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.