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| River's Song Catheirne Al-Meten Meyers |
Imagine all the energy that goes into the process of moving? Energy shifts in all different directions and on all levels of your being. Moving is physically tiring, emotionally exhausting, and can challenge even the most sound minds. The process of moving from one home to another is all about changing the energy of just about every part of your being. It had been over 6 years since my last move, and that move was relatively easy. I drove from San Francisco to Oregon with my little Ford Focus packed with my bags and some household items. I pulled some furniture out of storage once I arrived here, and slowly set up house in my new apartment by the river. About a month later, my household goods were delivered, carried in, leaving me with the task of unpacking and arranging my new home. I went to work right away, and have no recollection of it being a stressful time at all. In fact, it was such a nice relief to be back in Oregon, the move was secondary.
Not quite a month ago, circumstances resulted in my making a decision that I had been contemplating for quite some time. An offer of a new home came up, and I made the choice to give notice and move. Since that time, I have been in the process of going through my things, sorting, discarding, and packing up for the move. It's been over 10 or 11 years since I've done any kind of major move. What used to be fairly easy to do is now more difficult. And the reason is primarily emotional. Before I had even begun packing, my back started hurting. The lower back represents our sense of home and security, our base. When I moved here years ago, my desire was to have a home base from which to do my work. This home has been just that. So when I noticed the lower back pain, I recognized that I was feeling out of alignment and uncertain about my own security. Also, pain is a signal for us. When we feel pain, it shows us where we have overextended or pushed our limits. What is a big job, moving, became an even bigger challenge. How was I going to get up and over the mountain?
Feng Shui is about the art of paying attention to how energy/Chi works in and through our lives. When we are running into resistance, conflict, or difficulties, the cause can usually be traced back to some form of energy blocked or running wild in our lives. That energy may be within our environment; it may also be within our relationships to ourselves and to others. When we live in and around toxic situations or within a negative environment, we slowly adapt over time to adjust to that which we find threatening. If the challenge is for example, the weather, we may adjust our habits. If it's very cold, we learn how to dress more warmly. If our home is cold, we learn how to weather proof it. We all have to adjust to our environment in some way, and for many of us, we simply unconsciously tune out that which we find disturbing. For those of us who use Feng Shui to arrange our environment, we move things around and clear pathways and learn to use placement of objects and furniture to allow the flow of Chi/energy.
Assessing Energy Blocks: How do we arrange our lives to adjust to changes or conflicts in our environment? One of the first things we need to do is to become mindful of what is out of alignment, and what in our lives might be causing that misalignment. We can either pay attention to what is going on inside of us (our emotions, moods, thoughts, intuition, instincts, dreams) or we can observe what is going on in our environment. If our inner voices are not providing us with any clear information, it's time to look around us. Some of us who are highly intuitive or empathic, rely a great deal on those inner signals for information. When the signals aren't giving us information, that is a signal in itself. The message may be to look at the world we are living in. That world includes your immediate environment, your lifestyle, the neighborhood or community, and the wider world situations. During this past year that wider world has included some pretty disturbing events. Since we are so connected via technology, we are aware of so much more than our ancestors were. We are called upon to respond to many different types of situations and crises--many more than we are equipped to handle.
In looking at the outer influences that are affecting you, notice how your own schedule and lifestyle are in balance or not. Notice if you are being pulled into energy outside your own home or workplace, and if so , are you perhaps overwhelmed? Notice how much time and energy you spend each day connected to electronic media including television, the internet, or some other electronic device. Does your cell phone sit on your bed stand lighting up throughout the night, disturbing your sleep cycle? Are you drawn into political, religious, or personal battles where you do not necessarily belong? Think of all the places your energy (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual) might be trapped where it does not belong. Think about those people you care about whose burdens you are carrying unnecessarily. Helping our family and friends and neighbors can be good; carrying the burdens they are meant to handle themselves is not. Being compassionate and caring needs to inlcude a healthy dose of self care. We cannot help others if we are depleted of energy ourselves. Notice where in your life you feel in balance, and where you do not.
While you're at it, write down the inner observations and the outer ones. I noticed for example, about 2 months ago, a dream that was an indicator or what was to come. I dreamed of being shown into a house, "my new home" by a friend. At first, in the dream, I hesitated, but when I walked in, I recognized that I indeed had walked right into my right and perfect home." This was before I knew I would be moving, but it was a piece of information that help ease my mind and helped me discern what the right decision was. One of the problems we often have when our lives start 'falling apart' or when we start feeling restless and uneasy, is that the signals tell us we need to change, but we're uncertain (another normal feeling and one the is in fact a natural law) and when we're uncertain, we often doubt ourselves. This is also a good time to listen to trusted friends--those who are not as attached to the places where your energy and vision might be clouded. Look to signs that what was once tolerable, is becoming less so. This too is a sign that change is afoot. Things fall apart. Parts of life become unmanageable. Stuff stops working, Old patterns and habits, no longer fit the bill.
Start to Identify the Blocks, Challenges, and Dark Holes: After an initial assessment of how we are using our energy and where our energy may be draining us or blocking our way, we can go to the next step. Begin identifying what is not working. What is blocking you? What challenges are you facing or coping with? Where is energy draining you of time, resources, purpose and meaning, or pleasure and fulfillment? I'm a list maker, so it helps me to write things down. You might work out your inner issues through art or find your answers or clarity during long walks or exercise. You may need a getaway to get some perspective, or you may simply need to vary your routine. Try whatever works for you to break up the energy patterns that are adding to your stress or burdens.
When I did this, I knew that physically, I could not do all the moving myself. That was the truth of my situation. As one used to doing things myself, I was not in a position to continue doing that. I needed help. That was the bad news. My family and friends offered their assistance. That was the good news. As Gerald May, called it, the gifts in the garbage. Knowing what I needed in the way of help and then being clear about what to ask of whom was a crucial part of asking for help. First I went to those I knew who were capable of helping me organize. While I usually do the organizing, I needed to delegate a part of this. I needed someone who was willing to be the reflective mirror and to help me form a clear picture of what needed to be done. I went to a couple of friends who helped me do this. And I listened to what people offered me and what their own needs and limitations were.
Then as all these ideas and advice and information was floating around in my head, in emails, texts, and messages, I felt overwhelmed. Another natural step in the disintegrating and re-imagining process.
With my head full of too many ideas, I did what I know how to do. I sat down and made a written plan. Step by step, I laid out what I needed to do between now and the day I moved to get to the end of the process. And then I began outlining tasks and steps that needed doing, and then fitting people into places where they had said they could help doing things they had told me they were capable of doing. It took me a while, but after gathering all the information from all the family and friends, I had a tentative plan. I sat with the plan for a while, made adjustments, and then sent it out to everyone. if any adjustments needed to take place, I would hear about it. And then I set about tackling what was right in front of me.
When lay out a plan, and break the plan down into steps and stages, we can then start working away at one thing at a time. I kept hearing the voices of my mentors saying, "do it in littles", "one small step at a time", and "deal with what is the next best thing to do". Taking time to plot things out helps, but that's not all.
Accept that Change is Disturbing. The process of breaking down your life, taking your home apart, and preparing for a major change is disturbing. It affects all of you. Your appetite, your sleep and rest, your physical body and of course it affects your stress levels. Your body's fight or flight responses kick in, and the cortisol and adrenaline pump. To intentionally work on meeting the disturbances with calming, soothing, and healing practices, helps. Setting a routne in place to take breaks, get rest, get away from the messiness, and to find places of peace...those tiny pockets of time when we can simply breathe and take a time out. I made a practice of leaving the house about midday or early afternoon. I'd go out for a walk, and meet up with a friend or go to someone's home. Sitting in a friend's home having a cup of tea or a meal helped tremendously. It allowed me to immerse myself in a space where a good friend (always good Chi) and I connected and it gave me the calming environment I needed...a reminder that my home would also come together again. I would find that place of peace again.
Today I walked into the office of my real estate agent. From the moment I opened the door, I was struck by the beautiful, welcoming, elegant decor. The floor was covered with what appeared to be tapestries. They were just throw rugs on top of carpet, but they were laid out elegantly. Everything was arranged in such a welcoming, warm, and elegant way. I felt a sense of peace. And the way I was greeted was part of that. Connecting with people who are gracious and kind and who make difficult processes more bearable---well that is the key for me to how energy that is frenetic and chaotic finds the calming influences it needs for me to settle down, relax, and let myself into the flow of the process of moving.
What has been the greatest Feng Shui energy release, has indeed been the people in my life. My own family, friends, and all the people who I have had to deal with. The gals at my bank, my favorite checkers at the market, clerks in stores I'd never met, and even the police officer who stopped me the other night. No ticket, just some helpful advice about my lights. How often does that happen? Sipping tea and talking with friends, being the recipient of wonderful gifts of time, energy, and resources, and yes, even the physical pain and limitations, brings me to a point of surrender. To acknowledging that energy flows in the direction where it is meant to, not in the direciton it has been. We can flow with change when we stop worrying about 'getting it right' or working against ourselves. We can tap into the flow when we acknowledge what we need and what others are offering us. Feng Shi isn't just about moving furniture around or hanging crystals and mirrors to attract or deflect energy. Feng Shui is about our energy and how we share, connect, and support ourselvs and one another.
We each have our own gifts for coping with crisis and disintegration. What is key is remembering that things falling apart is part and parcel with making room for growth and abundance. One makes way for the other. And so as I spend the witching hour once again awake and writing, I wish you peace amid any storms you are facing. When pushed too far or feeling overwhelmed, remember it's alright not to do a thing. Sometimes we wait for permission or a sign. Other times we find we simply have to trust that the answer to what the next best thing to do is right there within us. In that palce of peace and calm where you remember who you are and what you are capable of . Trust, surrender to the guiding force of Life, and keep moving in the dirction the river is flowing. And when in doubt or when under extreme stress, remember George Kastanza's father's prayer, Serenity Now! Serenity Now!
