all levels – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
All doors relate to communication. Having things hanging on a closet door is like having old beliefs “hanging over you” – preventing you from speaking your truth or being able to communicate openly with people, especially other family members living in the household.
The various areas and levels within a closet are symbolic of the levels of the Three Treasures in our life. The Three Treasures are: Earth Luck or Energy (the floor), Human Luck or Energy (the walls) and heaven’s Luck or Energy (the top shelf and ceiling).
Clearing the floor can help us feel more “grounded” and stable in our lives. Removing hanging clothes makes room for more good people to come into your life instead of people “crowding” into your space – people who are very demanding of your time and energy. Organizing the shelf and higher areas of the closet allow for more creative juices to flow and inspiration to guide you on your Life’s Journey.
Amazing this little “rooms” can have such major impacts on our lives. And just to add a little extra incentive to give attention to them, the love/hate relationship we can have with them affects our health and love life. Try giving some TLC (Tender Loving Care) to one or more closets by creating order and beauty to improve your health and instill some LOVE into the inner sanctum of you home. It just might be better than what the doctor orders or the matchmaker suggests to improve romance in your life!
by llenore | Aug 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
Earlier this week the subject of healthy houseplants being a reflection of how we care for ourselves came up in conversation at least three times. As the week unfolded, I realized the correlation was far more expansive than I thought at first glance. Then, today, it really struck me as I was sitting in a “sacred space” pulling weeds.
This is the Healthy Houseplant that started the discussion about the relationships with houseplants and caring for myself. There have been times in my life where I couldn’t keep a houseplant alive. This ficus started out as a 3-gallon, 30″ high plant. Now it is a least 10 years old, survived the remodeling during that timeframe and is about 9′ tall. Also it’s sprouting new leaves as I write – it’s that healthy!
You’re probably asking, “How can pulling weeds have any considerations with “sacred spaces” in our lives? Let me share some of the symbolic meanings I’ve learned through my trainings, plus the insights I had this week.
In Feng Shui, plants represent health and vitality. They represent growth of business and prosperity. The buds and blossoms represent – respectively – the birthing and fulfillment of dreams. Nectar is the sweet, juiciness of life.
When plants don’t get enough water they shrivel up and die. When they get root-bound in pots, it stunts their growth. The roots of some plants are shallow while others, like trees, have a main taproot that anchors them – holding them firmly in place in spite of turbulent winds. All plants need some sun in their life – some more than others.
When we, as humans, don’t get enough water we shrivel up and can die from lack of it. Sometimes we get stuck in life, either in jobs where we can’t grow or in relationships that don’t allow us to be all we are meant to be. When life circumstances undermine our existence, some of us are more grounded or rooted in beliefs that support our ability to bounce back from the turbulent winds of life. And we all can use more love and happiness – the sunshine of life!
A section of uncleared weeds by a mowing strip of pavers.
Now let’s go back to those weeds I was pulling. I’m serious about having a “green” environment inside my house as well as outside, so I don’t use toxic weed killers. I use “straight from the bottle” vinegar to spray most of the weeds. There are a few places and types of weeds that are better pulled than sprayed. In between pavers, bricks and stones is one of those places since the resultant “dead” weeds drop their seeds and perpetuate the cycle of more weeds.
I’ve learned by adding a little water a day before to loosen the weeds is good. The weeds seem to relax more, thus are more easily released, as the roots are not “holding on for dear life!” Some roots are more invasive, needing more coaxing or actually needing to be dug out.
Weeds are symbolic of our negative thoughts. They perpetuate themselves just like the negative cycle into which we sometimes get. They are very invasive, just as our thoughts can invade our minds where we can’t think of anything good.
Weeds can take over land preventing good crops from growing, hinder flowers from blooming and even choke stems and root systems of plants, thus killing them.
If our negative thoughts aren’t caught early and kept in check, they multiply. They’re keeping good thoughts from being planted; hindering our dreams from blooming and sometimes wrecking our lives through destruction of our relationships, hopes and dreams. They are undermining the “Sacred Spaces of the Self” – the Mind and its ability to manifest our good.
As I was sitting on the ground uprooting these weeds, I realized this space could become a sacred space – a space where I could use this physical task as a palate to paint the new map of my mind. I was symbolically releasing the thoughts and belief systems no longer serving me – no longer able to hold me back!
Cleared area of weeds created a Sacred Space for new opportunities, thoughts and dreams to manifest.
I’m reading Don Miguel Ruiz’s best-selling book, “The Four Agreements: A Toltec Wisdom Book” – again. In it he discusses how we become “domesticated” or controlled by beliefs, usually other peoples’ beliefs told to us when we were very young – before we could think for ourselves.
The book, “The Four Agreements: A Toltec Wisdom Book” by Don Miguel Ruiz
According to him, in the Toltec culture wisdom there are four things we can do to create and support our personal freedom. They are:
1. Be impeccable with your word.
2. Don’t take anything personally.
3. Don‘t make assumptions.
4. Always do your best.
Ruiz discusses “going into the desert” to find our demons and leaving with our angels. This is where we discover the beliefs we have, how we came to “own” them and how they have limited us. Now we can change those beliefs, which no longer serve us. We leave with knowledge to guide us – our angels. Thus, the desert can be a sacred space where we find the root of the beliefs holding us back from freedom and personal power.
Using these metaphors – 1) the desert as a place where we find our demons, 2) the desert becomes a sacred space where we leave with our angels, and 3) weeds are like the negative beliefs rooted in your mind – all of a sudden, as I was pulling weeds, I realized I was in a sacred space.
I metaphorically was releasing negative thoughts that were choking the fertile ground of new beliefs. In some cases they were easily removed. Sometimes they had sent “feeders” out, symbolic of a belief attaching itself to other areas of my life, not just the one area where it originated. Sometimes they were wrapped around a beautiful plant strangling the life out of it – strangling the life out of a dream or relationship. A few times I had to dig deep down to find the taproot to release it and its grip in the dirt – totally undermining its ability to sprout up again – just as in life where I need to find the root cause to keep it from resurfacing.
Another awareness I came to embrace is – not all weeds are bad. On a hillside their root systems hold the dirt in place – so the land doesn’t slide down the hill in a storm – until a stronger seed takes root and grows. As I learn more about me as well as my gifts, I can allow the releasing of some of the old beliefs to make room for the new.
Until I have time to pull these weeds, they are providing watershed protection and seeds for the birds. Stay tuned for how this is transformed in the coming weeks or months.
This act of weed clearing and pulling has taken on a whole new energy for me. It’s become a meditative time, a time for reflection, a time for going inward, a time for insights and introspection – creating a Sacred Space for renewing body, mind and spirit.
I’m also more aware how I’ve grown in awareness of my physical connection to plants. When they are drooping, I’m probably drooping due to too many obligations. When they are strong and vibrant, my health is vibrant. I’m taking time for me as well as my plants. When they’re blooming, I’m blossoming with ideas and potential for attracting more good into my life.
What are the weeds in your “yard” – your mind – you can release to make room for creating sacred spaces filled with health, hopes and harmony? Where in your yard, or in your home, can you release “weeds” (or clutter) to make room for improved health, nurture your hopes and create harmonious relationships?
Now, with my own new perspective on the interconnection of plants, those unwanted “weeds” are going to be higher on my awareness list and released from their grip on the earth and in my mind. My positive, uplifting thoughts are the seeds of my Sacred Self I want to plant. Having more clear space – more fertile land on which to plant, both physically in my yard as well as my mind – allows for my Soul to have its Sacred Spaces of the Self where ideas take root and create my dreams.
