Feng Shui for Spring Clearing and Cleaning

By now I hope you all have taken time to do a Feng Shui Clearing. Honoring your home, office, and studio as sacred space is a vital part of increasing the flow of Universal energy/Chi.  In the North as days lengthen and in the South as relief is finally felt from summer, we move into new seasons, times of transition. Perhaps you've already done some major cleaning and clearing in preparation for the holy days of Easter and Passover, or maybe you've been waiting for just the right time to begin a seasonal cleanse. Now is the time to address some of the major areas of our homes where the healthy flow of Chi is essential for our health, abundance, and well being.

Where to begin?

This morning I decided to begin a big closet clearing project. I opened the doors to the closet, and immediately felt overwhelmed. Sound familiar?  Even though I'd been thinking about it for a while, the scope of what lay ahead struck me and stopped me in my tracks. Normally, I find it best to do a little preparation to avoid this happening.

• Envisioning.  Start by sitting quietly, closing your eyes, and thinking about what areas of your house are holding stale, overstuffed or messy energy. It may be one particular drawer or space. Or it may be the fridge or oven. Once you have something in mind, open your eyes and begin a little list of what areas need the most attention.  Once you have your list made, proceed to step 2.
• Walk About. Take your list, and walk around the house (inside and out, especially entrances). Notice what needs to be done in each area. 
• Prioritize.  To avoid the 'stopping before I start syndrome', begin prioritizing your list. Some people pick the hardest jobs first while others do what's easiest first. Do what works best for you. Once you have made your list and prioritized it, proceed on to step 4.
• Plan and Schedule.  Most of us need to schedule spring cleaning over a period of a week or two. Most of us have other priorities, so break down your tasks according to the different amounts of time you have to do your cleaning. Heres' my suggestion, but gear yours according to what works for you.

           Example schedule:

1. 5-minute tasks. Set a timer and spend 5 minutes doing one of the following:  

• go room to room picking up anything on the floor, on a surface, or anywhere it doesn't belong 
• wash the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms 
• sweep floors  
• do the dishes; 
• make the bed or change the linens 
• go through fridge and toss out anything expired, spoiled, or unrecognizable. 
• Take out trash, recycling, compost.

2. Half-hour Tasks: 

• Sweep and wash the bathroom floor/kitchen floor
• Vacuum
• Clean out refrigeraor
• Clean stove top and exterior
• Clear, clean, and reorganize your desk top
• Clear and clean area around the front door, inside and out.
•  Go through drawers, closets, and storage to pick out items that need to be recycled. Set aside in boxes/bags, and when you're finished filling them, put them in your car (take them to recycle right away).
• Clean out the car's interior
• Go through your cupboards to find broken, unused, and duplicates of cookware, dishes, cups, glasses, and utensils. If broken, dispose of them (or get them repaired). Broken dishes can be broken up for use in crafts (mosaics), or used for drainage in bottoms of pots used for plants. 

1/2 Day projects.   Longer projects, for example my closet, requires more than a few minutes or even a half an hour or so. Again, I like to break the big projects down "into littles". My godmother taught me to "do things in littles", and I find that makes overwhelming jobs much more manageable. 

Bigger projects might include:

• Rearranging office space or cupboards in the kitchen
• Reorganizing bookshelves (which ought to include a decluttering phase as well). As you remove books/objects from book shelves, decide what can be released and put that in a recycling box or perhaps choose a book or two to give to a friend or neighbor. Books can be replaced fairly easily nowadays, so avoid hoarding. Books hold dust and consider removing books from the area where you sleep (except of course the pile you're reading). 
• Redoing artwork and decorative displays. This might include moving furniture around, taking items out of one room to put into another. Give your house movement. Keeping things in the same place all the time adds to the blockage of Chi. 
• Kitchen cleaning. The kitchen is the most important room in our houses. It represents the health, wealth, and well being of the entire family. Maintaining a clean, Feng Shui friendly kitchen i key to keeping the flow of Chi moving in the right direction. It's also one of the most used rooms and one of the hardest to keep in good order. Spending time moving things into places where they are more likely to be used, to be easier to reach, or to serve a real purpose, helps Chi flow more freely. 
• You could spend a whole day working on organizing your kitchen or cleaning it top to bottom. Perhaps you're going to paint the kitchen or put up a new shelf or two. Set aside enough time to do the job, get things put back in place, and get back to normal. 
• Everyone knows what a drain on energy/Chi remodeling is, so with your cleaning and organizing, tackling in ways that allow you to use your space and not live in clutter, is best. If you can afford to  or can do a trade with someone who's willing, hire someone who comes in for a day or two to do the big jobs for you. 
• If you are really under the gun with deadlines for work or chores or responsibilities, it is always okay to hire someone to come in and help you. A housekeeper who comes in once or twice a month ($20-30 an hour) can lift a heavy burden from you. 
• Getting Help. There are different ways we can get help. Friends who offer to help, are a blessing in our lives. We can do something in return for them as well. Hiring someone is a good way to keep Chi flowing. When I have someone come in to help me, I have them do the chores I can no longer do or am not equipped to handle (cleaning ceiling fans, repairing cupboards or plumbing, washing windows (outside), or giving my floors a good washing and waxing (I no longer wax floors, but you still may). 
• Using Resources to Keep Chi Flowing. Get help. It may not be something you do all the time, but on occasion, it's a great way to give yourself some more time and to give someone else the work they need.  Holding onto our money too tightly is not a good way to 'save'. When I spend money to have something done for me, I allow the flow of energy to move beyond myself and to help another person make their living as well. For many of us, we have become used to doing everything ourselves. At some point, if we're to be really productive and healthy, we need to get help. If I can hire someone to do some of the work I need done, I am free to do my writing or art (areas that provide me with a living). Most writers and artists who become successful, get help. I learned to hire a bookkeeper, CPA, and occasionally, a housekeeper, so that I can maintain my accounts and my sanity. 
• Taking Care of Business.  Much of the time we think of clearing clutter and cleaning as Feng Shui tools, and they are. However, maintaining flow also involves how we take care of our business. Since it's tax season, now is the time we're doing our taxes, and organizing our papers. Taking time to reorganize our files (online and paper) and keeping our records and financial and personal/professional business in order, is ongoing. It's also crucial to occasionally go through and clear things up, update accounts, and do a 'housecleaning' of our business. Take time to call around to see if you have the best deals on insurance or cable/internet/phone service. All of this takes time, so setting aside a large chunk of time, occasionally to handle this type of business, helps increase the flow of Chi and improves the quality of your life.

Whatever it is you choose to begin clearing, cleaning, and organizing, do it in a slow, relaxed manner, and view this as something you can do to honor the life you've chosen and the blessings you've been given for living a healthy, productive, and abundant life.  Next week, we'll look into closets...That will be really interesting, lol.

Deep Space Clearing: Feng Shui for Seasonal Renewal

Michaelangelo Park          Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

The New Moon signals a turn of the lunar cycle, and the Vernal Equinox marks the change from Winter to Spring. For those in the Southern Hemisphere, the new moon signaled the shift from summer to autumn. Both the new moon and seasonal changes happen within just a few days of one another, so if  your find yourself inspired to move furniture around, clean windows, or tackle those clean up and clean out projects that have been waiting for better weather, the time may have just arrived. True to my word, I changed my bed around and changed the linens and bedding as well as completely rearranging the furniture in my office/studio last night. What's on your agenda for preparing for Spring's arrival?

At least once or twice a year (I do this twice a year), it is good to do a deep space clearing and cleansing. You'll need to set aside about an hour of your time for your seasonal space clearing. The steps for the clearing include the following:

• Preparation and Plan. Set aside the best time for you to do this ritual. Feng Shui energy for clearing is best between 11-1:00, and no later than 3 in the afternoon. Pick a time when you won't feel rushed or be too distracted. 
• Gather Supplies and Prepare an Altar.  You will need the following: candles (fire element), cedar/sage/lavender for smudging, incense, essential oils, a diffuser or some way to mist a room(simple spray bottle will do), Music, natural sounds, bells/singing bowls,  stones and crystals, and anything that you consider essential to a blessing of your home and office.
• Prepare Yourself.  Plan to do your space clearing after getting yourself ready (right after a yoga class, a walk, or a morning swim). Take a shower and put on clean clothes just before doing the clearing. Feeling relaxed and balanced helps make this experience more beneficial. Keeps our Chi flowing which is the purpose of this clearing. 
• Prepare an Altar.  Set up an altar to symbolize balance and harmony. Include items from each of the elements (fire, air, earth, water, metal). Create what represents beauty and harmony to you. Light a candle in each room, and put on some music to lift the energy and soothe you through this process. Burn some incense or use an aroma therapy defuser to disperse a pleasant scent throughout the house. Open a window so as to assure that fresh air breaks up any stale air trapped inside. Have some fresh flowers for your altar and different parts of your home/office. 
• Space Clearing: Stand at the front door, clap your hands to begin breaking up energy. Moving clockwise throughout the house and in each room, clap in each corner to break up any stale or trapped energy. Trust your instincts and intuition on this part, and understand that this action helps you recognize where energy may be trapped or stale in different areas of your home. Do this throughout the house and spend as much time as you need in each corner. Notice how you feel as you enter different parts of the house, and just take notice for now.When you are finished, wash your hands, up to your elbows, in cool water. 
• Smudge/Purify Space.  Using a smudging stick/bowl, again moving clockwise throughout the house, smudging the corners and any other parts of a room you feel needs it. You may do this with a mist of an essential oil and water (I use holy water) as well. You may also use bells or some form of percussion instrument too to activate the sound feng shui in the same manner. As you're doing all of these different steps, be aware of your own body and breathing in the process. Keep yourself relaxed and focused on slowly breathing and sensing what you are intuiting about different parts of your house. This is not the time to clean and clear clutter, but it is a time you will notice where this needs to be done, for later. 

This process is meant to be a mindful practice designed to purify and activate the Chi in your home. It's also a time to prepare yourself for doing more deep cleaning and personal preparation for clearing, energizing, and manifesting creative and activating Chi/energy throughout your home and life. You may notice thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, and nagging obsessions that come up as you do this. Rather than trying to keep this from happening, simply notice and take note of what is blocking or calling for your attention. Time to recognize what needs to be done and then prepare ourselves for tackling the work that needs doing.

Next we'll go on to Part Two: Clearing and Cleaning the Kitchen for Seasonal Change.

Feng Shui through the Seasons: Wintertime Lightening Up

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food

 and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and 

for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” --Edith Sitwell

This winter, my painting circle's theme was 'home'. My favorite saying about home is "home is where the heart is", and for the most part that is true. However having a home, a haven, shelter from the storms of life, is one of the most essential needs we humans have. Often considered one of the key aspects of survival, 'home' is important to each of us. And taking care of our home and ourselves is a key part of maintaining the flow of Chi/energy in body, mind, emotions, and spirit.  Winter is a Yin time, a time for cleansing, purifying, renewing, and bringing back balance into our lives. It's a natural time to clean and clear the clutter of life and the residual build up of toxins.

As I write, it is the week before the Chinese New Year of the Dog celebrations begin (February 16, the next New Moon). Feng Shui tradition says all cleaning and decluttering needs to be done before the new year begins. So this is a perfect time to make preparations as you enjoy the mid-winter time to focus on our life paths and purposes, dreams and goals.

During the harshest of times, a home is where we escape the dangers, extremes, and demands we face outside our front doors.
Our homes provide us with a safe space to rest, nurture ourselves and our families, and refresh ourselves. Home for many of us is also where we create and do our art or work. When winter hits, we are often faced with the necessity of spending more time indoors than out. Home is where we retreat at the end of a long week, a busy day, or when we finally get a break.  Home is where we refresh ourselves, regardless of the season. Different seasons, however, call for different ways to use and conserve our energy.

Winter and Feng Shui. Feng Shui means Wind-Water, and signifies the movement of elements throughout all areas of our lives. Water, wood, fire, earth, and metal are the five elements of Feng Shui. Winter is a water season, and is a time to refresh ourselves on an emotional and intuitive level. Water represents the intuitive, spiritual, and metaphysical aspects of our lives. And Winter is a time when we spend more time reflecting and being more attuned to our inner being.  It is a time when we ponder the possibilities and begin to make plans for new ways of approaching our daily lives as well as our life paths. Winter is a time when we contemplate our purpose and direction in life, and so it is a vital time for renewing our commitment and dedication to that which we are passionate about, that which enhances and supports our growth and development.
How does winter affect our daily living?

Water. Winter's element is Water, and it is the season of the North.  Our attention is on the North sector of our homes--the areas that rule life purpose, career, direction, and cosmic meaning.

• Adding water elements, art (waterfalls, lakes, rivers, the ocean), and crystals help activate the Chi/energy in this area of our homes/lives. 
• Wearing symbols of water support our health and the promises we make at this time.
• Use blue and black curvy rugs on floors to simulate water elements. 
• Take a bath using some essential oils (aromatherapy) to clean and clear your energy.
• Have a water element in the house (a gold fish bowl/tank, a small flowing water fountain).
• Incorporate a tea ritual into your day. Mid morning or afternoon, in the evening, or whenever you'd like to take a break to refresh. Use fresh herbs to spice up your tea, and enjoy an invigorating cup of tea along with a relaxing break in your day. Take time to notice the passing of the moment. Breathe and appreciate the gifts of life.

Air: When we run our heaters/furnaces/fireplaces during the winter months, and keep our windows and doors closed more, the Chi/energy in our homes tends to get stuck. Stale air and odors block the free flow of healthy Chi/energy.  Our skin and hair is also dryer during Winter.

• Open the windows and doors at least once or twice during the day to air out your home. 
• Run a dehumidifier/or humidifier (whatever the needs of your home) to keep air circulating and dampness/molds to a minimum. 
• Hydrate and Moisturize. Drink plenty of water, rub your skin with natural oils infused with healing herbs, rub your feet with cream at night, and wear gloves to protect your hands (when cleaning and when outdoors). I discovered 'writer's gloves' a couple of years ago, and that has helped me during the cold winter months. I put some oil on my hands before wearing gloves to help heal and moisturize from the harsh climate.
• Breathing exercises. In yoga/kriya meditation Prana/Breath is a crucial element of maintaining balance and well being. Making time throughout the day to do intentional breathing exercises helps maintain your own Chi. Take 5-minute breaks throughout the day to still your mind, focus on your breathing, and simply breath in and out, deepening your breath down into your belly, and relax. Count in and out if that helps you maintain focus. Time yourself (1 minute is fine), and take that break to activate and revitalize your mind. 
• If you feel tired and/or out of energy, do the alternate nostril breathing for 5-10 cycles of inhalation (Cover one nostril with your thumb; breathe in the alternate nostril; cover opposite nostril with your index finger. Breathe out the other). This is a good, quick recharging breath exercise. 
• Keep drains and plumbing clear and clean. Clean out drains regularly, and make sure any leaks or blockages are repaired now. Use baking soda and vinegar to clean out drains. Clean with a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda, use lemon rinds to clean stove fixtures, boil lemons, oranges, or limes to freshen the air. I cleaned out from under all my sinks, and got rid of any unnecessary junk that was clogging energy. 
• Get things off the floor. This was the best advice about house cleaning that anyone every gave me. My friend was helping me organize my office, and she had me move everything (that wasn't furniture) off the floor and out of the corners. As part of an ongoing decluttering routine, this helps me regularly sort through what I'm using (good energy) and not using (blocked energy). My outbox (things to take to thrift shops, goodwill, or to give away) is by the front door. Remember to empty that outbox regularly so you don't create another blocked space. 
• Do things in littles. We don't all have endless amounts of time to clean. Thank heavens. We've got other things to spend our time and energy doing. However, a simple 5-minute clean up, fix up, or declutter is all you need to get something done. Five minutes to clean out a drawer. Five minutes to clear all the counter space in the kitchen or bathroom. Five minutes to clear and straighten out all surfaced. Five minutes to dust the book shelf. Five minutes to do up the dishes in the sink. Five minutes to pick up and hang up jackets, clothes, boots, or shoes. And then, five minutes to sit down and relax, enjoying the fact that in just a few minutes, you accomplished something to get the Chi flowing.
• Clean out the refrigerator, and clean off outside and top of fridge too. Put fresh lime in the fridge to freshen up.

Light/Fire. Winter brings on longer periods of darkness which often  affect our moods and physical health and emotional well being. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a problem for some.

• Have ample lighting in every room (3 lamps in large room at least). 
• Open curtains to let natural light in.
• Use Full Spectrum lights in indoor lighting.
• Take an adequate dose of Vitamin D, and spend a few minutes in direct sunlight if you can, each day.
• Let colors brighten your life. I notice a lot of people paint their homes during the winter...an attempt I think to bring more light into the home. Wear colors that make you feel bright and cheery. Notice the affect certain colors are having on you, and which ones are working their way into your new palette of color. This is often a very unconscious experience, but one that is revealing of inner growth.
• Candles provide warm light. If worried about fire hazards, use a battery operated candle to give the extra light. 
• Lights. It's become more and more popular to hang strings of light around the house. It's part of holiday tradition for many, and when extended into other times of year, can provide a cheery light element.
• Clean the stove and oven. Keep the burners clean. The stove in Feng Shui represents the wealth of the family, and needs to be kept in tip top shape. A simple paste of vinegar and baking soda will clean your oven in no time without any toxic fumes. I use wipes to keep the burners clean, and regularly clean off the fan/hood (just out of my sight line, I use a step stool to keep it clean and organized with pretty kitchen decorations (aqua jar of rice, silver pestle and mortar, and a plaque with a blessing. 
• Use all burners on the stove, rotating their use to make sure no energy remains dormant for too long.  
• Change lightbulbs and batteries in smoke detectors.
• Get and burn a beeswax candle. Beeswax candles not only give off a warm glow, they release negative ions into the air to help purify stagnant Chi.
• Purify the air. Using Patchoullie, sandlewood cedar, or sage, do a house blessing and purifying ritual to clear the air of negative energy.

Earth. Ground yourself in where you are with what you have. Instead of feeling the need to run out and get new things (although that's nice at times), shop at home. Look around the house and see what you can move or repurpose.

• One of the best ideas is to completely empty a space and just let yourself sit with the emptiness to see how you might re-envision it. Move furniture into another room, or remove furniture that needs to  be replaced or repaired. 
• Use items for different purposes. For example, use baskets to hold fruit or produce. Or use a basket for the incoming mail. Give things a new home, and bury what is dead an in need of interment. Everything has a lifecycle. Let go of what needs to go. Decide what you don't want to carry forward, and honor that ending in some symbolic way.
• Reassess  your possessions/needs.  Look around your house, in closets, drawers, and storage bins to see what you are saving up. Decide what you no longer use, and get rid of it. If you're not using something because it's out of sight, bring it into the light and use it. If it's out of season, put it in storage for later in the year.
• Create Sacred Space.  Choose an area to create a sacred space. It may be a corner of a room, a chair by a window, or a room itself. Wherever it is, design it to be used for quiet, meditative, prayerful times. Doesn't mean you can't sing and dance in it, but made the space dedicated for the Sacred Times when you want to focus on whatever it is that lifts your spirits. A meditation pad and candle, a chair with a sacred book or two, or a mat where you can do a chakra meditation or complete a Sun Salutation or two. 
• Take yourself for a walk. When it's too stormy or blustery to walk on the beach safely, I do a couple of laps around my house and yard. I notice signs of the animals and birds, the condition of the flower beds, the first blooms  and deer droppings, and the clouds and passing flocks of birds. Fresh air, feeling and smelling the wet earth and pine needles, all lift my spirits and get my Chi/moving.
• Pick something from the yard, and bring it inside to decorate. A bough of pine, some herbs that are growing in terra cotta pots on the deck, a sprig of holly, or a bud on a long stem, the one laying on the ground where the elk spit it out. All of these acts put us in touch with our earthiness.
• Sweep. Sweep the floors. Sweep off the porches during the rain breaks. Sweeping is one of the most powerful Feng Shui tools, and treat your broom with respect. Clean it out regularly. Store it broom end up, outside or out of sight if possible.
• Create a mudroom. Have an entryway space for taking off muddy shoes, hanging up jackets, and placing bundles. Even a chair with a basket will do. Put a hook over the door to serve as a coat rack if there's no room for one. Pause at the threshold of your home, upon going in and returning, and acknowledge your gratitude for the energy you bring into the house and the energy you take with you from your home.
• Red pottery and textiles. Red is the color of abundance and vibrancy. Used in winter, it energizes all forms of Chi.

Wood. I love wood. Wooden furniture. Wood of the trees. Wooden salad bowls, wooden bread boards, and wooden floors. I even have wooden angels adorning my angel altar, along with metal angels.

• Clear and clean the entryways to your home. Decorate your doors with inviting adornments. Keep the doorways welcoming and clean. 
• Keep a bowl of fresh fruit, a plant or bouquet of flowers in your home. They are symbols of life and prosperity.
• Let light in and arrange furniture to take advantage of East-South facing light coming through windows. 
• Keep entryways clear of clutter. Clutter here is the biggest block to the free flow of Chi.
• Use reds and oranges to promote security, warmth, safety, and companionship.
• Cook something from scratch. Homemade soups are the best. The aroma filling the house and heartiness of the soup for a meal cannot be beat. 
• Bake winter squashes and pumpkins. 

Metal.  Metal provides strength and precision to our lives. Metal lasts and gives longevity to a home. Metal helps with focus and productivity.

• Shine your silverware.
• Keep your metal fixtures shiny and clean. The clean kitchen sink rule is one of the best ways to establish a habit of keeping an organized and clean kitchen. Use alcohol to shine the fixtures in your sink and to clean mirrors (use newspaper for streak-free windows and mirrors).
• Keep all metal appliances/utensils in top notch condition.
• Use metal vases, dishes, bowls, and lamps to decorate.
• Use metal picture frames and metal sculpture and art.
• Use metal decorative pieces to add the metal element to any part of your home.

This February the Year of the Earth Dog, Wu Zhu begins. Expect to see social change and a complete change to the way we live our lives. I will be writing more about the Year of the Earth Dog, however, for now as we prepare for the turning of the year, it would be wise to examine not only how your home/office/workspaces are arranged, but also how your daily habits (nutrition, exercise, leisure-work balance, finances, health routine) enhance or detract from your sense of wholeness and harmony. 

As you prepare for the new year, enjoy the flow of Chi in and all around you, and look for ways to remove obstacles, blocks, traps, or stagnation in all areas of your life. Peace to you all. 

Feng Shui for a New Path; Chi/Energy of Change

Winter Reflections             Catherine Al-Meten Meyers

Preparations are done, the celebration is over, and the new year dawns on Tuesday. The expectations, intentions, and resolutions we have made we carry around in our minds and imagination. Today we set about walking the path ahead of us. Most of us know by now that expectations and plans do not necessarily fall into place as we might hope they would Resolutions, the resolve to do something or not do something, to change behavior or improve it, seem to be part and parcel with how we all approach a transition time. Even when we use different words to describe that resolve, we tend to hope to change, for the better.

Often though, we fall right into the same old, same old. The patterns and habits that have been how we approach life, becomes the way  we react or respond when we have the opportunity to change or head out in a new direction. What are some of the ways we can live life with greater awareness and openness this new year?  Yesterday, New Year's Day, I had a small gathering of close friends over to cheer one another into the new year. One of my friends asked if any of us had thought of a word that might be the inspiration for their new year. We also talked about what we hoped to accomplish or leave behind. Through the conversations we had, what was perhaps more revealing than the actual words or plans were  attitudes about transition. Attitudes seemed to range from hopeful and optimistic to not at all hopeful and depressed. Means of coping with change included focusing on where a person could have an effect on something (through their own work, art, life choices, service) as opposed to worrying, feeling hopeless, and seeing no way to create a meaningful difference.  We all may experience both ways of reacting at times.

Reflecting and talking about change and transition doesn't change anything, but it is helpful for it enables us to realize the different ways we deal with ambiguity and the unknown, as well as  how we handle the stark realities of life and our own experiences. Reflection gives us insight into our own ways of perceiving and understanding the life we are living.   This in turn provides both information and  knowledge that can be useful tools for coping with the Chi/energy of change. Just as we all have the same amount of time in each day, we also have an abundant amount of energy. Energy/chi is found in the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of our lives. Our words, thoughts, actions, as well as what we do or don't do, pack a powerful amount of energy. When we are more conscious and aware of how we're using our energy, we can have a bigger impact on our lives and the lives of others.

Reflecting on people and how they use their energy, I think of a number of people I know who, though they are not sure of where life is headed, their daily actions and behaviors enable them to use their energy to create and to serve a greater purpose. Energy/chi is about the exchange of energy as much as it is about the conserving and regenerating of it. As we age, we grow in our capacity to direct and use our energy. Some feel a lack of power and therefore a sense of meaninglessness or hopelessness. That feeling can be changed through an exchange of energy and through redirecting it. Feng Shui is about learning to use and redirect energy to open those invisible channels of energy running throughout every area of  our lives.

One of the problems we have in trusting concepts we cannot see, is feeling a lack of control and/or of not understanding that anything outside ourselves could be having an impact on changing what needs changing in our lives and the lives of others. Some of us also have trouble believing something that comes us against our deep-seated beliefs, fears, or experiences. Our own unconscious needs and fears get hung up in those unconscious patterns of behavior, response, or perspectives that shape and color our view of the world and of our place in it. Some of us are still trapped in energy from experiences we've carried around with us all our lives; others of us are trapped in the energy of conditions, situations, or concerns that we have not found an acceptable solution to.

Any tool you use, requires a certain level of trust and faith. Remember when you were trying to learn to ride a bike? Or drive a car, or do anything for the first time? You began, one small step at a time, to trust and have faith that eventually, with enough practice and support, and belief in yourself, you'd learn. And you did. We can actually have a big impact on our lives and on the world we live in, when we use the tools, talents, gifts, and resources we already have. All are a source of energy for us. A passion for painting, put off for a long time, then given priority enough to take classes and learn, and finally made the central point of a great deal more energy/Chi by building a studio, painting day in and day out, continuing to learn and seek inspiration, and channeling a lot of energy, a lot of unresolved 'life' and unconscious 'stuff' into art. That's the story of many artists, and in particular, one woman I know who was forced to make changes because of the changes her life has brought on. It really doesn't matter much 'why' we got into a rut or hit a dead end, or lose a job, change direction, or move. We've all had to start over at some point, pick up, and move on after some tragedy or choice that didn't turn out as we expected. What matters is how we use what we have right here, in this place, this time, and this moment, to focus our energy/Chi into something that is at the very least a small drop in the bucket of rearranging how we use our energy/Chi in more constructive ways.

There is a time for every season, Proverbs tells us. Proverbs, ancient wisdom as true today as it was when spoken thousands of years ago, in nearly every language and culture. A universal truth that is. There was a time to prepare, a time to plan, a time to celebrate, and now a time to live according to the wisdom, knowledge, skills, and desires that are driving us to use our lives for good and meaningful purposes. I think of so many people in just our small community who give of themselves without ceasing. The voices, the hands, the organizers, the behind-the-scenes powerhouses, the quiet calmers and healers, the well-spoken and direct leaders who gather the rest of us to meet the needs they point out to us. Everyone has the gifts they need to be productive both individually and in community. We don't all have the same gifts or resources, but that's a good thing. We have what we need to do the next best thing. We are already enough, and we have a dream that lies within our hearts. Time to listen to that dream, and do whatever that dream is calling you to do on the journey to the next right step.

Years ago while teaching 7th and 8th grade. It was one of the best experiences of my life. Such special people and a life changing experience. One day we were discussing life purpose and learning to discern our direction. One student, Maisa a bright, lovely, spunky 8th grade girl asked me a question. As I recall, she was full of profound questions and a wonderful sense of humor and a passion for life.  We were talking about life purposes and our destiny. She asked me, "How do you know what you're purpose is or what you're meant to do?" No one had ever asked me that, though it is probably a question we all ask ourselves on a pretty regular basis. I know I do as I try to discern the next right step. I asked back, "What do you love to do now?" Because we were in a classroom, they all thought I meant coursework and all, but then I asked, "What is it you love to do, that you would never  not want to do?"  That opened a flood of responses because it allowed for the limitations to come off. After listening to their answers, I said, "That is what will help you know what you're meant to do. That sense of passion, purpose, love for and even need to do something to feel whole, that is what your life purpose is drawing you to." Back at St. Andrew School in Pasadena, California, those 30 14-15 year olds might remember that conversation, and it would be interesting to ask them now, how that works in their lives, if it does at all. So much of what we do with our lives is based on what we think is expected of us, and our energy/Chi is meant for us to use it in ways only we can.

Around that same time decades ago, a good friend of mine, Norma, made a prescient prophecy about my move back home to Oregon. She observed the following, which I believe fits us all as we stand on the threshold of this new year, "You are going with one idea in mind, and that's good. It's like you're walking down a hallway with a destination in mind. God has other plans, and as you're going down that hallway, you'll find something completely new and unexpected, something you had no idea existed, and that will be the Divine calling that leads you to exactly where you need to and ought to be. The best experiences, best people, and best times in my life have happened as I was on the way to to somewhere else. And that Divine energy, Chi is the active and working principle in all our lives. We have decisions and choices to make. We have energy, time, opportunities, talents, and resources. Let's use them for the good of ourselves and others, and do our best. And at the end of the day, we'll know, that's quite enough.

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.

That One Good Thing

That One Good Thing

Organizing our lives, often revolves around the hardest times and the times we least know what to do to help ourselves or others. Early on in life, I learned that out of even the worst situation, there was something that could be learned or taken away from it. That one good thing. It probably came to me through my Mother's promptings to look on the bright side of life. It has been my practice to look for whatever that is in dark times as well as the good ones.

That one good thing may be finding something of value out of a wealth of information laying before you. When we open a webiste or read a 'how to' book, what is the one good thing that we remember? Years ago when the idea of decluttering caught up with my constant practice of trying to get life organized, I came upon a website called The Fly Lady. Maybe some of you have heard of her? I hadn't thought about the Fly Lady much for years, until yesterday when confronted with an unexpected need to get people organized to help a friend.

My friends' 17 year old son died on Sunday afternoon. He'd been undergoing chemotherapy for metassticized cancer. Bad enough, he developed a horrendous bacterial infection and within two days, he was dead. His Mother, my dear friend, contacted me and asked me if I'd keep an eye on her ex-husband. She herself has friends and family supporting her; he does not have nearly as much support. Both are different kinds of people with very different needs, so although very sad and wrecked about Alex's death, I knew his Mother would let me know what she needed. Alex's father on the other hand, was all over the place. A very emotional, dramatic guy, he's been devoted to his son, and was not dealing well at all.

Yesterday after yoga, I went to get a coffee before meeting a friend, and I ran into the dad. I held him as he sobbed and talked to me about how he was feeling, and he asked if I could help him move some things Now the dad, my friend, is a big guy who single-handedly lifted and moved my sofa up a steep flight of stairs (and back down again last year). I, on the other hand, am not a big person, and have reached the point where lifting is not okay. What I know about my friend is he needs company, grounding, and concrete ways to channel his grief, at least right now. I asked questions that enabled him to talk about specific needs (wanting to contact Alex's friends, needing to clean up the house that had been left in disrepair and disarray for months if not years. The father's grief is compounded by his lack of basic needs right now, so I knew he needed more than my help.

When I met my other friend, she told me about the people who wanted to help. Most everyone was in the position of not wanting to intrude on the parent's grief, but not wanting to do nothing. No one seemed to know where to begin. I, on the other hand, felt like I had been divinely guided to meet my friend on the pier. I had made certain both people knew I was available, but waited for them to let me know it was okay to act. My good friend's request to support her ex-husband, was my cue.

By the time I got home, I'd made a mental note of the people who I thought would want to help as well as the ones who had already said they would. I started by setting up a group page on FB, and inviting people to join. Then I set up a meal delivery plan, and got a sign up started to deliver meals and companionship daily for at least two weeks.

At each stage, more people added their ingredients to the pot of care. People offered trucks and time to help move items to Goodwill and local thrift shops. Others offered to set up a fundraiser in the community to help both parents with financial needs. And so the ball is rolling, and several of us are monitoring the changing situation to determine what is needed at different stages. One good friend is driving home from California to help clean and cook for a couple of days. I'll join her and do what I can. The most important part is solid, grounded company and a willingness to listen, to the different needs of both parents.

When something so unexpected happens, something as shocking as the loss of a young man who's barely had time to live, we, the community, all have to figure out how to deal with the horror of it. It makes those of us who are parents feel that unspoken dread we all have of wanting to protect our children from anything bad. It hits those without children of their own differently, but we all know what loss and grief feel like, and just how hard it is to know what to do about it.

After the day was done, and I needed to rest and relax a bit, I glanced across the room at the dishes and dish pan in the sink. I remembered The Fly Lady, whose first step toward's an organized life is cleaning the kitchen sink. I reread her instructions, although of course I know how to clean a sink. But I needed reminding of what each step was about. I took everything out of the sink, and filled it with hot water and bleach. I then rinsed the sink out and gave it a through cleaning. I washed and dried all the dishes, and then put everything away, including the dish pan and drainer. I cleaned and shined the sink, and then cleared and cleaned the counters. For the first time in a year, my kitchen looked neat and tidy.It took me a very little time to do this, and made me feel better.

This morning when i woke up, I saw the cleared and cleaned counters and sink, and felt it might be one thing I could do to make life a little easier. A step towards coping with bigger issues. The clean sink at night step is a bit like the Morning Pages of the Artist's Way--something small that make others things easier, lighter, and clearer. That one small thing that I can do, despite the overwhelming sense that there's just too much to tackle to ever get over the mountain. Kind of in line with doing it in littles, a habit or two that help put our lives in order, to let the flow, the Chi move unimpeded, as we live life that can become complex and tragic in a split second.

Out of our grief and sorrow, out of feeling of frustration or helplessness, in spite of our overwhelming sense of pain, we can all do something. One small thing that makes a difference, and it's usually for someone else. It helps us connect, unite, and express some compassion at times when we need that most.