Feng Shui for Celebrating Transitions: Reflections

Riverfront      Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

"How can you know what you are capable of if you don't embrace the unknown?"  --Esmeralda Santiago

So wrote Puerto Rican author, Esmeralda Santiago. Once a renowned actress, Santiago her life is a beautiful example of embracing the unknown, the seeming impossible. Her family moved to New York City when Esmeralda was 13. She went to the city college  part time for eight years before transferring to Harvard University. She studied drama and dance before becoming an actress. Before her career as an author, she evolved from actress to film director and producer. She and her husband founded CANTOMEDIA, an award-winning film and production company. She has written a number of novels including a memoir, When I Was Puerto Rican, Almost a Woman, La Mamis: Favorite Latin American Authors Remember Their Mothers.  When we read her quote out of context of her life, it's profound by itself. When we read and understand it within her life itself, it's inspiring. 

Life is full of opportunities where transition into or out of one phase of life, line of work, relationship, or challenge/obstacle offers us the chance to start over. New Year's celebrations are annual events where we mark the time of an ending of one cycle and the beginning of a new one. Feng Shui, the art and appreciation of how we use our energy, gives us a way to honor this powerful cycle of change. Feng Shui is about the flow of energy, and our recognizing it and engaging with that energy in a way to either hinder or release the flow. As our solar new year comes to an end, we prepare to turn a new page in our life's cycle (collectively and individually). The first part of this series focused on preparing for a new year. Today we look at ways to energize our New Year's celebrations. 

Attracting good fortune:

Power of numbers. Numbers are important in Feng Shui. The number 3 is an especially powerful number, and if you square the number, you get the number 27. Moving 27 items in and around your house, helps increase the flow of Chi/energy to promote increase. 

Fill your wallet. Get a bright new wallet (red or gold is good) and fill it with brand new bills. Even if you're low on cash, you can break down a larger bill and fill your wallet with ones. Also, sprinkle a bit of ginger in the wallet to stimulate increase. 

Start a Savings. Start the year determined to promote growth and increase by having a plan to save. Saving as opposed to hoarding, is based on increase, not limiting. When we hold on tight to our resources (hoard them), we limit the flow (time, energy, money, health, love). When we set aside a part of what we take in and use it to help promote growth, we get ourselves into the flow and out of the poverty mentality that limits us. 

There are all kinds of ways to save easily. Consider one of these as the new year begins.

• When you get change, transfer all the coins into a money jar. At intervals you decide, donate a good portion of the change, and build on the remaining.
• When you get change for currency, save all the $5 bills. Fold them in a special way, and put them aside. Use them as an emergency fund or special events savings.
• Beginning on the first day of the year or a certain day each week (every Saturday for example), start a savings jar with $1. Each week increase it by one. Week two, $2, week three, $3 and so on. Within a year you can save over $1300 if you don't spend any of it. 
• Set aside a portion of your income 10% for savings, 10% for donating or having to spend on some service or project for others. Tithing is an ancient practice based on the idea that in order to receive, we need to be in the flow. It is in giving that we receive. This flow is part of the Chi/energy that we exchange when we buy, sell, and exchange goods and services.
• Make a practice at the checkstand to donate change. Turn in bottles for refunds and donate to local causes. 

Nourishing and Sweetening Our Lives. Feng Shui is also about how we nourish and sweeten our lives and the lives of others. New Year's 2018 is a great time to use foods, sweets, and other ways of nourishing ourselves and others in order to increase the flow of Chi/energy. 

• Add Sweetness to your life. Symbolically, sugar or honey represent the sweetness of life. Sweet foods are meant for special occasions. Fill the sugar bowls and/or other sweet spots in your home. Have a candy bowl, a fresh bowl of fresh fruit, a full jar of honey, or a special sweet cake on hand. Celebrations are about pleasure, not restrictions. In Feng Shui, the idea of restricting our diets to the exclusion of anything delightful, is antithesis of growth and flow.  We don't need an entire box of chocolates to enjoy the taste of sweetness. A cup of hot chocolate or a bite of a fresh-baked cookie will do. A bowl of small, individually wrapped chocolate can be more nurturing than a bunch of sweet goodies. Moderation and balance can help form a healthy attitude and appetite about sweet things. 
• Special Foods for Good Fortune:  Different cultures have different kinds of foods for new year celebrations. Some traditions include: Japanese Soba (noodles) eaten as the new year begins. In Germany, the tradition is to eat Sauerkraut on New Year's Eve. In Spain, it is a tradition to eat 12 grapes in rapid succession for good luck. Italians make Contechino con Lenticchie (lentils with sausage) to celebrate the new year. In Greece people bake a cake, Vasilopita, with a coin in the middle. Some say, the one who finds the coin is married by the end of the year. Others say, they have extra good luck all year. The cake is eaten at midnight. In Poland the celebratory food is pickled herring, while in Cuba, roasting a suckling pig guarantees good luck for the coming year. Sweden and Finland serve rice pudding with an almond hidden in it. The one who gets the almond is in for extra good luck during the new year. In my own family, we serve a traditional Southern dish, Hoppin' John (black-eyed peas, ham, and spinach soup) and corn bread (comforting, sweet, and golden). This is the first meal we serve in the new year. This year I've invited friends to stop by to enjoy the tradition with me. 
• Traditions.  Foods are a big part of family and cultural traditions. There are others too, that help get the new year off to a good start. First Walks/Runs (ie., Portland, Oregon and other cities), Polar Bear Swims (jumping in the cold lake or ocean, Yoga at midnight (Gypsy Yoga in Astoria, Oregon), Mud football in the park on New Year's Day. And of course many families gather to watch the bowl games (football, US style) where college games are played on New Year's Day. Also parades and parties are traditional ways for people to gather and celebrate. Think about what traditions you like and save them. Eliminate the ones you don't like (ie, drinking yourself silly, or overeating) and incorporate the new and old traditions to fit your changing lifestyle and tastes. 
• Noise.  In many cultures, making noise symbolizes chasing away the bad spirits. Symbolically, the noise represents our need to clear our lives, minds, and hearts of whatever makes us afraid, fearful, or depressed. Fireworks with their loud bangs and pops, are meant to symbolize both celebration and chasing away the bad Chi.  We used to bang pots and pans with wooden spoons at midnight. In Astoria, Oregon, we love hearing the ships anchored in the river all blow their whistles at midnight. This goes on for about 15 minutes, and is a welcome sound to celebrate the new year.
• First Words.  The first words you utter in the New Year, set the tone for the whole year. Think about what you want to bring into your life and the world with the words you use, not only at New Year's but also during the whole year. Happy New Year, Feliz Ano Nuevo, Buon anno,  Bonne Annee, Xin Yuan Kwai Le, Aiyam jadeed saeed. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Phillipians 4:8)

Have a wonderful entry into the new year, and think about what you want to leave behind and what you want to take forward with you. Embrace the mystery of the unknown, and allow yourself to dream, imagine, and take the first steps toward something that delights and attracts you. Be good to yourself and others, and use the blessing, talents, and gifts you've been given to make the future new year brighter and more creative. Happy New Year. 

Feng Shui for the Transition Times: Happy New Year 2018

My Guitar                                       Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

Transition times are great times for clearing out the old and making room for the new. The Solar New Year, 2018 begins in January, and provides an excellent time to prepare for and to greet the energy of the new year. This 3-part series looks at how you can use Feng Shui to prepare for, celebrate, and enter into living an energy-filled good new year. 

Preparing for the New Year
As the old year winds down, it is natural to reflect on what has happened in the past and what we hope will happen in the future. We mark the passing of time, and this is a good practice to remind us of how our energy has been used. Try to do some intentional preparing before the new year begins.

• Assessing. Take a look around. Observe how your home and surroundings are. Notice where there are areas that need to be cleared, cleaned, or rearranged. Make note of what needs tending to, and then prioritize your list (not everything is of equal importance). Look at yourself-your health, your physical appearance and hygiene, your dress and hair style---all those things that reflect how you feel about yourself. Notice the colors you're being drawn to.  What, if anything, needs addressing?
• Decluttering.  Spend some time decluttering your home, your car, your desk, your office, your purse, and the areas around your doors. As you do this, separate items you want to give away, repurpose, or trash into baskets/bags, and pack them in your car so that you can take them to their intended destination before the new year.

Clearing. Going through files, drawers, cupboards, closets, and rooms to rid yourself of unnecessary items, is a form of decluttering, but focuses more on releasing energy that is more hidden. Files on computers or in filing cabinets/paper files, canned goods, products, outdated medicine, makeup, photo files (hard and efiles), and any other place where items sit unused or unneeded in some form. Everything we have holds a certain amount of our energy, and when we can release ourselves from that energy, we free the energy up to use in more creative and productive ways.  For example, in the interest of conserving resources, I save glass jars. My plan is to repurpose them, but often I create an overabundance of them. Recycling or giving to someone who will use them is a better idea of having them taking up space and energy. It's also a very good Feng Shui principle to give things away to those who need them or will use them. A good friend is very good at giving items she once loved to someone new to love that item. 

Giving away something of value to someone we care deeply for is also a great way to release ourselves from being too attached to a possession while realizing its value lies in being able to pass it to someone new to enjoy. Jewelry is one item that we often pass along, and it's a very good idea to share our beautiful things with those who could use a little more beauty in their lives. My most precious gifts are those items of jewelry that someone has given me, a bracelet of my Mothers', earrings of a friend, a necklace or ring that someone has worn and now passes along to me. It's easier to give away something that doesn't mean anything to us; it's harder to give away something of value, but there is a special magic and power in that kind of gifting.

Make the new year (or any transition time) an occasion to notice how you feel about your attachments to your surroundings, and even to your own habits.

Cleaning. Good Feng Shui is created when we allow the Chi/Energy to flow more freely. This pertains to both the arrangement and the condition of our homes, work spaces, and ourselves. Clean out the drains (vinegar and baking soda is a simple, non-toxic way to do this). Clean out the refrigerator.

Taking a hint from Jewish practices of the Sabbath, try to have all your cooking and cleaning done the day before New Years, so you arrive into the new year with everything clean and in place and you relieve yourself of having to work too much as the year begins. One of the blessings of Feng Shui is creating a flow of energy that allows you to balance all areas of your life--body, mind, and spirit. Allow yourself time and energy to enjoy life, get enough rest, and find ways to balance work with the joy of living.

Change your linens, get the laundry done, clean up any messes that create negative Chi/energy in your home. Clean up the areas around your doors, and adorn them with something red or gold (good luck colors). Change your clothes, and dress up a bit. Clean out your wallet and purse (get a new red wallet for yourself).


Creating an Inviting Home. Along with decorating your doors for guests coming and going, make your home inviting. Yesterday I stopped to admire the beautiful winter bouquets in my little neighborhood market, and the shop owner gave me a bouquet. It is full of white and red flowers, adorned with red tissue, and brightens up my home. Rearrange your home to take advantage of the light and open all the windows (even briefly if it's stormy) to let in fresh air.
A year ago I moved, and realized that years of wear and tear and pets had made my rugs past their shelf life. A friend gave me a gift of two new rugs, and now I realize how important it is to keep the house not only looking good but also making it easier to keep clean and presentable. Area rugs are often on sale at this time of year, and provide an easy, colorful update to your environment. Donate the rugs and let someone else get the use out of the ones you let go of. Garage sales, yards sales, and clearance sales are great spots to find new lighting. Lamps are fairly easy to repair, and provide much needed light and style to your decor.

Change up the color in your decor.  This year I've added a lot of red, purple, and blue to my decorating. While on vacation I found some beautiful, inexpensive curtain panels at Target. Now I'm going to replace my vertical blinds with a big dash of color and more privacy. Add a dash of color to your wardrobe, your hair, or your accessories. Pick colors that enliven you, and notice what colors in your wardrobe or house are faded, worn out, or outdated for who you are now. Take the occasion to spruce things up, and in the process, get rid of what you no longer need. As you add to your life, be sure to release something in kind. For every new piece of clothing, one or two pieces go to be recycled. Same thing with items and pieces of art.

Be sure to use the five Feng Shui elements throughout your home. Wood, Fire, Water, Air, and Metal can help to balance the energy and vibrancy creating a better flow when placed in the home. For example, wood and water elements placed in the South and Southeast corner of your home/room/space will attract greater prosperity. Wood furniture and lush plants in the East areas of the house attract good health and well being.


Setting Intentions. One thing I've noticed for myself and have heard others also mention is that this time is a time to rest and relax. A time out, so to speak when we recharge our batteries and take some much-needed time to get outdoors, take a nap, read a book, catch up with friends, or simply spend time alone being quiet and peaceful. We might meditate or take long walks. Whatever we choose to do this weekend, let's include a little time to set some intentions for the next year. One mantra that has been running through my mind is 'be simple'; another is 'surrender to what is'. Your callings may be much different. Listen to that inner voice, the answer to those prayers of yours, or those desires you've had that you may have put on the shelf over and over. Rather that thinking about what you're going to change, think about what's working that you want to keep doing. Make a list of all that you've accomplished over the last year. Or a list of all that has changed since last new years. Make a list of what you are thankful for. And then consider what you want to release and not carry forward into the new year.

Your home and all the spaces where you spend your time/energy/Chi are sources of energy for your life. If you are unhappy with any aspect of your life, it is essential that you identify what it is that needs changing, and then make some effort to bring about changes in that area in the new year. Not to do so, means you carry that unhappy energy into your new year. Someone once told me when I wasn't feeling good about life to 'act as if'.  To dress up, imagine myself as the happy person I wanted to be, the healthy person, the prosperous person, and then act as if I were.

So much of what happens to us in our lives is in direct proportion to how we're feeling about ourselves, others, situations, or conditions, and and what kind of energy we put into improving and lifting ourselves and others.  Our thoughts and actions are powerful sources of energy, so do a bit of self reflecting and set some intentions for improving. And then act as if it is already true. All actions have their roots in the imagination...thinking something could be or is so. Fill your mind with good positive thoughts of what you see yourself being, doing, having, creating, and achieving.

Tomorrow, we'll talk about celebrating the new year.