Removing Blocks, Getting Energy Moving.

Yesterday, after heading to town to take care of a few chores, have a cup of coffee at my favorite spot, Coffee Girl, I picked up a few items at the local market and drove to the marina at the mouth of the river. There was no one there when I first arrived, giving me a sense of being at the edge of the world in a place of perfect peace.  As the sea birds flew about and called out to one another, I noticed  a well-fed, bushy squirrel race across the pavement to my car.  We had a nice encounter, as you can only do with a squirrel, and then squirrel disappeared. Before me the water from the river was flowing swiftly towards the sea, and I noticed the level of the river was way down. At the mouth of the river (and for a good few miles upstream) the ocean and the river do a kind of ebb and flow dance. When I was there just past one in the afternoon, the river was at its lowest ebb. 

Each time I go to this spot, I notice which way the tide is flowing. It always reminds me that our lives are full of ebbing and flowing tides too. Ever wonder why some areas of your life seems to move along quite effortlessly while others parts appear to have ground to a screeching halt? It is all part of the normal ebb and flow of life. Each level of our being--physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, creative--operates within the context of different ebbs and flows. Today's column is focused on how energy gets blocked in different areas of our lives, and in how we can help identify, break up the blocks, and get energy moving to help us get back in the flow of life. 

Just as our body has both the autonomic and sympathetic nervous systems, so too is life affected both by what we do/don't do and what is happening in the world in which we interact. In our own body, the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the proper functioning and responses designed to protect and keep us healthy and in balance. These autonomic reactions include our fight-flight response, our reactions/responses to pleasure, pain, hunger, or imbalances. The sympathetic nervous system is the area of our lives that we do have some control over. We can use our breath, for example, to calm ourselves down when we have a panic or anxiety reaction. Our entire life is a reflection of who we are and what we value and invest our energy, resources, and time in.

What is blocking you from having a more balanced, healthy, and creative life? Let's take a look.

Identifying Blocks.

1. Do an Energy Assessment. Let's begin by doing an energy assessment of our living spaces. You might walk around the house, or simply think about what areas of your home/office, studio, workspace are the most cluttered, disorganized, or imbalanced. Make a little list of the areas.  In my own space, I've been using my office/studio as a staging area for an upcoming move. To me, it's like a giant mess, and is completely unusable in the state it's in. Another area is my refrigerator. It's past time to clean it out and reorganize it. Another area is the lazy susan pantry. Make a list of 3-4 energy-draining spots that need your attention. 

2. Identify Blocks/Stagnate Areas of Life.  Usually we have a one or two main issues that need our attention. It may be time for you to have your car maintenance done, or it may be time for you to think about getting a more up-to-date piece of equipment, like a computer. Or it may be that you want to look for a new job, take a new educational path, or change your residence.  It could be any number of things that need attending to. And if you're like me, they sometimes show up all at once. This can of course be a bit overwhelming, but it's also a great indicator, that we are being pushed along to cope with an issue that we've not yet dealt effectively with. 

What main areas are blocked in your life at this time? Make a list of what needs attending to. 

3. Prioritize Needs.  Once you've come up with a list of areas that need attention, prioritize them by order of urgency. Yesterday, for example, I knew I needed to have my car's oil checked. I wasn't sure what might be needed, but was worried to the point of feeling that should be at the top of my list. I took care of it right away, and it wasn't a big problem at all. I felt an immediate release of tension upon finding someone to check the oil and top it off for me.  Something that had been weighing down on me, lifted immediately. 

One thing I've learned to do over time, is to pay attention to those niggling feelings, intuition, and dreams that help me notice areas of discomfort, unease, or concern.  Almost always they point me in the direction of finding answers to questions or concerns. Take a little time each morning, to 'tune in' to what your intuition tells you about what needs to be done. Some of us are afraid of looking at problems, because we're afraid we won't be able to cope with them. The sooner you can face an issue, the easier it will be that you can find solutions. Solutions to problems faced when they first appear, are easier than when we ignore problems to the point where they become a much bigger issue. 

Make a list of 3-4 issues that you feel need to be taken care of. You may not need to take care of all of them at once, but taking time to see what is most important, helps you as you move towards coping more effectively. And include yourself in the priorities. For example, we often put our house, the family, our job, the pets, and nearly everyone and everything else before we put our own needs on a list of priorities. Be sure to include yourself in your top priorities. Schedule in daily walks, make a dentist's appointment, take yourself out for a creative date. Pack lunches and snacks and make sure you're getting enough rest, nourishment, and exercise. 

Once you've identified and prioritized areas where energy is blocked, the next step is to begin taking steps toward breaking up the blocks.  Sometimes the blocks aren't obvious. Blocks may show up as a lingering sense of not feeling quite right, or feeling run down or unmotivated. Blocks may be connected to unconscious needs or unhealed wounds or stress. When that's the case, the next steps might be where you will find the exercises of identifying the areas in the house/office where energy is stuck, will also help release the hidden blocks within. 

Breaking Up Blocks

Here are five steps for breaking up blocks. 

1.Set an intention and goal.     Start by spending some time in quiet mediation or prayer. Seek a blessing and guidance for helping you break up anything blocking the healthy flow of Chi/Universal energy within you and your home/office/studio. Let yourself find a place of calm and peace as you begin.

2. Have a Plan of Attack.  First of all decide which approach works best for you. Do you handle the hardest task first, or do you begin with the easiest or the least time-consuming? For some of us, approaching it in littles helps make big tasks more approachable. For example, instead of saying to yourself, "Today I'm going to clean and declutter my kitchen from top to bottom", you might instead say, "I'm gong to clean out two drawers" or "I'm going to clean out the fridge."  Others might want to get all of one area done before moving onto another. Each of us has a way that works best for us. You might try doing things in little bits at times, and when you have more free time and energy, doing the big tasks. 

A friend of mine, a young mother with three young children, a full time job, and a family told me her motto is, "If I can do it in 5 minutes, I do it now."   Since she told me this, I have noticed when I'm dreading doing something, I waste more energy and feel more stress thinking about it than I'd actually expend if I got up and just did it. Notice as you walk around the house, which areas almost scream at you as you pass them because those areas are a mess. Messes block energy and tie us up in knots. So back to identifying blocks, keep in mind, those areas which you consistently try to ignore, are really holding a lot of your energy. Start taking care of them in little time bursts. 

One good way to work this into your daily life is to start building in new habits for taking care of things. Make a plan of daily tasks, weekly tasks, monthly  tasks, and seasonal tasks. Use each day of the week for focusing on one area of the house or one big chore. I change linens before the weekend. Grocery shopping is done the day after I clean the refrigerator. Tuesdays might be bathroom cleanup. You may already have a regular routine. And if you do have a routine, you might consider changing it on occasion. Sometimes what worked for one particular season of life, is no longer necessary. Experiment with what helps you feel less stress and more energy. And notice how DOING IT releases so much more energy that thinking about doing it. Today in fact, I finally took my office desk apart, and reorganized half my office space. Something I'd thought about doing for quite a while. Finally doing it, is definitely good for breaking up energy blocks. What's waiting for you to unblock it right now?

3. Begin Doing It.  (Or get back to doing it).    It's easier to fall out of the habit of doing something regularly than it is to fall back into the habit.  Remember that energy is necessary for everything we do in life. Using Feng Shui to clear the blocks of trapped energy and to keep the flow moving in our lives, homes, and work spaces, is so important to our overall health, well being, and happiness. And for creative people, it is essential to release the trapped energies that we need to access our imagination, clear vision, and intuition.  

4. Start Now.  Take one minute to simply be still. Find a quiet spot. Close your eyes. Let yourself be still and calm. Breath slowly in and out. If you wish to, count your breaths in and your breaths out. Try to exhale a bit more slowly than you inhale. Deepening your breath helps expand your cardio-thoracic cavity, and releases your entire body to be in a more relaxed state. Mindfulness can be one of the most useful tools for all kinds of healing and for allowing areas of stress, blocks, and anxiety to break up and free you to be more relaxed. After a minute or so, notice how differently you feel. How different things look. 

5. Take Care of Business.   Identify one small task that you can do right now. It might be to clean the dishes in the sink, wash out the bathroom sink, take out the recycling or trash, or clean the counter tops in the kitchen. Pick just one, and set a timer for 5 minutes. Use that time to do one of the tasks on your list.  Use your break times from desk work to do a short 5 minute task and then another 5-10 minutes to do some exercises, walking, or yoga stretches. 

Afterthought.  Spend a little time everyday, noticing where blocks have built up in different areas of your life. Some might be physical blocks, others emotional, while others might be mental...old thought patterns or habits that are keeping you from fully functioning in the present. If you need help sorting this out, by all means get some help.  You have within you the capacity and the tools to get energy flowing in all areas of your lives, and this can all be improved at times, by seeking help of one kind or another, to get you through the difficult times. For example, if you feel stuck after a divorce, death, loss of some kind, seeing a good therapist might be the answer. Or going on a spiritual retreat or attending a grief group. 

Ask for help when you need it. If you need help, you might hire a house keeper to come once a week for a couple of months to get you through a difficult or busy time. You might need help getting your work organized,and might hire someone to assist you for a few hours a week.  Just as we get a realtor to help us find a house to buy, or a dentist to fix a dental problem, we sometimes need help in other areas of life too. It's okay to ask for help. I used to trade housework help one day a week with a friend of mine. I'd go to her house one day a week to help with something she found hard, and she'd come to mine to do the same. That was many years ago when I had a young baby, but it gave me a boost that helped me at the time I really needed help.  A lot of us think we have to do it all ourselves. We don't, and we can share our talents and support with others too. 

However you choose to approach the areas in your own life that feel blocked, I wish you the best. Decluttering, reorganizing, and developing some good ways of keeping the energy flowing in yourself, your home, and your work life, can enhance your entire experience of living, as it helps open new ways of receiving help, direction, and guidance. Enjoy life, that's part of the plan for this one precious life we are living. 

Solstice and Feng Shui: Harnessing Fire/Yang Energy

Every year between June 20-22/23 (depending on the year) in the Northern Hemisphere, the Summer Solstice occurs. The time when the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.5 degrees latitude. For those of us on the West Coast of North America this happened just past 3 a.m. earlier this morning, Thursday, June 21, 2018. For us in the North, this is the longest day of the year; for those in the South, it's the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year. Harnessing Fire, the Yang active energy principle helps us use that energy to enhance and create a powerful flow in our lives. Remember, on the Summer Solstice, what we put forth as energy multiplies. Put your energy into whatever it is that frees you to create what makes your heart sing.

The Earth tilts on its axis as it orbits the Sun (Sol) resulting in the Northern Hemisphere getting more Sun from March through September and less light the rest of the year. In Alaska this is the time of the day of the year when they get 24 hours of light. The further south you go, the less light. Where I am in Oregon we get about 18 hours of light, and believe me that's a lot of hours. Canada gets anywhere from 17 hours of daylight today up to 24 hours in the far north. Watching sunset and afterglow at 10 or later is quite a remarkable experience. If you can, get out to watch the last sunset and afterwards, in the weeks to come, watch how the Sun appears to move back towards the southerly direction at sunset each day. The Solstice does not happen at the same time in all places. In Washington D.C. for example, it occurs one day later. Go to TimeAndDate.com to find out when it occurs where you are.

Summer Solstice has long been a time when people gather to celebrate the beginning of Summer. Summer Solstice is the peak point in Yang/Active/Fire energy, and a most auspicious day for celebrating and expressing gratitude for the abundance and gifts that promote growth and regeneration.  Here are seven ways you can honor, celebrate, and utilize the Summer Solstice energy.

1. Pause and Reflect. Take time to consider the fruits of your efforts over the past year. Consider what seeds you have planted, and what is growing in your life now. Ask yourself if you are using what abundance and bounty the world is offering right around you now. What has grown in your life and how have you benefitted from the fruits of your labor and the abundance of your life? This is always a good time to meditate and to invite in a vision of your life as a whole. We sometimes get so caught up in the daily tasks and chores or the immediacy of some major event, crisis, or project, that we lose perspective of our overall journey in life. Today is a good day to get a little perspective. You might want to take a walk to a new place where you quite literally see things from a different angle. Climb a hill or go down into a valley to see life from a different angle. Make a list of 10 things you're grateful for. Make a list of 10 things you've accomplished since last summer. Appreciate who you are in the Light of the Sun.

2. Harness the Fire. Summer is the time when the Yang/Fire energy is strongest. Plan ways to harness the fire energy by making plans to use the energy to expand, create, grow, and accomplish whatever makes your soul sing and your heart come alive. Make plans to enjoy life more fully. Move life outdoors more. Barbecues, picnics, bonfires on the beach, hikes, and moonlight walks. Get out at night and go to a high place to star gaze and learn about the constellations through the lens of a telescope. Play more. Laugh more, and share time with friends. Got to the library and the bookstore, and pick up a new book to read this summer. While you're at it, buy a book for someone you love, and mail it to them as a surprise. Help someone who is facing difficult challenges and crises, by lending a hand or providing some service that frees them to heal and find peace more easily.  Absorb, embrace, and use the fire/yang energy to awaken and enliven yourself and others.

3. Clean Your Space. Energy flows where energy goes, so the saying goes. Time again, for it is part of our ongoing process, to clean up our acts and our spaces.  Cleaning releases trapped energy, and allows that energy to flow. Clear all counter tops and clean them. Clear off your desk, and clean it up. Clean the refrigerator and freezer. Sweep all the floors and clean all the appliances, sinks, and basins.Wash curtains, replace winter drapes for lighter summer window dressings (I put up white cotton curtains in summer and put my heavier winter colors/fabrics away until next fall).
 Clean the windows while there's plenty of light, and clean your mirrors. Clean out the car and the trunk. With all the extra hours today, start off or find time, to do a thorough cleaning to free up the energy and exercise your own muscles to get things in order. Do the chores earlier so you can enjoy the celebration later. As you are cleaning, put items aside that you want to give away or recycle.

4. Clear Out.  Right now, get up and go find 10 things in your house that you can put in the out box to give away or recycle. How long did that take? One of my favorite baristas told me her rule of thumb was "If it can be done in 5 minute, do it." Set a timer or do it when you take breaks in your work day. Clear your closets of winter clothes/shoes, and get your summer wardrobe out of storage. Rearrange your life for summer living. Add to the out box of items (clothes, household goods, office equipment, craft supplies) and put by the front door to take to a thrift shop or Goodwill later in the day. Pack a box of food items to take to the local Food Bank. Clear out older spices and packaged goods that are past their shelf life. Get rid of whatever you are not using. Fix things, or give them away to someone who can repair and reuse them. Our town has a monthly Fix It gathering at a local pub. People who can fix things show up and meet people who need things fixed. It's a great idea. Try it with your friends and community. Get rid of those items that take up space in your home/car/office and your brain. Think how heavily that broken blender takes up.  Make room for the flow.

5. Water Your Life.  To counter the heavy dose of fire energy of summer, add more water to your life. Stock up on bottled drinking water. Add foods to your diet heavy in water content (watermelon, cucumbers, lettuce, parsley). Add a water element to your home/office design (a tiny fountain, photograph of water, floating candle). Drink your  8 glasses of water a day; make this a priority. Flavor your water with a slice of lemon, lime, or some berries. Keep a cold pitcher of iced tea in the fridge (I have a pitcher of hibiscus and raspberry tea  in mine all summer long). Go for a swim. Walk along the beach, river, stream, lake, or pond near you. Get in and on the water. Take a ferry across the Bay of river to get a different perspective on life. Learn to sail or kayak or canoe.

6. Dress Up for Summer. Dress yourself and your home up for summer. In fall and winter we like to make our homes warmer and cozier. In Summer it's time to bring in the lighter fabrics and colors and to move to the cooling spectrum of the color scheme in clothing. Blues, violets, greens, paler shades of yellow, and white. With your clothing and accessories, the same applies. As already mentioned, store the winter clothes. Clear out the closets and make room for summery items. Do the clearing first, then feel freed up to start looking for sales on summer togs and cruising the thrift shops for great bargains on summery clothes. Do the clearing and giving away first. Leave some room for a few days to invite in and inspire new ideas for how to free yourself up a bit during the summer season. Take your shoes off and walk in the sand or on some grass. Get a new pair of sandals or flip flops. Get your swimming bag ready with a beach towel, sunscreen, sunhat, flip flops, and a bucket for gathering litter or treasures from the sea.  Find something to freshen up your summer hair.  Get the trim you need, change the style, add some color, or wear a flower in your hair. Give yourself a fresh new look. Every budget has room for an item of clothing from the thrift store each month. You'll be surprised what you can find. Treat yourself. Share your bounty with someone else too. Get someone who needs support, a special gift that you know they need but maybe cannot afford. It is in giving that we receive, and the flow of energy moves when it is freely moving.

7. Create a Home Blessing Ritual and Altar. Attitude is everything. How we view life colors how we experience life. We can choose to be gloomy, negative, or pessimistic, or we can choose differently. Our powers as humans are limited. We can do solve some problems, we can help solve others, and we can only hope and pray some of the bigger issues will be solved with the right people making the right decisions. We can, however, play a major role in our own lives and our perspective of it. Once you've prepared your home and yourself for the Summer's beginning, create a special blessing ritual to honor and make sacred your living space. This may be in the form of a simple prayer, a purifying ritual, music, dance, or a special meal. Make it uniquely your own, using items and inspiration that suits you and your family. Next, if you haven't already done this, set aside a special place in your home to honor your ancestors, your special blessing totems, religious and spiritual inspirations. A writer friend of mine, Angela Sanders, recently posted her Refrigerator Door Altar, and she inspired me to look at what could otherwise become a point of dated clutter as an opportunity to use that space to keep uplifting and inspiring messages, pictures, and small tokens.


However you spend the Summer Solstice, be sure to do the sweeping ritual. What's that you say? The daily practice (old as the hills) of sweeping the floors and the entryways in and out of the house. Sweeping is a Feng Shui ritual that truly highlights the need for us to keep ever present in our awareness of keeping energy flowing and keeping unwanted clutter and energy out. And remember to stand your brooms handle end down. Another ancient Feng Shui principle. Happy Summer Solstice. And Happy Winter Solstice to our friends down under as you cross over into the darker time of year. Blessings to all. We are children of the Sun.

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.