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.