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.
by llenore | Aug 2, 2013 | Uncategorized
A couple of basic Feng Shui principles are to stimulate energy and to direct its flow – both of which can be done through the use of specific colors. Two of the most powerful colors to accomplish this are reds and yellows.
A bowl of vine-ripened tomatoes in a white container stimulates the energy of the kitchen to enhance the vitality of the home and occupants’ bodies.
Have you ever noticed how many homes have red doors? It’s not just Asian families who paint their front doors red. This is a universally recognized occurrence. Just think of the number of Colonial homes, especially along the Eastern section of the United States, painted white with black shutters and red doors! It’s a stunning combination and definitely attracts attention, to not only the house, but the door as well.
Yellow is a color associated with joy. We think of the sunshine when we see it. It makes us smile. Did you know that homes painted yellow sell faster than other colors? The buyers are already feeling joy when they see the color outside. Their whole mood can be changed to that of happiness and more contentedness as they walk up to the home when they see the yellow.
Place lemons in interesting containers for stunning centerpieces. If you have a table cloth with lemons as part of the motif, that’s an added plus for supporting and enhancing the health of the family members whether they sit around the table to eat or are “just passing through” as they leave out the door. When you have high-contrasting colors, especially the “complimentary color” (the color opposite it on the Color Wheel), you’ll bring in additional vibrancy and vitality to the space.
Both these colors attract attention. That’s why the fire engines and many other emergency vehicles are painted red.
Think of another area of your life where red and yellow show up. A clue – think fast foods! Yes, it’s no coincidence that McDonald’s and In-And-Out-Burger have branded logos with those colors. They want to attract YOUR energy (money) to THEIR business.
There’s also symbolism and vibrational energy associated with every color according to Feng Shui and Eastern Medicine. Red is the energy of the heart – the lifeblood of our bodies. Yellow is the color related to health. Placing either or both of these colors in the kitchen, eating area and dining rooms supports the health and vitality of the occupants of the dwelling.
Cranberry-sized cherry tomatoes offer the energy of “abundance” as well as stimulating energy through the contrasting and complimentary colors of red and green.
There’s also high-energy connected with those colors and their complimentary colors – the colors opposite them on the color wheel. For red it is the color green. For yellow it is purple. You will often find these “complementary” colors used during holiday seasons since they “stimulate” the energy due to the contrast.
A healthy tomato plant filled with fruit at various stages of ripeness provides a visual feast to stimulate health and vitality.
I’ve included a few photos of ways to present these principles in your home through cost-effective and easy design concepts. If you have a garden or shop at Farmer’s Markets, you’ll love these inexpensive ways to not only display and contain your produce, but also actually embellish your home.
Here’s to stimulating your vitality and enhancing your health through thoughtful use of colors according to Feng Shui principles!
by llenore | Jul 28, 2013 | Uncategorized
How Nature Created Sacred Spaces in My Life Today
Inspired by a picture of a beautiful cloud formation in the form of an angel, I looked around my home today for various ways nature has created sacred spaces in my life. I realized many of the spaces were “sacred” due to the rituals of celebration and memories I have associated with the objects.
I have created “Sacred Spaces” each time I give thanks for the item or area through the blessings of gratitude I feel when I see them. The joy of fruits and flowers along with memories brought to mind by each of these has made this day a sacred space both inside and out.
I treated myself to this beautiful Double Salmon Begonia after I had given my first all-day “Balance, Order & Beauty: Feng Shui for the Woman’s Soul” event last year.
My husband gave me this lovely Double Yellow Begonia on one of our “Date Days” in Capitola. It was a joy-filled day, the sun was shining and we sat for hours talking at one of our favorite restaurants where we continue to visualize and create the dream life we live together.
Has someone given you a plant? Did you purchase something in celebration of a special occasion? Does an object or unique food remind you of “good” experiences in your life? Each of these situations could be a stimulus for creating a sacred space.
A tray of peaches from our small, but prolific tree ready for the freezer to be made into delicious shakes and protein drinks after the season is gone. The peach tree was planted as a Feng Shui symbol for a long and loving relationship – something I am so very grateful to enjoy in my life.
Here are several examples I found in just 5-10 minutes:
To make the area a “sacred” area, simply give the item and area some TLC (Tender Loving Care or Total Light Ceremony). Here is one way I often use:
1. Look at the item.
2. Hold it in your hands or touch it.
3. Visualize the time when it became yours – was given to you or you bought it.
4. Remember what you felt at that time – joy, surprise, gratitude, appreciated, etc.
5. Verbally say a prayer or blessing expressing the FEELING you experienced at that time – joy, surprise, gratitude, etc.
6. With an “attitude of gratitude,” consciously be “in the moment” with the item or location as you expand the energy of these feelings to include all that surrounds you.
7. With “soft eyes” gaze around you to see the space in a softer, more gentle manner.
Take a few moments to go around your home and acknowledge the “special” items and areas within it. And while you you’re at it, take note of any item that brings sadness or any other “downer” energy. These may be items to consider removing from your home or areas where your “focused attention with a clear POSITIVE INTENTION” could be placed to increase the vitality and sanctity of your home to improve your life.
by llenore | Jul 26, 2013 | Uncategorized
Five-Minute Feng Shui Friday – Bird Feeders as Feng Shui Energy Attracters
Bird feeders are amazing energy attracters according to Feng Shui, especially hummingbird feeders. They are perfect for the front door and front entrance of your home or office.
A Hummingbird feeder outside my front door and in the middle of my office bay window attracts energy all day long enhancing the vitality of my home, my business and my life.
I do focus on the front door a lot. The reason for this attention is due to the fact the front door to the home and business is the main mouth of chí, or energy. We want to do as much as possible to make this an incredibly high-energy area to enhance the vital chí of the building and our lives.
There is much symbology with birds and the qualities we want in and around our entrances – again, especially the front door. One of the main qualities is the very nature of birds – they take flight, soaring to new heights, sometimes taking nose-dives, singing in the rain, building nests and nurturing their young. All of these represent the essence of life and our homes.
A couple different types of bird feeders attract the birds specific to the feeders. The squirrel guard protects the feeders from being raided by the squirrels. Tucked in amongst the rose garden, it is almost impossible for the local cats to attack the birds without being seen. Stimulating scenes of nature abound in this location with high vitality.
Hummingbirds have even more specifics we want around us. They can hover to make sure it is safe – really taking in what is going on around them and deciding if it is time for the “fight or flight” syndrome to kick in. They have bright iridescent colors including red that sparkles and shines, catching our attention.
Red is the color to attract attention and most hummingbird feeders are red since the hummingbirds themselves are attracted to the red color. Their movement is extremely fast reminding us of exuberant vitality.
Regular bird feeders will attract many types of birds creating a sense of community as well as an abundance of energy. Most birds are not as territorial as hummingbirds, which allows for this sense of community building.
Birdbaths allow a place for the birds to cool off and take a bath. Watching the process makes me smile and I imagine it does the same for you. The bath will also attract dragonflies and small insects needing water to survive.
A birdbath allows the birds to refresh themselves and are delightful to watch – a sure way to bring in “Good Feng Shui” energy to your yard.
We do want to have a variety of items by our front door attracting “good” energy to us plus we want to attract any energy lingering in our back yard to come our way. I have birdfeeders by a couple of my doors.
Actually, I have hummingbird birdfeeders by two of my doors – one being the front door – and I have wind chimes by at least two of the doors. I also have hanging plants, which attract hummingbirds, by two doors. I have more items by the front door to encourage more of the energy to come to and into the “main mouth of chí” to vitalize the home, which in turn, invigorates me.
I have several birdbaths plus the pond I often describe in my front yard that stimulates the energy of the home. Since I can see the pond, hummingbird feeders and wind chimes from my office window, it also supports and reminds me of the power of these items and the intention I used when placing them in these locations. This is powerful stuff – a way to interact and love my home through focused intention, attention and gratitude for this beautiful shelter I am blessed to call my home.
What can you do in a short period of time or with little effort to instill the power of gratitude and sense of reverence in the building you are lucky to call your home and/or place of work? Please share any examples for all of us to contemplate.
